No Steel Sports Rolex in Vegas

[Gary.]

Oh, come on, everyone. These watches ARE NOT rare. They are easy to find on several sites with inflated prices and that's where the real problem is.
Rolex are making the watches but they aren't going to customers like us and that's partly because so many are going straight onto the grey market. BLNRs, Hulks, SD50s. Even Daytonas. They can all be had tomorrow if you don't mind paying a little ransom money.

We complain when Rolex instructs dealers to limit the number of watches a single buyer can purchase, insist on in-person requests, local buyers only etc but then we also complain because the watches that we want from our local store are never available. Meanwhile speculators and grey dealers mysteriously seem to have an ample supply.

All those $20K+ Daytonas (BNIB) you've been drooling over on chrono24 didn't get put on there by Rolex. They passed through the AD network into what is essentially a shadow market for new Rolexes.

Instead of complaining that Rolex is playing some machiavellian game to "move upmarket" or push up prices (as if they couldn't do that at any point, anyway), we should be looking at what's happening to all the watches and then get behind Rolex's efforts control it.

Anyway, sorry for ranting a bit. Just getting a little tired of all the paranoid "Rolex are screwing us over" conspiracies. The people who run Rolex are not stupid. They don't want to alienate their clients. They just have a problem with a parasite load that they are trying to deal with.

[Bt122]

Originally Posted by dannyp

I have a feeling that Vegas is somewhat of a different market for a couple of reasons:

1. The dealers there can probably move more PM pieces because of the number of high-roller "impulse buys" by guys that like to show off.

2. The relationships probably aren't with "regular" customers (since so many are just visiting) as with hotel/casino employees. The SS models in the "secret safe" may be reserved for big spenders, but more likely for when "that guy" calls on behalf of a VIP guest saying "We have a guy who wants a stainless Daytona."

They probably oblige because they want to be the dealer of choice next time the same guy calls wanting a diamond-covered platinum DD.

You likely right on all the points...

That said while I was there, I put myself on the list for a Pepsi... apparently not as deep and lady also keep me in mind for a Daytona as well. But that is years. She said she was surprised the Pepsi list is not as deep but she thinks it’s going to be hot.


Wife liked the Daytona on me, but I can’t be paying for a playinum Daytona...

While we were there she tried on a 36mm gold dj. If she buys a 36mm I can wear it too lol.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Gary.

Oh, come on, everyone. These watches ARE NOT rare. They are easy to find on several sites with inflated prices and that's where the real problem is.
Rolex are making the watches but they aren't going to customers like us and that's partly because so many are going straight onto the grey market. BLNRs, Hulks, SD50s. Even Daytonas. They can all be had tomorrow if you don't mind paying a little ransom money.

We complain when Rolex instructs dealers to limit the number of watches a single buyer can purchase, insist on in-person requests, local buyers only etc but then we also complain because the watches that we want from our local store are never available. Meanwhile speculators and grey dealers mysteriously seem to have an ample supply.

All those $20K+ Daytonas (BNIB) you've been drooling over on chrono24 didn't get put on there by Rolex. They passed through the AD network into what is essentially a shadow market for new Rolexes.

Instead of complaining that Rolex is playing some machiavellian game to "move upmarket" or push up prices (as if they couldn't do that at any point, anyway), we should be looking at what's happening to all the watches and then get behind Rolex's efforts control it.

Anyway, sorry for ranting a bit. Just getting a little tired of all the paranoid "Rolex are screwing us over" conspiracies. The people who run Rolex are not stupid. They don't want to alienate their clients. They just have a problem with a parasite load that they are trying to deal with.

You are completely right, and I can even see this forum changing in the character of member we are getting now, so if that is the case then extreme measures are needed and I am more and more in favour or withholding warranties etc. Nothing else has a chance of curbing the flippers, and if it annoys some true buyers, well in this new world they are not true enough.

[rwoo56]

was just in costa mesa shopping center - no steel sports watches.
rolex on rodeo drive had a few but nothing interesting

[Duey]

Originally Posted by AK797

You are completely right, and I can even see this forum changing in the character of member we are getting now, so if that is the case then extreme measures are needed and I am more and more in favour or withholding warranties etc. Nothing else has a chance of curbing the flippers, and if it annoys some true buyers, well in this new world they are not true enough.

Neil, You hit this perfectly
Flippers are getting out of hand here

[hensleyac]

I travel back and forth to LV once a month. I go into all the main AD's on the strip and never have I felt like the salesperson treated me poorly. I'm on my local AD's list for steel Sky Dweller but still hope to get lucky and bump into one.

[BillA]

This is an interesting post....are people saying that the SS professional models are arriving at AD’s, but they are selling above list to the gray market and not the public who walk in or who are on lists?

This really makes a lot of sense whe you think about it, a jeweler has to sell watches in demand to keep his store open. For so long we walk into an AD, and no SS models.

[sourdough]

Datejust is still one of their best sellers, not the ss sports.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Bt122

You likely right on all the points...

That said while I was there, I put myself on the list for a Pepsi... apparently not as deep and lady also keep me in mind for a Daytona as well. But that is years. She said she was surprised the Pepsi list is not as deep but she thinks it’s going to be hot.

If things work the way I think they do, that actually makes perfect sense. She's happy to put you on the list because there aren't too many "regular" customers after one. But, if the day one arrives someone calls from the Wynn or Bellagio looking to procure one for a high roller currently playing blackjack at $10k/hand, do you think she's going to say: "Sorry, we have a waiting list" or do you think she'll offer to have it messengered right over?

Originally Posted by AK797

You are completely right, and I can even see this forum changing in the character of member we are getting now, so if that is the case then extreme measures are needed and I am more and more in favour or withholding warranties etc. Nothing else has a chance of curbing the flippers, and if it annoys some true buyers, well in this new world they are not true enough.

Withholding warranties really rubs me the wrong way, since dealers can use it as a way to force anyone looking to sell to sell back to them, at which point they can sell as "used" for a premium (MSRP no longer applies).

However, a change in policy from Rolex, whereby the warranty follows the owner, not the watch, with a requirement that the owner fill out paperwork to have it transferred, makes more sense. That way, the serial flippers (i.e. grey dealers) can be identified and Rolex can refuse to transfer the warranty. Let's the rest of the world buy/sell/trade, allows for the occasional arbitrage opportunity (likely NOT what Rolex is concerned with) and controls pricing without seeming overly draconian or arbitrary (withheld warranties at dealer discretion).

Originally Posted by BillA

This is an interesting post....are people saying that the SS professional models are arriving at AD’s, but they are selling above list to the gray market and not the public who walk in or who are on lists?

This really makes a lot of sense whe you think about it, a jeweler has to sell watches in demand to keep his store open. For so long we walk into an AD, and no SS models.

I don't think the ADs sell them to grey dealers above list. More likely, the grey dealers buy in volume from ADs, including PM models with wayyyyyy more spread. To the AD, from a P&L standpoint, it's just another customer. They unload a bunch of PM watches at 25% off, on which they still profit, but which are resold at 20% off (so grey dealer makes a profit too) and as a reward for taking those very expensive pieces in "bulk" the SS sports models are given over to the same grey dealers at MSRP.

[henry333]

Very true... when we ask them for a watch they know don't have in stock they always act like it's us that are misssingg out and laughs. I think it's us that should be laughing because it's the store or salesperson that is missing out. We are laughing at them

[henry333]

Originally Posted by Gary.

Oh, come on, everyone. These watches ARE NOT rare. They are easy to find on several sites with inflated prices and that's where the real problem is.
Rolex are making the watches but they aren't going to customers like us and that's partly because so many are going straight onto the grey market. BLNRs, Hulks, SD50s. Even Daytonas. They can all be had tomorrow if you don't mind paying a little ransom money.

We complain when Rolex instructs dealers to limit the number of watches a single buyer can purchase, insist on in-person requests, local buyers only etc but then we also complain because the watches that we want from our local store are never available. Meanwhile speculators and grey dealers mysteriously seem to have an ample supply.

All those $20K+ Daytonas (BNIB) you've been drooling over on chrono24 didn't get put on there by Rolex. They passed through the AD network into what is essentially a shadow market for new Rolexes.

Instead of complaining that Rolex is playing some machiavellian game to "move upmarket" or push up prices (as if they couldn't do that at any point, anyway), we should be looking at what's happening to all the watches and then get behind Rolex's efforts control it.

Anyway, sorry for ranting a bit. Just getting a little tired of all the paranoid "Rolex are screwing us over" conspiracies. The people who run Rolex are not stupid. They don't want to alienate their clients. They just have a problem with a parasite load that they are trying to deal with.

Agree 100%

[tacotaco]

gmt ii c is such a beast
trucks on over decades and still looks contemporary

[TacticaLCawacoL]

Love Zion. Was there last year, with my 36mm blue dial Datejust.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Gary.

