Where do greys get there watches

[Mat K]

Hi Folks
Apologies if this has been mentioned numerous times but how the hell do they get a supply of watches? Are they from rolex themselves or out the back door of Ad's for more the rrp, I just don't get how they get a supply or am I missing something

[beshannon]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...highlight=grey

[Shamorai]

ADs

[Rodolfo_4]

They pay a premium like everyone else, and sell them for a profit

[42itus]

A TS seller that I know buys them from individuals, not directly from ADs. I'm not saying this is the norm, just sharing what I have been told.

[vman]

Depends. I traced a few gray watches back to the ADs and visited those ADs myself. Learned a lot ;-)

[Carondelet]

Luckily, Federico just posted a video on this!

https://youtu.be/mNEUN0biZgE

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by vman

Depends. I traced a few gray watches back to the ADs and visited those ADs myself. Learned a lot ;-)

Curious, what did you learn? Thanks.

[locutus49]

Satan supplies them; or to some an angel supplies them. To others, a pixie is the source.

[Ced4jets]

Originally Posted by Carondelet

Luckily, Federico just posted a video on this!

https://youtu.be/mNEUN0biZgE

Very interesting video.

[Carondelet]

Originally Posted by Ced4jets

Very interesting video.

I liked it as well, and with him being a Pre-owned dealer now, and having worked for very reputable AD's in the past, I trust his opinion.

[HogwldFLTR]

My take is they get them from wherever they can. ADs, resellers, steal them at airport security, wherever!!!!

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

curious, what did you learn? Thanks.

x2.

[praveen]

Originally Posted by Ced4jets

Very interesting video.

Originally Posted by Carondelet

Luckily, Federico just posted a video on this!

https://youtu.be/mNEUN0biZgE

Saw that video yesterday. Explains nicely how greys get those sought after sport models since they also help the ADs offload the watches that aren't selling well such as DJ, Cellini etc. in exchange for them.

[gastown604]

The bulk purchase theory in the video is correct. I have someone who confirmed that to me. That guy was buying watches by "tray" and he got to pick which ever SS sports Rolex he wanted.

[R!$]

they buy in bulk from AD's

it doesnt take a video to understand that

[Hodog16]

Originally Posted by 42itus

A TS seller that I know buys them from individuals, not directly from ADs. I'm not saying this is the norm, just sharing what I have been told.

Yup I may have spoken to the same prominent TS seller but was surprised to learn the supply does not come from ADs as most people here assume. He said buying from ADs directly is only asking for trouble, and buying from individuals keeps Rolex off his case.

[42itus]

If the warranty card is named then wouldn't that mean that it came from an individual? Can ADs activate a warranty card without naming the card?

[uhren917]

Saw Frederico's video too.

For Rolex, it must look fishy if audit records show the same Grey dealer name again and again upon warranty registration or if sold watches gone from inventory dont have a name on a warranty card.

If Rolex wanted to get tough with ADs selling to Greys they could but they obviously dont as the practice goes on and on.

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by uhren917

Saw Frederico's video too.

For Rolex, it must look fishy if audit records show the same Grey dealer name again and again upon warranty registration or if sold watches gone from inventory dont have a name on a warranty card.

If Rolex wanted to get tough with ADs selling to Greys they could but they obviously dont as the practice goes on and on.

The AD can put any name they want on the card as long as its filled in. The AD can also have a deal that grey fills in the name of the buyer once they have sold the watch.

[calatravato]

Rolex could end the grey market right now by either raising prices or supplying more.

[Boaters]

All over the world

[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by Mat K

Hi Folks
Apologies if this has been mentioned numerous times but how the hell do they get a supply of watches? Are they from rolex themselves or out the back door of Ad's for more the rrp, I just don't get how they get a supply or am I missing something

From the back door of AD who make an extra profit!!

[jaydav2306]

I had this confirmed to me that this is the way it worked that greys would buy in bulk and take les poular models like DJs but I think this is happening less now due to the fact that other models have dried up, but I also know that some ADs are taking back handers.

AD sells Daytona C to grey for MSRP, grey sells for 17-18K GBP, 2K back into the pocket of the AD then grey makes 7K clear profit.

Don't forget these sales assistants do not make a lot of money its pretty much just better than minimum wage in the UK how else do you think they make their money, greed fuels everything

[joli160]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

The AD can put any name they want on the card as long as its filled in. The AD can also have a deal that grey fills in the name of the buyer once they have sold the watch.

Buyers are not registered when purchasing. You can buy any Rolex without showing your ID. There is no data base in Geneva stating who owns which watch.
A blank card is just as valid as one with buyers name, as long as the AD swiped it. Most AD's gladly do so of course and go out of their way to please the grey dealer.
Obviously the grey dealers are the AD's true VIP customers.
Perfect symbiosis and quite understandable

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by jaydav2306

I had this confirmed to me that this is the way it worked that greys would buy in bulk and take les poular models like DJs but I think this is happening less now due to the fact that other models have dried up, but I also know that some ADs are taking back handers.

AD sells Daytona C to grey for MSRP, grey sells for 17-18K GBP, 2K back into the pocket of the AD then grey makes 7K clear profit.

Don't forget these sales assistants do not make a lot of money its pretty much just better than minimum wage in the UK how else do you think they make their money, greed fuels everything

ADs do this. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to pay rent. Their DJs are sold because greys pick them up and not one of their VIP who have bought 10 PMs over the last 5 years.
Greys make the ADs meet their targets with Rolex. Greys make the ADs be able to pay rent and wages. Everyone else is a small fry.

...Look at all these independent run family businesses for 100 years, getting shut, because they rely on their clientele. Sure they can sell their sports models, but they won't get reload on sports if they don't sell DJs. Rolex wont keep sending them a SubC if they aren't selling out of other models...It's that simple. ADs getting shut is just due to bad business practice or they believe the culprits are the greys, yet they shoot themselves in the foot by not signing a deal with someone who would make them balance their books.

[Comex5514_]

Interesting topic and I think most of you are right in here. They do buy from whoever they can with as cheap price as possible. If I sell my watches sometimes I always get a few grey market dealers offering me low offers, purely because they need to earn something after they sell them themselves.

[jaydav2306]

Originally Posted by WatchLurv

ADs do this. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to pay rent. Their DJs are sold because greys pick them up and not one of their VIP who have bought 10 PMs over the last 5 years.
Greys make the ADs meet their targets with Rolex. Greys make the ADs be able to pay rent and wages. Everyone else is a small fry.

...Look at all these independent run family businesses for 100 years, getting shut, because they rely on their clientele. Sure they can sell their sports models, but they won't get reload on sports if they don't sell DJs. Rolex wont keep sending them a SubC if they aren't selling out of other models...It's that simple. ADs getting shut is just due to bad business practice or they believe the culprits are the greys, yet they shoot themselves in the foot by not signing a deal with someone who would make them balance their books.

Nail on the head!!!

A company knocking out 1 million watches a year but still wants the allure of being exclusive, yet average Joes get treated like criminals with warranty cards being held and so forth, Rolex needs the grey market to push the false sense of exclusivity

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by jaydav2306

Nail on the head!!!

A company knocking out 1 million watches a year but still wants the allure of being exclusive, yet average Joes get treated like criminals with warranty cards being held and so forth, Rolex needs the grey market to push the false sense of exclusivity

Yep.

Rolex has fixed their brand image.

[DJRikki]

Here you go

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNEUN0biZgE