SS Sport Model shortage

[cocog]

I just got off the phone with an AD in Dallas and I was inquiring basically on any SS Sports model that they might have. The dealer asked for my info saying that since they are a big AD they usually get a couple SS Sport watches every couple months so hed call me back. I've had other AD's straight out reject me. Which leads me to ask: exactly how bad is the shortage? Im willing to travel internationally for the right model. Im going to Europe at the end of next year (id like to take advantage of the VAT), how long do shortages usually last? Is the shortage really bad in some countries while not so bad in others?

[DM101]

Well in SINGAPORE it is a drought for SS Sport Models in all the ADs

Best one can find from the ADs here are the Air King and Milgauss.

[Wobbly]

Originally Posted by cocog

I just got off the phone with an AD in Dallas and I was inquiring basically on any SS Sports model that they might have. The dealer asked for my info saying that since they are a big AD they usually get a couple SS Sport watches every couple months so hed call me back. I've had other AD's straight out reject me. Which leads me to ask: exactly how bad is the shortage? Im willing to travel internationally for the right model. Im going to Europe at the end of next year (id like to take advantage of the VAT), how long do shortages usually last? Is the shortage really bad in some countries while not so bad in others?

A quick read through posts on here and you will find the shortage is worldwide. Here in the U.K. Unless you have some kind of relationship with an AD, you won't even get on a waiting list.
Hence why grey dealers are charging inflated prices.

[JasChCh]

Originally Posted by DM101

Well in SINGAPORE it is a drought for SS Sport Models in all the ADs

Best one can find from the ADs here are the Air King and Milgauss.

I just spent a few days in Singapore. In talking to the AD's I am convinced that it's worse in Singapore than even my country - New Zealand.

On the other hand, I have never seen so many Rolex's on the wrist as I saw on the MRT in Sinapore.

[supersam80]

Originally Posted by JasChCh

I just spent a few days in Singapore. In talking to the AD's I am convinced that it's worse in Singapore than even my country - New Zealand.

On the other hand, I have never seen so many Rolex's on the wrist as I saw on the MRT in Sinapore.

I dunno, last time I was in Auckland I was told the last blue dj41 that the ad I was in had took 11 months to come in. They didn't even have any pm sports models

Can't remember the name it was around the corner from the casino

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by cocog

I just got off the phone with an AD in Dallas and I was inquiring basically on any SS Sports model that they might have. The dealer asked for my info saying that since they are a big AD they usually get a couple SS Sport watches every couple months so hed call me back. I've had other AD's straight out reject me. Which leads me to ask: exactly how bad is the shortage? Im willing to travel internationally for the right model. Im going to Europe at the end of next year (id like to take advantage of the VAT), how long do shortages usually last? Is the shortage really bad in some countries while not so bad in others?

Ringing ADs asking for steel sports models in general will be pretty fruitless.

ADS get literally dozens of similar calls per day from all around and prefer to keep these pieces for local, loyal customers.

ADs are also worried about selling to a flipper so asking for steel sports in general and not saying what particular model you’d like, rings flipper alarm bells too.

My best advice is to pick a few local ADs. Pop in regularly and buy from them (jewellery or items in stock). If you’re local, loyal and buying you have a decent chance of being put forward for your chosen models

[BillA]

Buying watches or jewelry you don't need to get on the good side of an AD is just plain stupid and a waste of our money. You might as well go the grey market and pay a premium and get what you want, the cost in the long run will be the same and you will have your new grail now.
Most AD's don't care what you do with the watch when it leaves their store, they made their profit. There is so much BS going around this forum, that sometimes we start believing it ourselves. I want someone to post a letter from Rolex reprimanding an AD to selling to a flipper. It does not exist.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by BillA

Buying watches or jewelry you don't need to get on the good side of an AD is just plain stupid and a waste of our money. You might as well go the grey market and pay a premium and get what you want, the cost in the long run will be the same and you will have your new grail now.
Most AD's don't care what you do with the watch when it leaves their store, they made their profit. There is so much BS going around this forum, that sometimes we start believing it ourselves. I want someone to post a letter from Rolex reprimanding an AD to selling to a flipper. It does not exist.

If you think ADs don’t fear their Rolex account due to flippers then you are deluded.
I know for a fact that Rolex (in UK at least) scan grey dealers to find new and stickered sports models. They then buy the piece and reprimand the AD. I know this as I’ve seen it first hand. I also know and have spoken to several times, the UK Rolex representative.

Trust me, if a UK AD gets a sniff you’re a flipper, you’ll not get the watch.

The biggest AD group in the UK also now own Mayors USA so things will get tighter in general pretty soon. This group in the UK remove stickers, retain warranty cards, and Black list anyone found to flip one of their steel sports watches.

[TreiseKL]

Originally Posted by BillA

Buying watches or jewelry you don't need to get on the good side of an AD is just plain stupid and a waste of our money. You might as well go the grey market and pay a premium and get what you want, the cost in the long run will be the same and you will have your new grail now.
Most AD's don't care what you do with the watch when it leaves their store, they made their profit. There is so much BS going around this forum, that sometimes we start believing it ourselves. I want someone to post a letter from Rolex reprimanding an AD to selling to a flipper. It does not exist.

I completely agree TBH I bought a Rolex from a grey market dealer and I got it at a staggering discount on Black Friday. Not only that they serviced the watch before even sending it to me. It came with box but no papers so I'm having RSC NYC send that to me after they look at it.

When I publish that on this forum in January people should have their illusions broken of walking into a Rolex AD smoking bubblegum and wearing sunglasses indoors and peeling stickers off of a brand new Rolex only to find out their wallet isn't too happy later.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

If you think ADs don’t fear their Rolex account due to flippers then you are deluded.
I know for a fact that Rolex (in UK at least) scan grey dealers to find new and stickered sports models. They then reprimand the AD. I know this as I’ve seen it first hand. I also know and have spoken to several times, the UK Rolex representative.

Trust me, if a UK AD gets a sniff you’re a flipper, you’ll not get the watch.

The biggest AD group in the UK also now own Mayors USA so things will get tighter in general pretty soon.

Don't live in the UK, live in the USA, AD's don't give a hoot what you do with the watch when you leave the store. Still waiting for someone to show documentation or a letter from Rolex otherwise.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by BillA

Don't live in the UK, live in the USA, AD's don't give a hoot what you do with the watch when you leave the store. Still waiting for someone to show documentation or a letter from Rolex otherwise.

Give a Mayors AD a call and ask them (maybe they’re more south US?)

Just because you don’t see a letter doesn’t mean ADs don’t get warnings.

Believe it or don’t believe it, makes no difference to me but just pointing out what I know.

[watchamatic]

Is the Yachtmaster RG/SS 116621 also among those in short supply? I just saw one on display in an AD recently and they seemed willing to sell it to anyone. I am almost tempted to go back and get it if taxes weren’t so high here in CA.

[imgook]

In short NO. You're not going to have much luck anywhere in the world of just walking into an AD and find any of the popular SS models. Yes it can happen, but you could also win the lotto.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by BillA

Don't live in the UK, live in the USA, AD's don't give a hoot what you do with the watch when you leave the store. Still waiting for someone to show documentation or a letter from Rolex otherwise.

Same here I think may of these types of post are little more than repeat hearsay.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

Is the Yachtmaster RG/SS 116621 also among those in short supply? I just saw one on display in an AD recently and they seemed willing to sell it to anyone. I am almost tempted to go back and get it if taxes weren’t so high here in CA.

No, models in short supply would include Steel Sub date and no date to a degree, but more so models like Hulk, BLNR, Steel Daytona, blue sky dweller, GMT Pepsi etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by BillA

Don't live in the UK, live in the USA, AD's don't give a hoot what you do with the watch when you leave the store. Still waiting for someone to show documentation or a letter from Rolex otherwise.

Maybe your AD doesn't. But it's clear that they have taken notice of flippers. Two years ago buying a watch without stickers was heresy. Now today it's the norm. Not all ADs are doing it but it is happening nationwide.
Tell me you walked into an AD and bought a Daytona and then went back in to buy another because you told them you flipped it because the offer was too good to pass up...I'd like to hear their response.

