Another Florida AD bites the dust

[lwrm23]

Bigham Jewelers in Naples Florida no longer an AD as of a couple weeks ago.

[MplsMN]

Yes, and as soon as they lost it, they converted all their unsold new stock into preowned, and sold it at huge premiums. Not a lot left anymore for 2024’s:

https://www.bighamjewelers.com/pre-o..._by=price-desc

[lwrm23]

Originally Posted by MplsMN

Yes, and as soon as they lost it, they converted all their unsold new stock into preowned, and sold it at huge premiums. Not a lot left anymore for 2024’s:

https://www.bighamjewelers.com/pre-o..._by=price-desc

You are probably right saw they had a 2024 Daytona with stickers on their social media for a ton

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by MplsMN

Yes, and as soon as they lost it, they converted all their unsold new stock into preowned, and sold it at huge premiums. Not a lot left anymore for 2024’s:

https://www.bighamjewelers.com/pre-o..._by=price-desc

oh well. The music is over for them. Let them cash in one last time.

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by MplsMN

Yes, and as soon as they lost it, they converted all their unsold new stock into preowned, and sold it at huge premiums. Not a lot left anymore for 2024’s:

https://www.bighamjewelers.com/pre-o..._by=price-desc

What?!?! You mean they had a vault full of watches when Rolex yanked their status? Surely not.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by lwrm23

Bigham Jewelers in Naples Florida no longer an AD as of a couple weeks ago.

Wow! I've been in there a couple of times. First time they were nice. Second time not so much. I haven't been back. I can't say I'm sorry they lost their AD.

[GB-man]

You really have to blow it to not be able to sell Rolex in Naples lol

[Equity]

Originally Posted by GB-man

You really have to blow it to not be able to sell Rolex in Naples lol

No kidding. I was just thinking that to myself as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by GB-man

You really have to blow it to not be able to sell Rolex in Naples lol

With Rolex SA revamping their entire manufacture-to-customer chain, I think it's entirely reasonable to see a lot more changes to retail outlets. I don't know anything about this AD but I'd be surprised if they lost their franchise because "they couldn't sell Rolex."

[Fleetlord]

This is an interesting demise.

They had a nice, modern looking (current buildout) store in a fantastic area...

But...

They are an independent. Bucherer took over the Torneau there and that was that.

It's ALWAYS better (for Rolex) to have less Rolex dealers in a market than more. So, off they go. More to follow as there are still too many Rolex dealers in Florida.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

This is an interesting demise.

They had a nice, modern looking (current buildout) store in a fantastic area...

But...

They are an independent. Bucherer took over the Torneau there and that was that.

It's ALWAYS better (for Rolex) to have less Rolex dealers in a market than more. So, off they go. More to follow as there are still too many Rolex dealers in Florida.

They can't be more than 4 or 5 miles from the AD at Waterside Shops mall on the same Tamiami Trail. A bit like "at home" where they pulled the Razny AD and left the Oak Brook Mall AD (CD Peacock) just a few miles away.

[train-time]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

This is an interesting demise.

They had a nice, modern looking (current buildout) store in a fantastic area...

But...

They are an independent. Bucherer took over the Torneau there and that was that.

It's ALWAYS better (for Rolex) to have less Rolex dealers in a market than more. So, off they go. More to follow as there are still too many Rolex dealers in Florida.

Exactly correct if not for anything else than to better manage relationships and oversee fewer franchise outlets. We experienced this when we purchased a franchise in the mid-nineties only to discover that effective with the upcoming millennium, corporate was changing their strategy for franchise dealers and were cutting margins which would require a dealer to purchase more locations to make the same profits. For the corporation, they would end up overseeing fewer and more successful dealers as well as increasing their profit margins per location. I suspect Rolex wants to weed out the one store locations and deal with the bigger multi location operations as well. Less hassle for them in the long run.

[Dr.Stu]

Took at the link posted above. How much crack are they smoking with those prices?

