Rolex

The root beer saga continues ...
Went to watches of Switzerland and while I was waiting for wifey I asked if by any chance they would help me getting on a waiting list for the root beer... given I have been their customer for my datejust in the past how disappointing was my reaction when the salesman tells me a similar story as the other shop around me having a good relationship with them by buying first 3 or 4 watches before I even HOPE being added to their WAITING LIST! I am not saying they will offer me a discount or anything though but having the right to buy the watch...

I told him I was very very disappointed and he told me straight away that others are too and I am not the first nor the last one to be and just have to accept it.

Not sure what’s happening in the watch shop world nowadays but looks like they want to make themselves more than what they really are...

Thanks for reading.

Kev

Well said... Buy an omega instead!

Kev

Unacceptable customer service and customer experience.
In my younger days - I would have told the shop assistant to go f$

but tried to explain politely that it's a bit nonsense to offer someone some bread when the person is actually thursty ...
Kev

However, I believe these complaints need to be substantial in order not to make *all* complaints lose credibility in the long run. Can I ask what you are again telling us now? I also don't like this Rolex policy, but you seem to enjoy visiting ADs in one of the most popular locations in the world, where you admittedly have no significant purchase history, and keep asking for a watch that *hundreds* of other customers have already asked for... 

But to be entirely honest I get that this watch is difficult to find, I only randomly went to these ADs as I was around...who knows...
I'm not complaining about the fact that i probably have to wait for another year or 2 before I can finally get one (this is a different topic but let's not go on the tangent). My main frustration is around the fact that in my opinion these guys don't realise what they say, being that someone has to purchase a bunch of jewelleries or a bunch of watches NOT wanted just to be added to a list is to me a bit unreal.. But again it's maybe just reality and it's maybe time for me to realise that I've been a bit too innocent so far.
To be honest, just telling me the watch is not available would have been enough though, I was not begging to get it.
Again, I'm not as expert as others on this forum and don't have a huge collection but still try to get the pieces I really really like and enjoy them without having to have a strong relationship with any AD in particular but maybe that's my mistake and time for me to learn that the world of timepieces is not as cool as I thought.
Kev

I would keep up your random drop-ins at various ADs. People have gotten these watches randomly, I know this.
Now, as FabR says, if the sales staff are rude then that’s just not on and something should be said. But if they are merely exposing the rules of the game then no issues as I see it.

Again, my point is not about the watch being rare to find or even the waiting list though. But I guess a bit more "tact" from the salesman won't harm anyone - I used to help th family business while I was studying and one thing I've learnt was to respect the client and try to satisfy him so he has a chance to come back even if he has not found what he was looking for right now. No one has been rude to me, I'm just saying they are not necessarily encouraging me to go back there if I wanted to buy a less rare timepiece.
This situation never happened to me in Paris so far.
i'm still a bit new to the world of horology/luxury so apologies if my comments can make no sense sometime.
Kev

But its one of the reasons I also went my own route for better or worse (in most cases apparently worse - since its not the common path - haha, which i don’t regret).

Unfortunately this is the real world and I suggest that you simply buy an alternative brand. 

They can be bought today. If I were you, I'd try to fall in love with something a bit outside the mainstream, buy it, and treasure it. Much of the meaning we invest in our watches comes from living our lives with them. 

The yachtmaster in 37 with the rubber strap in rose gold.

I found it available already but I can pull the trigger on only one for now I want to go for one I really really like and in that case I am still a bit hesitant. If they release a one gold one in 37 I will defo forget about the root beer.

Kev

No message body

A used 2000s Milgauss GV, 1980s "triple six" Sea-Dweller, or 1990s steel/gold Daytona all represent excellent value and potential fun without providing any revenues to Rolex. With the company's five year warranties on recent models, you can pick from many options still covered without supporting Rolex on the new-retail side. Also, the blue dial 116622 Yacht-Masters remain a good buy used at market rates. 

Shopped exclusively at my AD for the past 5 years and bought a multitude of watches as well as introduced him to friends who have also purchased from him. He has done pretty well out the relationship. Now if I want a Pepsi, daytona or batman and ask... I really dont expect a 8 year wait. I expect to be bumped up the list to where people with similar purchasing history are placed. If someone is ahead of me having spent $1mio well the fact of life is that he is a priority. If a guy is ahead of me based purely on wait time and has say never bought from AD before....then I would fund that unacceptable

I can only agree with you but on indeed exclusive pieces like Daytona or nautilus etc...
In my case I understand from these ADs they can get one in less than a year without problem but will not help unless you have a relationship with them.

It’s more the fact they are creating the exclusivity on top of the real one coming from the actual vendor that frustrates.
But hey I am just expressing my disappointment and clearly these guys are not encouraging me to go purchase things in their shops with their arrogant behaviour.
I guess others are less sensitive to that and would start a relationship to get the timepiece.

Kev

No message body

Thanks for adding that.

Kev

I would consider to abandon those beaten paths.

First you should ask yourself if you really love the watch or if you more love that it is so hard sought after?

In the second case your are on the mainstream path and IMHO have to rival with watch lovers as well as with speculators, investors, grey market dealers, posers etc. etc. and so have to live with all the disadvantages.

That’s part of this mainstream game with regard to some luxury goods. And I for myself decided to stop participating in this game.

And this feels great!

Best
Thomas

But still try when I pass by an AD to ask if there would be any way to get it.
But agree I am not super actively looking for it anyway.

Kev

No message body