First time buyer

[tt_mand]

I'm a first time buyer, never been into watches much. My dad has been wanting a Rolex for years. I'm in the place now where I either buy him one or myself one. I've chosen to buy it for him. I'm located in NorCal. I was wondering if anyone can point me into a direction of where I should buy one. I know he wants a submariner. Is it possible where I can just go into a store and purchase one? Or would I have to place one on order?

[amphr1]

You can go online to Bob's Watch and buy a pre-owned one at a premium.

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[cerendigit]

Go to DavidSW and get in touch with them.

Avoid bob’s watches, watchbox, Watchfinder if you can.

Steer away from any seller that doesn’t have a very good reputation here.


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[bwdellorf76]

Use the trusted dealers here on the forum as they have stuff listed for market price. DavidSw prices are way way way too high in this market right now.

[WillisD]

DavidSW always

[Benzsiam]

Take your dad with you to Rolex boutique and tell them that you want to buy your dad a dream watch. They might want to help you in this kind of situation. The market is coming down a lot now, you might not have to wait that long.

Or take a look at MODA Watch Club in FB, they are selling at a better price than our trusted seller at TRF. Many trusted sellers are buying their watches from here too.

[Stan Cooper]

You can go to a Rolex Authorized Dealer (AD) - there are several in the bay area - and pray they'll sell you one sometime in the hopefully not too distant future, or shop for one from a trusted grey dealer listed on this site's classifieds HERE, and get what you want tomorrow at a premium over MSRP.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by tt_mand

I'm a first time buyer, never been into watches much. My dad has been wanting a Rolex for years. I'm in the place now where I either buy him one or myself one. I've chosen to buy it for him. I'm located in NorCal. I was wondering if anyone can point me into a direction of where I should buy one. I know he wants a submariner. Is it possible where I can just go into a store and purchase one? Or would I have to place one on order?

Welcome to TRF. Visit your local Rolex Authorized Dealer and ask. Please understand that for many years demand has been very, very, VERY high for Rolex, so there's a verrrrrrry long list starting years ago asking for the Submariner... and it might take years for you to get one.

This is why many are pointing you to non-authorized dealers (grey dealers who today sell above msrp) since it may take years for you to get a Submariner from your local authorized dealer.

[Rori]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

Take your dad with you to Rolex boutique and tell them that you want to buy your dad a dream watch. They might want to help you in this kind of situation. The market is coming down a lot now, you might not have to wait that long.

Or take a look at MODA Watch Club in FB, they are selling at a better price than our trusted seller at TRF. Many trusted sellers are buying their watches from here too.

This.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

Take your dad with you to Rolex boutique and tell them that you want to buy your dad a dream watch. They might want to help you in this kind of situation. The market is coming down a lot now, you might not have to wait that long...

Welcome to the forum OP, and I hope you get your dad his dream watch

I’d follow this advice. ^^^^

In addition, if you can land it at an AD it’ll make the experience that much more memorable

[dtwer]

I would first thoroughly read this thread before deciding to go anywhere other than an AD:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=878906

[JRell]

I would go into your local AD, tell your story, tell them you will bring your father in for pick-up. Rolex encourages ADs to look for special occasions, situations, to reward their customers. They get plenty of black subs. This is his first and only Rolex, make it special and go through an AD.

[Calatrava r]

Or you could go to an AD and explain your gifting the watch to your dad and obtain an allocation in short order from them. I would not buy used unless no AD offers you any hope.

[bblewis]

I'm also in Nor Cal. Here's my advice, check out the Rolex ADs that are not attached to a jewelry store. I secured my Sub around 2019 with that strategy and was offered other pieces along the way.

With that said, with the way prices are dropping on the grey market, I would put my focus there. With CA sales tax, the price premium isn't too much, and you will save yourself massive time & headaches (and dealing with BS).

I'd stay away from DavidSW as the prices are far above market. Take time, hunt through the Classifieds here and other reputable dealers, and you'll be fine.

[dwjez14]

Oc watch guy , david sw are my preferred grays

[rambo99]

just dont go to davidsw, their watches are way overpriced.

