TRF Ranting Complaining Whining

[Ivy League]

I'm still fairly new here so please forgive me for this. During my short time here, I have noticed a disproportionate amount of members expressing their dissatisfaction towards Rolex as a corporate entity and towards their products in general. The members here are very knowledgable and I have learned a lot from various posts. But why do some folks continue to purchase Rolex watches, and then log onto TRF only to moan and ache about Rolex?

[Art161]

Originally Posted by Ivy League

I'm still fairly new here so please forgive me for this. During my short time here, I have noticed a disproportionate amount of members expressing their dissatisfaction towards Rolex as a corporate entity and towards their products in general. The members here are very knowledgable and I have learned a lot from various posts. But why do some folks continue to purchase Rolex watches, and then log onto TRF only to moan and ache about Rolex?

Because even though we really like the watch, there are some things that cry out for improvement, such as LUME.

[Porsche]

Because Rolex is not God, ie. they are not perfect. Yes, they make great watches, which is why we buy them and love them and share on this site... but we can also see the flaws, and hope in time Rolex keeps improving their product...

Did someone say LUME???

[redshirt1957]

Rolexes are like a good spouse. You love them to death, and every once in a while you want to kill them.

[Time Traveller]

No one here bashes Rolex. But as has already been stated, while we love the watches there is still room for improvement. That is why there are some moans and aches.

[valentine]

hey Ivy. I think that we all LOVE these timepieces, and we enjoy them in every way possible...but I think, some people (myslef included) at times are going to voice their opinions and frustrations about the COMPANY Rolex...and some of the decisions being made...whether it be about the production of a certain model...the price increase...etc. Either way, this is a place to voice those opinions...but speaking for myself, even after Rolex let me down personally at this years Basel showing with the introduction of a watch (referring to the deepsea)that is IMO oversized and overpriced, and a new submariner that is out of reach for your average sub owner. I just think that Rolex has made some poor decisions...but I can also understand that they are trying to become "more elite and exclusive" which is ok, but they cannot forget about those people that are buying for the tradition...and NOT just for the " I have money and you dont " flare. People who are submariner fans often USE their watches for watersports..diving..etc. and I higly doubt that you will see your average surfer out there with a 30,000.00 white gold sub. it just does not make sense. I speak for myself when I say that I'd like to see Rolex do more for those that are used to paying for a high end tool watch, and not those that simply want to "wear a rolex to show their wealth", but my point is, even though I think rolex has let down those of us that enjoy a high end watch but also plan to wear and use them and beat them into a pulp (as they "say" they were meant to be), Im not going to give up the joy of owning them and using them. If that means avoiding the "new" rolex and sticking with the more traditional professional watches, and NEVER purchasing new again, then so be it...but either way I love MY rolexes...but as far as where the company itself is heading...Im a bit disappointed. BUT, basel 2009 is just around the corner...and who knows...maybe this time they will cater to those who would rather USE and WEAR their watch, as opposed to wearing it once in a while and keeping it in a safe...or simply wearing a watch made to withstand pressure up to 1000ft and take a real beating, as a big chunk of gold to show off their wealth. you bring up a valid point Ivy, but in all fairness, this IS a place where we can all voice our opinions....whether they are great, or controversial. they are still just opinions...

[Ivy League]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Rolexes are like a good spouse. You love them to death, and every once in a while you want to kill them.

Very good!

[SeaDweller1220]

Ivy League good question!!!
I am new here too. I bought a SeaDweller 3 years ago so I have not been an owner for a long time compared to the rest of this group.
My Dad bought a YG DJ about 15 years ago and raved about the quality and prestige of owning a Rolex. So when I had the funds to finally buy one and I did it to celebrate a new job. Since then I have bought a Daytona and a Oyster Perpetual for my wife. Yes, I still want another. DSSD and then a GMT. So I am hooked like the rest of the bunch. In the last year we have seen 2 price increases and some questionable new models replacing iconic models. Fear in the economy, stock mkt tanking and we see our belowed brand increasing their prices by double digit percentages. I myself had a DSSD on hold last Saturday and 2nd guessed myself so I ended up not purchasing it. Monday the MKT tanked and I lost more that a few DSSD's LOL!!!
Right now I am sitting on the sidelines both in Investing $ and Rolex. I think the 2nd price increase cought many of us by surprise considering all the bad news lately. $ low, Oil high, Stock MKT down. So some people migh need to vent.
It still does not mean they don't like rolex but for me they are getting harder to justify purchasing until the economy improves. They are a luxury item so when times are tough I stop spending $ on those items.
This is just my opinion.
And if we only had positive threads this would be a pretty boring forum!!!!

