ADs in the South West - UK

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Rogrmo

I have been in retail for over 30 years, I do not lie to my customers saying there is a list for a item when there is clearly no list,

I am a Director of a large company world wide and I treat all my customer as all equal, no mater if there fame, wealth, age, and my list could go on,

It just shows what a dinosaur company Rolex or Michael Spiers Jewellers are, I thought we left them days behind us, clearly not,

Your credentials are not in question and that’s admirable that you treat every customer as equal.

My knowledge and experience of ADs tells me they do not view all customers as equal. I am close to a few ADs who have told me that chronological “lists” are a thing of the past and confirmed what I already knew, that most ADs will bump you down the list for a “better” customer when the opportunity arises.

It’s not personal, just business.

[Ped22]

Originally Posted by Vivalas

You’ve posted 3 times on this so clearly have an issue with them, whereas nearly everyone else whose commented hasn’t and has praised them.

Myself I’ve seen a sub in their Truro window recently and in the past have seen subs, BLNR and a hulk in their Exeter shop. I bought various things from them in the past and their customer service is excellent. As regards to Daytonas and the like nearly everyone is disappointed as there just isn’t enough to go around. Maybe 1 for every 100 buyers. You’ll find that at all AD’s.

If this window shopping experience is true, I would love someone to inform me when they see either have a sub no date or a BLNR on Truro’s window as I would drive straight down there and pick up my first Rolex - what a wonderful start that would be :)

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Ped22

If this window shopping experience is true, I would love someone to inform me when they see either have a sub no date or a BLNR on Truro’s window as I would drive straight down there and pick up my first Rolex - what a wonderful start that would be :)

Most ADs wouldn’t put these models in the window as they want them to go to local repeat customers and not tourists (especially from abroad who get VAT refunds).

Putting them in the window solves the hassle of lists but doesn’t really make sense from a business perspective.

[Ped22]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Most ADs wouldn’t put these models in the window as they want them to go to local repeat customers and not tourists (especially from abroad who get VAT refunds).

Putting them in the window solves the hassle of lists but doesn’t really make sense from a business perspective.

Yeh I understand it from their perspective but Spiers have also told me that they put the watches on display and whoever sees them and wants them gets them but I live at least an hour and half away so can’t just pop down to check it out hah

I guess they either have to sell to existing loyal customers or judge new customers on how many more watches they’re likely to buy in the future.

[JayB]

Originally Posted by Random

Hi Ped 22
can’t recommend Mallory in Bath highly enough.

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Mallory Bath. Friendly, helpful and they make good coffee.

Not had the pleasure of visiting them in store yet, my only contact was via telephone. The gent I spoke to was extremely helpful and seemed very knowledgeable.

Next time I'm in Bath I'll be sure to pop in.

[Rogrmo]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Your credentials are not in question and that’s admirable that you treat every customer as equal.

My knowledge and experience of ADs tells me they do not view all customers as equal. I am close to a few ADs who have told me that chronological “lists” are a thing of the past and confirmed what I already knew, that most ADs will bump you down the list for a “better” customer when the opportunity arises.

It’s not personal, just business.

that is called poor business you don’t let poeple jump waiting list and then go PUBLIC with it on instagram, again that called bad business, public is the key word.

Please also note we live in the 21st century we are all equal, man/woman, rich/poor, black/white, young/old, famous/non famous.

Remember they get away with it, because we let them get away with it.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Rogrmo

that is called poor business you don’t let poeple jump waiting list and then go PUBLIC with it on instagram, again that called bad business, public is the key word.

Please also note we live in the 21st century we are all equal, man/woman, rich/poor, black/white, young/old, famous/non famous.

Remember they get away with it, because we let them get away with it.

And how do we stop them getting away with it? The world is full of inequality and prejudice, and the problems of relatively rich people buying luxury watches doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

[haberdashery]

Originally Posted by Ped22

If this window shopping experience is true, I would love someone to inform me when they see either have a sub no date or a BLNR on Truro’s window as I would drive straight down there and pick up my first Rolex - what a wonderful start that would be :)

I remember this thread on a different forum:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...to-find-models

Just over a year ago, but it was a Michael Spiers store and they had a BLNR in the window, so perhaps they are telling the truth.