[csaltphoto]

I live in the Bay Area and it's a very tough market to source even a relatively common model like a sub. Just soooo much money around, lots of people and not that many AD's. As a few others have mentioned try the AD's that don't sell other brands or Jewelry (getting you to buy something else is a sales tactic often used to win you a spot on "the list". Which may or may not exist.) Explain the situation and see if they can help you out or indicate a timeline. AD's often have a few popular models not on display for a variety of reasons, yours included. If you have a couple of months to spare you can how that goes too.

Next step would be the trusted sellers here. The larger grey dealers are priced a little high for subs right now vis a vis availability.

[Laostuh]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

Take your dad with you to Rolex boutique and tell them that you want to buy your dad a dream watch. They might want to help you in this kind of situation. The market is coming down a lot now, you might not have to wait that long.

Or take a look at MODA Watch Club in FB, they are selling at a better price than our trusted seller at TRF. Many trusted sellers are buying their watches from here too.

+1 I'd go the AD route first, take your dad and explain what you did to us, patience will help. If no patience then Moda. Purchased my Daytona on Moda, no issues at all. Pretty straight forward process.

[ltmgeller]

Welcome to the forum. As mentioned above, take him to an AD (Authorized Dealer) and see how that works out for you.

[BillA]

Welcome to the forum.
You might want to do a search on your question/issue, it has been discussed many times before. Good luck.

[AlabamaLawyer1988]

Welcome to the forum!

Todays market is a difficult time for purchasing any stainless steel Rolex at retail from an AD. You don’t have any purchase history so getting a submariner will likely be very difficult to purchase from an authorized dealer at retail.

Concurring with others, I’d say go with a trusted member here (who has a multitude of positive feedback) or DavidSW. I’ve never bought anything from David but members speak volumes about him and the high quality customer service he provides.

I do have personal experience with Bobswatches and I wouldn’t recommend them to my worst enemy.

Very noble thing you’re doing for your father, I’d maybe just add that if you do want to attempt the AD route, (probably worth a stab) I would def bring it to their attention that the watch is a gift for your father and that (coupled with the theory that supply is “getting better,”) might get it done.

Either way, good luck and congrats to dad.

DM


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[tt_mand]

Forgot I posted on here. I’m thinking of giving it to him for his birthday which will be next year. If I went into a retail store would they be able to get me a watch in a year? All I know so far is that he wants a submariner.
I really want to get him one from a retailer that way when we go pick it up he comes with and gets the whole experience of getting the watch brand new

[amh]

David has the highest price, avoid

[rambo99]

go to a trusted grey dealer to get one at market price. avoid dealers like Davidsw, they are way overpriced.

[PBJ1925]

If you're buying it for your father, I'd register your interest and wait.

Taking delivery of one, especially as a gift is priceless. If that is immaterial, then go grey as there's only a slight premium depending on sub.

Best of luck with your hunt!

[rambo99]

Originally Posted by PBJ1925

If you're buying it for your father, I'd register your interest and wait.

Taking delivery of one, especially as a gift is priceless. If that is immaterial, then go grey as there's only a slight premium depending on sub.

Best of luck with your hunt!

slight premium? grey dealer Davidsw listing an unworn black sub at $17,575. that's more than 70% premium on msrp.

[fooey]

When did Davis sw get so over priced?
Used to be fair on prices

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[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by tt_mand

Forgot I posted on here. I’m thinking of giving it to him for his birthday which will be next year. If I went into a retail store would they be able to get me a watch in a year? All I know so far is that he wants a submariner.
I really want to get him one from a retailer that way when we go pick it up he comes with and gets the whole experience of getting the watch brand new

Unlikely…..
Why not visit a few local authorised dealers and ask them?

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by fooey

When did Davis sw get so over priced?
Used to be fair on prices

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Because they can I guess, a lot of people are into making as much money as they can. Never been one of those, I can feel it now that I am retired….

[Calatrava r]

It is still not possible to just walk into a Rolex AD and walk out with a Submariner. Probably, you cannot order one either as existing backlog for this watch is still at least two years filled at most ADs not including all the casual first timers who are also asking to be placed on the lists. The advice to seek an unworn used model from a trusted seller is good advice if you want to complete the purchase now and not be spending a lot of time and effect on the purchase over the next year or two.