remarque
878
Game of Watches brought to you by the Crown (with apologies to George Martin)
I just got back from visiting one of two local Rolex ADs.
The store had one Air King. Zero Submariners (any metal). Zero Explorers. Zero Explorer Twos. One - Two Tone GMT Master II (none in steel). Zero SkyDwellers. Zero SeaDwellers. Zero DeepSeaDwellers. Two pink gold Yachtmasters. One steel Oyster Perpetual. Zero 2017 new(ish) 41mm DateJusts. Had one DateJust II. And lots of ladies smaller DateJusts. Of course zero Daytonas, steel or otherwise.
The sales lady was very nice. She said that one year ago at this time, apart from the steel ceramic Daytona, she could get any steel Rolex with no problem. Today, she has virtually no stock of anything, especially in steel, and it doesn't matter what she orders or asks her Rolex Rep. She has no control of her Rolex merchandise and can only hope from day to day that she might get some delivery from the American distributor.
I told her that prior to BW2018, I had thought to myself that Rolex was letting stock dwindle because they were preparing to release new (Submariners/Explorers/etc) with new 70 hour PR movements. But the only new movement presented at BW2018 was the GMT Master II, with the pepsi ceramic bezel of course, so my theory regarding supplies of other models was completely wrong. So much for rational thinking.
Given that Rolex produces 800,000 to one million watches each year, one can only wonder why Rolex is creating this artificial shortage. Does it make the few who get calls from preferred customer lists at ADs when a model comes in feel privileged? Does it encourage ADs to sell above MSRP? All I know is that it certainly does not create good will with potential clients who desire a certain model and don't want to buy 4 other "less desirable/popular" models just so they can have a shot a getting a model which is currently perceived as "in demand". Because today's dirth seems to span all models.
I will say that by trying on the AirKing and the two-tone GMT Master II, I discovered that I find the AirKing case far superior in size to the GMT Master II case.
How long can Rolex play this game before even its own ADs and fanboys decide enough is enough from the Crown? Sadly the answer may be both not soon enough but never will happen...
Game of Watches brought to you by the Crown (with apologies to George Martin)
I just got back from visiting one of two local Rolex ADs. The store had one Air King. Zero Submariners (any metal). Zero Explorers. Zero Explorer Twos. One - Two Tone GMT Master II (none in steel). Zero SkyDwellers. Zero SeaDwellers. Zero DeepSeaDwellers....
I too refuse to fall prey to this type of marketing.
I absolutely love the brand. But when you can't get what you want, there are HUNDREDS of other brands out there making great, and unique pieces. I have a Sub and a SS / White Daytona. Love them! I also have four more on my "wish list" which of course the ...
Know the customer
That’s what my AD said. The AD gets audited by Rolex on these hard to get pieces. My AD gets cold calls from customers asking for the same watches that we all want. That’s why “Rolex circle of trust “ is an appropriate term from the previous post. ...
I was with a friend yesterday at my AD and we must have been lucky because there was Submariner LN and LV, GMT Master Batman, Air King, Submariner, Daytona RG bracelet and on oysterflex etc.
No Daytona, No Skydweller My friend took the green Submariner
Timing is everything.
Patience with an open mind. I was up in Montreal when I found my stainless steel Daytona. I was looking at the display of various Daytonas (all PM) and the salesman said he had a SS in the back. He came out with a white SS Daytona. I was at-the-right-plac...
I agree about timing ...
I stopped by a Rolex AD while on business travel, recently, in a small US city and they had SS Sub with date in the case. I passed on that — a few days later they let me know that they unexpectedly received a SS Sub no-date and I bought it! Now awaiting d...
Interesting post!
I was traveling last year and went to an AD and bought a non Rolex piece for my son. I got to receive the business card of the AD. Just recently I emailed the AD that I’ll be traveling to the said place and is inquiring for a specific Rolex piece and the ...
My AD has to screen his customers.
Apparently, there are those who buy in US to sell with gray dealers in Asia. One AD had Rolex warn them that the submariner that was sold showed up at a resale site in Asia. So know your customers.
Just visited AD...
New Rolex policy. No more special order for special customers on hard to get pieces. It’s even harder now. AD must just wait for their allocation.