A single UK man responsible for UK SS Shortage:

[locutus49]

It, according to this video, is not Rolex S.A. (corporate) fault. Quite the opposite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrcEEIhyis

[Albusdabbledore]

Originally Posted by locutus49

It, according to this video, is not Rolex S.A. (corporate) fault. Quite the opposite.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlrcEEIhyis

Can’t imagine paying over retail for a submariner


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[Rock]

If this is true, and it DOES sound reasonable, then it goes some way to explaining the phenomenon we have been discussing here for so long.
One would imagine that the author of the video would have considered the legal implications of what he has said if it were incorrect.
So often when there is a problem with a product it is due to some greedy bastard running the company. Bigger shareholder return, bigger salary for the CEO and Directors. Public screwed.

[Bizcut1]

Sounds possible. How to really verify? And what impact on the rest of the world?

[Ticknaway]

Wow if this is true, Mr Duffy could be in a little trouble with the British regulators.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Ticknaway

Wow if this is true, Mr Duffy could be in a little trouble with the British regulators.

British WIS he should probably be more worried about.

[DJTOSUB]

Interesting story. But...

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

[locutus49]

That is the very question. I don't know the answer. The commentator sounds awfully authoritative and he could be sued if he is just speculating, so I don't know.

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

Interesting story. But...

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

[Rock]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

The only 'cause-effect' relationship I can see is that if you exclude a large number of potential purchasers from one substantial National market they will try to source the product from other national markets with a 'knock-on' impact.
I could see that impacting Europe, but doesn't really explain the US market shortage as it's hard to see it sucking product out of a much bigger remote marketplace. Has to be more to it...

[jlovda]

Does anybody remember the Hunt Bros. with silver back in the 60's or 70's? (can't remember the exact year)

[bezler]

I'm not impressed. He doesn't cite sources, he's in no position to know about true Rolex production numbers, and his understanding of economics is laughable (just read his comments).

No, the UK does not set the world market. Not even close.

No, it's not true that "demand for Rolex will increase exponentially over time; that is a given, due to professional models following a constant trajectory over time." (reply to David Littler) . And really, even if supply has been constant, WTF could he be thinking to believe that would imply exponential growth in demand? Does he even know what that means? (Hint: "exponential" isn't a way to say "big" in an impressive way - that's s a way to cast yourself as a buffoon.) There's something about economics that seems to bamboozle many folks who seem otherwise competent.

And he'd better be damned sure that his facts are better than his understanding of economics, or he might find himself on the wrong end of a big lawsuit.

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[Fat_ninja]

Feels more conspiracy theorist than anything.

[10klakes]

He lost me at “batgirl”.

[Boaters]

Oh yes .. LOL and a happy new year

[gramo]

This is nonsense, as I had enquired directly to Rolex regarding holding of the warranty cards and Rolex had confirmed that it is Rolex recommendation to the ADs to hold warranty cards, plus it is not just WOS that hold warranty cards and it is not just in the UK they hold warranty cards.

[Fire bloke]

Had me till he said all of the hidden stockpile will be released onto the market...no stainless sports showing in the windows... Fake news

[exador]

Originally Posted by Albusdabbledore

Can’t imagine paying over retail for a submariner.

In some parts of the world we have no choice

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Rock

If this is true, and it DOES sound reasonable, then it goes some way to explaining the phenomenon we have been discussing here for so long.
One would imagine that the author of the video would have considered the legal implications of what he has said if it were incorrect.
So often when there is a problem with a product it is due to some greedy bastard running the company. Bigger shareholder return, bigger salary for the CEO and Directors. Public screwed.

Absolutely. These watches are in no way rare, as they can be seen everywhere for sale (at ridiculous premiums).

[Sandpit]

Hmm. Doesn’t add up imo. The shortage had already happened before WOS floated. Unless that alleged instruction to withhold stock was issued well before (like 12 months before) the float.

[haberdashery]

Before I pick it apart in more detail, does anyone actually know the number of WoS group ADs in the UK?

He repeats 125 many times. From what I can see there aren’t even 125 ADs in the UK. Let alone 125 WoS group ADs?

[massie8250]

This.

[massie8250]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

Interesting story. But...

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

This.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by haberdashery

Before I pick it apart in more detail, does anyone actually know the number of WoS group ADs in the UK?

He repeats 125 many times. From what I can see there aren’t even 125 ADs in the UK. Let alone 125 WoS group ADs?

I agree there are quite a few holes in this - it sounds like a theory concocted to fit apparent observations. A quick look at the AD locator on the Rolex site confirms there are not 125 AD’s in the UK - I rough counted fewer than a hundred but clearly many of those are not WOS Group AD’s, so he is demonstrably wrong about that.

Furthermore, a poster above - gramo - rightly points out what has been confirmed by multiple sources; that the recommendation to with-hold cards came (in writing) from Rolex itself. As Sandpit has pointed out, the serious difficulty getting hold of Professional Rolex for the average buyer goes back to at least early 2017 and other UK posters have reported that things changed here following the Brexit vote and the subsequent tanking of the pound. This had the effect of making UK Rolex watches the cheapest in the world, which attracted foreign watch shoppers which in turn is why we felt the global Rolex pinch first. I can personally vouch for this as I had to both get on my bike and wait several months around that time before getting hold of a BLNR. The point about “VIP-level” customers (defined as those spending in excess of £100k per annum) also seems like an ass-pull. Again I will cite personal experience of being able to purchase SS professional models with a pretty short wait - after 1st October 2018 - despite being laughably short of the ability to spend £100k a year on trinkets. He’s even wrong about the date - they started with-holding cards in April 2018.

I’ll know for sure within a few days since he claims WoS Group AD’s have been told to immediately release with-held warranty cards and Mappin & Webb has two of mine in the safe. I won’t be holding my breath waiting for the call.

The things he gets right - that it’s difficult to get hold of certain models and that AD’s keep stock in the safe for the benefit of preferred clients are about as Earth-shattering a revelation as the one about the sun rising in the a East and setting in the West.

[TswaneNguni]

To the right hand side ,there was a video .." Does your Rolex attract women ? "

Damn,with a few in my collection I should be irresistible !!!

[Muxi]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

Interesting story. But...

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

Agree. It’s just as dry round here.

[peterpl]

If this is true this guy just screwed all of us. LMFAO

Did the share price of Watches of Switz go down? Hangon tomorrow is monday lets keep an eye on their stock market value since its been a few days for the new to spread. LOL

He's laughing all the way to the bank though. He screwed soo many 1000s of ppl if this is indeed true and just probably pocketed a millions of dollars in bonus for having their share price rise $17 on listing.

[HogwldFLTR]

British manipulation does not a world shortage make. Glad to hear that there should be an increase in availability in Britain. So that's why he named Rolexfinger. I thought Bond took him out; "No Mr. Bond, your are going to die."

[Littletommy]

Originally Posted by jlovda

Does anybody remember the Hunt Bros. with silver back in the 60's or 70's? (can't remember the exact year)

Yup. I sold every bit of silver I had (including my high school class ring).

[220e]

More than likely, from the comments posted CLICK BAIT. I’m not going to bother giving him an extra view.

[Eatapp]

Originally Posted by DJTOSUB

Interesting story. But...

How does 125 dealers in the UK explain a worldwide shortage over thousands of dealers around the globe?

This was my first impression as well. Maybe others have followed the same practices, but this is the first “official” targeting of an enterprise/individual. Maybe others will be forced to alter their practices as well?

Either way, the theory makes sense, but is impossible to verify.