The harsh and sad reality of modern steel Rolex sports watches.

[toomuchtalk]

Sorry for the long winded title...

And this is in not new news to those who are keen followers on here.

Yet, today I was saddened...

A life long friend is just turning 50 and also celebrating 25 years of marriage. And his wife wanted to buy him a Rolex GMT master, as he is in the Air Force..

So he messaged me to ask the best place to get one, as they were both real excited after looking at the Rolex website....

And today we sat and had coffee whilst looking at the website...

I called my ad. Who said there was no chance... Try the grey market they said..

And his wife said; " what's the point of the website then, showing all the sports models...if you can't buy one...."

I thought it sad, that a person who wants to treat thier husband with a nice watch, can't....unless they go into the Grey market and pay extra...

[Swaye]

It is a sad state of affairs. I don't get all hot and bothered over it anymore. It is what it is, and it isn't changing for quite awhile I'd bet, but it would be nice for people like this to be able to walk into a store and get the Rolex they want to mark a nice life event.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Swaye

It is a sad state of affairs. I don't get all hot and bothered over it anymore. It is what it is, and it isn't changing for quite awhile I'd bet, but it would be nice for people like this to be able to walk into a store and get the Rolex they want to mark a nice life event.

I think that's what saddened me,

We all know what the score is. But my friends didn't, and they were pretty shocked...

[inadeje]

The problem is that people who say it’s their birthday, marriage, anniversary or other important event end up being messengers and scouts for grey dealers. ADs have seen every ploy a million times and are wise to it. On the other hand, there are ADs who simply don’t see the point in selling a 12k watch for 12k when the next day its worth 24k on the grey market so, they do “bridge-sales” to known people, posing as normal in-state buyers who invariably then act as the go-between to reap the handsome windfall after the fact. The only solutions are: 1. Rolex calms the market by increasing production 2. Citizens of China and other upwardly mobile economies fall out of love with luxury items like Rolex. As neither 1 nor 2 will happen, we should all get used to the new normal.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by inadeje

The problem is that people who say it’s their birthday, marriage, anniversary or other important event end up being messengers and scouts for grey dealers. ADs have seen every ploy a million times and are wise to it. On the other hand, there are ADs who simply don’t see the point in selling a 12k watch for 12k when the next day its worth 24k on the grey market so, they do “bridge-sales” to known people, posing as normal in-state buyers who invariably then act as the go-between to reap the handsome windfall after the fact. The only solutions are: 1. Rolex calms the market by increasing production 2. Citizens of China and other upwardly mobile economies fall out of love with luxury items like Rolex. As neither 1 nor 2 will happen, we should all get used to the new normal.

Good point, but the innocent person who just wants to actually celebrate 25 years of marriage and thier husbands 50th get left out...

[henrylee]

Unfortunately luxury items are just luxuries. But if they want a popular Rolex watch they can do two things, 1. Get on the list at the AD in hopes of being called or 2. Skip the lines and buy grey. I want to buy another watch to celebrate the birth of my second child but no luck either.

[enjoythemusic]

Just because you see something online doesn't mean it's available. Same for those who want a Birkin bag, Ford F40, many different models of Ferrari.... Besides, many ADs are incredibly UNreliabe nowadays. Rolex needs to remove AD status, especially from chain stores.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Swaye

It is a sad state of affairs. I don't get all hot and bothered over it anymore. It is what it is, and it isn't changing for quite awhile I'd bet, but it would be nice for people like this to be able to walk into a store and get the Rolex they want to mark a nice life event.

Off topic: Great collection you have there in your signature swaye

[betterwatchit]

Perhaps non transferable warranty would solve the problem? Surely this would stem the secondary market? And, no lists or bundling. First come, first served.

[Swaye]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Off topic: Great collection you have there in your signature swaye

Thanks buddy! Hey, I'd give away a limb for a nice birth year 5513 so you have a sweet collection going yourself!

It's funny. I came to Rolex collecting late (just a couple years ago). I started, like so many, with Breitling and Omega. Had a pretty nice sampling of them, and a couple Zeniths and NOMOS as well. Was on business in Switzerland in early 2017 and walked into an AD there and instantly fell in love with a Hulk. On display. They had piles in the back they said. Heh. I bought it. Few months later bought the Milgauss. Then over two years sold off every other watch I had to finance this modest collection. Rolex collecting - when you start it's an addiction!

Also, I could kick myself for slow rolling the move to Rolex over a couple year period! If I just would have bought everything I loved 2 years ago instead of doing it slowly I would have saved 10 grand or more! Oh well. I have had fun assembling it! What a good clean hobby. Keeps me out of the bars. Sometimes.

[crazymcmichael]

I agree it is sad.. But also for us, lusting after timepieces we can't get..
Not tat we can't pay the premium but do we want to pay a premium? I definitely DON'T !

[timedate]

not my definition of sad,

just go on the omega website, or the grand seiko

[tjs00]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Sorry for the long winded title...

And this is in not new news to those who are keen followers on here.

Yet, today I was saddened...

A life long friend is just turning 50 and also celebrating 25 years of marriage. And his wife wanted to buy him a Rolex GMT master, as he is in the Air Force..

So he messaged me to ask the best place to get one, as they were both real excited after looking at the Rolex website....

And today we sat and had coffee whilst looking at the website...

I called my ad. Who said there was no chance... Try the grey market they said..

And his wife said; " what's the point of the website then, showing all the sports models...if you can't buy one...."