[ChronoZach]

No huge loss, and it’s old news, this could not happen to a more deserving AD.
I don’t think selling was the problem, more like how they were doing it? Telling people there was a 10 year wait list for a new Rolex and then saying we have plenty of new-pre owned 2024 in the case at premium prices? The cases were full of new Rolex.

So they were doing some type scam from back down, back to the front door.
Apparently the 30-40% margin as a Rolex AD was not enough? They wanted more since Naples is a very posh market and they can ask whatever they want. Pure Greed!

They will continue as a grey dealer! At market prices as I was told by the SA.

In my opinion they were stupid to lose Rolex because of greed, they are not that many Rolex ADs in Naples 2 and they were one of them, now just one Bucherer??
Which is impossible to get a watch from in most cases without a strong purchase history.


Cheers,

[DAGMoney]

Not my favorite AD - only a couple of visits, but they clearly were not interested in considering me as a potential purchaser of the crown, or anything else. Make me wonder wonder when the crown will decide they've done enough distribution consolidation for a while....

[ArtNouveau]

Although there were some other factors involved the first Houston area dealer to get axed a few years ago was also selling their hot models above MSRP. Sounds to me like this dealer pushed the limits of their contract a bit too far. Short term gains to give up long term profits.

[77T]

In the current Rolex environment there isn't really a need for storefronts, showrooms, or sales associates. Nor advertising, promotion, sponsorship, merchandising, or distribution costs.

Rolex is the new Ozempic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[StocksnBlondes]

Too many ADs in FL so I’m sure there will be more cuts.

[dnd2984]

We have two in our Tampa area. One is a small family owned AD, I could see them going away.

[Kinnakeet]

Surprised it took this long and I suspect the small one in Tampa won’t will go the same way.

[Kinnakeet]

There was a time when there was approx 10 Rolex dealers in the Orlando area alone, 2 in one mall. Now just one.

[1William]

Such is business.

[brandrea]

Less is more

[Calatrava r]

I thought Rolex picked up all unsold stock immediately upon agency termination and reimbursed the dealer its cost to prevent, in the past what was price slashing and now in the current market would be price gouging by an ex-dealer.

[Watch_aficionado]

Kiefers may be next. I have a co-worker that's been on a list for almost 2 years, and nothing. He has spend history also. He had someone tell him they sell the popular models to the owners church friends. It would be a shame to see them lose their franchise though, but if people aren't getting watches, will it really matter?

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by Watch_aficionado

He had someone tell him they sell the popular models to the owners church friends.

Someone I know worked for a local AD for a while back in like 2016. They absolutely had a "secret" / "hidden" inventory system that he found . . . along with quite a few ss Daytonas that the owner had reserved for his discretion.

There's plenty of preferential treatment going on in the watch world.

[Rollieplz]

Originally Posted by Watch_aficionado

Kiefers may be next. I have a co-worker that's been on a list for almost 2 years, and nothing. He has spend history also. He had someone tell him they sell the popular models to the owners church friends. It would be a shame to see them lose their franchise though, but if people aren't getting watches, will it really matter?

You’ll never get a call from this place, they will just spam you with texts about buying Jewelery…..

[LndLord]

Originally Posted by Rollieplz

You’ll never get a call from this place, they will just spam you with texts about buying Jewelery…..

Sound like another jeweler

[Watch_aficionado]

Originally Posted by Rollieplz

You’ll never get a call from this place, they will just spam you with texts about buying Jewelery…..

I don't have my name in there, too far away. I fly into Tampa though and have been to Mayors, but my "primary" Mayors is in another city. One thing I don't know is if one Mayors cancels my list at another (seriously). But I'll never get a watch anywhere, I swear I just have zero luck... I just buy on the grey.

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by Watch_aficionado

I don't have my name in there, too far away. I fly into Tampa though and have been to Mayors, but my "primary" Mayors is in another city. One thing I don't know is if one Mayors cancels my list at another (seriously). But I'll never get a watch anywhere, I swear I just have zero luck... I just buy on the grey.

Should be all linked together.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk