AD discount am I expecting to much

[spoilsofwar01]

So it comes to pass that dearly beloved now wants a Rolex of her own (as you've got two!), the way I work is to save, budget research and buy preowned but oh no, if isn't spanking brand new dearly beloved is not interested in the slightest ,

joking a side we've chatted and the 116000 seems to be the likeliest reference, I found a 2014 dated version that is only £400 cheaper so not a large saving to be made and weighing things up it will save a lot of shopping around and asking the forum "Is this right?" etc etc etc, but now I feel the need to squeeze the AD for the best possible deal, am I wasting my time with this train of thought or would I be able to get a bit of a discount?

[SkyKing31]

Officially, Rolex frowns on their AD's giving discounts .... Depending on the AD, you could perhaps get a small discount .. 10% isn't unheard of

[CoveWatch]

It definitely doesnt hurt to ask and try... the 116000 is discounted at my AD

[slide13]

Since it's not a sports model I'd try for a discount for sure. Not sure you'll get it with the current state of things, but I'd ask for 20% and hope to settle for 15%....but 10% wouldn't be bad these days probably.

When I bought my Sub in April 2017 I asked for 20% off and was given 15% off in the end. That was just barely before the whole SS shortage thing though.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by SkyKing31

Officially, Rolex frowns on their AD's giving discounts .... Depending on the AD, you could perhaps get a small discount .. 10% isn't unheard of

Sorry I don't buy this. Once the AD pays Rolex for the watch shipment, it can do what it wishes with them. If an AD wants to give a 30% discount on a watch to one of their VIP high rollers, they most certainly can. Why would Rolex care? They received their $$

[harvey]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Sorry I don't buy this. Once the AD pays Rolex for the watch shipment, it can do what it wishes with them. If an AD wants to give a 30% discount on a watch to one of their VIP high rollers, they most certainly can. Why would Rolex care? They received their $$

My AD photocopies all Rolex sales receipts so the Rolex rep can check ad hoc if they are discounting.

As always this may vary AD to AD, county to county, country to country.

[beshannon]

You can ask however in this environment there is no reason to discount

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by harvey

My AD photocopies all Rolex sales receipts so the Rolex rep can check ad hoc if they are discounting.

As always this may vary AD to AD, county to county, country to country.

Agree. Things in the UK seem to be much more strict than here in USA.

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Sorry I don't buy this. Once the AD pays Rolex for the watch shipment, it can do what it wishes with them. If an AD wants to give a 30% discount on a watch to one of their VIP high rollers, they most certainly can. Why would Rolex care? They received their $$

You don't have to buy it .... The truth is Rolex doesn't allow their AD's to give discounts .. Call any AD, and call Rolex and they will tell you .. AD's are not supposed to give discounts, and there are some AD's who have lost their Rolex accounts for discounting.

I agree that a AD should be allowed to discount once they pay Rolex for the inventory they have in their stores, but the sad reality is Rolex frowns on discounting. I know a AD who once told me the Rolex has had reps come into the store posing as customers .. She even told me about a time when Rolex posed as a customer over the phone.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by SkyKing31

You don't have to buy it .... The truth is Rolex doesn't allow their AD's to give discounts .. Call any AD, and call Rolex and they will tell you .. AD's are not supposed to give discounts, and there are some AD's who have lost their Rolex accounts for discounting.

I agree that a AD should be allowed to discount once they pay Rolex for the inventory they have in their stores, but the sad reality is Rolex frowns on discounting. I know a AD who once told me the Rolex has had reps come into the store posing as customers .. She even told me about a time when Rolex posed as a customer over the phone.

That may be true in theory but I know of a dozen purchases by friends recently who paid well under retail for non-sports, non-steel models. Are you sure an AD has lost their franchise for discounting and nothing else.

[Zakalwe]

I bought 177200 for SWMBO from an AD last year. Admittedly I’m not the world’s greatest haggler but I was left in no doubts that the level of discount I was going to get was between zero and none.

[Swiss Mad!]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Sorry I don't buy this. Once the AD pays Rolex for the watch shipment, it can do what it wishes with them. If an AD wants to give a 30% discount on a watch to one of their VIP high rollers, they most certainly can. Why would Rolex care? They received their $$

You are correct that Rolex can't do anything about it, but that dosent mean they have to like it.

Rolex frown on AD's giving discounts as its seen as devaluing the brand.

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[RHIII]

I’ve gotten a discount on every Rolex/timepiece I have purchased from my ADs — except the 116500 — having said that — I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases.
That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.


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[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by RHIII

I’ve gotten a discount on every Rolex/timepiece I have purchased from my ADs — except the 116500 — having said that — I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases.
That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.


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A discount works by the Buyer not asking? Good One!

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

A discount works by the Buyer not asking? Good One!

I’ve made many a purchase to say the least. No need to ask. Nor is it expected.

The ‘good one’ to me is the expectation OF a discount.

Cheers.


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[CoveWatch]

Originally Posted by RHIII

I’ve gotten a discount on every Rolex/timepiece I have purchased from my ADs — except the 116500 — having said that — I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases.
That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

like a boss

[jonnyz1245]

Originally Posted by SkyKing31

You don't have to buy it .... The truth is Rolex doesn't allow their AD's to give discounts .. Call any AD, and call Rolex and they will tell you .. AD's are not supposed to give discounts, and there are some AD's who have lost their Rolex accounts for discounting.

I agree that a AD should be allowed to discount once they pay Rolex for the inventory they have in their stores, but the sad reality is Rolex frowns on discounting. I know a AD who once told me the Rolex has had reps come into the store posing as customers .. She even told me about a time when Rolex posed as a customer over the phone.

