Reply With QuoteSo has anybody had any luck recently in London?
‘Repeat revenue’ is one of the most fundamental concepts in business.Originally Posted by robert75
So has anybody had any luck recently in London?
I have. Picked up a sub non date recently from the Aurum group. Waited 3 days after popping into a particular site.
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Interesting. Was that WoS or the WoS/Aurum owned rolex boutique? Goldsmiths and M&W don' do Rolex anymore in London do they? Have you bought Rolex form there before?
Welcome to the forum :)
thank you. I've lurked a little before over the years....I'm more an Omega man really and have a PO, vintage '61 Seamaster and a SMP. Got back into reading about and looking at watches lots of late and been looking at Rolex. I work near Victoria so sometimes enjoy browsing or chatting to the staff in the various West End shops.
Having tried a number of AD for a ceramic Daytona, I'm now rapidly coming to the conclusion that the Oysterflex versions are better value and far more obtainable. Used Ceramic prices are not that far off what I could get a new Oysterflex for. Crazy!
I work on Vic St. Where are the watch shops of note nearby? I've seen the one I need Cardinal place but that's it.
Of note by Victoria? Just goldsmith on Victoria itself (no Rolex), but walk across st James park and you've all the bond st, new bond st, regent Street etc. Or go to covent garden for Bucherer, or Knightsbridge for Harrods, WoS, Bucherer Rolex boutique and more. West end is full of expensive jewellers, although many/most are 20+ minutes walk from Victoria st.
It was a aurum owned WOS, not a Rolex boutique. The advantage for me was I have been a customer for over 10 years and they saw a massive purchase history.Sent from my SM-N960F using TZ-UK mobile app
I registered interest in the Pepsi on the day of release by going into the AD that had supplied me with my DSSD, Ceramic Daytona (and a Panerai before those two). I've kept in regular contact via email and popping in. I was even allowed to try one on which they would not sell it to me. I've now been told there is no list, they look at what watches you have bought and because I've had 2 desirable models I'm unlikely to get another. I still have my Daytona and DSSD and I'm not a flipper but that does not seem to matter. I dare say the one they had in would be offered as a sweetner to someone buying less desirable models.
I'm genuinely lost for words, the concept of a waiting list has always made me chuckle. There are members that I've known for many years who don't seem to have any issues getting sports Rolex models but then again they do have great relationships with the dealers. I just don't get what all the fuss is about to be honest, if I had to go on a list and meet certain criteria I couldn't be bothered, there are many, many more things that are far more important than an overpriced Rolex (insert any big name watch brand).
I think that the games that the bigger brands play is what completely switched my interest in them off, I look at the watch, and as has always been the case, I cannot justify over £3k for an Omega Seamaster..... it's a ridiculous amount of money for a watch that is fairly average in most respects, it's churned out in the thousands and yet it's got a premium price tag. The heady heights reached by Rolex in terms of controlling the market is amusing to watch and it will be interesting to see how it performs in the coming years. Doubtless it'll continue to do well but I do wonder if, or when, the asian markets that have been driving demand through the roof will slow, maybe production will pick up then?
Apologies for my ramblings
Paul
That is just mental - because you're a good customer you can't get any more...! A good customer is one who buys the hard to shift stuff clearly. What a business.
I had some success getting a mate with a purchase history to 'vouch' for me - seemed to break through the initial barrier to be taken seriously anyway
OP - How did you get on? Did you manage to get on any lists or get your watch?
I’ve just spent a few days in Florence. The Rolex AD there happily let me try on a Hulk they had in the safe that was reserved for someone else. He also put me on the ‘waiting list’ which extends to about 50 weeks although it could be sooner. (not sure if I will be able to buy it but would happily get it for someone in here at the time and if it materialises). They also had the new Sea Dweller and Polar Explorer II in stock.
Total and utter madness. Good luck by the way.
Weird this, when I traded my PO in, it was against the Exp 2 (26570) that was in the window, sat alongside a non date sub.
This was about tho years ago, how times have changed.
Given the ridiculous over-demand/undersupply, it does seem reasonable that a dealer would favour someone who buys stuff he/she struggles to sell over someone who only buys stuff that sells itself. Frustrates people like me but would I do it if I was a dealer? Yes, of course I would.
Just off the phone to David m Robinson dealer who told me the book is closed for new sports Rolex and the only way in is to buy a portfolio of jewellery, not watches.
I said I don't wear jewellery and am single lol. She told me "you've had it then".
Nice!
Reading this thread has convinced me it’s time to sell the majority of my watch collection. If ever anything looked like the frothy end of a bubble this does. Irrespective of how anyone might feel about Rolex, this all feels very 2008, 1929 South Sea Bubble and Tulip mania.
At some point bubbles burst and, frankly, what’s bad for Rolex is probably bad for watches I bought for a tenner five years ago that are now worth a grand. So...
Last edited by M4tt; 7th March 2019 at 21:40.
Who do these retailers think they are? When the next recession hits they’ll be begging customers to come into their stores. And we should say ‘Before I entertain buying anything from your store you need to build a relationship with me first’.
Indeed.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
That’s hilarious. First sign of a recession and these sad jumped up gimps will be on the dole.
'I hear you knocking, but you can't come in.....' - Dave Edmunds Rockpile Rolex AD
They told me exactly the same thing too.
I laughed.
The point is I wouldn't now buy anything from them.
I live in central London, however just picked up a Submariner No Date from an AD a half hour train journey from Paddington after putting my name down on the list about 10 days ago.
Details would be interesting!
I’d rather a dealer was honest like that. Would people prefer the AD to pretend to put them on a list and then get stressed and waste time wondering month after month where you are on the list? It’s a ridiculous situation but if that’s how it is, you can move on.
Just watched this Collector Conversation video on youtube. The collector, Mike Nguyen started his interest in watches in 2017 and has every desirable Rolex available.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htxOMuDJ59s
In short
1) Be nice to the Dealer
2) Goes to them often to let them know that he's interested in a watch
3) Buys a LOT of Rolex's
4) Has patience in waiting for the watch he wants.
In the case of getting the Daytona he wanted, he also had to buy a white gold smurf.
So dropping 100/150k at a dealer will get you any watch you want.
Shows how things have changed...The last time I went there I said I’d like to buy a GMT master II and if they could give me a discount I’d buy it now. 10% knocked straight off..
So.... Reading?
Was it somewhere you visit regularly or did you call around to find it?
I’ve bought 1 Explorer from them exactly a year ago, however been in touch on and off in the last few months.
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Building a relationship there then by the sounds, good, glad to hear you got your sub.
Thanks. But it’s quite a shame that it’s close to impossible to build a relationship in central London unless you spend crazy money.
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Seems that way!
“The best way to get on a real Rolex waiting list” - sleep with the store manager. Yes, male or female!
I think a lot of folks here would do their local AD store manager for a lot less than a place on a Rolex waiting list.“The best way to get on a real Rolex waiting list” - sleep with the store manager. Yes, male or female!
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