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Old 8 October 2020, 12:29 PM   #1
brandon13
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The games played with my AD - Crazytimes

Won’t mention which AD this is for obvious reasons, but for the past year or so I’ve been paying a fun “game” with them. I will say that this is a VERY reputable dealer.

With zero past purchase history, In the past 10 months I’ve gotten a DD40, Hulk, Batgirl, and just last week the new Ceramic Kermit. (BLRO and Daytona promised within the next few months...Let’s see)

After being tired of getting on the “waiting list” with my other usual AD...A few months ago I walked into this other AD and had a nice and long chat with a young sales rep. Nothing special, just general watch talk. I guess the guy trust me and said: look, let’s plan how we can get your full collection complete within the next year. I said sure!

So here’s the master plan offered by him...in essence: buy a crappy slow moving piece (read lady watches) and I’ll get you a solid find right after. Then rinse and repeat.

My first “try and see” was getting a decent looking piece for my wife...but nothing I would ever really buy otherwise. A week later he had my DD40 YG ready. I wasn’t really surprised because DD40s are not technically disappeared but still...I had been looking.

Then I bought a Cellini (which I sold locally at a loss of $3000 right after) but that got me the Hulk a month later.

So on and so forth...a couple more of slow moving butt ugly two tone lady pieces later I can honestly believe that they are coming through as Batgirl and Cermit are on my hands.

I have sold all but one of the garbage pieces I had to buy at average losses of $2k each....but upside on the other finds I have gotten has made it good business...not that I plant to sell any of the ones from my collection...but you get the idea.

I’ll see where this takes me...I would have never thought I’d be stupid enough to buy a Rolex just for the chance at getting another Rolex. My common sense tells me I’m idiot...but it’s been kinda fun though.
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Old 8 October 2020, 12:54 PM   #2
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Interesting. One question I would have is the money you lost on selling the “garbage” pieces, ones you had to buy to get the actual one you wanted, was that really a better financial route then buying from a Gray? The one I want right now is about $3K more from a gray then MSRP. Assuming I would lost about that much reselling a Rolex I had to buy from the AD it seems (at least in this case) then it would just be simpler to buy straight from the Gray. I am not arguing your tactics, I would really like to know the answer, if it is a viable strategy I’m all for it.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:02 PM   #3
brandon13
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Interesting. One question I would have is the money you lost on selling the “garbage” pieces, ones you had to buy to get the actual one you wanted, was that really a better financial route then buying from a Gray? The one I want right now is about $3K more from a gray then MSRP. Assuming I would lost about that much reselling a Rolex I had to buy from the AD it seems (at least in this case) then it would just be simpler to buy straight from the Gray. I am not arguing your tactics, I would really like to know the answer, if it is a viable strategy I’m all for it.
As mentioned I am really buying to keep...but if were to be buying for business it would have for sure been good business...at least so far. I lost around a little under $10k total...but looking at going grey rates....I am +$7k on the Hulk, +5k on the bargirl and +$9k at least on the Cermit...so, a plus of around $11k.

Again, didn’t do it for the money...

Regarding your idea of going in and offering this crazy game for the one watch you want I don’t think it may work. They asked for a list of 7 of the ones I want and had me sort in order of most to least desirable...just so you know my two top were Daytona white face ceramic and BLRO Pepsi...and those haven’t landed yet...so I do suspect they are stringing me along. The ball is on their side now...told them I’d buy the next garbage when I get another good call.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:06 PM   #4
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I was stupid enough to click on this so who knows
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:06 PM   #5
bwdellorf76
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Interesting strategy. Maybe you will end up liking one of the less desirable pieces!
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:09 PM   #6
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these games only make sense to me if you're buying something you would buy anyway, like the dd40. i'd never buy a cellini just to resell it and take a 3k loss instantly
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:11 PM   #7
brandon13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy View Post
Interesting. One question I would have is the money you lost on selling the “garbage” pieces, ones you had to buy to get the actual one you wanted, was that really a better financial route then buying from a Gray? The one I want right now is about $3K more from a gray then MSRP. Assuming I would lost about that much reselling a Rolex I had to buy from the AD it seems (at least in this case) then it would just be simpler to buy straight from the Gray. I am not arguing your tactics, I would really like to know the answer, if it is a viable strategy I’m all for it.
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Interesting strategy. Maybe you will end up liking one of the less desirable pieces!
I doubt it brother....it’s all mostly garbage two tone and lady small pieces. They literally show me a couple...I google and see which I’ll lose less money on and that’s the one I buy.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:27 PM   #8
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I doubt it brother....it’s all mostly garbage two tone and lady small pieces. They literally show me a couple...I google and see which I’ll lose less money on and that’s the one I buy.
You sound like an awful person lol. Stop being a clown and just buy what you want instead of playing god with an AD.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:33 PM   #9
Twinrolex
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Im glad i buy preowned...LOL...I dont have time/patience to play these games with dealers
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:36 PM   #10
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Some people may criticize you and say that’s stupid, but if you have this much disposable income to spend on watches, you obviously are not stupid. Amassing this collection through greys would have been very expensive and you would really have no idea where the watches had been. Not every used watch sold as “unworn” is really unworn. At least you know your watches are straight from the styrofoam coffin.