[MoosicPa]

Originally Posted by BillA

Buying watches or jewelry you don't need to get on the good side of an AD is just plain stupid and a waste of our money. You might as well go the grey market and pay a premium and get what you want, the cost in the long run will be the same and you will have your new grail now.
Most AD's don't care what you do with the watch when it leaves their store, they made their profit. There is so much BS going around this forum, that sometimes we start believing it ourselves. I want someone to post a letter from Rolex reprimanding an AD to selling to a flipper. It does not exist.

First, there is no "shortage" of SS watches... They are plentiful on the grey market. Take for instance the new SS Pepsi GMT. Last I checked there were 5 for sale here on TRF from trusted sellers, and on Chrono24 there were 100+ listed. One could be bought today and in hand tomorrow. I don't call that a shortage by any means.

Second, what incentive does Rolex have to stop or deter sales to flippers by AD's? None. When Rolex ships the watch to an AD they get paid their wholesale price. Whether the AD sells the watch to a good customer, a collector, or a flipper Rolex realizes no more profit. Why would they really care?

[koryong]

Originally Posted by MoosicPa

First, there is no "shortage" of SS watches... They are plentiful on the grey market. ......

Fully agree with this .... if there is a genuine shortage, they would not be found in the grey market

My "conspiracy theory" is that syndicates are sending out runners/gophers/mules, whatever we might call them in our part of the world, to "plough" all ADs and snap up hot SS sports models, and re-distributing them to the grey market at a profit. Basically killing normal distribution channels (AD to consumer) and adding in another layer in the supply chain ie. grey dealers.

What can Rolex do ?

[Chaching]

I dunno what all this “shortage” is about I have no issues getting what I want from my AD.

[DoctorA]

Rolex is changing its marketing strategy (that’s what it looks like)
Producing more PM and TT watches, where someone who “just wants a Rolex” will go for one of those, keeping their profit margin higher and producing less ss, which created a supply and demand issue.

This got complicated by the grey dealers (especially in the Far East) drying the market and reselling for high premiums!

The recent reports showed that Rolex sales went up this year! They accomplished that by the above strategy and ADs are also happy. Even though they’re selling less units but discounts became part of history which overall increased their bottom line

You have a good relationship with an AD (ie spend $$$$$) there and all of a sudden shortage becomes abundance!!

[g-boac]

Originally Posted by koryong

Fully agree with this .... if there is a genuine shortage, they would not be found in the grey market

My "conspiracy theory" is that syndicates are sending out runners/gophers/mules, whatever we might call them in our part of the world, to "plough" all ADs and snap up hot SS sports models, and re-distributing them to the grey market at a profit. Basically killing normal distribution channels (AD to consumer) and adding in another layer in the supply chain ie. grey dealers.

What can Rolex do ?

Direct sales to customers, including online through their website, as Omega now does (in addition to Omega Boutique and AD channels).

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by DoctorA

Rolex is changing its marketing strategy (that’s what it looks like)
Producing more PM and TT watches, where someone who “just wants a Rolex” will go for one of those, keeping their profit margin higher and producing less ss, which created a supply and demand issue.
!

Easy to say but not everyone can drop $30k on a watch. Their customer base would shrink dramatically. I would say a vast majority of Rolex buyers are around the $10k price bracket.

[jason042779]

I'm not an economist, but this seems to be a market failure to me. If MSRP doesn't reflect the true market price, then Rolex should just raise its prices and cut out the flippers and greys and streamline the process.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Maybe your AD doesn't. But it's clear that they have taken notice of flippers. Two years ago buying a watch without stickers was heresy. Now today it's the norm. Not all ADs are doing it but it is happening nationwide.
Tell me you walked into an AD and bought a Daytona and then went back in to buy another because you told them you flipped it because the offer was too good to pass up...I'd like to hear their response.

Why do I tell them I flipped it? What business is it of theirs. They should be thrilled I am coming back to them for another watch. In fact, how stupid of them to ask me what I did or care about the first watch, if they want another sale. Isn't that what they want? Another sale? And if they are stupid enough to ask you, you can tell them anything you want. You can say you gave it to your son, or it was a gift to your dad, you can even say your dog ate it

Stickers? Who cares about the stickers. The stickers are in place so that in transit after manufacture, the watch is not banged up or when the AD show the watch out of the display, it has that new look to it. If you don't want your watch to have any nicks or swirls, then put it in the safe and never wear it, now that will be a good use of your money!

