Going crazy in the UK!

[Eilidh]

No idea what is going on in the UK. Still trying to buy a steel and rose gold DJ 26mm, called Heathrow Terminal 5 shop after lots of fruitless emails back and forth. Told that they have no stock in this combination, only steel. Then a cryptic comment that even if they could get their hands on the model it "certainly wouldn't be available at the VAT free price"...this comment made absolutely no sense to me! Just crazy as apparently they need 1-3 months notice to get me one of the models I want, and suggested I look again at the end of the year!! Looks like I will just be buying in Dubai where there is no issue at all with stock...and the ADs are actually keen to sell! Annoying as I stood to save a lot with claiming VAT back.

[masyv6]

Originally Posted by SC11

A fool and his money are easily parted!

Must be a few fools around

There will always be fools around

[Kevan]

Come to the UK, buy your Rolex, with Sterling at it's current paltry value, claim your VAT back as leave the country, well get some of it back. *

Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt.

"Oops we don't have any of those in stock, nor can we get them."

*Offer not open to UK residents.

When people discuss the availability of watches on this forum, it always appears that there is availability somewhere in the world, usually where the worst deal is available.

Brexit is yet to be implemented..... or Trump elected...... OMG!

[Quicksilver]

I was in the Rolex Boutique on New Bond Street yesterday where there seemed to be a plentiful supply of sports models. I bought Polar Explorer II (a great watch) and they had both the black and white in stock. Perhaps I was just lucky. The salesman did tell me that there is now a 7 year waiting list for Daytonas!

[TG3N]

I'd given-up hope of getting a new SS Sub prior to the price rise coming-in (which despite all the 'false dawns' to date, surely must only be around the corner...).

There's only one Rolex AD (with just three branches) in my part of the UK, and they've had no SS Subs in the window for nearly six months. I'd called other UK ADs, with a view to travelling to buy, but Subs were like hen's teeth.

I managed to find some in Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, but thanks to the collapsed Pound Sterling value in the wake of the 'Brexit' vote, it still wasn't a better deal than the GBP £5,000 list price, even with them removing the Duty Tax.

Happily, I got a call from my AD on holiday last week advising they had received a SS SubC ND in, and I rushed straight off the plane home, literally, to buy it.

I was told that they didn't even put some new SS Sports stock in their window now - they just stuck them in their safe and worked-down their waiting list for a buyer. Easy money for them, but I'm delighted with my purchase.

If that's the current status quo for a SS Sub, then something strange is definitely afoot - whether that is a Summer manufacturing shortage, re-direction of stock to higher-priced EU countries, or a drought in advance of the price rise, I don't know.

[tomj]

Originally Posted by Kevan

Come to the UK, buy your Rolex, with Sterling at it's current paltry value, claim your VAT back as leave the country, well get some of it back. *

Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt.

"Oops we don't have any of those in stock, nor can we get them."

*Offer not open to UK residents.

When people discuss the availability of watches on this forum, it always appears that there is availability somewhere in the world, usually where the worst deal is available.

Brexit is yet to be implemented..... or Trump elected...... OMG!

Brexit is looking to be the friend of the Rolex buyer. If you can get your hands on a BLNR in the UK it's USD6,589 at today's exchange rate with a VAT refund. Compare that to USD8,950 excluding tax in the US and you can see why their shelves are empty. Almost makes sense to jump on the plane and grab a Rolex right now if you're looking to make a big buy (some of the Daytona models are easily USD10k cheaper in UK than US).

[udayrulz]

After weeks of trying i did manage to buy a Sub C date at Harrods last week. Might be worth calling Mappin & Webb, Fenchurch Street as I have had a missed call from them this morning(I was on their list for Sub).

[delcbr]

I phoned the the goldsmiths in trafford today about the green submariner she said none in stock can add me to waiting listen I would be number 40. On another note will be in Bangkok in October 116610 302,200Baht = £6540
116610LV 320,900Baht = £6943
Any idea how much it will work out if I manage to claim back the vat at airport?

Is there Rolex for sale in Dubai airport?

