How on earth did I get a new Sub ND from an AD?

[rkny]

This is not a riddle. I’m genuinely asking how I managed to get so lucky!

Back story; I lived in NYC for 30 years. I’m now in Chicago. I go back to NYC regularly for business/pleasure.

On a recent 2 day visit, for fun, I called every AD in Manhattan, inquiring about a new Sub ND.

At one store (sorry, not naming names), I spoke with a very enthusiastic friendly SA. We chatted a bit and hit it off. I asked to be put on the waiting list. He asked for my phone number and said he would text me if something came up.

I have no prior history with this store or the SA.

About 5 days later he texted me to let me know he was 99% sure he was getting a Sub. He asked if there was any special occasion I was buying it for. Indeed, it was my 10th wedding anniversary. And I let him know my wife was also in the market for a steel Cartier tank…not exactly the Hope diamond sidecar purchase.

We chatted a bit more. A few days passed and the day he said he would know for sure, a Tuesday, came and went.

I texted him a couple days later, figuring he’d tell me the Sub wasn’t coming or went to a different customer. He told me he was still working on it. We chatted via text a bit more.

Then a few more days passed and I assumed it simply wasn’t happening.

I’d nearly put it out of my mind when out of the blue he texted again…”Why don’t you stop by and get your new watch fitted?”

Needless to say I was shocked and thrilled.

But I was also back in Chicago. He assumed I was local.

I had already mentally prepared for (fantasized) flying back to NYC if I actually got the call. I justified the expense of a round trip ticket by comparing the $8100 retail price of the watch to the $13K+ grey market price.

So I told him my situation, being in Chicago and all. I asked if I could pay for it over the phone and come pick it up the next day.

Now comes the truly baffling part...

His response was “If it’s paid in full, I have to ship it to you.”

What??? I thought ADs were forbidden to ship unless you’re buying in Vegas. Why would a major city dealer even bother to ship? Isn’t the wait list a mile long for any sport Rolex? Why me?

Of course I wasn’t about to ask him any of those questions…

He proceeded to send me a link for payment and a shipping authorization form to sign.

Maybe he vetted me by my email address or phone number or name, but he didn’t even ask for so much as a copy of my photo ID. For a second, I almost thought I was being scammed. But the payment link was legit (via the chain’s corporate website, not PayPal). The shipping form was legit. The SA is on LinkedIn. And when I called the next day to verify the delivery was on track, the person who answered the phone (not my SA) transferred me to a different guy in their shipping dept who confirmed.

And sure enough, by noon that day I was wearing a new Sub, without having spent a dime with store previously, AND had it shipped from NYC to Chicago. (And before someone says it, no, it’s not fake haha.)

I didn’t specifically ask the SA “Why me?” He had intimated that he liked chatting with me and that he liked the idea of the watch being purchased to celebrate my 10 year anniversary.

But beyond that, I’m at a loss to explain this minor miracle. Is the market softening? I’ve read a few anecdotes about people getting ‘the call” faster than anticipated lately. I’ve heard production was back up to full speed. What else could be at play here, beyond the good karma I continually try to spread by being a good tipper at restaurants and holding doors for people?

[TimepieceRPP]

Congratulations

[Nav01L]

Well, good Karma goes a long way. Congratulations!

[RealMadrid1988]

That’s quite an imagination you’ve got there ;-)

[rkny]

Originally Posted by RealMadrid1988

That’s quite an imagination you’ve got there ;-)

I posted about this transaction on Reddit and got the same reaction from a couple of people, but I assumed it was because Reddit is full of teenagers.

The naysayers disappeared when I posted screenshots of the entire text discussion between myself and the SA.

[RealMadrid1988]

Originally Posted by rkny

I posted about this transaction on Reddit and got the same reaction from a couple of people, but I assumed it was because Reddit is full of teenagers.

The naysayers disappeared when I posted screenshots of the entire text discussion between myself and the SA.

Congratulations — and relax! Enjoy your Submariner. With regards to the thread title: you got lucky — what more do you want to hear? Submariners have become harder to obtain than they used to be, but ADs still get a lot of them — far more than Daytonas, GMTs, Sky-Dwellers, etc. Enjoy yours!

[Harry-57]

Congratulations.

So they're not all going to greys. That's going to disappoint some people!

[teck21]

Congrats.

Why won’t you share your AD though?


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[rkny]

Originally Posted by teck21

Congrats.

Why won’t you share your AD though?


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If in fact good karma was the reason I got lucky, to my thinking, that AD getting inundated with calls trying to replicate my good fortune doesn’t seem like karma building.

