Is anyone on this forum...

Jun 30, 2021,02:10 AM
 

...an AD themselves, or directly associated in any way to an authorized dealer of any brand? Surely someone can chime in about this sad state of the industry. Thankfully, I'm not psychologically affected by the herd disrupting the supply chain. However, we've all seen the videos of non-ADs in certain cities that have tens, if not hundreds, of the most sought-after models on display, while the nearby ADs are barren. I'd be curious to know exactly what is stipulated in the "terms & rules of business operations" for a Rolex AD.

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Is this the state of supply everywhere in the US?

 
 By: pfang56 : June 29th, 2021-21:41
I won't share where the photo was taken, but I was shocked to see absolutely zero supply for all models of AP during a trip in the US - good for the boutique, but I have never seen such a tough situation for supply! What is your experience in your dealer?...  

And, the straps in the showcase...😂

 
 By: India Whiskey Charlie : June 29th, 2021-21:54

LOL

 
 By: amanico : June 29th, 2021-22:37

:)))

 
 By: amanico : June 29th, 2021-22:37

I noticed them right away! Am in! ROFL

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : June 29th, 2021-22:49

Ha!!!

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:14
And some straps cost more than your average Apple Watch and some remarkable brands for the money. Maybe it's the only way for current owners to get diversity in ownership (as opposed to getting brand new watches!) Peter

Logical step

 
 By: @lberti : June 29th, 2021-22:14

Very true 👍

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : June 29th, 2021-22:15

Ha ha ha ha!!!

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:09
You would definitely think so - but they have all shared business is booming and they can't keep up with demand! Crazy crazy times. Peter

It's incredible to build any relationship...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:13
And it requires you to be extremely lucky or consider other brands of the boutique is co-owned by a larger store...Ironically the exclusivity and the lack of supply make the watches even more desirable, creating a vicious circle and overinflated secondary... 

Sadly i dropped by two Rolex ADs...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:16
And outside of the diamond bezeled precious metal ladies models, there was clearly no inventory. Just crazy to see a store with no inventory at all! Peter

Indeed and for me...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:17
Counting my blessings and good fortune with my AP, Patek, and Rolex dealers. I am really concerned about the cost of entry / re-entry if I had to move! Peter

I think there was some impact for sure...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:23
But I still am amazed what the cycle time is to produce some of these watches, as opposed to automobiles. I would assume robotics and machinery could make a difference but I assume the micro scale makes it difficult to automate. And, hand finished is hand... 

Lots of wealth generated in the past year funnelled to few brands

 
 By: CastorKrieg : June 30th, 2021-04:33
This is the case with AP and Rolex. JLC probably has inventory, as do other brands.

About a year ago I started collecting...

 
 By: mdg : June 29th, 2021-22:49
...Unicorns and Leprechauns. Cheaper and much easier to find.

Went to Vegas....

 
 By: enjoythemusic : June 29th, 2021-23:11
Looked about the same... except Hublot and Patek, there were plenty of those. Breitling too. I felt kinda bad for the big Rolex boutique staff. On the PLUS side, it's good to see many brands and independents doing so well. The shortage makes one look deep... 

Definitely agree...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:26
I would not have jumped so quickly to the Independent field if it weren't for some collector impatience and disappointment. I've enjoyed very much wearing my Urwerk - it's not something anybody on the street would normally recognise, but for those in the ... 

They're all just pre sold I assume. There isn't even an Audemars Piguet AD or Boutique in Canada

 
 By: oyster case : June 29th, 2021-23:56
so that's worse than empty cases I guess? In a recent Watches TV video Michael Friedman addressed the issue, there simply isn't the ability to increase production even if they wanted to.

Yikes, it is worldwide?

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:30
It's hard to browse IG some times and see all these new watches on wrists. I guess some are probably grey market but I think IG makes it seem so available yet not! From Friedman's interview, I'm not totally bought in, as AP seems to double their supply ov... 

You are completely incorrect about supply over the last five years, I'm afraid. Direct quote from FHB Luxury Society interview Feb 04 2019

 
 By: oyster case : June 30th, 2021-01:04
"I announced in 2015 that we would stick to creating 40,000 watches a year for the next 5 years. And now in 2019, we have come to the end of that cycle. In 2019, we are going to produce 2,000 CODE 11:59 watches. To do that, we will have to reduce producti... 

Ahh thanks for correcting me...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-02:18
I do recall their revenues have increased significantly - perhaps the sell through rate has increased as well as the average price per piece? Today seeing that the ROOS is 37.5k (when it used to be 15 to 20k) is a testament eh? Peter

Las Vegas and New York AP

 
 By: chal0072 : June 30th, 2021-00:10
Nothing on display, but I asked to see certain watches then they brought them out. All of them pre sold they even bring them out with boxes with post-it with customers name on it. So yes they didn’t have nothing to sell to me (they sold me one 2 months ag... 

Wow...

 
 By: pfang56 : June 30th, 2021-00:34
That's incredible. I know that in some Rolex boutiques they have a "permanent demo set" to show clients the watches but they are not available for sale. I know many times at the Ferrari dealer everything new has been ordered and pre-purchased so to speak,... 

Is anyone on this forum...

 
 By: Dunajska : June 30th, 2021-02:10
...an AD themselves, or directly associated in any way to an authorized dealer of any brand? Surely someone can chime in about this sad state of the industry. Thankfully, I'm not psychologically affected by the herd disrupting the supply chain. However, w... 

...

 
 By: PalmSprings : June 30th, 2021-17:42
This is the weird thing, after all these years I've never seen anyone open up about this. I've seen a from ''I worked at an AD'' topics but never in this current frenzy.

The answer is very simple...

 
 By: India Whiskey Charlie : June 30th, 2021-19:18
All these AD's and some boutiques have inventory sitting in their safes waiting for their *regular* customers who spend hundreds of thousands a year buying from them. The only reason it has gotten worse during the past few years is because these regulars ... 

I don’t even bother to enter these shops anymore.

 
 By: Watchonthewrists : June 30th, 2021-06:23
My appreciation for independents and there customers service and sales is only going up when i see these pics and hear about these stories .

Situation at my nearest boutique was about the same. Interestingly my local ADs all do have some AP watches on stock (mostly Offshore and women‘s models)

 
 By: nafetS : June 30th, 2021-07:46
Boutiques are probably conpletely sold out, because people will buy anything to get higher up the list for models in high demand.

AP doesn't give a lot of supply to the US.

 
 By: systematic.entropy : June 30th, 2021-13:49
I've been told by a few ADs that the US is the last to be served by AP. But, this is the state of supply in the US. I recently went to Las Vegas, and there was very little supply across the board. Rolex, PP, AP, RM shelves were essentially barren. I don't... 

I am not sure the last time I set foot in a watch dealer or boutique.

 
 By: MichaelC : July 1st, 2021-12:27
Probably my last Vegas visit. 2018 I think. I guess I have never looked at watches in person before I purchase... I just make a call and wait for the delivery truck.

I'm skeptical...

 
 By: kennygfunk : July 16th, 2021-21:07
I feel like these brands are manipulating the market. This is just my speculation. This happened after Rolex prices entered AP territory. No APs, price increase? Even if they're hoarding watches in a large safe somewhere, it doesn't matter. There's a lot ...