[Canforfair]

I recently tried to get on the list for the new GMT, I was advised to email with my name address etc, their reply was I have not bought a Rolex from said AD. I then informed them that I bought a second hand DJ from them 3 years ago, again I was advised I had not done business in last 2 years. Again I advised I had recently sent a Rolex to be serviced 6 months previous through this AD. They then changed their attitude and added me to the GMT list.
I also advised I wish to purchase a sub no date, on return of email I was told no problem approx 2 months wait, and I have been update recently by phone that it should be here next month ( 12 Weeks from original 8 week stated)
So in essence I believe some AD are honestly giving existing customers preference over walk in customers.
However it might be different if I was asking for a Daytona ...
here’s hoping next month my Sub no date arrives...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[youngr]

MS Plymouth is my local store and they are good and I always look in the window when passing. They have told me they have no waiting list but can't say I have seen any steel sports watches in the window in the last 12 months.

You could also try Goldsmiths in Torquay

[larrysimon]

I have read with great interest all the posts regarding SW Rolex AD’s and concur with many of the points raised; The Rolex AD’s are inherently dishonest and corrupt……..what has formed my opinion?

I like you are a normal regular customer I don’t buy an expensive watch that regularly, maybe 2 over the past 10 years (Both Rolex), so forming a special or privileged relationship with an AD is impossible.

The AD’s process of dealing with customers is Not Transparent, open to abuse and in my opinion fuels the Grey Market.

I walked into my local AD on the day and 10 minutes after the new Pepsi was officially released at Baselworld, earlier that morning ALL Aurum Group Rolex AD’s received a Conference call from head office instructing them ONLY to take “Expressions of Interest” from customers who visited an AD branch in person.

I requested my name to be placed on this “Expression List” in my empty AD Branch only to be told “NO CHANCE” we have 15 to 20 names already on our list. So I complained to the Aurum Group Director of Customer Service reporting my local AD for its obvious non-compliance of Aurum Group Policy.

I was promised my name was actually placed on the New Pepsi waiting list, but to be blunt I think they are a Lying Bunch of Scumbags and as I haven’t been contacted to pick up a new Rolex Pepsi, nor will I be contacted I believe it’s been a waste of my time.

I would hope someone in the Media (BBC Watchdog) would expose the obvious corrupt and dubious practises perpetrated by Rolex UK AD’s on its customers.

[JamieBLNR]

I once has a an issue with an Aurum company who shall remain nameless.

They butchered my wife's brand new DJ which was only rectified after I went in and demanded a fix. They ultimately swapped out the bracelet for a brand new one and the manager of the shop came to my house with a bunch of flowers for my wife.

Aurum themselves are a good company but I guess with that many retailers running under their name, they cannot keep an eye on everyone.

It's a mine field out there guys!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by larrysimon

I have read with great interest all the posts regarding SW Rolex AD’s and concur with many of the points raised; The Rolex AD’s are inherently dishonest and corrupt……..what has formed my opinion?

I like you are a normal regular customer I don’t buy an expensive watch that regularly, maybe 2 over the past 10 years (Both Rolex), so forming a special or privileged relationship with an AD is impossible.

The AD’s process of dealing with customers is Not Transparent, open to abuse and in my opinion fuels the Grey Market.

I walked into my local AD on the day and 10 minutes after the new Pepsi was officially released at Baselworld, earlier that morning ALL Aurum Group Rolex AD’s received a Conference call from head office instructing them ONLY to take “Expressions of Interest” from customers who visited an AD branch in person.

I requested my name to be placed on this “Expression List” in my empty AD Branch only to be told “NO CHANCE” we have 15 to 20 names already on our list. So I complained to the Aurum Group Director of Customer Service reporting my local AD for its obvious non-compliance of Aurum Group Policy.

I was promised my name was actually placed on the New Pepsi waiting list, but to be blunt I think they are a Lying Bunch of Scumbags and as I haven’t been contacted to pick up a new Rolex Pepsi, nor will I be contacted I believe it’s been a waste of my time.

I would hope someone in the Media (BBC Watchdog) would expose the obvious corrupt and dubious practises perpetrated by Rolex UK AD’s on its customers.

