Was offered new Sub date by AD

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by cajunron

If Rolex has to bundle unpopular watches with popular models to move them, why don't they just make more of the watches that people want?

Exactly.

It's nonsense to say that Rolex knows exactly what they're doing if the demand level varies so much between the models with crazy market prices vs those they have to bundle to move.

Make more Subs or Daytonas and/or raise MSRP, and decrease production or MSRP on slower selling models. Obviously Rolex doesn't have this nailed down.

Only issues ADs and Rolex have with greys is on the more popular models selling above MSRP, that the ADs and Rolex are missing out on additional profit. Bundling is just one way of taking advantage of the popular models to increase AD profit.

ADs/Rolex don't seem to have an issue with greys helping to move less popular models.

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by SydR

I’d be very surprised if Rolex weren’t aware of the practice of bundling. What does surprise me is that it is being allowed to continue.

Of course Rolex is aware.

But why would Rolex stop this practice?

More Rolex product is sold. Every Rolex piece an AD sells is ultimately more profit for Rolex when the AD needs to restock.

[Whitnail]

I suppose this could work to your advantage if it’s a TT DJ that you are after in the first place. Perform a little Keyser Soze pyschology on the AD, walk out with both, flip the sub for a profit. Voila, you just got a nice discount on your DJ. Assuming that’s what you are really after, of course.

[SydR]

Originally Posted by vh2k

Just curious... what do you propose? How is Rolex going to tell a jewelry store that has successfully been in business for 75 years how to sell watches and jewelry? I have offered some suggestions in other threads.

Either reduce their quota of highly desirable stock or, for the worst offenders, remove their AD status?

[SydR]

Originally Posted by eonflux

Of course Rolex is aware.



But why would Rolex stop this practice?



More Rolex product is sold. Every Rolex piece an AD sells is ultimately more profit for Rolex when the AD needs to restock.

As far as I am aware it is a relatively recent practice in the UK (I got my Sub with 8 weeks as a first purchase with an AD three years ago).

Are they, in the long term,risking alienating a percentage of their followers and thus ultimately affecting overall sales?

[Jb1264]

Originally Posted by SydR

As far as I am aware it is a relatively recent practice in the UK (I got my Sub with 8 weeks as a first purchase with an AD three years ago).

Are they, in the long term,risking alienating a percentage of their followers and thus ultimately affecting overall sales?

With the AD requesting the bundling, you could say Rolex sidesteps the wrath of the would be purchaser who refuses the AD’s request and probably not return (and most likely sharing the story on SM).
Rolex will continue to sell every watch they produce.
The AD who insists on bundling is the type customers should avoid for future jewellery and watch purchases.

[TswaneNguni]

Whats the more honourable choice ? ...

Bundling at an AD or premium at a Grey ?

Maybe the Grey option ,you pay market price for what you do want, compared to buying B,which you dont want, to get A that you do want ..

[eonflux]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Whats the more honourable choice ? ...

Bundling at an AD or premium at a Grey ?

Maybe the Grey option ,you pay market price for what you do want, compared to buying B,which you dont want, to get A that you do want ..

Not sure there's more honor, sensibility, or practicality going one way or the other.

Either way, you pay to play, and overpay one way or the other.

But perhaps going the AD route, you build some type of relationship which can help with future purchases. Unless the AD really doesn't care about that history and only cares to maximize profit with every piece.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by eonflux

Not sure there's more honor, sensibility, or practicality going one way or the other.

Either way, you pay to play, and overpay one way or the other.

But perhaps going the AD route, you build some type of relationship which can help with future purchases. Unless the AD really doesn't care about that history and only cares to maximize profit with every piece.

I dont see forced to buy something you dont want (just because its in store ) ,as "relationship building" .

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by eonflux

Of course Rolex is aware.

But why would Rolex stop this practice?

More Rolex product is sold. Every Rolex piece an AD sells is ultimately more profit for Rolex when the AD needs to restock.

True. They won't because they do the same thing with ADs. My AD showed me various undesirable models they had to buy last year to be able to have some steel sports models at his store.

[ciceroyeah]

Originally Posted by cajunron

If Rolex has to bundle unpopular watches with popular models to move them, why don't they just make more of the watches that people want?

Because then the popular watches wouldn't be as scarce, and therefore not as cool.

[Rado63]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

This AD is an embarrassment to the brand

Should be named and shamed .

Yes you should name the AD because I am sure their are enthusiastic bundle buyers out there looking for this deal.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by SparklesMcgraw

The bundling thing is a disgrace that Rolex should stop somehow. It’s just bad taste. If the watch is in stock and you want it (especially if they have shown it to you) there should be no reason you can’t walk out with it

I agree, so weird to read about this experience...

[Gwai]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

I dont see forced to buy something you dont want (just because its in store ) ,as "relationship building" .

I agree. The resulting "relationship" would seem to be seriously twisted. You won't enjoy playing a rigged game.

Cheers
Marc

[JEAJ]

I don’t want anything that bad to be bullied by a SA on any level. It’s really a sad commentary on an otherwise great overall brand. There will always be those who are willing and able to play the game. I’m really happy I don’t want a Sub. That being said, I do think the Sub is a great watch, and if you want one, good luck.

