Rolex AD got rid of waitlist

[rand8086]

I went with my girlfriend to the Rolex AD where I happened to put my name on the waitlist circa 2017 for a GMT or Sub as a first watch, as she is looking for a DJ.

I long since gave up on ever hearing back, but asked out of curiosity as I was already there, if they could look up my name or phone number to see where I am currently on the list.

Was told without looking they no longer have a wait list and that I would need to buy some other watches first before I could buy one.

Apparently, Tourneau purchased this AD since my last visit and the waitlist was thrown into the trash bin.

[Oxfordian]

2017 to 2022 and this is the first time you have been back to the store?

[beshannon]

Welcome to the forum.

There never was a waitlist

[Harry-57]

"We don't have wait lists" usually means "we don't intend to sell you a Rolex". I suspect that if you visited a few times a year, bought some stuff, got to know them a bit and established a rapport, the existence of a wait list might be revealed to you. Whether or not you would be put on it would remain to be seen.

My AD doesn't behave like this. We visit several times a year for purchases (usually nothing ultra expensive and often discounted) and have been doing so for over 20 years. This doesn't necessarily put us miles in front of a first time cold caller, but it counts for something.

[Moondoggy]

The day I have to form a disingenuous relationship with AN AD is the day I have sold my soul to however.

[911991]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

The day I have to form a disingenuous relationship with AN AD is the day I have sold my soul to however.

[m j b]

Originally Posted by beshannon

There never was a waitlist

LOL.

A few years ago I was in the AD buying some jewelry, and I mentioned the Pepsi wait list, asking how far up I had moved (I was in position #5 last I asked). He brings up a spreadsheet and looks at it and says, "oh".

Seems that they had redone the waitlist, and I fell off. Apparently the list name changed from "waiting for a Rolex" to "Our Favorite Whales".

And no, buying a few hundred dollars worth of jewelry annually apparently does not qualify me as a whale, more like a minnow.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by rand8086

I went with my girlfriend to the Rolex AD where I happened to put my name on the waitlist circa 2017 for a GMT or Sub as a first watch, as she is looking for a DJ.

I long since gave up on ever hearing back, but asked out of curiosity as I was already there, if they could look up my name or phone number to see where I am currently on the list.

Was told without looking they no longer have a wait list and that I would need to buy some other watches first before I could buy one.

Apparently, Tourneau purchased this AD since my last visit and the waitlist was thrown into the trash bin.

He told you to buy other jewelry/watches first before he could sell you a Rolex? I hope you told him where to shove it. If you buy into this strategy you might as well get ripped off at a grey dealer, you can have your watch tomorrow and not buy jewelry you will never wear.

[noshake]

Build a relationship means buy other stuff and you'll be considered. The list is imaginary.

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by noshake

Build a relationship means buy other stuff and you'll be considered. The list is imaginary.

That is not a relationship it is a dictatorship.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

2017 to 2022 and this is the first time you have been back to the store?

Originally Posted by beshannon

Welcome to the forum.

There never was a waitlist

Have to agree.

[Nico81]

Your AD got rid of waitlist not Rolex

There is an official statement from Rolex ( posted here also somewhere ) that adressed shortage and saying that was not their strategy rather demand
Also they mentioned that AD control the distribution at their will.


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[1665fan]

No waitlist……just a whale list…..

[Frog7151]

Shouldn't it be the other way around. You sell me the watch I want and I might buy jewelry, watches etc.. I need from you.

I am a newbie and have always admired Rolex, but when I read things like this they become less and less appealing.

[dlrolex]

The AD should pay me to wear their watch

[mountainjogger]

Sorry about your experience.

[ndane]

I linked up with my AD about a month ago and got some stuff I had been wanting to get (Cartier for wife, replacement wedding band for self). Expressed interest in a few Rolex Models—particularly The Sky-dweller, Sub, and some OP models. Went in last Friday to get sized for the band, and my AD surprised me with a 126610LV. Wearing it rn. :)

[allen993]

Originally Posted by beshannon

There never was a waitlist

This...