On the one hand I have some sympathy with you. I do wish some AD’s would simply be more up front about their practices.

“Sorry son, we’re in business to stay in business and that means keeping our highest spending clients happy by giving them preferential treatment on supply-limited references. We’ll try to accommodate your request for a watch as best we can but we can’t promise you anything”.

That would be honest, transparent and though you may not like it, understandable from the perspective of the business.

You lose it somewhat talking about corruption - if you’re going to accuse AD’s of taking kickbacks then you need to provide evidence, otherwise it just looks like sour grapes at best and unhinged at worst. Furthermore it’s worth bearing in mind that any business can legally refuse to do business with anybody they like, so long as they don’t discriminate based on non-modifiable grounds like race, gender and sexuality. Therefore making an appeal to the media to get involved with the ultimate first world problem - the difficulty that mostly middle-aged, middle class men are having in sourcing 4-5 figure vanity trinkets that most ordinary people would consider obscenely priced and that would individually be worth a substantial fraction of the average person’s annual income - is faintly ridiculous.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by larrysimon

I have read with great interest all the posts regarding SW Rolex AD’s and concur with many of the points raised; The Rolex AD’s are inherently dishonest and corrupt……..what has formed my opinion?

I like you are a normal regular customer I don’t buy an expensive watch that regularly, maybe 2 over the past 10 years (Both Rolex), so forming a special or privileged relationship with an AD is impossible.

I would hope someone in the Media (BBC Watchdog) would expose the obvious corrupt and dubious practises perpetrated by Rolex UK AD’s on its customers.

And I want a Government Tsar appointed to look into this, I want my taxes taken out of the NHS and into this far more important matter.

[larrysimon]

You raise some interesting points, yes I have evidence of dubious practises which most people would call corrupt, not following their own Head Office rules and instructions and under the counter sales to Prestige Watch Underwriters or their buyers who then split the profit with the Sales manager when their dirty Grey Market deal is done.

Do not think we are talking small beer money, this is a major problem that Rolex SA recognise and try to stamp out.

I received a call from a Major UK AD Chain regarding a grey Market purchase I made earlier this year, they were furious and investigating the fact that one of their own staff had bought a SS Rolex as a personal purchase and then Sold immediately to a GM dealer after only 24hrs of ownership.

I had no inkling that the watch I purchased on the G M had such a chequered past.

So no i'm not impressed by the UK Rolex AD's and honesty, integrity and transparency are long overdue.

[larrysimon]

Originally Posted by AK797

And I want a Government Tsar appointed to look into this, I want my taxes taken out of the NHS and into this far more important matter.

Steady on.............you'll be asking for another Brexit referendum next.

[larrysimon]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

On the one hand I have some sympathy with you. I do wish some AD’s would simply be more up front about their practices.

“Sorry son, we’re in business to stay in business and that means keeping our highest spending clients happy by giving them preferential treatment on supply-limited references. We’ll try to accommodate your request for a watch as best we can but we can’t promise you anything”.

That would be honest, transparent and though you may not like it, understandable from the perspective of the business.

You lose it somewhat talking about corruption - if you’re going to accuse AD’s of taking kickbacks then you need to provide evidence, otherwise it just looks like sour grapes at best and unhinged at worst. Furthermore it’s worth bearing in mind that any business can legally refuse to do business with anybody they like, so long as they don’t discriminate based on non-modifiable grounds like race, gender and sexuality. Therefore making an appeal to the media to get involved with the ultimate first world problem - the difficulty that mostly middle-aged, middle class men are having in sourcing 4-5 figure vanity trinkets that most ordinary people would consider obscenely priced and that would individually be worth a substantial fraction of the average person’s annual income - is faintly ridiculous.

You raise some interesting points, yes I have evidence of dubious practises which most people would call corrupt, not following their own Head Office rules and instructions and under the counter sales to Prestige Watch Underwriters or their buyers who then split the profit with the Sales manager when their dirty Grey Market deal is done.

Do not think we are talking small beer money, this is a major problem that Rolex SA recognise and try to stamp out.