[astcell]

I just wish I knew where the price increase monies go to.

[gmtobsessed]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Rolexes are like a good spouse. You love them to death, and every once in a while you want to kill them.

Thats the best line I've ever read in this forum, Bubba

[Mrdi]

I'm willing to bash Rolex
The second of October is a good time
I'm very disappointed in the significant "monthly" price increases !!

[Yume-sama]

I don't know. Is it possible to own a Rolex and still be anti-corporation, anti-capitalist, etc?

[springer]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Rolexes are like a good spouse. You love them to death, and every once in a while you want to kill them.

Couldn't have put it better myself. I also love my job, but many times I just want to say "shove it." Same analogys apply to Rolex.

[Time Traveller]

Originally Posted by Mrdi

I'm willing to bash Rolex
The second of October is a good time
I'm very disappointed in the significant "monthly" price increases !!

Of course the price increase sucks and quite unnecessary IMHO. But I was referring specifically to the watches themselves rather than the company as an organization. What Rolex produces and decides for business are two different things I think.

[Ivy League]

Just to clarify, I am not accusing or blaming anyone here. As a matter fact, I am guilty for bitching about the clownmasterII and the cheap YM clasp.
Just wanted to hear your justification and reasoning on this matter.

[Bisquitlips]

I am still in the honeymoon period with my Rollie. I don't know of anyone who complained on their honeymoon! Me included!

[Jimbits76]

I bash them.

After 50 years and three generations of Rolex ownership I think I have a right to.

Their customer service is dreadful, they are overpriced, the marketing and advertising is hideously snobby, the stereotypical ownership is ego inflated and the new directions the designs are taking is borderline trashy.

All I want is a decent, hardwearing watch that can be worn with a suit or jeans, something that will keep ticking throughout my son's and my own life...none of this crap I've listed and that is why I continue to bitch!

J

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Ivy League

During my short time here, I have noticed a disproportionate amount of members expressing their dissatisfaction towards Rolex as a corporate entity and towards their products in general.

How have you arrived at your 'disproportionate' conclusion? Is it based on a percentage of total posts per week?

Discussing issues is what discussion forums are in part about. I see many many positive posts where high praise is given to Rolex and more particularly their watches. So what is proportionate or disproportionate, if this is just a subjective assessment on your part then a re-evaluation based on some kind of objective criteria may be appropriate.

[C. Davidson]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I am still in the honeymoon period with my Rollie. I don't know of anyone who complained on their honeymoon! Me included!

Me too!

[Singslinger]

As with anything in life, if you pay a high price, I think you're entitled to some amount of moaning and bitching. I still can't believe the tacky box and booklets that new Rolexs come with and don't get me started on the clasp on the older bracelets. And the high-handed way they treat their customers...sheesh!

Still, the overall experience is attractive enough to keep me coming back for more...maybe it's a case of "treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen''?

[Erix]

Originally Posted by Porsche

Did someone say LUME???

I wish for the return of tritium dials, I wish for the return of tritium dials, I wish for the return of tritium dials.

Dang ..didn't work.

[C. Davidson]

We TRFers are so passionate about Rolex that when we see something that could be improved, we post it here hoping that it does not fall of deaf ears. We all want Rolex to succeed.

[bodybump]

because people tend to change their mind so easy and their need of wanting a better one is always present..especially here there are a lot of people have very nice rolex people show their pictures and then Whoala!!!! sudenly the watch his wearing is still not good enough...even the richest guy would still thinks his daytona or president watch looks crappy...

[Quicksilver]

We all love Rolex watches so we expect them to meet high standards. We have an emotional investment in the brand and that spills over into criticism when we feel that investment is betrayed or Rolex are not meeting our expectations.

Quite often the criticism is an emotional reaction - not necessarily logical, although it often is. ie- my rant the other day about tool watches and polished centre links only being apropriate for hairdressers watches - that clearly anoyed some people

Remember love and hate are two emotions that are very close indeed (not that I hate Rolex, far from it, but you get the point I am making).

[Time Traveller]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

I bash them.

After 50 years and three generations of Rolex ownership I think I have a right to.

Their customer service is dreadful, they are overpriced, the marketing and advertising is hideously snobby, the stereotypical ownership is ego inflated and the new directions the designs are taking is borderline trashy.

All I want is a decent, hardwearing watch that can be worn with a suit or jeans, something that will keep ticking throughout my son's and my own life...none of this crap I've listed and that is why I continue to bitch!

