Do Rolex know how to make a Sub?

[G M Francis]

I’m a long time watch fan coming up to nearly 40 years of collecting. I’ve built up several collections and dismantled them as I’ve changed my tastes over the years. Originally in the 80s all Vintage, then I moved over to new watches. I had a collection of only Rolex at one time, then traded them and collected only Patek. I’m in my 60s now and my collection is a mix of of what I like to wear.
In all this time I’ve never experienced anything like the shortage of Rolex sports watches as we have now.
I recently went into the AD where I bought my first DJ in 1983 and asked to be put on the list for a Pepsi Ceramic GMT. The assistant just rolled his eyes and said I was would be waiting years. This would be the same assistant would would be all over me if I wanted one of the many DJ41s in the window. I also asked about a Sub.
Its a common gripe on these pages that the only way you will get a Sub/GMT/Daytona is the grey market. I have a ceramic Daytona I paid well over retail for from a grey dealer. That’s my choice, I wanted the watch, I did’nt want to wait and I understand supply and demand. However when it comes to something as simple as a non date Sub which Rolex have been making for decades, I genuinely cannot believe I can’t get one from an AD.
Rolex are a world class brand. They develop compelling products and market them expertly and they have done this for decades. As a long time enthusiast I struggle with the disconnect between what their customers want and what we get.
Rant over.

[Helmi]

Yeah it is becoming very frustrating.

[Burlington]

Maybe 2019 will see some changes in production ratios.

[Nairn1980]

ND Sub is a superb watch. I just got one from my AD after a bit of a wait and can highly recommend it

[rootbeer7]

Go and buy £100k of Gold Rolex’ they’ll soon find you a Sub!!

[alwo]

When i went to my AD without having any customer history, they told me theres no waitlist till January 2019 (this was back in August) but then my friend has a good reputation and customer history, and surprisingly the associate was his as well. Magically, he’s able to get the ND Black Sub right away. So i went over to the AD and bought it.

[watchwatcher]

It does stagger the imagination that a sub would be this much of an ordeal to procure.

Speaking for myself, I never would have foreseen these times.

[yhzdude]

did anyone tried to write to Rolex, an ask why we cannot get watches?
this is a serious question.

[jsausley]

Demand overcedes supply. Simple math. It's in Rolex interest and the gray market interest to drive up demand and keep them hard to find.