Was offered new Sub date by AD

[VogelPhoenix]

Went to one of the local ADs today to see if we could have a look at some of the new releases. Wife asked about a Sub first and to my surprise they SA went and came back with a black Sub date. Quite nice, even though I'm really looking for a 124060. Proportions seem perfect to me, and I didn't have any problem with the wider bracelet.

In any case, while I was trying to predict my wife's reaction if I just bought the watch on the spot, the SA finally let the cat out of the bag: If I wanted to Sub we'd also have to buy an in-stock two-tone Datejust ($14k+ minimum) or a Day-date. We went back-and-forth a bit, but couldn't find a combination that even remotely made sense (if they had had a green dial Day-date 40 in stock things might have gotten interesting).

We also looked at some of the new OPs. They had the green (nice) and silver (a bit too understated) dials. Surprisingly, the 41mm really looked too big for my wife, who has a SS Daytona as her daily and has currently also borrowed my 47mm Radiomir. We put our name down for a 36mm OP, but we'll see what BS they come up with once they have a turquoise model in hand.

Embarrasingly, I was too occupied rattling off acceptable (to me) suggestions for bundles to take any pictures

[Rolexavidfan]

So no deal with the AD? Will they keep the new Sub for you?


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[SparklesMcgraw]

The bundling thing is a disgrace that Rolex should stop somehow. It’s just bad taste. If the watch is in stock and you want it (especially if they have shown it to you) there should be no reason you can’t walk out with it

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Rolexavidfan

So no deal with the AD? Will they keep the new Sub for you?

Nah, they'll just wait for someone more enthusiastic about bundling with the Datejusts in their display case.

I'm on the "list" for a Sub at another AD in the same city. They don't bundle with other Rolex's but go by some sort of VIP score. Only watch we bought from them was the wife's Daytona years ago, so I'm not expecting a call in the near future.

I mentioned in passing that I might actually prefer an SD43 to a Sub date - supposedly I could have the Seadweller within a month if I bought some random $3k Tudor out of the case (no BB58, sadly, and I already have a BB 41).

I actually didn't mind this interaction with the ADs - at least they were forthcoming about the rules of the game. Better than putting people on imaginary waitlists or just blowing them off completely.

[teck21]

Originally Posted by SparklesMcgraw

The bundling thing is a disgrace that Rolex should stop somehow. It’s just bad taste. If the watch is in stock and you want it (especially if they have shown it to you) there should be no reason you can’t walk out with it

Rolex does not mind the bundling at all.

Popular models are a luxury good, and there’s no better way to distribute a luxury good in a free economy than who can, and will pay more than the next person.


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[Slider817]

I’d love to bundle the new sub-date with the red dial OP 36mm for the wife.

[Ranger67]

That must have sucked showing you the Sub, then hitting you with “only if”

[Yaz]

Originally Posted by Ranger67

That must have sucked showing you the Sub, then hitting you with “only if”

So true...

Hate this ! If you have the money and the watch is available, there should not be a problem to walk out with it !


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[Andad]

So much for the ‘new beginnings’ crowd.

[ozwatchguy]

Wow! That’s disappointing that they’re trying to bundle a sub

[mml4]

Originally Posted by ozwatchguy

Wow! That’s disappointing that they’re trying to bundle a sub

Its" a new model-If it falls flat the bundle demands will go away. When all the initial "I have to have it" buyers have theirs it will calm down as well.
Hard to imagine that the base sport model will require a bundle long term.

[Pw92676]

That’s really lousy for him the SA to say that. Poor form.

[1William]

No issues with the bundling if that is what the AD wants to do. Either play the game or sit down.

[Hollie_Rollie]

That’s awful man. I couldn’t imagine being that close and then the SA requiring the purchase of another less desirable piece. Thank goodness my SA that I deal with at the AD doesn’t play these games with me

[Watchflair]

I guess that’s life at this point. At least you got to check it out.


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

That’s awful man. I couldn’t imagine being that close and then the SA requiring the purchase of another less desirable piece. Thank goodness my SA that I deal with at the AD doesn’t play these games with me

True, but to be fair they asked to take a look at it, so the SA did not have to inform them that she’d only sell it to them with a DJ until what appeared to be some conversation that suggested an actual interest to purchase.


