Any Advantage to a Rolex only Boutique?

[westsideclock]

As I understand, there is an AD south of me that only sells Rolex, meaning there is no other brands and no jewelry in the store except Rolex. In theory do you think it would be easier to get a Rolex from a store that solely sells Rolex watches and nothing else?

[LostAggie]

Yes, less games to deal with…


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[1259]

I don’t think there is an advantage or disadvantage. Rolex only boutiques can be a waste of time just like everywhere else.

[tictoc1]

PROS:
- A product that sells itself
- Customers seek you out

CONS:
- Must buy and sell less desirable pieces
- Rolex may not send you desirable pieces as often as you need them to keep customers happy
- Margin is tighter than other watch brands
- Rolex can cancel your contract and now your on the hook for the lease
- Rolex will have tight control, your more like an employee than a business owner

[ArtNouveau]

At least in the US, Rolex only Boutiques are at the top of the food chain. Their owners, be it a corporation or a family owned business, have won the bid for an area. They invest heavily and they are rewarded with the most and best inventory.
Supply is still less than demand so getting your foot in the door can still take some serendipity but much different from a jewelry store AD. I have bought four desirable SS models from a Boutique with no other purchases or obligations and I am sure they have many happy customers. YMMV

[TheHulk]

Better selection of exhibition pieces,,,,,

[SLWoodster]

My experience is… you should try.

Boutiques inevitably will sell you pieces online forums deem less desirable. But if you’re saying “just want to buy any rolex” then yeah you have a better shot at a boutique.

[MinMay]

Originally Posted by westsideclock

As I understand, there is an AD south of me that only sells Rolex, meaning there is no other brands and no jewelry in the store except Rolex. In theory do you think it would be easier to get a Rolex from a store that solely sells Rolex watches and nothing else?

You can always try but based on my experience they have thousand of customers to entertain.

[Rollieo]

All ADs want to maximize long term revenue. Desirable watches sell themselves regardless of type of AD. Everyone’s goal is to get rid of less desirable watches.

So the difference is that if you have a woman in your life that likes watches, then go to a Rolex only boutique. Since they only sell Rolex, what they need to get rid of is woman watches. If you can help them with that, then you’ll get the desirable pieces. If you can’t, then you’re just another chump asking for what everyone else is asking for.

If you don’t have a woman in your life but you like other brands, then go to an AD that sells other brands. You can buy those other brands that they want to sell.

[Polyesterpig]

One advantage, they won’t try to sell you another brand of watch.

[NCRolexguy]

I was in a large AD today with a separate Rolex boutique. I was buying another brand. The one side was busy with customers browsing and buying product.
The Rolex boutique side was beautiful but empty . They had about 20 display pieces out but nobody was over there. The associate I was dealing with was a manager and said that nobody evers walks over there. It is a very affluent part of town and everyone knows there are no Rolex for sale.
In the 30 minutes I was there I saw 2 Panerai and 1 IWC sold.
People are moving on, it seems.

[Shadow Play]

Originally Posted by NCRolexguy

I was in a large AD today with a separate Rolex boutique. I was buying another brand. The one side was busy with customers browsing and buying product.
The Rolex boutique side was beautiful but empty . They had about 20 display pieces out but nobody was over there. The associate I was dealing with was a manager and said that nobody evers walks over there. It is a very affluent part of town and everyone knows there are no Rolex for sale.
In the 30 minutes I was there I saw 2 Panerai and 1 IWC sold.
People are moving on, it seems.

I was believing you right up to the point you said you saw an IWC being sold……

[beshannon]

Fewer empty display cases

[Tricolore66]

No pressure to buy gold/diamonds, and hopefully a more knowledgeable staff who is interested in a long term client relationship and sees the advantage of working a new buyer into their allocation process. The boutiques in the US aren’t owned by Rolex, so much of the experience is going to be a function of the entity that owns them, but I’d have to think there’s a higher level of accountability for boutiques vs general AD’s.

