My Recent AD Experience

[bmock17]

This post is a bit long, so bear with me.

My wife and I go down to Cabo San Lucas multiple times per year. For those of you that have been, there is 1 AD in town. Every time we go I convince myself this is going to be the trip where they are going to have something for me and each trip I go home empty handed. We were just there again last Wednesday through this Monday.

Thursday night we walk into the AD and of course the cases were empty. Nothing at all. We were talking to one of the sales people and we told her about the watch my wife was looking for. She took our information down and said she will let us know if anything comes in. I then walked over to the Panerai watches and tried on a couple of those that caught my eye. I didn’t purchase anything and we left.

The next day, Friday afternoon, I get a text from the sales person with a picture of a watch for my wife that they magically got in the 18 hours since we were there. I showed it to her and she didn’t like it, it was yellow gold and she prefers the rose gold. I politely declined but said if they get any of the pieces in that I was interested in to please let me know. I told her specifically, I would really like a 41mm date just with the Wimbledon dial and non-fluted bezel. A couple minutes later she sends me a picture from the Rolex website of the watch I was describing, to confirm that was it. I confirmed and 5 minutes later she called me.

She said they have one coming in, but it is already reserved for a client. She said in the very small possibility that this person doesn’t want it, would I be interested? I said of course I would. She then asked if I was going to buy the Panerai too. Knowing where this was going I told her I could possibly purchase both. She then told me she would let me know by Sunday.

On Saturday my wife and I were back in town and we went into another store that was AD for Zenith, Corum, and a few others. They had 2 of the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster’s with the white dial. I really like this watch and they were going to give me 10% off the MSRP plus you get the tax credit. I was just about to pull the trigger and my wife said to hold off and see what happens with the Rolex. Being an instant gratification type of person, I wasn’t thrilled with that idea, but I agreed.

It’s now Sunday, the big day. We are going to get our Covid tests when the woman from the Rolex AD calls. She tells me the Wimbledon DJ is available, but I would need to buy the Panerai as well. I agreed and we went down to the store and purchased both.

I am thrilled that I was able to purchase this watch and MSRP, plus I will get the 8% tax credit back. I felt a little dirty about having to buy the Panerai as well, but we all know this is the game they play. My hope is that I will have an AD I can continue to go to for pieces I am interested in and not have to pay those gray market prices. I told the sales person that we will be back at the end of March and to let me know if they get anything in between now and then.

If you made it through my whole story, thanks! Now here is my obligatory wrist shot:

[telesquire]

Nice watch. However there was no other client....sales people...they lie. I was one once. Loving their sales bribe. Rolex should be proud of them....not. Will you keep the Panerai?

[Dougiebaby]

Originally Posted by bmock17

This post is a bit long, so bear with me.

My wife and I go down to Cabo San Lucas multiple times per year. For those of you that have been, there is 1 AD in town. Every time we go I convince myself this is going to be the trip where they are going to have something for me and each trip I go home empty handed. We were just there again last Wednesday through this Monday.

Thursday night we walk into the AD and of course the cases were empty. Nothing at all. We were talking to one of the sales people and we told her about the watch my wife was looking for. She took our information down and said she will let us know if anything comes in. I then walked over to the Panerai watches and tried on a couple of those that caught my eye. I didn’t purchase anything and we left.

The next day, Friday afternoon, I get a text from the sales person with a picture of a watch for my wife that they magically got in the 18 hours since we were there. I showed it to her and she didn’t like it, it was yellow gold and she prefers the rose gold. I politely declined but said if they get any of the pieces in that I was interested in to please let me know. I told her specifically, I would really like a 41mm date just with the Wimbledon dial and non-fluted bezel. A couple minutes later she sends me a picture from the Rolex website of the watch I was describing, to confirm that was it. I confirmed and 5 minutes later she called me.

