Rolex, online?

[Speedbird-1]

I can now order and purchase, a Mercedes-Benz, online, direct from Stuttgart.

Why not a Rolex, from Geneva?

[teck21]

Online ordering systems are very useful for manufacturers that are aiming to fulfil all customer orders if they are able to for an on going product.

They are terrible when the objective is to have a constant and consistent overhang of demand.

What good is such a system when there will easily be 10 orders for every 1 Daytona available?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Casotakar]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I can now order and purchase, a Mercedes-Benz, online, direct from Stuttgart.



Why not a Rolex, from Geneva?

Pretty funny huh. But I’ll say it does make it more special not just anyone can get one. Gotta be AD, grey, or super famous.

Originally Posted by teck21

Online ordering systems are very useful for manufacturers that are aiming to fulfil all customer orders if they are able to for an on going product.

They are terrible when the objective is to have a constant and consistent overhang of demand.

What good is such a system when there will easily be 10 orders for every 1 Daytona available?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well….what good is such a system where everyone who wants one but can’t get one brown noses an AD for years or pays quadruple the price? lol. No system is perfect but sounds a lot better than what we’ve got now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[2loaded]

Wouldn't want to miss out on the champagne at the boutique or the AMG lounge when taking delivery..

[teck21]

Originally Posted by Casotakar

Pretty funny huh. But I’ll say it does make it more special not just anyone can get one. Gotta be AD, grey, or super famous.



Well….what good is such a system where everyone who wants one but can’t get one brown noses an AD for years or pays quadruple the price? lol. No system is perfect but sounds a lot better than what we’ve got now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Under current production and demand conditions, whatever reasons you think such an online ordering system would benefit the average buyer, you ought to reconsider them.

And your argument presupposes that anyone who wants one at MSRP should be able to get one.

I cannot see why anyone would think like that, so we would be arguing at cross purposes anyway.

And to avoid derailing the thread, I’ll just say this: an online ordering system of this sort would make the situation worse for the average buyer, not better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RolexSimon]

Originally Posted by Casotakar

Pretty funny huh. But I’ll say it does make it more special not just anyone can get one. Gotta be AD, grey, or super famous.



Well….what good is such a system where everyone who wants one but can’t get one brown noses an AD for years or pays quadruple the price? lol. No system is perfect but sounds a lot better than what we’ve got now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hardly "brown noses for years". All you have to be is a decent human being who loves watches and can talk watches with your AD. Buy one or 2 watches from other brands to prove you're just not a Rolex flipper and you'll be fine.
I agree - on-line just allows the computer-tech scalpers to buy all the available watches within a milli-second from when they pop up.

[ks58]

Just work with your local AD.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by ks58

Just work with your local AD.

I don't need another job. I retired many years ago.

[Casotakar]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I don't need another job. I retired many years ago.

lol. Nice. What watch you looking to buy?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I can now order and purchase, a Mercedes-Benz, online, direct from Stuttgart.

Why not a Rolex, from Geneva?

Oh here we go
Online they’ll struggle to identify who preferred clients are.

[Brew]

Rolex has outsourced its on-line delivery operations to DSW . . . .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by Brew

Rolex has outsourced its on-line delivery operations to DSW . . . .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Xerxes77]

I think not …

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I can now order and purchase, a Mercedes-Benz, online, direct from Stuttgart.

Why not a Rolex, from Geneva?

Just a guess. I expect there would be a 50-100 year waiting list within 24 hours of the site going live, assuming you can even get on it.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Casotakar

lol. Nice. What watch you looking to buy?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Why d'you ask?

[telesquire]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Just a guess. I expect there would be a 50-100 year waiting list within 24 hours of the site going live, assuming you can even get on it.

There would be no list...live available stock, snooze you loose. They'd just read 'Unavailable' when there was no stock. Its not like you are ordering individual tailor made items like car specs. Then we'd end up with even more 'greys' and the whole system would fall apart. So its unlikely to happen. I can however see a future with Rolex SA owned showrooms in the major cities. Now that does make sense. None of these practices of making you buy non Rolex product by AD's just to get a chance of buying a Sub or Daytona. Nonsense. The greys have actually more scruples than some of your AD's.

[BroncoOne]

Why should Rolex ever consider changing a bulletproof business model? It controls not only its own market, but the market for all Swiss watches by a wide margin.

Rolex sells every single watch of every type that it manufactures every single year, even before the hype/social media/ free government money/FOMO/ new people with money in Asia or whatever you want to call it that is stimulating giant demand now.

It ships whatever it makes to ADs who have to buy whatever is in the box, whether it is a steal Daytona or a Cellini.

Rolex avoids dealing with the general public and all the risk of retail business. It doesn’t have 50,000 people a day emailing them about the steel Daytona that they want and can’t be forced to buy that Cellini. Who wants to deal with the public when you don’t have to?

[zengineer]

Dear Rolex Board of Directors,

You know that thing where you sell all the watches you want to make at a price you set.... you know, where you sell to retailers so you don't have to deal with retail?

I think you need to change it.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Brew

Rolex has outsourced its on-line delivery operations to DSW . . . .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[brandrea]

I truly hope Rolex keeps it old school.

Something about online ordering cheapens the brand image to me … notwithstanding what the OP says about Mercedes

[askdanny]

It’s Switzerland.

Yes, in 30 years.

[alphadweller]

Surely you'll miss the fun of being laughed at by the SA at the AD when inquiring about a Sub, Daytona or GMT? And what about all those great diamonds and other watches you're asked to buy in order to build an abusive relationship? Direct buying is cheating and is not even fun.

[Robf52]

Yes, let's have another 100 million people vying for 1 million pieces.

[sj24k]

Yeah, if only Rolex could figure out how to market and sell watches. Hopefully they're scouring fanboy forums for advice.

[IamJacky]

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

I can now order and purchase, a Mercedes-Benz, online, direct from Stuttgart.

Why not a Rolex, from Geneva?

Even if they do, the site will just say "out of stock" for most of the popular models, you'll be essentially visiting a digital AD anyway.

[Raku]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I truly hope Rolex keeps it old school.

Something about online ordering cheapens the brand image to me … notwithstanding what the OP says about Mercedes

And walking into an AD and being laughed at for asking for a steel watch doesn't cheapen it?

What about the fact that Chrono24 has 663 brand new steel Daytonas from grey market sellers at a price 2.5 times RRP while your AD is quoting a 5-10 year wait? Does that not cheapen the brand image?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Raku

And walking into an AD and being laughed at for asking for a steel watch doesn't cheapen it?



What about the fact that Chrono24 has 663 brand new steel Daytonas from grey market sellers at a price 2.5 times RRP while your AD is quoting a 5-10 year wait? Does that not cheapen the brand image?

I'm sorry if that's been your experience.

My AD experience is the polar opposite of what you describe.

I do feel for new collectors, but building an online sales platform would only exacerbate the situation IMHO


Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Mifune]

Originally Posted by teck21

Online ordering systems are very useful for manufacturers that are aiming to fulfil all customer orders if they are able to for an on going product.

They are terrible when the objective is to have a constant and consistent overhang of demand.

What good is such a system when there will easily be 10 orders for every 1 Daytona available?

NOT entirely true... if you limit production numbers.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by Brew

Rolex has outsourced its on-line delivery operations to DSW . . . .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

That’s exactly what purpose the grey market serves…as well as fueling FOMO via advertising value retention and appreciation.

[telesquire]

Originally Posted by BroncoOne

Why should Rolex ever consider changing a bulletproof business model? It controls not only its own market, but the market for all Swiss watches by a wide margin.

Rolex sells every single watch of every type that it manufactures every single year, even before the hype/social media/ free government money/FOMO/ new people with money in Asia or whatever you want to call it that is stimulating giant demand now.

It ships whatever it makes to ADs who have to buy whatever is in the box, whether it is a steal Daytona or a Cellini.

Rolex avoids dealing with the general public and all the risk of retail business. It doesn’t have 50,000 people a day emailing them about the steel Daytona that they want and can’t be forced to buy that Cellini. Who wants to deal with the public when you don’t have to?

I wouldn't think they are too happy with the current situation, they are already trying to clamp down on flippers and the AD's who sell to them. Its not about profit to Rolex, they aren't like ANY other corporation. Its about protecting the brand, maintaining its longevity and upholding its values.