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by MoosicPa

First, there is no "shortage" of SS watches... They are plentiful on the grey market. Take for instance the new SS Pepsi GMT. Last I checked there were 5 for sale here on TRF from trusted sellers, and on Chrono24 there were 100+ listed. One could be bought today and in hand tomorrow. I don't call that a shortage by any means.

Second, what incentive does Rolex have to stop or deter sales to flippers by AD's? None. When Rolex ships the watch to an AD they get paid their wholesale price. Whether the AD sells the watch to a good customer, a collector, or a flipper Rolex realizes no more profit. Why would they really care?

I agree with your first paragraph, but disagree with the second. It is essential to the livelihood of luxury brands that they attempt to control the market and where their products end up, or it could severely diminish the brand. If this were not the case, and all a company cared about was receiving their wholesale fee, they would be selling Louis Vuitton bags at Macy’s.
It matters...trust me

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by BillA

Why do I tell them I flipped it? What business is it of theirs. They should be thrilled I am coming back to them for another watch. In fact, how stupid of them to ask me what I did or care about the first watch, if they want another sale. Isn't that what they want? Another sale? And if they are stupid enough to ask you, you can tell them anything you want. You can say you gave it to your son, or it was a gift to your dad, you can even say your dog ate it

So you won't won't tell them, cool. Today the tides have turned, the normal non vip client is begging for the AD to take their money and pay full retail. Everything you said is quite true, and most traditional ADs don't care what you do...but it's clear from the climate internationally that this is becoming a concern.

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by TreiseYustiel

I completely agree TBH I bought a Rolex from a grey market dealer and I got it at a staggering discount on Black Friday. Not only that they serviced the watch before even sending it to me. It came with box but no papers so I'm having RSC NYC send that to me after they look at it.

When I publish that on this forum in January people should have their illusions broken of walking into a Rolex AD smoking bubblegum and wearing sunglasses indoors and peeling stickers off of a brand new Rolex only to find out their wallet isn't too happy later.

You are obviously referring to a used watch, since you refer to service. In that instance, I completely agree that used is a great way to save money.
If we are talking new then you are incorrect. Some of the latest models like the Pepsi and Daytona or severely marked up at Gray dealers, and if you exercise a little bit of patience can be had at retail. If people want to pay a premium, that is certainly their choice, but I think it’s tough to justify (silly) paying $17,000 for a SS Pepsi GMT, and you certainly aren’t getting the same deal as you could have from an AD

[BillA]

Originally Posted by DoctorA

Rolex is changing its marketing strategy (that’s what it looks like)
Producing more PM and TT watches, where someone who “just wants a Rolex” will go for one of those, keeping their profit margin higher and producing less ss, which created a supply and demand issue.

This got complicated by the grey dealers (especially in the Far East) drying the market and reselling for high premiums!

The recent reports showed that Rolex sales went up this year! They accomplished that by the above strategy and ADs are also happy. Even though they’re selling less units but discounts became part of history which overall increased their bottom line

You have a good relationship with an AD (ie spend $$$$$) there and all of a sudden shortage becomes abundance!!

This kind of post just spreads hearsay and rumors:
"Rolex making more TT and PM models". Where did you get this info? The last time I read, Rolex does not release this info about how many SS, TT or PM models they manufacture.

"Rolex sales went up this year". Says who? Rolex is not a public corporation, they don't have to release numbers.

"Far East numbers". How do you know?

[csfischer20]

I was told by and AD last week that they are trying avoid flippers and you have to buy other things to get on their list for stainless sports. This place did care, or seemed to. She also told me it would be 4 years for a pepsi. It was just conversation while my sub was being inspected.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by csfischer20

I was told by and AD last week that they are trying avoid flippers and you have to buy other things to get on their list for stainless sports. This place did care, or seemed to. She also told me it would be 4 years for a pepsi. It was just conversation while my sub was being inspected.

When she told you that in order to get on their list to buy a SS model you had to buy other jewelry you did not want or need, I hope you immediately yanked your sub out of their hands and walked out of the place.
Anyone prepared to subscribe to this might as well buy on the grey market the watch they want and pay over retail for it, have it now, and pay the equivalent monies to paying for jewelry you don't need and waiting a long time for the watch you want in the first place.