She said they have one coming in, but it is already reserved for a client. She said in the very small possibility that this person doesn’t want it, would I be interested? I said of course I would. She then asked if I was going to buy the Panerai too. Knowing where this was going I told her I could possibly purchase both. She then told me she would let me know by Sunday.

On Saturday my wife and I were back in town and we went into another store that was AD for Zenith, Corum, and a few others. They had 2 of the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster’s with the white dial. I really like this watch and they were going to give me 10% off the MSRP plus you get the tax credit. I was just about to pull the trigger and my wife said to hold off and see what happens with the Rolex. Being an instant gratification type of person, I wasn’t thrilled with that idea, but I agreed.

It’s now Sunday, the big day. We are going to get our Covid tests when the woman from the Rolex AD calls. She tells me the Wimbledon DJ is available, but I would need to buy the Panerai as well. I agreed and we went down to the store and purchased both.

I am thrilled that I was able to purchase this watch and MSRP, plus I will get the 8% tax credit back. I felt a little dirty about having to buy the Panerai as well, but we all know this is the game they play. My hope is that I will have an AD I can continue to go to for pieces I am interested in and not have to pay those gray market prices. I told the sales person that we will be back at the end of March and to let me know if they get anything in between now and then.

If you made it through my whole story, thanks! Now here is my obligatory wrist shot:

Congrats. To be honest, I would have picked up the white Zenith in that scenario, but the Wimbledon is a sweet watch!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CoveWatch]

Sometimes you just have to pay to play. In this scenario, as long as you wanted the Panerai also, it seems like you came out ahead then. Congrats!

[norcalctr]

Congrats on the purchase! Not great to have to purchase a Panerai for the Wimbleton, but hopefully you like the Panerai as much. You can tell the SA would only sell a Rolex to a customer with no purchase history by purchasing another brand at the same time.

[Cigars&Watches]

Congrats. Thanks for sharing.

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by telesquire

Nice watch. However there was no other client....sales people...they lie. I was one once. Loving their sales bribe. Rolex should be proud of them....not. Will you keep the Panerai?

Oh I am fully aware there was no other client. They were probably holding for some big fish that would come in and spend 10x what I did. Lucky for me that didn’t happen this past weekend

Originally Posted by Dougiebaby

Congrats. To be honest, I would have picked up the white Zenith in that scenario, but the Wimbledon is a sweet watch!

I kept going back and fourth. If they still have the Zenith in March when we go back I will probably pick it up. The thing is it’s a easier to get the Zenith from an AD than any of the Rolex watches I am interested in.


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Originally Posted by CoveWatch

Sometimes you just have to pay to play. In this scenario, as long as you wanted the Panerai also, it seems like you came out ahead then. Congrats!

I do like the Panerai, but I already listed it in the classified section. To be honest, I haven’t even taken it out of the box except to take pictures of it for my classified listing. If I can get what what I paid for it, which is about 10% below MSRP than I will sell it. Otherwise I will keep it.

Originally Posted by norcalctr

Congrats on the purchase! Not great to have to purchase a Panerai for the Wimbleton, but hopefully you like the Panerai as much. You can tell the SA would only sell a Rolex to a customer with no purchase history by purchasing another brand at the same time.

I know, it’s really unfortunate this is what it has come to. There are true watch lovers out there (like most of us) who want the watch to wear and enjoy it, not to turn around and sell it for 50%, 75% , or 100% more than what they paid. That is a whole other conversation though.

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by Cigars&Watches

Congrats. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks!

[WatchesNBlondes]

Great story and thanks for sharing. Cool ending you got the watch you want too.

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by WatchesNBlondes

Great story and thanks for sharing. Cool ending you got the watch you want too.

Thank you! To be honest, I am still a little bit shocked that I got it. I know the games these AD’s play and I am probably one of the smallest fish they will deal with.They must have been having a slow week or got tired of seeing me in there. I’m thrilled though!