That is 100% false. Believe what ever you want to believe but Rolex AD's are 100% allowed to discount. It's called MSRP for a reason. What they are not allowed to do is discuss it over the phone. Walk into an AD and ask to buy a SS Datejust and ask for a discount. If you don't get at least 10 off, find a new AD. On TT and PM models you would be a fool to pay MSRP. Of course the brand doesn't want to discount b/c of maintaining an exclusive high end luxury image and all that jazz but there is no law that says they can't.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by RHIII

I’ve gotten a discount on every Rolex/timepiece I have purchased from my ADs — except the 116500 — having said that — I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases.
That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.


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Same here Roger. I was introduced to my AD by a forum admin and thus when we discussed the first watch and all purchases since, the AD has always let me know what price he could sell it to me for - all discounted more than I probably would have had the nerve to ask for.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

That is 100% false. Believe what ever you want to believe but Rolex AD's are 100% allowed to discount. It's called MSRP for a reason. What they are not allowed to do is discuss it over the phone. Walk into an AD and ask to buy a SS Datejust and ask for a discount. If you don't get at least 10 off, find a new AD. On TT and PM models you would be a fool to pay MSRP. Of course the brand doesn't want to discount b/c of maintaining an exclusive high end luxury image and all that jazz but there is no law that says they can't.

If I can buy a PM Sub from a big TS here and receive 25% off MSRP, and the seller can still make his profit, what does that tell you? Of course AD's discount, especially harder to move pieces such as PM models. You are right, only the foolish pay MSRP+tax for full gold watches.

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by zengineer

That may be true in theory but I know of a dozen purchases by friends recently who paid well under retail for non-sports, non-steel models. Are you sure an AD has lost their franchise for discounting and nothing else.

It is true in theory, but I too have gotten discounts from the AD .. I even got a discount in 2010 on a TT YM. As for the AD losing their Rolex account, I only heard this from my AD and the company he told me about was a large company with many stores who advertised on tv a lot (although they didn't advertise Rolex watches) I know there were many stores throughout Florida, but I don't know if the company had stores in other states.

I also was told about a local independent AD who lost his Rolex account for discounting, but I believe there were some other things going on as well and I can't say discounting was the only reason. Of course it's all hearsay anyway because I only got the information from my AD and not the AD's who actually lost their accounts.

[Andad]

But Rolex AD's are not allowed to sell new watches to Grey Dealers.
Grey Dealers can only source their new Rolex watches from flippers.

Didn't you know that?

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by jonnyz1245

That is 100% false. Believe what ever you want to believe but Rolex AD's are 100% allowed to discount. It's called MSRP for a reason. What they are not allowed to do is discuss it over the phone. Walk into an AD and ask to buy a SS Datejust and ask for a discount. If you don't get at least 10 off, find a new AD. On TT and PM models you would be a fool to pay MSRP. Of course the brand doesn't want to discount b/c of maintaining an exclusive high end luxury image and all that jazz but there is no law that says they can't.

It is not 100% false .. You 100% don't know what you are talking about .... Rolex does not allow their AD's to discount plain and simple

Does that stop AD's from discounting? NO because I am far from a fool and have never paid retail for a Rolex watch.

This is no different than Rolex not allowing their AD's to sell to grey market dealers. Does that stop the AD's? NO, but Rolex doesn't allow it .... Just like Rolex doesn't allow their AD's to discount their watches.

[ROLEXster]

Bought my wife a DJ31 ... 2 months ago (178240) smooth, rhodium, jubilee.
Listed at $7200 cad ...
Bought for $6250 cad ... about 15% off

[Onikage]

Ooof. Apologies but that's so plain! I'd definitely show her some options sans brand new + AD experience. I don't understand this 'has to be new' thing so important to many women. It's a big one off purchase so why not go for the best possible model? Mint and retailed for much more several years ago? Trying to get a measly discount from an AD on something they've had lying around for 4 years. Ouch.

[Jacobson]

Current climate, there are no discounts on SS @ UK ADs.

Discounts on PM have started to dwindle as well

[Uppersouth]

[QUOTE=RHIII;8691011]I’ve gotten a discount on every Rolex/timepiece I have purchased from my ADs — except the 116500 — having said that — I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases.
That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.

I’ve had plenty customers that I’ve preemptively given a modest discount due to our trading history and mutual loyalty. I get it.

[faaaaaaaasterrrrr]

I would go with a trusted seller if a discount is what you’re after. I got my DJ for about $1,200 below retail, brand new in box, full kit with my name on the warranty card. Just food for thought.

[ostatedchi]

I was at the local AD the other day. Other than the stainless steel sports models they came right out and said:
5% discount on SS datejusts
9% on two tone
15% on PM models.

I'm nobody to them. So I'd think that there is a bit more to be had.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by harvey

My AD photocopies all Rolex sales receipts so the Rolex rep can check ad hoc if they are discounting.

As always this may vary AD to AD, county to county, country to country.

Well, if this is true, does Rolex provide guidelines to ADs for which models can be sold at what discount? I am certain Rolex is aware that all precious metal and two tone models are discounted, as well as SS non-professional models. I would love to hear other's input from the US and around the globe on what models are discounted and by how much. Again, if Rolex is checking the receipts for discounts then I hope they tell ADs how much discount is too much before their dealership is taken away. Its hard to meet a standard you don't know the parameters of.

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by RHIII

I have NEVER asked for one in all my purchases. That is how a ‘discount’ works in my mind.

If you only take the discount you are offered then I'm fairly certain you have left money on the table at least some of the time. Which there is nothing wrong with, as long as you understand that. Do you agree to whatever discount a car dealer offers you straight out of the gate? Then you have definitely left money on the table.