[delcbr]

I phoned goldsmiths in Trafford today they said no green submariners in stock if I wanted one they could add me to the list there are 40 people waiting on the list already!
On another note will be in Bangkok in October been in contact with one of the stores for pricing as follows 116610LV green is 320,900 £6943
116610 black is 302,200 £6540 can claim back vat at the airport but no idea how much you get back.

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by delcbr

I phoned the the goldsmiths in trafford today about the green submariner she said none in stock can add me to waiting listen I would be number 40. On another note will be in Bangkok in October 116610 302,200Baht = £6540
116610LV 320,900Baht = £6943
Any idea how much it will work out if I manage to claim back the vat at airport?

Is there Rolex for sale in Dubai airport?

Loads and loads of Rolex DXB, however, if you get 4.5 AED to the Pound you are going to be buying a very expensive watch, even if it is "tax free".

[chrisb57]

I was in York for 3 days last week the AD their had only the Explorer 2 in polar and black.
And an explorer 1 old model in SS sports
They told me to expect a price increase shortly ,but allowed me try an already purchased but not collected Air King straight from a coffin what a beauty.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I was in the Rolex Boutique on New Bond Street yesterday where there seemed to be a plentiful supply of sports models. I bought Polar Explorer II (a great watch) and they had both the black and white in stock. Perhaps I was just lucky. The salesman did tell me that there is now a 7 year waiting list for Daytonas!

Did they have :

Blnr
Daytona C
Sub C/ND
LV
GMT2 C

These are the ones in demand so it seems.
Every AD I see has black and white EXP2 and SDC as they don't seem too in demand. Of course all are lovely watches :)

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Did they have :

Blnr
Daytona C
Sub C/ND
LV
GMT2 C

These are the ones in demand so it seems.
Every AD I see has black and white EXP2 and SDC as they don't seem too in demand. Of course all are lovely watches :)

Certainly no Daytonas. But I Think there was a Sub and a GMT.

[Solo118]

Crazy. Any AD I have been to in the states have had SS Subs, DSSDs, Explorers, etc. I have even seen a BLNR in the showcase recently in NYC.

[chrisb57]

Nope had none of them in the window

[porschedude]

I would not pay retail much less over retail.

[nvrp813]

At this moment, £6,500 is the equivalent to $8,557 USD. Either Rolex has stopped shipping to the UK due the the poor exchange rate (not likely, but possible), or the AD's are trying to price the watches more in line with global pricing.

It's a shame because I will be in Coventry next month and was hoping to pick up a couple new pieces at Fraser Hart.

[TG3N]

Originally Posted by porschedude

I would not pay retail much less over retail.

Unfortunately, in the UK at present, there's less choice in the matter.

Rolex List price for a new Sub No Date Ceramic appears to be USD $7,500 in the US, and circa Euro €6,700 - €7,000 elsewhere in the 'Euro Zone' - at the current rubbish GBP £ exchange rates, both equate to circa GBP £5,700, so it doesn't get much cheaper than the UK's existing list price of GBP £5,000.

Even travelling abroad from the UK to take advantage of tax free prices (and evading the duty aspect upon your UK return) is much less lucrative than it once was, particularly if you're incurring travel costs for that sole buying purpose.

AD's are fully aware of that, there's a scarcity of stock, the SS models remain perennial popular on waiting lists, plus Rolex's general aversion to discounting and the anticipated(!) UK price increase to come, and it's very much a Seller's market, even at full Retail...

[Evad3]

Originally Posted by TG3N

Unfortunately, in the UK at present, there's less choice in the matter.

Rolex List price for a new Sub No Date Ceramic appears to be USD $7,500 in the US, and circa Euro €6,700 - €7,000 elsewhere in the 'Euro Zone' - at the current rubbish GBP £ exchange rates, both equate to circa GBP £5,700, so it doesn't get much cheaper than the UK's existing list price of GBP £5,000.

Even travelling abroad from the UK to take advantage of tax free prices (and evading the duty aspect upon your UK return) is much less lucrative than it once was, particularly if you're incurring travel costs for that sole buying purpose.

AD's are fully aware of that, there's a scarcity of stock, the SS models remain perennial popular on waiting lists, plus Rolex's general aversion to discounting and the anticipated(!) UK price increase to come, and it's very much a Seller's market, even at full Retail...

Nicely put