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[vh2k]

Originally Posted by Yaz

So true...

Hate this ! If you have the money and the watch is available, there should not be a problem to walk out with it !

Disagree 100%. Only mistake the AD (really the SA) made here was not properly setting expectations before showing the watch.

The SA should have said something like... This one is spoken for, but you are very special so I will show it to you. OR... This one is for showing to important customers like you but not for sale today, but depending on what we can work out, I may be able to secure one for you immediately.

That way, the bundling conversation would have been more organic... and the customer wouldn’t leave with a bad experience.

[vinny84]

I would be switching ADs if any bundling scenarios were presented to me

[ciceroyeah]

Originally Posted by SparklesMcgraw

The bundling thing is a disgrace that Rolex should stop somehow. It’s just bad taste. If the watch is in stock and you want it (especially if they have shown it to you) there should be no reason you can’t walk out with it

Rolex creates the problem by continuing to overproduce and push dealers to sell unpopular models.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Slider817

I’d love to bundle the new sub-date with the red dial OP 36mm for the wife.

Nice try, I would have made that deal in a heartbeat! But rules were two-tone or gold for the "Classic" bundle partner. I proposed a 41mm blue diamond dial, fluted bezel DJ on jubilee (which they had in stock), but no dice. If it had been a Sub (no date) and the stick instead of diamond dial DJ, I would probably still be there, arguing that the DJ was steel/white gold and should technically count as two-tone, but as is I decided to move on...

[Handey0465]

So the theory about ADs dis-liking flippers is false....Seems to me they created flippers by utilizing this bundling practice....

What would I do with a TT DJ I didn't want, but was forced to buy? I'm going to sell it immediately....

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Nice try, I would have made that deal in a heartbeat! But rules were two-tone or gold for the "Classic" bundle partner. I proposed a 41mm blue diamond dial, fluted bezel DJ on jubilee (which they had in stock), but no dice. If it had been a Sub (no date) and the stick instead of diamond dial DJ, I would probably still be there, arguing that the DJ was steel/white gold and should technically count as two-tone, but as is I decided to move on...

That’s awful.

Standing in a store and arguing with an SA about what they will allow me to spend my money on would make me never want to step foot inside an AD again.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by vinny84

I would be switching ADs if any bundling scenarios were presented to me

That was my 2nd visit to this AD, so not much lost there. I had low hopes to be able to buy anything interesting there, based on the experience from my last visit 5 years ago.

[bp1000]

pretty disgraceful to suggest that

no... you can't buy this until you buy all this other stuff nobody wants.

Find another AD

[drfrankenstein]

I haven't been here long but the length people go on here to defend behavior of ADs is perplexing

[watchwatcher]

Okay...I'll just say it. Rolex does not operate the retail stores that sell their product. They supply said retail stores with the product.

If you operated a retail business, would you want one of your suppliers telling you how to run it?

Give me a break.

[Podmornica]

The grey price of a new Submariner is a joke.

18.000 EUR for a 124060 .. At that point I would rather purchase a Pepsi ..

[drfrankenstein]

^ except the ADs need Rolex, not the other way around

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Okay...I'll just say it. Rolex does not operate the retail stores that sell their product. They supply said retail stores with the product.

If you operated a retail business, would you want one of your suppliers telling you how to run it?

Give me a break.

On the flip side, if I ran a brand like Rolex, with an ethos to position its products on a certain type of clientele I would certainly be laying down some very strict ground rules on how the products are displayed and sold.

This isn't a grand bazaar. The product is controlled from distribution -> marketing -> in store sales and aftercare.

The retail outlets are little more than a distribution channel to save Rolex from becoming a property company (with their own stores) instead of a watch company.

AD's in a lot of cases are made or broken with acquisition or loss of the Rolex brand.

Classic case of you have autonomy, be here are the lines.

What that SA did was perfectly fine but I personally find it hugely disrespectful, elitist and I shall not be told I can't own something unless I'm forced to part of a lot of money on something I don't even want.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Podmornica

The grey price of a new Submariner is a joke.

18.000 EUR for a 124060 .. At that point I would rather purchase a Pepsi ..

Some advice, wait a couple months for the dust to settle before we establish what the real grey price will be. Tons of ADs haven’t even got their first allocations yet, this is just moonshots seeing who will bite right now.