[Bxtek]

Yes, I feel there's a better chance. Still not easy by any means. However, at least they can't try to talk you into buying a bunch of other jewelry to increase your chances of that Rolex.

[taitun4life]

Yes. I think it does.

I bought my first Rolex from the same Rolex Boutique that i have gotten all my Rolex from and from same SA. I did start my relationship 7years ago and requested a Batman and had to "settle for a Huk" [those were the days]

But I have since gotten all my watches from the same SA [5 in 2022 including the Explorer II and BLRO]

Getting in with the family owned Rolex Boutiques may take some time and energy but it is definitely worth it. I always visited my SA in the store for years without buying or asking to buy anything after the first one. So when I did ask for some milestone pieces, I got them in record time. The SA makes a ton of difference, you need to find one that connects with you.

Still waiting on my 116500LN....

[Tools]

A Rolex boutique needs to move inventory to keep the lights on, there is no such thing as "no watches available".

It's a matter of timing because everything that comes in gets sold quickly. Visit often and get to know the staff.

[NCRolexguy]

Originally Posted by Shadow Play

I was believing you right up to the point you said you saw an IWC being sold……

Lol.
It did happen though.

[Shadow Play]

Originally Posted by NCRolexguy

Lol.
It did happen though.

I’m glad you took my comment the way I intended it

[Michael T]

As others have said, they can not “tie” the sale of higher margin jewelry or less desirable watches as a precondition to the road to a new Rolex. I was told by one multiline watch plus jeweler I would have to buy jewelry to even be considered for a Rolex. I left and went to a boutique Rolex AD. I am seven months waiting on a 126622 stainless Yacht-Master. Pathetic the state of the market.

[amh]

Every boutique I've visited has said "Please return to your home city and contact the local AD. Would you like some coffee while you browse?"

[Stanman01]

Absolutely. I got a Submariner with Date (12hr wait) and BLNR on Oyster (9mo wait) in 2022 at a Rolex only boutique in a major metropolitan city.

[Calatrava r]

No. Probably harder. They have more customers with big buy budgets.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by TheHulk

Better selection of exhibition pieces,,,,,

Yes, there is that to be said in their favour.

[Good Golly]

An AD that also sells jewellery and other watch brands has a "passing" lane to get you to the elusive reference-model checkout window...purchase other items and you may be rewarded with that coveted model in the safe.

A boutique that sells only Rolex already has their loyal customers, whales and other VIP clients waiting in the queue. As a newbie to a boutique you're competing with established customer history/relationships. Not much you can do to leapfrog that queue in the absence of other items to purchase that'll get you noticed.

[mbalmz]

it's a double edged sword--on the one hand there are fewer things they can try to pressure you to buy as a prerequisite to being allocated tougher pieces.

on the other hand there are fewer options of other things you can buy in order to incentivize them offering you tougher pieces.

[173rdabn]

Can't see any particular advantage.

[TomCarter]

They can’t badger you to buy jewelry or lesser brands, just diamond encrusted Rolex turds.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by tictoc1

PROS:
- A product that sells itself
- Customers seek you out

CONS:
- Must buy and sell less desirable pieces
- Rolex may not send you desirable pieces as often as you need them to keep customers happy
- Margin is tighter than other watch brands
- Rolex can cancel your contract and now your on the hook for the lease
- Rolex will have tight control, your more like an employee than a business owner

This is from an operator’s perspective; I think the OP was considering it from a customer perspective.

And for me, not much difference, “get in line”, “take a number”, “wait until we call you”. Rolex is so enamored with the public’s desire to own a Rolex, they don’t care what a miserable experience it is to buy one.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Jack T

This is from an operator’s perspective; I think the OP was considering it from a customer perspective.

And for me, not much difference, “get in line”, “take a number”, “wait until we call you”. Rolex is so enamored with the public’s desire to own a Rolex, they don’t care what a miserable experience it is to buy one.

Come to think of it.
As easy as it may be to sell a Rolex, It's possibly a miserable experience to be selling them as well with all the knock backs that have to be dished out to the vast majority of potential new customers