There are no lists

[Sandwich]

My AD is a single brand boutique and only sells Rolex & Tudor.

Given the current market situation, walk ins and newer clients will be able to purchase the following:

Tudor:
Sports models (except latest popular releases like the BB 58 GMT, BB chronograph Pink/Blue

Rolex:
Datejust (non popular configurations such as ladies/TT; no MOP dial or blue/green/fluted motif)

How the list works for popular stainless steel sports:
Only Tudor counts into the spend history. Any purchase of Rolex watches does not count into the purchase history for SS Sports allocations with the exception of TT ladies date just but even those don’t get you the same level of mileage compared to Tudors.

This is the current requirement and back then during the covid peak, it was even harder where only non sports Tudors counted to profit building.

My guess is that the same goes for most larger ADs in metropolitans across the world.

Depending on the SS sports models you are after, there will be a certain minimum requirement in terms of spend history (some may not just use total monetary spend as the only metric but also look into what you have purchased as a consideration. For e.g the customer that has purchased $30k worth of jewellery or Hublot watches will be prioritised over one who has bought only Rolex watches) <- this actually makes sense because in both cases, revenue to the store may be the same but the profits are typically higher for Jewellery and/or house brand watches.

At a larger downtown boutique, to get onto the wait list for a BLRO was $100k and a Daytona was $250k respectively. With the above amounts requiring purchases that are heavy on the house brands they carry.

Even then, once you’re on the list, it’s up to other factors such as:
1. Management approval after your SA submits your request
2. The queue your SA is amongst the rest of the SAs. They all get to allocated a couple in demand watches to their own clientele base every month on a rotational basis.
3. Stock they receive from Rolex.

I know there have been stories where people managed to pick up phenomenal in demand pieces after speaking to the owner or waiting for a short time but these stories are out of the norm.

The secondary market has crashed, but popular sports SS pieces still have a relatively large demand and things may be getting easier (lesser stringent spend history requirement, ADs want to build up their existing client base, etc) but for pieces like the BLRO and Daytona, they’re not ever gonna be a walk in the park kind of affair anytime soon.

Also, to those who have been waiting years to get your dream Rolex, have you considered maybe your SA has forgotten about your request?

If anything, when a popular model comes in, the SA’s will likely look at the list of their MOST RECENT loyal clients who have cleared the minimum requirements and call from that list instead of further down into page 2/3/4/5 of the list who are a good 2-3 years old.

Makes sense right?

[btwistround]

Kinda happened to me.

I popped into my local AD ( I have a small purchase history- a few Tudors and some jewellery, probably sub £10,000 total).

I reached out to my SA but got told they had left the company so they booked me in with a different SA. I then got offered a few two tone Rolex- YM, GMT and Sub.

Nearly got the GMT but changed my mind as it's not what I originally want.

[GMTMaster]

Its all BS, always.

[knighty88]

Luxury purchases are discretionary, don't be bullied into buying what you don't want for the likely empty 'opportunity' to get what you do.

Life's too short - I'd rather go grey than play BS games... I'm not denying simple economics of demand vs supply, but at some point fashion trends will change and what's popular will shift.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 996marty

If you spend big then I’m guessing anything is obtainable

Which in a way … is still a list

[Chefinspecteur]

Apparently there is even a list to get on the list ))

[garyk]

My AD led me to believe they keep a file where I expressed an interest for several watches. In April 2022, they got me a submariner green bezel LV and this past June they got me a BLNR on Jubilee. I had wanted the YG green dial Daytona but I believe it was discontinued while I was waiting…

[Trogster]

After abandoning Rolex for years I decided to stop into my local AD to pick up my Daytona. Here's how that went:

Me- "Hello, I'm here to pick-up my Daytona"

AD- "Did someone call you?"

Me- " I was here five years ago and you told me it was a 5-year wait, well.. today is 5-years and I'm here to get my Daytona"

AD- Stunned silence!!!! Once they composed themselves they said; "It doesn't work that way!"

Me - "I see, I guess it's gonna be an Omega then".

The Omega:

[garyk]

Brilliant!!

[1William]

Originally Posted by Trogster

After abandoning Rolex for years I decided to stop into my local AD to pick up my Daytona. Here's how that went:

Me- "Hello, I'm here to pick-up my Daytona"

AD- "Did someone call you?"