[cbalster]

Originally Posted by bmock17

Thank you! To be honest, I am still a little bit shocked that I got it. I know the games these AD’s play and I am probably one of the smallest fish they will deal with.They must have been having a slow week or got tired of seeing me in there. I’m thrilled though!

I want a picture of the Panerai too. I've seen a million Wimbledons and I will always love Panerai too so please post a pic

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by cbalster

I want a picture of the Panerai too. I've seen a million Wimbledons and I will always love Panerai too so please post a pic

Here you go. It’s the Pam01270 which is one of their newer models. It’s a 40mm case which fits my wrist a lot better than some of their larger watches.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by bmock17

Here you go. It’s the Pam01270 which is one of their newer models. It’s a 40mm case which fits my wrist a lot better than some of their larger watches.

That Panerai dial is stunning.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[samuel019]

I assume you mean the A D next to the marina in Cabo. Ya know the one with guys holding what looked like assault rifles lol. Sorry I'm not a gun guy

I stopped by there in April last year while I was visiting Cabo for a week or so. Stopped by a couple times wearing my SDK and they had a few DJ's in stock. Probably the same one in TT you mentioned. Staff basically just watched my wife and I walk around. No biggie. Wasnt expecting any miracles

[samuel019]

Btw congrats on both of your new pickups. Happy for you that you had a successful trip all the way around.

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

That Panerai dial is stunning.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. I bought the Pam01313 last year which is essentially the same watch but in a 44mm size. I ended up selling it because it was too big for my wrist. The blue dial is amazing.

Originally Posted by samuel019

I assume you mean the A D next to the marina in Cabo. Ya know the one with guys holding what looked like assault rifles lol. Sorry I'm not a gun guy

I stopped by there in April last year while I was visiting Cabo for a week or so. Stopped by a couple times wearing my SDK and they had a few DJ's in stock. Probably the same one in TT you mentioned. Staff basically just watched my wife and I walk around. No biggie. Wasnt expecting any miracles

Haha, that’s the one. They usually brush us off too. I think the only reason we got any attention the first night we went is because it was 15 minutes before closing time and they were probably trying to get rid of us. The amount of money down there is ridiculous. I went in there a couple times last year with my sub, Panerai, or air king on and they didn’t look twice, not that those are flashy watches anyways. We were down there for NYE during the last week of 2019, right before the pandemic started, and there was a guy in there buying at least 5 watches and some jewelry for his wife. He was buying a GMT and a green sub but I couldn’t see the other pieces.

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by samuel019

Btw congrats on both of your new pickups. Happy for you that you had a successful trip all the way around.

And thank you!

[Vamp]

first post in quite awhile, lol but we are now having to purchase another watch for a basic ass Datejust!!? Wow the market has gone somewhere else. Congrats on the watch you wanted though!

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by Vamp

first post in quite awhile, lol but we are now having to purchase another watch for a basic ass Datejust!!? Wow the market has gone somewhere else. Congrats on the watch you wanted though!

Interesting. I’m not sure how to take that. I guess I need to aspire to be more if all I wanted was a “basic ass date just”. I’m happy with my peasant watch though.

[BillA]

OP
This was a great story…….up to to the point you got “bundled”.

And as far as someone else wanting the Wimbledon and then not taking it, you got sold a bunch of BS. She told you that to keep you on the hook, and you bit. And then she sold you two watches. She is probably the sales person of the day at that AD.

[CarlOver]

Congratulations.

[samuel019]

Originally Posted by bmock17

I agree. I bought the Pam01313 last year which is essentially the same watch but in a 44mm size. I ended up selling it because it was too big for my wrist. The blue dial is amazing.



Haha, that’s the one. They usually brush us off too. I think the only reason we got any attention the first night we went is because it was 15 minutes before closing time and they were probably trying to get rid of us. The amount of money down there is ridiculous. I went in there a couple times last year with my sub, Panerai, or air king on and they didn’t look twice, not that those are flashy watches anyways. We were down there for NYE during the last week of 2019, right before the pandemic started, and there was a guy in there buying at least 5 watches and some jewelry for his wife. He was buying a GMT and a green sub but I couldn’t see the other pieces.

