What you need to do to get an AP, Patek, or Rolex at retail.

Timing is everything. I got my GMT from an AD at 28% off MSRP... in early 2009.

 

Haven't been in that market for years. Did not realize that the mania has spread from cars and real estate now.

 

Yeah, it's nutty. That GMT I paid $5300 for new in 2009 is trading somewhere around 15k used now.

 

I’m pretty sure if I danced in front of the store in a bikini I a) would never get a watch and b) get arrested!

 

After about 4 months I just got the call my blue dial deep sea is in. The only downside is they raised the price from $12,900 to $14,150. I understand these are hard to get? Maybe not as much anymore?

 

Not relevant today - I also got a big discount back then - There's lots of consumers wanting immediate gratification of buying on the spot hence over list prices

 

Just get on the AD's wait list - Demand is crazy out there

 

That's what I did, I just went in there and told them flat out; "I'd like to get on the list, and I know it might be a few years but just call me when it's my turn and I'll swing by". It went well at one place in the midwest, but my more local one got into the whole thing about having to come in and be a customer because then they're more likely to "remember me" and call.

Luckily, a friend said he'd sell me his new Sub at MSRP. It will be my first Rolex, so no doubt I'm very excited about that; but will have to wait for my GMT and Daytona that I'm in no rush to pick up.

 

Analogous to getting an 812C….
The hoops you have to jump through ….


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The point is to just wait. The pendulum will inevitably swing back.

 

That's the current list price. Check the Rolex web site.

Ali

 

One on order ?

MDS

 

I wish!
I am not that VIP…..


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Our jeweler sells strictly at Rolex retail brand new, I thought that was a condition with Rolex.
They have 6-7 mens watches and a few ladies, maybe 2-3 brand new, they do not sell used.

 

You have a good friend. Seriously

 

I think the same thing we know about the car dealer quite apply to the watch dealer. Relationship means how many you have bought before and how much they think your buying power is and more importantly for how long. The most important thing is that only buy the watch you intend to keep and adore.

At the end, there is never a list to begin with for most of the watches. List don't exist for real vip, except for certain watch that 10 ultra high net worth person are also waitiing for. In that case when there are not much marginal difference between each individuals in this particular list, order does suddenly become important. Most people knows everyone in that circle. Imagine Peter finds out John gets the watch before he does when he was the one who told John about it to begin with? The dealer does not want to piss off either John or Peter, so list is used. For any other watches, not really a list.

I have two Kari Voutilainen coming in in 2 and 4 years for one non bespoke and one bespoke. He only makes 50 a year, what can I do? So yes, there of course is a list. The market will certainly change then, but I just love them. At first 3, but I decided to get something else as my wife does complaint that I am crazy.

For Rolex, 1 million a year, Patek 60k a year and since they don't have boutiques at all at USA, you are at the mercy of the sales people. At least for AP which makes 40k a year, it's a bit different as they got rid of AD and only sell the watch through boutiques now. They have more of the control. Ahhh, they love movie stars or super famous YouTubers, just like how Ferrari sold Pista to some kids on YouTubes. Different world we live in now. Oops I digress.

 

He really is. Someone who mentored me, and whom I've learned a lot from. I'm very lucky to have a person like him as one of my closest friends.

 

I’m wondering if it is luck of the draw. I have no history at all with my local AD, I stopped by their store at the mall back in the end of January to see what they had which was nothing but demo units in the cases, I expressed my interest in a submariner, the rep offered to “ build me a profile“ in their system and put me on the list. And then yesterday (37 days later) I got a call from him saying he had one with my name on it if I was still interested. So that’s proof it can happen
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Maybe this is a sign the craze is beginning to cool a little?

 

Sure hope so

MDS

 

I bought a datejust back in 86 and from what I can remember the submariner's were selling somewhere between 900 and 1495 retail. I thought about selling my datejust a few years ago and never did. I wish I had bought a Daytona back then instead!

 

It is a condition/requirement with Rolex - ADs can't mark them up and they cannot discount them - period. If they do and Rolex finds out then they pull Rolex from the AD for new retail distribution as well as being able to advertise as an "Authorized Rolex Service Center" - meaning they can't send watches to Rolex factory for maintenance/repair/reconditioning. In most cases any new inventory has to be sent back to Rolex.

That precise scenario happened in Colorado - I will leave the name of the (at one time) AD out of here but it did happen - quickly.

Akin to Steve Wynn's Ferrari dealership vaporizing in a weekend