Am I missing something?

[Luke0968]

Firstly, I don’t want to sound insulting to anyone! How they spend their time is their business

Naively, a few months ago I started looking for a Rolex Sub. After doing some research, I realised how difficult this would be, but decided to dedicate a few months trying to get on the list for one (mainly through ADs’ - I have £10k spend history in the last 12 months with one). After speaking to several ADs, including WoS in London which tried to get me to buy a readily available Rolex just to get on their list, I quickly got bored and abandoned the search. Instead, I bought an Omega Speedmaster which I love. More importantly, I loved the buying experience. Having a dedicated SA who was able to advice me and give me the watch there and then.

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

[teck21]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

There are plenty of people happy to buy the crap you don’t want.

Since you also don’t want to pay the grey market price, it’s a good thing you enjoy your Omega then.


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[jaySL350]

Patience is a virtue in “ our” thing,,,,
Too a point,,,,

[Cwillis0001]

No shame in that. The new Speedmaster is freakin' awesome. I personally love Omega too.

[HogwldFLTR]

Frankly your missing a Rolex. But seriously, I don't buy what I can't get at a good deal. If I can get a good deal on a Sub I'd buy one regardless if it was from an AD or GM. Now the question if what is a good deal. I bought my SS Daytona for sub $16K that was a good deal but above MSRP. I sold it later at a profit as I didn't bond with it.

[Rori]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

Firstly, I don’t want to sound insulting to anyone! How they spend their time is their business

Naively, a few months ago I started looking for a Rolex Sub. After doing some research, I realised how difficult this would be, but decided to dedicate a few months trying to get on the list for one (mainly through ADs’ - I have £10k spend history in the last 12 months with one). After speaking to several ADs, including WoS in London which tried to get me to buy a readily available Rolex just to get on their list, I quickly got bored and abandoned the search. Instead, I bought an Omega Speedmaster which I love. More importantly, I loved the buying experience. Having a dedicated SA who was able to advice me and give me the watch there and then.

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

Not everyone buys grey or incline to greedy AD games.
My AD refused to let me go grey or even put a down payment, he advised to be patient and so I did.
He got me the watch I asked for in almost no time without having any purchase history.
Similar experiences like mine has been shared with many forum members who also had their watches delivered in short waiting times.
Like you, I would never play games and would never buy a Rolex other than the way I got my first.


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[JonaG]

“readily available Rolex just to get on their list” which was what pray tell? Lol

Yeah, it was tough back in 2019/20. Can’t imagine now.

[RJM25R]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

Firstly, I don’t want to sound insulting to anyone! How they spend their time is their business

Naively, a few months ago I started looking for a Rolex Sub. After doing some research, I realised how difficult this would be, but decided to dedicate a few months trying to get on the list for one (mainly through ADs’ - I have £10k spend history in the last 12 months with one). After speaking to several ADs, including WoS in London which tried to get me to buy a readily available Rolex just to get on their list, I quickly got bored and abandoned the search. Instead, I bought an Omega Speedmaster which I love. More importantly, I loved the buying experience. Having a dedicated SA who was able to advice me and give me the watch there and then.

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

It was only a week ago you posted about going on the waiting list for a 124060….

I’ve waited longer for something to be delivered from stock!

[Little machines]

Good luck with your Omega ,it's a great time piece! Unfortunately Rolex watches are difficult to obtain at MSRP and it understandable that you are frustrated.

[Luke0968]

Originally Posted by RJM25R

It was only a week ago you posted about going on the waiting list for a 124060….

I’ve waited longer for something to be delivered from stock!

The point of my original post wasn’t that I haven’t been able to obtain one. I haven’t even been able to get on a waitlist (not even with my AD who I have £10k spend with in the last 6 months)!

[OrangeSport]

I wouldn't say Rolex is any better than Omega, in fact I would say Omega is often better.

Spedmasters are great and there's a lot to be said fir avoiding all the rubbish with Rolex ADs at the moment. Which version did you get?

[IamJacky]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

Don't feel insulted, it's nothing personal against you. The supplies simply cannot catch up to the overwhelming demand. The Speedmaster is a great/iconic watch, enjoy!

[kittansett]

You can get the second in mind watch as a replacement. However, deep down inside, you still miss the one that you really want. Eventually, you will still want what you really want, and get it. Just from my personal experience.

[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum

[joa]

submariner is not unrealistic to obtain from AD, even in 2021. in my case i did the following earlier this year:

1. got on the waiting list at my AD
2. bought it also on the grey market to sweeten the waiting period.

the watch arrived a few weeks back, now i can sell the greymarket watch and keep the MSRP/AD watch forever in my collection.

[DonRickles]

Here, I found it!

https://www.rolexforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

[Luke0968]

Thanks for the kind words and optimism! I was expecting a lot of backlash which is nice not to see!!! Looks like I’m relegated to the Omega forum for a while, but no doubt I’ll be back here soon

As for the Omega I bought, I got the 42mm manual Speedmaster with sapphire glass (appreciate hesalite was more to the original version worn, but didn’t want those scratches!!)

Thanks again, all

[Mystro]

The Omega is a excellent time piece. When it comes to how people navigate the luxury item world, everything is relative depending on how much income you are working with as generally in our world, money affords opportunity, saves time, and make problems go away. Your ability to use it as a tool for this purpose comes with your income level and experience in life.
How people spend their money or value their time is their business and not worth a second thought.

[wjv4200]

This has been said here often and it has been my personal experience as well. Finding an SA that you “click” with makes all the difference. Also: Patience grasshopper…..

