Went to A large AD in LA this evening ... sad sight

[blada4life]

BB in SoCal. Completely empty. Practically no datejusts, most 34 mm or smaller. I think I saw like 2-3 day dates only. Only 3 watches in the premium corner including a really old sky dweller on leather that they’ve had for years prob, a ss YM2 and RG YM on strap. More empty slots than watches. Never seen it so bad. Granted I went like 30 min before closing but there were no sales reps there. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve quit. The one rep seemed demoralized. Told me demand is up but Rolex isn’t sending them anything and he was told the Asian market has been scooping up inventory. Really seemed down that they had nothing to offer. He seemed genuinely sad that he can’t provide anything to his customers. Can’t imagine their sales. They are a location that has a built out Rolex boutique with separate entrance. Either they’re being squeezed out or management is holding back, hoarding or distributing all the good stuff.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[yOyOYoo]

Yup, seems to be the norm nowadays.

I saw this sad sight at the Portland BB last month:

[uniqueMR]

Sadness has officially taken over Rolex since past some years :)

[pepsiretail]

Geneva is selling hard to get, which they believe is what people want to buy.

[Verdi]

These shops should be called Datejust ADs, not Rolex ADs.

[Navarino]

Originally Posted by yOyOYoo

Yup, seems to be the norm nowadays.

I saw this sad sight at the Portland BB last month:

If I didn't know any better I would have thought this was a photo of after-hours when the shop is closed and they tuck all their watches in for bed-time in the safe.

Sad state of affairs!

[luvsub]

I remember this place, not good.

[Greg 59]

Hmm. A sign of the times. Quite compelling when you see a photo like that though. I'm not sure it can be blamed entirely on the Asian market but I can understand why they might be accused.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[lear60man]

Sounds like BB in Topanga. The upside is, I went in and had both of my watches resized without waiting, for free! The guy was more than happy to talk watches.

[blada4life]

Originally Posted by lear60man

Sounds like BB in Topanga. The upside is, I went in and had both of my watches resized without waiting, for free! The guy was more than happy to talk watches.

Yea they resize Rolex for free. The watchmaker told me they’re not allowed to charge for Rolex. Prob will clean it too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Zed82]

Or everything is going out the back door to grey dealers and preffered customers. Lots of bundle deals.

[maxymax]

Originally Posted by Zed82

Or everything is going out the back door to grey dealers and preffered customers. Lots of bundle deals.

This

[thesharkfactor]

Originally Posted by Zed82

Or everything is going out the back door to grey dealers and preffered customers. Lots of bundle deals.

I think this.

[ccaballero]

Either they are going out of business or all the business is going out the back door.

[peterpl]

All out the back door. No AD is going to give any end customer free money selling to them at MSRP.

AND if they do offer you at MSRP it will most likely be bundle deal to make up for the money they would have otherwise made. Money talks bullshit walks. Its all about the moolah.

[nicon]

They are waiting for shipment of new display cases.

[MrPear]

They are all in the safe.

Get your wallet out and buy a couple of DJ's and you'll see what you wish.

How they can get away with this is unfathomable.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by MrPear

They are all in the safe.

Get your wallet out and buy a couple of DJ's and you'll see what you wish.

How they can get away with this is unfathomable.

It's because Rolex are a monopoly at this price point, and now a super-Veblen good. No point asking for democracy in a dictatorship.

[ZenNYC]

So I went to one of the ADs and of course the cases were filled with the usual DJs and <34mms. After showing genuine interest for OP 39s, SA pulled one out from the back for me to try on. They didn’t had the color I wanted but it has come down to hiding OPs >34mm. The supply games are getting more competitive everyday.

[THC]

Originally Posted by AK797

It's because Rolex are a monopoly at this price point, and now a super-Veblen good. No point asking for democracy in a dictatorship.

Perfect description Neil

[sond86]

I went to 5 AD’s in Northern California
And similar most had datejust stock and 1-3 day dates

All had the 44mm step yachtmaster
A couple had midsize yacht
And a few steel gold models

One dealer had about a dozen mother of pearl variations (they acknowledged its been accumulating since they don’t sell as fast)

Another dealer had some preowned for almost double the msrp.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by peterpl

All out the back door. No AD is going to give any end customer free money selling to them at MSRP.

AND if they do offer you at MSRP it will most likely be bundle deal to make up for the money they would have otherwise made. Money talks bullshit walks. Its all about the moolah.

X100. All out the back door at much higher than MSRP prices. Dont let them kid you.

[jrs146]

Truth is ADs are just as disappointed as customers not having enlightened inventory.

[RolexInMelbourne]

Now Rolex authorised dealers officially become authorised whole sellers! Whole sell to grey dealers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Calatrava r]

You cannot blame the lack of supply on anything concrete. Rolex production is so small in number compared to the whole world. A small surge in demand easily wipes out everything. If only they had Apple watch production numbers.

[MrPear]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

You cannot blame the lack of supply on anything concrete. Rolex production is so small in number compared to the whole world. A small surge in demand easily wipes out everything. If only they had Apple watch production numbers.

Oh come on buddy, Rolex make a million watches a year.

[samson66]

Originally Posted by yOyOYoo

Yup, seems to be the norm nowadays.

I saw this sad sight at the Portland BB last month:

That is a jaw dropping picture right there

[Syed117]

I've been told by at least 6 random ADs that there is no issue with supply.

They are getting the same amount of sports models they've always gotten.

Demand is insane and all those models are reserved before they even arrive. That's why there is nothing to display.

We've even seen multiple posts on the forum where people have coffins with stickers instructing store employees not to put watches on display.

I don't believe there is a supply issue. Not a single AD has told me that.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by MrPear

Oh come on buddy, Rolex make a million watches a year.

There are 6 billion people in the world. SS sports make up considerably less than half of Rolex production given dress, TT, PM and ladies models. Global demand can break any market.

[Swaye]

Originally Posted by yOyOYoo

Yup, seems to be the norm nowadays.

I saw this sad sight at the Portland BB last month:

That is horrific. I mean my AD has nothing in the way of "popular" watches, but they at least have 20-25 watches to display, and it is a tiny AD. Seeing totally empty cases is discouraging.