Oh, come on, everyone. These watches ARE NOT rare. They are easy to find on several sites with inflated prices and that's where the real problem is.
Rolex are making the watches but they aren't going to customers like us and that's partly because so many are going straight onto the grey market. BLNRs, Hulks, SD50s. Even Daytonas. They can all be had tomorrow if you don't mind paying a little ransom money.

We complain when Rolex instructs dealers to limit the number of watches a single buyer can purchase, insist on in-person requests, local buyers only etc but then we also complain because the watches that we want from our local store are never available. Meanwhile speculators and grey dealers mysteriously seem to have an ample supply.

All those $20K+ Daytonas (BNIB) you've been drooling over on chrono24 didn't get put on there by Rolex. They passed through the AD network into what is essentially a shadow market for new Rolexes.

Instead of complaining that Rolex is playing some machiavellian game to "move upmarket" or push up prices (as if they couldn't do that at any point, anyway), we should be looking at what's happening to all the watches and then get behind Rolex's efforts control it.

Anyway, sorry for ranting a bit. Just getting a little tired of all the paranoid "Rolex are screwing us over" conspiracies. The people who run Rolex are not stupid. They don't want to alienate their clients. They just have a problem with a parasite load that they are trying to deal with.

This!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Gnboy

I bet if you gambled a $hit-ton and told the pitboss you wanted to find a specific Rolex, some phone calls would have been made.

LMAO. I'll be in Vegas in a couple weeks. And I may want a SS sports model. But I need to know how much a $hit-ton of gambling is so I can play this right.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by Gary.

All those $20K+ Daytonas (BNIB) you've been drooling over on chrono24 didn't get put on there by Rolex. They passed through the AD network into what is essentially a shadow market for new Rolexes.

I have seen members on here refer to Rolexes getting to greys without going through ADs, but I am still waiting for an explanation of how that occurs.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

I have seen members on here refer to Rolexes getting to greys without going through ADs, but I am still waiting for an explanation of how that occurs.

Distributors. Typically not in the US or EU, I think.

[Gnboy]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

I have seen members on here refer to Rolexes getting to greys without going through ADs, but I am still waiting for an explanation of how that occurs.

I think you have to go until it gets uncomfortable, ha.

[krh7]

Originally Posted by dannyp

Distributors. Typically not in the US or EU, I think.

interesting. basically rolex can manage distribution in the largest markets, but asia pacific, eastern europe, south america all go through parties with an incentive to skip authorized dealers?

[rahible]

Originally Posted by Banks

I feel a national obligation to say there is no such thing as St Patty’s Day, it is either St Patrick’s Day or Paddy’s Day. Apologies for my pedantism!!

No apologies need...thank you for the correction...I did not know...now I do

In all honesty we were there for our wedding aniversary, but St Patrick’s Day is far more recognized.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by Gary.

Instead of complaining that Rolex is playing some machiavellian game to "move upmarket" or push up prices (as if they couldn't do that at any point, anyway), we should be looking at what's happening to all the watches and then get behind Rolex's efforts control it.

Anyway, sorry for ranting a bit. Just getting a little tired of all the paranoid "Rolex are screwing us over" conspiracies. The people who run Rolex are not stupid. They don't want to alienate their clients. They just have a problem with a parasite load that they are trying to deal with.

"Parasite load?" There would be no thriving secondary market if Rolex built to demand.

[Heartlandblaster]

Originally Posted by Car32

I love it

The scars that make life's memories. I love it too!!

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by krh7

interesting. basically rolex can manage distribution in the largest markets, but asia pacific, eastern europe, south america all go through parties with an incentive to skip authorized dealers?

Couldn't say for sure; speculation at best. However, if watches aren't stolen, and haven't entered the AD network, then that's the only logical explanation.

[WISAZ]

Originally Posted by NIHO

I visited nearly all the Vegas ADs this week, and none of them had any subs, GMT, not to mention Sea Dweller, Sky Sweller, Daytona (of course). When I asked if they had one in the back safe they laughed at me. I told them this is no laughing matter...for them.

I went to Vegas and planned on purchasing a SS Yachtmaster II, a model that doesn't seem like it's in high demand, because I wanted to have it shipped home to me to avoid taxes.

None of the AD's had a single one. One AD had a WG Yachtmaster II but that was it.

Sad....

[Fat_ninja]

They just got a Pepsi in one of the stores today but spoken for... not to me sadly lol