[m j b]

Congrats on the new speedy, it's a great watch.

Rolex makes nice watches too. Maybe because I've had a few, I just don't get all worked up about the current supply issues. It's just a watch.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

Too many variables, people, dealers and behaviours to come up with a stock answer. I can only speak from my own experience. None of us will have had exactly the same experience.

Certain Rolex models are a part, albeit a significant part, of my watch collection. The twists and turns, but mainly the waiting part of getting a Rolex is just one facet of how I get my watches. For others I go grey because I can get anything up to 40% off a new one. Or I go to my AD and ask them to give me a discount comparable to what I would get elsewhere. We also buy other things at the AD and I expect our overall spend and length of custom counts towards our success (or failure) when we ask for something in high demand.

Boiling down the Rolex situation as it now stands, it's a three way choice for me:
Want a model, get listed, wait, get it.
Want a model, can't get on the list, still want it, go and buy it grey.
Want a model, can't get listed, don't want to pay the grey premium, forget about it.

The last option is one than can be revisited at the AD from time to time. I have been asking them to list me for the SS BLRO since it launched. On my third or fourth ask last July, they put me on. I picked it up two weeks ago. Finding a balance between motivated persistence and pissing someone off is another of those immeasurable things that depends on people, dealer, model, behaviour, and to a large degree, sheer luck.

But ultimately, it's just a watch. Nothing to get wound up about.

Congratulations on the Speedmaster. A great range of desirable watches with something (or many things) for just about everyone.

[sj24k]

Nope.

You (along with the countless other people posting essentially the exact same thing on what seems like an hourly basis for the past few years) are not missing anything.

This is the state of the market: Be a VIP return customer and have access to whatever you want. Be a regular Joe and get in line if you can. Pay the market price to a reseller for instant gratification. Or choose another brand.

It’s pretty straightforward. Demand is just way outpacing supply. It’s a great time to be an owner or a seller, and a crappy time to be a buyer.

Glad you found a watch that makes you happy and wish you luck on your watch journey.


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[Marcjvr]

I think it comes down to the motivation behind people’s purchasing decisions. Some people love and appreciate great watch brands and are satisfied with a great watch from any brand. They are more interested in the actual timepiece than anything else.

Others absolutely have to have a Rolex as a status symbol and will do anything to have one. That’s when the desperation sets in and things get crazy at the ADs and the Grey market

[1William]

I am a huge Omega Fan and own several Speedmasters and a Seamaster. No deficiency with the brand and I could have the discussion that for the current money and availability Omega is at least as good or better than Rolex depending on the criteria assigned for discussion. With that said I also own 15 Rolex watches and am enamored with the brand and have been for the last 30 plus years. The question on a lot of these posts really is it about the money or the watches. It is great to get watches from AD's and have an instant equity position in the Rolex watches but you are not going to get many hot watches without being a VIP and spending huge money. I think fair market value is the way to go and I buy what I want, from my favorite Trusted Sellers, when I want, and wear them immediately. It is about the watches and in the last four or five years I have always made money on my sales or trades. To each their own.

[Jpccarguy]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Too many variables, people, dealers and behaviours to come up with a stock answer. I can only speak from my own experience. None of us will have had exactly the same experience.

Certain Rolex models are a part, albeit a significant part, of my watch collection. The twists and turns, but mainly the waiting part of getting a Rolex is just one facet of how I get my watches. For others I go grey because I can get anything up to 40% off a new one. Or I go to my AD and ask them to give me a discount comparable to what I would get elsewhere. We also buy other things at the AD and I expect our overall spend and length of custom counts towards our success (or failure) when we ask for something in high demand…

But ultimately, it's just a watch. Nothing to get wound up about.
Congratulations on the Speedmaster. A great range of desirable watches with something (or many things) for just about everyone.

Brilliant- best post of all!

[Chester01]

People stay motivated because their instabooks feed the dopamine and keep them on the hook. There are so many great watches and great brands out there but for many, many people if it does not have the crown on it, it’s a no go.

[Jackie Daytona]

I think the generalization is a large part of the issue. For some reason everyone seems to think that Rolex is directly responsible for the actions of their ADs. Granted they are in a business relationship with them, but they do not own nor make decisions for that AD.

Some ADs will get away with what they can, and given the market it’s often quite a lot really. Essentially this is a learned or trained behavior at many ADs from the current supply and demand stand point. People have essentially told them it’s ok, so why not keep doing it.

That also being said not all ADs or SAs are created equal. There are thousands of variables that can go into the experience, and some vetting as a customer whether we like it or not based off the above. If you find a good AD they can work with you and generally can provide a good experience. There are too many generalizations related to ADs today.

[7enderbender]

Nothing wrong with that. The Speedmaster is one of the most important timepieces in history. And Omega has a few zingers in their recent collection that I would take any day over the current Rolex offerings. I’d take a nice Speedy over any Daytona any day. Or look at the new Omega World Timer. Fantastic watch.
With subs and SDs it’s in the five-digit references for me. I suspect none of the current Rolex watches will age well. The only one I might get on the list for at some point is the new 36mm Explorer.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Luke0968

I appreciate Rolex is a fantastic brand - arguably better than Omega. But I wondered how people stay motivated with trying to get them at MSRP as I find the situation insulting. I either buy crap I don’t want or pay way above in the grey market. Perhaps I’m missing something?!

Welcome to the forum and good luck to you

[NachoNeal]

You got a good watch. Personally if I was going Omega I would get the railmaster. I really like that one.