J

I am afraid the good old days are long gone. i.e. days of the 6538, 5512, etc. Those watches were made well, worth the price that was being asked for them back then, looked good with anything and are still ticking today. Believe me I want the same thing as you.

[Green Arrow]

buying a Rolex is a very expensive proposition compared to buying a perfectly good Luminox or G-Shock. Consequently, when people put up significant money for a product they feel they have the right to be hypercritical. You see a lot of posts that read " For XXXX dollars, I would have expected to get XXXX, and this doesn't quite measure up"

I've written that I love my DEEPSEA, BUT certainly wish they would have moved the rehaut back 2 mm, and made the dial larger. This is both a complaint, and at the same time a hope that if Rolex monitors the opinions of the watch nut community it may give them a sense of direction.

Among all of us who bought the Deepsea, I have yet to read a post from any of us that says " I bought to Deepsea to read "Original Gas" on the rehaut. That is a uniformly disliked part of the watch, and if Rolex, THE COMPANY, would do away with that, they would increase Deepsea sales, and I could change out the rehaut on mine, and like it even better than I do (and I like it LOTS)

So the complaining really isn't meant to say we don't love our Rolex watches. I think we do, or we would buy other brands. There is just something inherently trustworthy about Rolex watches for me which is why I've worn one or another of them for the past 26 years.

But that doesn't mean they couldn't improve their LUME (better a bit on the Deepsea), or get rid of the BILLBOARD advertising!!

[leonidas]

i have to agree with the quote which points out that if they demand such ridiculous prices, and then we have problems with any aspect of our purchase or their very priecy servicing, then we should be putting our written complaints where our mouths are.
even with snippy replies, if we regularly took such steps and increased their volume of mail that called them on not always giving value for dollar or euro or whatever, then we would be doing the least we can.

[chicagowatchman]

Originally Posted by SeaDweller1220

Ivy League good question!!!
I am new here too. I bought a SeaDweller 3 years ago so I have not been an owner for a long time compared to the rest of this group.
My Dad bought a YG DJ about 15 years ago and raved about the quality and prestige of owning a Rolex. So when I had the funds to finally buy one and I did it to celebrate a new job. Since then I have bought a Daytona and a Oyster Perpetual for my wife. Yes, I still want another. DSSD and then a GMT. So I am hooked like the rest of the bunch. In the last year we have seen 2 price increases and some questionable new models replacing iconic models. Fear in the economy, stock mkt tanking and we see our belowed brand increasing their prices by double digit percentages. I myself had a DSSD on hold last Saturday and 2nd guessed myself so I ended up not purchasing it. Monday the MKT tanked and I lost more that a few DSSD's LOL!!!
Right now I am sitting on the sidelines both in Investing $ and Rolex. I think the 2nd price increase cought many of us by surprise considering all the bad news lately. $ low, Oil high, Stock MKT down. So some people migh need to vent.
It still does not mean they don't like rolex but for me they are getting harder to justify purchasing until the economy improves. They are a luxury item so when times are tough I stop spending $ on those items.
This is just my opinion.
And if we only had positive threads this would be a pretty boring forum!!!!

Excelent Post!!!

[ratae1950]

We'er human, at least most of us.

[geoffmalter]

Let me start by saying I like Rolex although I'm not crazy about them blinging up the sport watches with polished center links. I prefer being under the radar, so to speak. But that's me, and I which is why I haven't bought any model that does have them.

Rolex doesn't care what our gripes are....they sell every watch they make, every year (or should I say they make their worldwide ADs buy all their production). They're going to make what they want to make, add models/features that benefit the company, and raise prices whenever.

The RSCs (at least here in the states) have unfair repair policies (e.g. BH refused to service my 1675 unless they could replace the hands. Apparently the minute hand has a pinhole in the tritium, which they had to show to me through a magnifier, it was that small). And that is why I have it serviced by an excellent Rolex approved watchmaker. BTW he's at least a third less in cost.

Yes, Rolex pushes snob appeal, but if we're totally honest, isn't that at least a little bit of why we buy the brand?

And as far as complaining goes, I can understand it if a model is not purchased, but what I don't understand is why someone, who participates in Rolex forums and has the benefit of information, expertise, and experience on that very model, would go and buy the model and then complain about the very things they read about. Were they hoping their purchase is going to be the exception?

Rolex makes very good watches, some with as much history as any watch out there. The best thing about them is that they are marketing geniuses.

Just my $.02 (was $.05 before the banking/wall street meltdown :-))