I thought it sad, that a person who wants to treat thier husband with a nice watch, can't....unless they go into the Grey market and pay extra...

Plenty of other watches out there with arguably better value for your dollar.

[P2725TMB]

This is the main reason I've washed my hands of Rolex. I will keep the examples I have, but I won't pay over the odds for more. Its not the money itself, it's that the watches simply aren't worth over list price, not to me anyway.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Sorry for the long winded title...

And this is in not new news to those who are keen followers on here.

Yet, today I was saddened...

A life long friend is just turning 50 and also celebrating 25 years of marriage. And his wife wanted to buy him a Rolex GMT master, as he is in the Air Force..

So he messaged me to ask the best place to get one, as they were both real excited after looking at the Rolex website....

And today we sat and had coffee whilst looking at the website...

I called my ad. Who said there was no chance... Try the grey market they said..

And his wife said; " what's the point of the website then, showing all the sports models...if you can't buy one...."

I thought it sad, that a person who wants to treat thier husband with a nice watch, can't....unless they go into the Grey market and pay extra...

A bit sad, but that’s just the market. It’s the same with many cars and other luxury goods in many cases.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Good point, but the innocent person who just wants to actually celebrate 25 years of marriage and thier husbands 50th get left out...

There are plenty of other brands of fine Swiss watches out there. Find something else, or pony up for the nearly 100% grey market premium. This is the environment most are in unfortunately. It is a sellers market and it is pay big $$ to play or don't play the game.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by betterwatchit

Perhaps non transferable warranty would solve the problem? Surely this would stem the secondary market? And, no lists or bundling. First come, first served.

This how they were I believe. Yes, it would solve a lot of issues. Why let the warranty follow the watch. A warranty is a perk to the retail purchaser and is an incentive to buy new as opposed to used.

[Calatrava r]

Its purely supply and demand, of course, but Rolex watches are fine at their MSRP but they are not worth the double that price used. Eventually, that reality will sit in and Rolex will quit the games and supply a normal amount of product as they only a few years ago. Otherwise, the overall demand for the products will turn south.

[jsausley]

It's not really sad. I get what you're trying to say, but why should this couple jump in front of the line of every other individual who is waiting for the watch? They can wait like everyone else or buy it gray market. A lot of people buying these watches have something special to celebrate, not just this couple.

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

This how they were I believe. Yes, it would solve a lot of issues. Why let the warranty follow the watch. A warranty is a perk to the retail purchaser and is an incentive to buy new as opposed to used.

This is such a horrible idea. It would screw over anyone who buys a Rolex brand new as it would immediately cause them to be worth significantly less as soon as you walk out of the store. There's a very good reason that warranties on not just watches, but also cars, guns and other items, are transferrable -- it adds value to the piece. I would not have bought any of my Rolex watches if the warranty was not transferable. Retained value is very important for a lot of us.

[Masteryacht]

It’s crazy how it mainly used to just be the Daytona that was hard to get and now it’s nearly every watch they make in the sports models. It seems really stupid to advertise like they do and then make the watches so hard to get. I’m losing interest myself because of it. I’m glad the watches I have, have gone up in value so much, but I would much rather be able to go to an AD and buy what I want and maybe get a discount on it. As the people on this forum will tell you, “watches are meant to be worn, not to be an investment.” You can’t wear it if you can’t buy it.

[HypeChaser]

rolex has this figured out pretty well. They took a page out of Nike's and Adidas book on marketing. Create a shortage and a secondary market will get created which in turn will create more demand and hype as most people want what they cant have.

This is nothing new in other sector's and Nike is doing just fine.

[subtona]

Agree it is difficult to digest. A nice watch is a great way to punctuate the milestones of marriage and a significant birthday.

There are many great brands out there that could mark the occasion and having a friend in you is a big leg up to finding a perfect alternative... or they could bite the bullet like so many others and you can point them to a grade A gray dealer so they don’t have to navigate those unfamiliar waters.

After 25 years of being together, they have each proven their resourcefulness at resolving problems and finding compromise, navigating the current watch market should be a bunt for them. Congratulations to your friends on their significant anniversary!

[BigPapiDoesItAgain]

I’m lucky - I live in a medium sized city where the demand seems to run toward PM and TT models and have a nice relationship with one of the two ADs in the town. I’ve bought a GMT II LN and Exp Mk 2 in the last 6 weeks, just walking in. They don’t hoard at this dealer, but will call if you ask them to when something comes in. In other words, normal commerce. Very pleasant to see.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HypeChaser]

If you are getting discounts, then that is the real value an AD sees on the watch to be able to move it.

I remember a few years ago every dealer would give me a hulk for $7500ish. (9000 retail) . is that really a discount or the true value of the watch since everyone is offering it like that?


dont be fooled by an msrp, where the selling price is the true value.

[biscotti]

It really is a sad state of affairs for first time buyers wanting a SS Rolex. Without a previous AD relationship there are only two options. Grey or wait list at an AD that is willing to put you on this list. As others have often mentioned, you may get lucky in a smaller AD in a smaller center.

[Loevhagen]

Let her buy a vacation instead. Much better for all parties and so much more memorable.

The most important things in life are not objects, but experience real life with others.

[Brew]

Sorry, I don't feel sorry for anyone who can't buy a Rolex. I save that for real problems.

[johnk]

nm.

[SeaAndSky]

One thing’s certain. “There’s too much talk” on the subject. ; )

[RJRJRJ]

I wouldn't say sad, maybe annoying if anything. They just happen to want an item that thousands of other people are also lining up for.