Me- " I was here five years ago and you told me it was a 5-year wait, well.. today is 5-years and I'm here to get my Daytona"

AD- Stunned silence!!!! Once they composed themselves they said; "It doesn't work that way!"

Me - "I see, I guess it's gonna be an Omega then".

The Omega:

Good one.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Trogster

After abandoning Rolex for years I decided to stop into my local AD to pick up my Daytona. Here's how that went:

Me- "Hello, I'm here to pick-up my Daytona"

AD- "Did someone call you?"

Me- " I was here five years ago and you told me it was a 5-year wait, well.. today is 5-years and I'm here to get my Daytona"

AD- Stunned silence!!!! Once they composed themselves they said; "It doesn't work that way!"

Me - "I see, I guess it's gonna be an Omega then".

The Omega:

[train-time]

Originally Posted by NAUI1982

There is no list. You’re a Whale or you’re Plankton.
Spend millions, you have the owner’s home phone number and whatever is in the safe is yours. Very simple. Stop kidding around and wake up…

And this isn’t just Rolex. You want a room at an exclusive hotel that is sold out? Whale or Plankton. You want front row seats to the Taylor Swift concert? Whale or Plankton?

Stop registering your interest at a zillion ADs, you’re Plankton. Pick one or two, and only buy from them, send all your friends to buy from them, have your parents, siblings, kids, cousins and uncles buy from them. Become the Whale. Or, be Plankton.

Maybe you walked in and got a watch offered to you, and it was super interesting and on your list so you bought it. Odds are it wasn’t a Pepsi, or Bruce Playne, or a Daytona, or a Blue Hombre DD or a John Mayer. Etc. You’re not a Whale. You bought what was offered to you as a walk in, but you’re not walking in and simply walking out with the HOT list watch.

It’s okay, not everyone can be a Whale. Just figure out how to make the most of being Plankton.

Hey, Joe Plankton here... You are pretty much on point for the most part. The only issue is that most perspective buyers haven't figured out that they are Plankton or refuse to buy into the fact that they are.

The AD will never give you a clue that you are Plankton and will continue to lead you along without delivering as they did in the good old days. At some point it just sinks in, and you come to the realization that it's just not worth the hassle and humiliation anymore and you move on.

[seezur]

I haven’t fully given up, but the original year I was supposed to wait for a bluesy is approaching and the ~6ish weeks for a regular sub date have long since passed. Also not even seeing any of the DD dial combos I wanted (all which are standard).

For a while I was pissed about it, because I really like Rolex as a brand and wanted to add to my collection, but the wait and the games (to what degree they are real and where I don’t think any of us know for certain) have almost completely turned me off. I would still buy one, because I like the design language and history, but I’m starting to see that Rolex (or at least their ADs) are now almost exclusively a way to flaunt your money and status or “invest”. I fortunately do not have that insecurity, and so I’ve been exploring other brands I’ve always wanted while I wait.

I’ve picked up two awesome Cartier watches, and just yesterday an Omega 60th Anniversary Bond Seamaster. All three were purchased at different locations (Europe and major US cities) and all three experiences were OK to amazing. The Omega especially as I got to talk to the SA for a good 20 minutes about all sorts of watches and the industry. He was a true enthusiast, as am I. I’m enamored with the watch and it’s now my new daily.

I know Rolex seems infallible, and they do move a lot of watches, but I’m convinced the “lists” and wait times will hurt them in the long run. Nothing lasts forever, and when the craze goes back to how it was when I bought my first Rolex, people who were treated poorly, intentionally or just because of a lack of supply, are going to buy something else. I don’t think they could have ever anticipated the surge in demand, so I don’t blame Rolex per se (more the ADs who use spend as a metric) but this appears to me to be the most dangerous blunder in the history of a company that relies so heavily on brand perception.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

ADs sell to whom they want when they want. The mention of "lists" is just a polite way of dealing with customers.

Totally agree! If they like you, you will get your watches.

Kat


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[bigheart]

Originally Posted by train-time

Hey, Joe Plankton here... You are pretty much on point for the most part. The only issue is that most perspective buyers haven't figured out that they are Plankton or refuse to buy into the fact that they are.