I received a call from a Major UK AD Chain regarding a grey Market purchase I made earlier this year, they were furious and investigating the fact that one of their own staff had bought a SS Rolex as a personal purchase and then Sold immediately to a GM dealer after only 24hrs of ownership.

I had no inkling that the watch I purchased on the G M had such a chequered past.

[Prizla]

I received a call from a Major UK AD Chain regarding a grey Market purchase I made earlier this year, they were furious and investigating the fact that one of their own staff had bought a SS Rolex as a personal purchase and then Sold immediately to a GM dealer after only 24hrs of ownership.

So...you bought a watch from a grey market dealer, the original seller of the watch (the furious major UK AD chain) somehow found out the watch had originally come from them, they somehow obtained your phone number from the grey and phoned you?

I don’t get this story, it just doesn’t add up. How did they know who’d bought the watch? What’s the grey dealer doing giving out your contact number? What did the “furious major UK AD chain” expect to gain from calling you?

[Ped22]

Originally Posted by larrysimon

You raise some interesting points, yes I have evidence of dubious practises which most people would call corrupt, not following their own Head Office rules and instructions and under the counter sales to Prestige Watch Underwriters or their buyers who then split the profit with the Sales manager when their dirty Grey Market deal is done.

Do not think we are talking small beer money, this is a major problem that Rolex SA recognise and try to stamp out.

I received a call from a Major UK AD Chain regarding a grey Market purchase I made earlier this year, they were furious and investigating the fact that one of their own staff had bought a SS Rolex as a personal purchase and then Sold immediately to a GM dealer after only 24hrs of ownership.

I had no inkling that the watch I purchased on the G M had such a chequered past.

I would go back to them and ask them to pay back the profit their salesman made on the sale! Going to Rolex with that information would seriously hurt them... especially if they are a smaller AD.

[Ped22]

Originally Posted by Prizla

So...you bought a watch from a grey market dealer, the original seller of the watch (the furious major UK AD chain) somehow found out the watch had originally come from them, they somehow obtained your phone number from the grey and phoned you?

I don’t get this story, it just doesn’t add up. How did they know who’d bought the watch? What’s the grey dealer doing giving out your contact number? What did the “furious major UK AD chain” expect to gain from calling you?

I thought he had found out that the watch was sold at this certain AD just before being listed on the grey market dealer so he called to find out why the AD sold the watch to a flipper at which point they became furious bla bla

[Prizla]

But that’s not what larrysimon has written though Ped22. He “received” a call, the major UK AD chain who were “investigating” one of their staff.

Personally I’d be the furious one in this scenario. From how I read it the AD has contacted the grey dealer to find out who bought the watch and they have in turn passed his contact details on so they can contact the purchaser to help with their investigation?
All sounds a bit far fetched to me.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Prizla

But that’s not what larrysimon has written though Ped22. He “received” a call, the major UK AD chain who were “investigating” one of their staff.

Personally I’d be the furious one in this scenario. From how I read it the AD has contacted the grey dealer to find out who bought the watch and they have in turn passed his contact details on so they can contact the purchaser to help with their investigation?
All sounds a bit far fetched to me.

It is feasible as the grey and AD may have a relationship, approved by Rolex, with lots of DJs and PMs thrown in with the populars, but rogue salesman, which was a huge problem initially post-Brexit, cannot be tolerated ofc. Why they needed to call the OP is another matter.

[emtee]

Originally Posted by Prizla

But that’s not what larrysimon has written though Ped22. He “received” a call, the major UK AD chain who were “investigating” one of their staff.

Personally I’d be the furious one in this scenario. From how I read it the AD has contacted the grey dealer to find out who bought the watch and they have in turn passed his contact details on so they can contact the purchaser to help with their investigation?
All sounds a bit far fetched to me.

Pretty sure this also breaks data protection laws as well

[Ped22]

Originally Posted by Prizla

But that’s not what larrysimon has written though Ped22. He “received” a call, the major UK AD chain who were “investigating” one of their staff.

Personally I’d be the furious one in this scenario. From how I read it the AD has contacted the grey dealer to find out who bought the watch and they have in turn passed his contact details on so they can contact the purchaser to help with their investigation?
All sounds a bit far fetched to me.

You may be right in which case I’d also be furious that my details were passed on without my consent.