Waiting lists - truth or hype ?

[Flying Clog]

Was in my AD in Amsterdam yesterday (Schaap en Citroen for those who know it) asking about a service for my smurf including a polish and new glass which is scratched
(For those interested the sub service was EUR700 and a new glass EUR200 - would take 8-12 weeks)

Looking around the shop - I asked if they had a new SD from Basel. The guy explained that they were out but do not have one I could look at but that I could be added to the waiting list. I asked what the "hot" watches were with wait lists at the moment and he showed me stating waiting times as;

New steel / ceramic Daytona - 5 years
New Basel SD - 2 years
GMT BLNR - 18 months approx

I asked is this was hype or reality - to be told it is reality and there is nothing to do to get ahead of the queue and when called you had to say "yes" or "no" on the spot otherwise they telephoned the next person on the list.

I am not interested in a Daytona, but could be interested in the new SD (and have a BLNR already) - but is this reality or hype ?

Cheers
FC

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Flying Clog

Was in my AD in Amsterdam yesterday (Schaap en Citroen for those who know it) asking about a service for my smurf including a polish and new glass which is scratched
(For those interested the sub service was EUR700 and a new glass EUR200 - would take 8-12 weeks)

Looking around the shop - I asked if they had a new SD from Basel. The guy explained that they were out but do not have one I could look at but that I could be added to the waiting list. I asked what the "hot" watches were with wait lists at the moment and he showed me stating waiting times as;

New steel / ceramic Daytona - 5 years
New Basel SD - 2 years
GMT BLNR - 18 months approx

I asked is this was hype or reality - to be told it is reality and there is nothing to do to get ahead of the queue and when called you had to say "yes" or "no" on the spot otherwise they telephoned the next person on the list.

I am not interested in a Daytona, but could be interested in the new SD (and have a BLNR already) - but is this reality or hype ?

Cheers
FC

Unfortunately most watches like the Daytona C when bought many are flipped to the grey market for profit where there are hundreds of them for sale.The WIS has made a rod for there own back with many willing to pay these crazy prices.Its not like the Daytona C is a new watch, its just the old model with a simple push fit ceramic bezel and slightly different dials. And some of these crazy waiting times quoted by the ADs are getting to be a joke.

[Nav01L]

Bit of both, afaik most ADs don't really have control over what Rolex sends them, so it's hard for them to predict. They are also often not too rigorous in respecting the order of their waiting lists. After all, they are for profit businesses and everything bringing profit is negotiable. So in many cases it's under-promise, over deliver.

Btw, the new Basel SD is not out yet, they are only just starting the preview tour with movement-less exhibition models.

[HL65]

Reality based on hype and demand.

[1William]

My experience is when names are added to a list that you may have some serious buyers but a lot of people on the list are just that, on the list. Be ready to buy when contacted and follow-up with the AD from time to time. Find out who manages the list and speak only with that person in a hope of developing a relationship or a least having some one know who you are. My experience is that the list times are much shorter for real buyers with relationships with AD's. If you just call around and put your name down, it will probably be longer.

[pballer110]

The lists mean nothing. If you are a real buyer and have a relationship with the dealer you'll get the watch you want. I just got a ceramic daytona after asking about it 45 days ago. Im sure there was a list but since i purchased from this AD previously plus just bought two watches from them this year I'm sure i was just given the first one that came in.

[Etschell]

Waiting lists are true, time estimates are guesses. I don't think the ad is telling you 5 years to entice you to put your name down.

[Vivalas]

My brother wanted a BLNR last week. I emailed my AD and asked to have one whenever possible. They called an hour later saying I could have one. They also had one in another branches window a couple of weeks before so they aren't that hard to get now.

The Daytona would require some work/time though I think.

[Speed]

"Waiting lists" are whatever the AD wants them to be...there is no uniform answer...

Sort of like asking "What is the average discount I should expect on a ___________."

[schnitzerphilip]

Originally Posted by pballer110

The lists mean nothing.

Originally Posted by Etschell

Waiting lists are true

My opinion, we live in a grey market world and that's the new-norm. Not saying its right or its fair but I do think that for new Rolex releases this mechanism is here to stay.

One has to look at buying from an AD as the "savings" method that's available in exchange for a very long wait or a chummy dealer relationship and look at the grey market as the "going rate" for the average buyer and go grey as soon as the prices fall to meet your needs.

Case in point, a year ago the delta between the Daytona C that I wanted and list price at an AD was $8,500, no way I could do it. A year later, the delta came down to $3,500 and I pulled the trigger two weeks ago, was the same price as list plus a DJ that I barely wore in trade, couldn't be happier.

[kilyung]

I'd find a new AD. Several things he said would bother me.

[Cerachrom12]

FWIW all these so called waiting lists seem to be predominantly in countries other than the USA.
I can't understand why. Here in US, you can obtain any watch available either thru the AD, trusted reseller or grey market dealer. If you have money to spend, you will get your desired watch one way or another.

[AK797]

BLNR in EU should be only a couple of months at the most, shop around. SD and other Basels will be out in May/June and will be given to VIPs first so maybe a few months depending on the popularity of the AD.

[kilyung]

No comment

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Cerachrom12

FWIW all these so called waiting lists seem to be predominantly in countries other than the USA.
I can't understand why. Here in US, you can obtain any watch available either thru the AD, trusted reseller or grey market dealer. If you have money to spend, you will get your desired watch one way or another.

In UK we can't do resellers any more because these were from cheaper EU countries like Italy but now the pound has fallen this market has gone and so has Rolex's supply into the UK, the lovely double whammy! EU residents can still get these benefits tho.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Cerachrom12

FWIW all these so called waiting lists seem to be predominantly in countries other than the USA.
I can't understand why. Here in US, you can obtain any watch available either thru the AD, trusted reseller or grey market dealer. If you have money to spend, you will get your desired watch one way or another.

Really? Go to an AD and tell them you want a 116500 now and tell
me what they say. Sure you can go to a reseller and pay a fat premium but getting one at AD for retail get on a list. They exist here like everywhere else and have since the 16520 was first released. Hot watch with high demand equals longer wait.

[gwalker]

Lists are real on new/unreleased watches. I did put a deposit down on the SD43 but I'm buying it so why worry. It's a list but I get the first one as I have purchased from them before and I was first with a deposit. That said people telling me that it takes months to get a DBlue or blnr is crazy. Those who claim there is no wait have evidently never tried to get the newest watch right after release.


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[Spartacus]

Why would an AD or salesperson delay a sale or transaction ? The issue is allocation and a strategic 'supply' plan.

[rolexnub]

Unfortunately, it is reality for popular watches like Daytona, LVc, BLNR and the new SD here in Vancouver.

[ITony]

Originally Posted by Cerachrom12

FWIW all these so called waiting lists seem to be predominantly in countries other than the USA.
I can't understand why. Here in US, you can obtain any watch available either thru the AD, trusted reseller or grey market dealer. If you have money to spend, you will get your desired watch one way or another.

Agreed. Any watch is available with the web these days. The real question is what price are you willing to pay?

[ronricks]

One person on here was told a 25 year wait for a Ceramic Daytona

It is laughable what AD's are telling people and in most cases there isn't even a 'list'. It is the biggest con going.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by ITony

Agreed. Any watch is available with the web these days. The real question is what price are you willing to pay?

Obviously we are talking retail or thereabouts, otherwise we could just put WTBs up here offering silly money and we'd get ten offers in an hour.