The AD will never give you a clue that you are Plankton and will continue to lead you along without delivering as they did in the good old days. At some point it just sinks in, and you come to the realization that it's just not worth the hassle and humiliation anymore and you move on.

This is so true. I have realized I am Jane Plankton and totally agree that they will just lead you along instead of just coming out and saying you won't get called.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Trogster

After abandoning Rolex for years I decided to stop into my local AD to pick up my Daytona. Here's how that went:

Me- "Hello, I'm here to pick-up my Daytona"

AD- "Did someone call you?"

Me- " I was here five years ago and you told me it was a 5-year wait, well.. today is 5-years and I'm here to get my Daytona"

AD- Stunned silence!!!! Once they composed themselves they said; "It doesn't work that way!"

Me - "I see, I guess it's gonna be an Omega then".

The Omega:

Nice looking watch. Smart move.

[train-time]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Nice looking watch. Smart move.

I agree it was a smart move and a very nice looking watch, but.... I would have never have given the business to the same dealer who didn't have the Daytona for him. I would have taken my money to another dealer that carries Omega and not a Rolex shop.

[stockae92]

Of course there are lists at AD.

When you are a "valued customer", you are always around the top of the list.

When you just walk in and ask for a Daytona, you are always at the bottom of the list. The only way to move up is (a) by luck, somehow the rest of the 50 people doesn't want the watch that you are looking for; or (b) start spending money. The more you spend, the faster and higher you move up the list.

My AD treats me quite nice and I got a few allocations, but never the most popular SS sports model. And we both know its because I don't spend enough on "the other things".

[Dirt]

I don't believe i have, or could have ever been considered a "whale".
And right from my first modern era purchase i was placed on "the list" for a hard to get watch.
How do i know?
Because i got the call out of the blue.

There are lists.
It comes down to how it's managed.

[Trogster]

Originally Posted by train-time

I agree it was a smart move and a very nice looking watch, but.... I would have never have given the business to the same dealer who didn't have the Daytona for him. I would have taken my money to another dealer that carries Omega and not a Rolex shop.

That's what he did.... took my business to the local Omega boutique.

[train-time]

Originally Posted by Trogster

That's what he did.... took my business to the local Omega boutique.

Well played! Love the Omega by the way

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by train-time

I agree it was a smart move and a very nice looking watch, but.... I would have never have given the business to the same dealer who didn't have the Daytona for him. I would have taken my money to another dealer that carries Omega and not a Rolex shop.

Agree totally.

[BraveBold]

Either there are lists or my AD has a fantastic memory.

So far I’ve received every watch I’ve asked for and was never offered any watch I did not want.

I suspect every AD behaves differently and that explains the widely divergent experiences.

[Ichiran]

I met 2 owners with the YG lemans at IAMWATCH. I doubt they got their lemans by having the fastest fingers calling their AD.

[Ravager135]

There's a list at most ADs. I've been on it. I've jumped the list also.

I can't speak for every AD, but at my own, if they know you and you're a repeat customer (even for small transactions) they will add you to the list. When pieces come in, the sales staff go over what their customers are waiting for and parse them out. I am sure there are certainly popular models that sit in the safe for "emergencies" or special occasions. I also am certain that big spenders go right to the front.

I've gotten a GMT-Master II in three days after asking and I've waited almost nine months to be called for blue dial YM that I no longer was interested it.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

NEWS FLASH: AD gives preferential treatment to a reliable buyer!

This proves nothing.

[derklink]

For the majority of people, there are lists. If your name is Mark Wahlberg, there are none.

[Obi Wan]

Some ADs have lists, some not. Just that. It is not a common policy given that the vast majority of them are independent and have different criteria.
If they are honest with their policy, wherever it is, magnificent. The problem comes when they don’t.

[rolexpatek363]

Dance! Or not. None of this is necessary.

Jay Leno won't buy a Ferrari.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by BraveBold

Either there are lists or my AD has a fantastic memory.

So far I’ve received every watch I’ve asked for and was never offered any watch I did not want.

I suspect every AD behaves differently and that explains the widely divergent experiences.

My SA has a list of the watches I want, and which take priority. So there ARE lists. If your AD likes you, you will get some of the watches on your list. I’m waiting on my 3rd Rolex from my AD. If your AD does not value your business, for whatever reason, they don’t have you on any list. Each AD runs their business in their own way.

Kat


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