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by Frog7151

Shouldn't it be the other way around. You sell me the watch I want and I might buy jewelry, watches etc.. I need from you.

I am a newbie and have always admired Rolex, but when I read things like this they become less and less appealing.

sadly most of the high end luxury watch brands are doing this now.

[amh]

There is no waitlist and there never was.
There is no 'relationship', only the law of supply & demand. You are a wallet.

If you walk in with a briefcase full of money suddenly the safe will open and you'll see every current reference. Take your pick. (All the 'incoming' posters never say how much they spent before snagging that Daytona)

Commoners who expect to ask for a watch will be told "Oh it should be here in 6 months, check back." When you visit it will be "How about some jewelry for your wife, any special occasions coming up? And for you, have you considered Omega?"

Advice: Buy grey. Today. Tear off the bandaid and get back to enjoying life with that new watch.

[train-time]

My experience with wait lists over the past few years is that they are basically "Lip Service" whereas several years ago they counted for something. Definitely a sign of the times.

[Pinchy]

You really must not have given them much of an impression or really tried in 2017, a sub should have been very very easy if you followed up.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

That is not a relationship it is a dictatorship.

Not really. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Pinchy

tried in 2017, a sub should have been very very easy if you followed up.

Now you say it, yes. Unlikely you would walk out with one in 2017, but not unheard of. A four year wait since 2017? That is unlikely, unless the customer was forgotten for some reason, as soon as they left the shop.

[sportsfan0704]

Circa 2017 would be a used watch. There’s no “list” to get a pre owned time piece like that.

[amh]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Now you say it, yes. Unlikely you would walk out with one in 2017, but not unheard of. A four year wait since 2017? That is unlikely, unless the customer was forgotten for some reason, as soon as they left the shop.

Customer was certainly forgotten, that will also happen today. AD memory wiped clean as you walk out the door. There will be 30 other guys visiting that day all asking for the same thing, is the AD updating some spreadsheet to make sure they all maintain their rightful place in the list? Those little contact cards go straight in the trash.

I still visit ADs but it's mostly for entertainment, and a tiny glimmer of hope. If I'm out shopping anyway, why not stop by? Zero expectations however.

[temporarychicken]

Originally Posted by amh

Customer was certainly forgotten, that will also happen today. AD memory wiped clean as you walk out the door. There will be 30 other guys visiting that day all asking for the same thing, is the AD updating some spreadsheet to make sure they all maintain their rightful place in the list? Those little contact cards go straight in the trash.

I still visit ADs but it's mostly for entertainment, and a tiny glimmer of hope. If I'm out shopping anyway, why not stop by? Zero expectations however.

+1

It's always worth popping in and having a chat. Picking up an actual wristwatch is highly unlikely, but you can receive a huge amount of interesting information.

And if the bubble ever pops, you'll be a face and you'll stand a chance.

[Golfbone]

If you are on a "waitlist" in most cases it means that you will wait and wait because there really is no list. People who are important to the dealer are in their little black book and when they get a watch that person is looking for they call them.

[temporarychicken]

A year ago I was speaking to an AD seller in the shop and I proposed to him that a ten year waiting list isn't really a waiting list.

What was he going to do, phone somebody up a decade later? He actually agreed that this was a rather preposterous notion.

The chances of both the phone number and the purchase pot still existing aside, the prospective buyer could have already got the watch elsewhere, given up entirely, had 3 more children, divorced, remarried, retired, died, emigrated, got struck by a metorite etc.

[Bozack90]

I was lucky as I am not a big money spender but worked with one store manager over the course of a decade or so, sent some business his way whenever someone asked, and stayed interested....and he got me my last piece which took a year, can't imagine what it is like now - sounds like you have to get extra lucky, or spend a fortune to get what you want.

Someone I know made a connection high up in a local chain and gets access to stuff, but without that I figure its near impossible.