[RolexSimon]

The reality of this situation is that this was only the OPs second visit to the AD. Whilst we can only presume no prior purchase and history, it may be the OP purchased a PM Rolex on the first occasion, in which case I would agree the bundling was poor form. The exact bundling option may have been open to negotiation for something more desirable - e.g. firm $2K deposit on a new OP36 when available in addition to the sub. Wait would probably be 3-4 months at most for the OP36 and this would have been a good deal IMHO. I can sympathize with the AD wanting to save the sub for someone with an ongoing relationship. The bundling was simply a way of "fast-tracking" that relationship.

[Rolex50]

Originally Posted by vinny84

I would be switching ADs if any bundling scenarios were presented to me

This - absolutely this.

[Bizcut1]

I did a bundled deal for a sub once...once. Gave the bundled Datejust to my Dad
as a birthday gift.

I mean, what the heck, both watches were acquired at MSRP. Everyone loves
getting a Rolex and should receive one at least once in their life.

Pay to play? Certainly. Happy to do that..glad to be in the game.

Just my .02 - Ben.

[JRique]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Went to one of the local ADs today to see if we could have a look at some of the new releases. Wife asked about a Sub first and to my surprise they SA went and came back with a black Sub date. Quite nice, even though I'm really looking for a 124060. Proportions seem perfect to me, and I didn't have any problem with the wider bracelet.

In any case, while I was trying to predict my wife's reaction if I just bought the watch on the spot, the SA finally let the cat out of the bag: If I wanted to Sub we'd also have to buy an in-stock two-tone Datejust ($14k+ minimum) or a Day-date. We went back-and-forth a bit, but couldn't find a combination that even remotely made sense (if they had had a green dial Day-date 40 in stock things might have gotten interesting).

We also looked at some of the new OPs. They had the green (nice) and silver (a bit too understated) dials. Surprisingly, the 41mm really looked too big for my wife, who has a SS Daytona as her daily and has currently also borrowed my 47mm Radiomir. We put our name down for a 36mm OP, but we'll see what BS they come up with once they have a turquoise model in hand.

Embarrasingly, I was too occupied rattling off acceptable (to me) suggestions for bundles to take any pictures

Yes, the OP 41 wears larger then the Sub 41, lol.

[JEAJ]

I don’t want anything that bad to be bullied by a SA on any level. It’s really a sad commentary on an otherwise great overall brand. There will always be those who are willing and able to play the game. I’m really happy I don’t want a Sub. That being said, I do think the Sub is a great watch, and if you want one, good luck.

[muskaroxs]

You could have turned around and flipped the 124060 and received a free two tone DJ 🤪

[BumbleB]

On the flip side, I bought a matching his/hers full gold DD40/DJ28 president pair for my 20th wedding anniversary, this year, which we were going to buy no matter what and got 17% off both and was offered a BLRO and Blue SkyD at MSRP, which I gladly accepted!


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[dtwer]

Their business their rules. Don’t like it, it’s your right to not do business with them. But that’s about it.

As for the suggestion of “don’t play the AD game, go grey,” that doesn’t make any sense. At the current hyper inflated grey price, one could have bought Bundle at AD and got two watches instead of one from the grey. To go grey is akin to cutting ofF the nose to spite the face.

[scheneider]

Originally Posted by dtwer

Their business their rules. Don’t like it, it’s your right to not do business with them. But that’s about it.

As for the suggestion of “don’t play the AD game, go grey,” that doesn’t make any sense. At the current hyper inflated grey price, one could have bought Bundle at AD and got two watches instead of one from the grey. To go grey is akin to cutting ofF the nose to spite the face.

this sometimes i wonder how many Grey dealers army lurking in this kindda threads and pushing ppl to go grey

[teck21]

Originally Posted by dtwer

Their business their rules. Don’t like it, it’s your right to not do business with them. But that’s about it.

As for the suggestion of “don’t play the AD game, go grey,” that doesn’t make any sense. At the current hyper inflated grey price, one could have bought Bundle at AD and got two watches instead of one from the grey. To go grey is akin to cutting ofF the nose to spite the face.

Exactly, I have bundled at my AD, and however I look at it, it’s cheaper than buying grey.

Buying grey doesn’t have the same ‘insulting’ feel as being forced to bundle, but it’s the same thing. Just not in your face.

Whatever bad AD / flipper practices are supposedly to blame for the state of the market, people who buy BNIB from greys need only look in the mirror to see who encourages it.


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by scheneider

this sometimes i wonder how many Grey dealers army lurking in this kindda threads and pushing ppl to go grey

Seems to happen a lot here, subtly and not so subtly.


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[thesharkfactor]

This a poor show, if they bring the watch out they should sell you it.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Rado63

Yes you should name the AD because I am sure their are enthusiastic bundle buyers out there looking for this deal.

They called today - now they have a Sub (124060), which is what I really want, instead of the Sub date. I should hold out a bit longer, maybe an LV will materialize...

Fortunately, the wife thinks any kind of bundle deal is moronic (unless the bundled watch is one she likes, I suppose ).

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by SparklesMcgraw

The bundling thing is a disgrace that Rolex should stop somehow. It’s just bad taste. If the watch is in stock and you want it (especially if they have shown it to you) there should be no reason you can’t walk out with it

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[Oxfordian]

I like it, good business for the AD, they know that they can sell the hot watches so why just sell the submariner why not ask customers to buy another watch at the same time, more profit for them.

Although I didn't know this at the time I bought my DJ by doing so I was about to open the door to the world of Rolex professional watches, it was only when the transaction had been completed that the SA told me that if I wanted another watch I could ask to be put on the waiting list for the whole of the Rolex range.

Now the Rolex world is my 'Oyster' (excuse pun), all doors are open.