Nothing wrong with what you did. It was a creative solution that had better results than the typical whining and complaining.

If they actually get you a Daytona soon then you probably did ok with your little game. I would try and get the Daytona as soon as possible and move on to other brands. Nothing wrong with Rolex, but I think at that point, you got all the Rolex watches you need.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:43 PM   #11
TswaneNguni
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The Rolex Hunger Games .
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:47 PM   #12
Kevin of Larchmont
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It sure sounds like an awful lot of work. Hunting, buying, collecting and wearing watches is supposed to be fun. Are you having fun? It doesn’t sound like it, sounds like a lot of work for a little money.
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Old 8 October 2020, 01:52 PM   #13
HideMyWalletPlease
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Just between the hulk, batgirl and cermit, he would have spent 20-25 over retail on the grey market. If he keeps the pressure on and gets a Daytona soon then he did ok.
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:00 PM   #14
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Yes, that's how the game is played at most Rolex AD: Double it up - An undesirable Rolex watch with a SS Sport.

But you got what you wanted
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:02 PM   #15
thenewrick
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All the same people defending Greys and “capitalism”
Now mad at someone for correctly playing the AD game for an unrealized gain.
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:02 PM   #16
scombs263
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If it works for u, go for it then. U Already got some awesome pieces with a couple more on their way, if they pan out, it’s a win for u.
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:17 PM   #17
RolexEDC
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It works, i walked into my ad in 2018, talked it up. Purchased a black bay black, two weeks later got a Daytona. Sold the BBB a year later for 800.00 loss.
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:24 PM   #18
=w=
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Thanks for sharing your story. It’s nice to see the AD buying process clearly laid out, cut and dry for newbies like myself


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Old 8 October 2020, 02:30 PM   #19
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You sound like an awful person lol. Stop being a clown and just buy what you want instead of playing god with an AD.
Really?
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:36 PM   #20
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Makes sense, as you saved money and got what you wanted. Don't hate the player hate the game lol. It only works with these inflated prices, but it does make sense as long as your AD is ok with you dumping the garbage watches. Just be careful those watches dont make it in the wrong peoples hands.

It really helped you out by buying the DD40 and a lady 2 tone o be honest. They know you are a real good buyer, in their eyes I bet that you are also a VIP as well.
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Old 8 October 2020, 02:50 PM   #21
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Yep buying that DD40 first likely did you a huge favour but now he's got you hooked and he knows that whenever you want something else you'll also buy the rubbish nobody else wants to do it.

You sound happy with this relationship though so what anyone else thinks doesn't matter if its working (which it evidently is).

For what its worth, if I had the inclination and if I also trusted the ADs out here I would do the same if it meant not paying hyper inflated grey prices.

I wish ADs were much more open about it but it seems you have cracked the dark arts here.

Congrats on the new watches.
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Old 8 October 2020, 04:52 PM   #22
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Who’s playing whom?
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Old 8 October 2020, 04:58 PM   #23
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On the positive side, I guess this is one way to achieve the redistribution of wealth! We’re all different, but this sort of nonsense really turns me off Rolex as brand and a concept.

From all angles, this feels like slightly tasteless materialism run riot.
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Old 8 October 2020, 04:58 PM   #24
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That’s a great example of exactly what the ADs want to happen. They get to move the less in-demand pieces and you get to have the hot models without waiting six years on a list that may or may not exist.

I would never do this, but what the hell, if it works for you. Everybody wins. Enjoy the collection!
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Old 8 October 2020, 05:17 PM   #25
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Butt ugly and garbage pieces?

People on here will own these so don’t mention them individually.
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Old 8 October 2020, 06:31 PM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brandon13 View Post
it’s all mostly garbage two tone
That’s a nice way of describing Rolex watches.

You made up a nice story
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Old 8 October 2020, 06:35 PM   #27
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Sounds like a lot of work and hussle for just a hobby, still if it helped keep you occupied during lockdown.
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Old 8 October 2020, 06:51 PM   #28
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You are feeding the monster
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Old 8 October 2020, 07:12 PM   #29
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Buying pieces you did not need or want is a waste of money. Think of it this way, you paid a premium for the watches you wanted. If you were prepared to do that, then why not just buy in the grey market at a premium, you have what your want earlier and don’t have to play games at the AD.
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Old 8 October 2020, 07:35 PM   #30
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It's an interesting strategy, except all the profits are paper profits and all the losses actual cash. I bet your AD cannot wait for you to call. Nice read though!
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