[teck21]

Originally Posted by rkny

If in fact good karma was the reason I got lucky, to my thinking, that AD getting inundated with calls trying to replicate my good fortune doesn’t seem like karma building.

Is not helping people find an honest AD that doesn’t require games good karma too?


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[rkny]

Originally Posted by RealMadrid1988

Congratulations — and relax! Enjoy your Submariner. With regards to the thread title: you got lucky — what more do you want to hear? Submariners have become harder to obtain than they used to be, but ADs still get a lot of them — far more than Daytonas, GMTs, Sky-Dwellers, etc. Enjoy yours!

Couldn’t tell if you were serious. Over on Reddit they were basically calling me a liar.

As to what I wanted to hear, I guess I just can’t wrap my head around getting one, after all the stories of 2 year waits, prior customers only, draconian shipping rules, etc. Clearly there are a lot of games being played out there.

[rkny]

Originally Posted by teck21

Is not helping people find an honest AD that doesn’t require games good karma too?


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Fair point. But this guy sent me a picture of his new daughter during the course of our texts. Then I sent him a cute little baby towel after I got the watch, as a token of my appreciation. To think of him getting flooded with calls from people I don’t even know, seeking to replicate my good fortune, because I spoke his company’s name, makes me uncomfortable.

[rkny]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Congratulations.

So they're not all going to greys. That's going to disappoint some people!

Thanks.

I have a theory that Rolex understands that a big part of their business relies on back door sales, but perhaps looks the other way, as long as the AD can show that a certain percentage of sales were low volume and/or one-offs, direct to unique off-the-street customers.

[teck21]

Originally Posted by rkny

Fair point. But this guy sent me a picture of his new daughter during the course of our texts. Then I sent him a cute little baby towel after I got the watch, as a token of my appreciation. To think of him getting flooded with calls from people I don’t even know, seeking to replicate my good fortune, because I spoke his company’s name, makes me uncomfortable.

Fair point. Plenty of people who think ADs owe them a Rolex.

Again, grats and enjoy your watch!


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by rkny

Thanks.

I have a theory that Rolex understands that a big part of their business relies on back door sales, but perhaps looks the other way, as long as the AD can show that a certain percentage of sales were low volume and/or one-offs, direct to unique off-the-street customers.

That used to be when ADs couldn’t clear their inventory.

Today they sell everything so that relationship has changed.

Back door sales are now a bad thing.


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[Fleetlord]

My first thought is that’s a cancelled sale for another one of the SA clients and being a less popular ND version, the SA had some discretion as to who got it instead and you win..

[joeboy]

This is an outstanding story, enjoy! :)

[rkny]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

My first thought is that’s a cancelled sale for another one of the SA clients and being a less popular ND version, the SA had some discretion as to who got it instead and you win..

This makes plenty of sense. The SA did say he was “awaiting allocation”, but that could just have been sales speak for “waiting to hear if my regular customer wants it.” He did mention however that the NDs are no easier to get than the date version.

[Swede86]

Congrats! Nice win.

[strafer_kid]

Whatever the reason or circumstances, its great to see that you got it!

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by rkny

Thanks.

I have a theory that Rolex understands that a big part of their business relies on back door sales, but perhaps looks the other way, as long as the AD can show that a certain percentage of sales were low volume and/or one-offs, direct to unique off-the-street customers.

I'm with Teck's view on this. The grey market is necessary and Rolex do not concern themselves with legal business to business trading practices. Retailers don't only buy from and sell to the general public. I don't think a majority of the general public understand this, but they quickly would if they had to run a retail business (as opposed to run it into the ground).

The Rolex situation is a fraction of the whole grey market and is paradoxical (he said, stating the bleedin' obvious). The grey market has responded as would be expected. It's working fine, it's just not working in the used Rolex buyers' favour.

It is customary to post a picture of your new pride and joy. Got any?

[Pw92676]

Enjoy! Congrats on the 10th

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by teck21

Is not helping people find an honest AD that doesn’t require games good karma too?


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All ADs are honest and good. You just need to have the money, looks and people skills, but you know that.

[1William]

Congratulations. Great watch.

[opbigdave]

Great Story,
Mark up one for the Good Guys!

[alphadweller]

Congratulations, OP! Yes, it's got to be karma
Very surprising in today's market. Happy 10th anniversary.

[travisb]

Lucky you! Congrats and happy anniversary!

[rkny]

Thanks for all the kind wishes!

By request, a pic, taken in front of my Jon Goodman print of Steichen’s “The Flatiron”, in honor of the city the watch was shipped from.

[garyk]

I’m waiting for the day when I can be scratching my head and wondering how in the world I got so lucky. However, After a three year wait so far, I can’t wait to be happy! Congrats!

[Lukebennett21]

Right place right time