Originally Posted by bmock17

And thank you!

Yes there is. Our hotel faced the marina and there was some mega yacht that I googled just for kicks and as it turned out it had a lot of fame online. I dont remember how many millions but it was waaaaay up there. We had a great time. But thats another story. Congrats again.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by BillA

OP
This was a great story…….up to to the point you got “bundled”.

And as far as someone else wanting the Wimbledon and then not taking it, you got sold a bunch of BS. She told you that to keep you on the hook, and you bit. And then she sold you two watches. She is probably the sales person of the day at that AD.

This 1000%.

[Vamp]

Originally Posted by bmock17

Interesting. I’m not sure how to take that. I guess I need to aspire to be more if all I wanted was a “basic ass date just”. I’m happy with my peasant watch though.

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend. Just historical DJs aren’t anywhere near professional watches in terms of “pretend” exclusivity. With professional watches; that buy this one for that one has been going on for sometime now (3 plus years)

[buffetwarren]

Very disappointing tactics by the sales person. The Rolex wasn’t really sold at MSRP since another watch needed to be purchased with it.

[Chiboy]

Congrats on getting the watch you wanted. Hopefully you can break even on the one you didn't really want. I do wonder why people think that if they get bundled at the beginning of a relationship that it would ever be any different? If they can get you to buy something you don't want, that they have a hard time moving, why would they in the future NOT ask you to do that? You've already showed that you're willing to help them with offloading.

Anyway, this is the state of the market, and it looks like you got the watch you wanted, which is a nice one. So that's a win!

[Lew Archer]

I'm glad you got the Rolex you really wanted. And, that Panerai is a handsome watch, in its own right. I like the smaller size and suspect they wear big enough! If you wind up keeping it, I'm sure it will be a worthy piece in your collection.

[arcampado]

Nice pickup! Congrats

[Pw92676]

Enjoy. I like both!

[bmock17]

Originally Posted by BillA

OP
This was a great story…….up to to the point you got “bundled”.

And as far as someone else wanting the Wimbledon and then not taking it, you got sold a bunch of BS. She told you that to keep you on the hook, and you bit. And then she sold you two watches. She is probably the sales person of the day at that AD.

Of course it was a crock of shit, I am well aware. I don’t dislike the Panerai at all, but if I can get back what I paid for it then great. If not, I will keep it.

Originally Posted by CarlOver

Congratulations.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by samuel019

Yes there is. Our hotel faced the marina and there was some mega yacht that I googled just for kicks and as it turned out it had a lot of fame online. I dont remember how many millions but it was waaaaay up there. We had a great time. But thats another story. Congrats again.

The first time my wife and I went there, about 15 years ago, we had lunch at one of the bars on the marina and Sergio Garcia was sitting right next to us with his then girlfriend. He was a really cool guy and his girlfriend was pretty down to earth.

Originally Posted by walds11

This 1000%.

Again, I am aware it was a sales tactic. In the end though I got the Rolex I wanted and the Panerai I was interested in too. Certainly not the end of the world.

Originally Posted by Vamp

I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend. Just historical DJs aren’t anywhere near professional watches in terms of “pretend” exclusivity. With professional watches; that buy this one for that one has been going on for sometime now (3 plus years)

None taken

Originally Posted by buffetwarren

Very disappointing tactics by the sales person. The Rolex wasn’t really sold at MSRP since another watch needed to be purchased with it.

I guess you can look at it that way too. However, in Cabo there is no sales tax and you actually get a refund of what the sales tax amount would have been; about 8%. I paid MSRP for the watch and have a refund of roughly $700. I’m happy with that. Like I said already, I don’t dislike the Panerai either. I’m happy to keep that as well. I told my wife I would try to sell it. If I can’t get what I paid than I will keep it.