Advantages of going through a AD?

[AubreyAces]

Im a newbie here, and will be purchasing soon. What are the advantages of the AD besides knowing that I am getting the read deal? I plan on purchasing from Las Vegas and having it shipped tax free to me, from a reputable AD, but I see so many out there from non AD's for a lot less. Thanks,

[Tools]

Some people shop price and nothing else....

Others like the idea of a new watch with a Dealer backed Rolex warranty....

It's a personal choice...........

[lobo58]

Originally Posted by Tools

Some people shop price and nothing else....

Others like the idea of a new watch with a Dealer backed Rolex warranty....

It's a personal choice...........

All true...but in the real watch world, among aficionados....might be the last business alive where a handshake still means everything. I'd buy from a reputable human here before an AD any day of the week.

[brainbizz]

I prefer an AD. I have established a relationship get a decent discount get dibs on limited models get full warranty with no questions asked and have limited risk.

[keschete]

I shopped around before I purchased a watch and I could have gotten a better price online or with an out of town AD.

BUT and its a big but, I bought a watch in the town I live in and got a great discount. The biggest reason for me is business. If I want to get local clients, it is better to shop local ADs. It has actually worked out better for me. Plus my husband sells cars in our community, people know where you buy.

[lobo58]

Originally Posted by keschete

I shopped around before I purchased a watch and I could have gotten a better price online or with an out of town AD.

BUT and its a big but, I bought a watch in the town I live in and got a great discount. The biggest reason for me is business. If I want to get local clients, it is better to shop local ADs. It has actually worked out better for me. Plus my husband sells cars in our community, people know where you buy.

That's an excellent point, and something I hadn't considered. For the most part, one could find a new watch here at 10-20% (or more) less that the going AD price, but the neighborhood matters.

[allanofcalifornia]

Benefits of buying from an AD:

• You know you are getting a real Rolex
• You get all the goodies with the watch
• You know the watch is brand new
• You might get some other freebies
• Establish a relationship which enables you to get additional benefits in the future (i.e. access to certain watches, discounts, etc)
• You get a warranty

Allan

[DanP]

The Clevage! As JJ will bluntly put it when the Kiwi chimes in LOL

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by allanofcalifornia

Benefits of buying from an AD:

• You know you are getting a real Rolex
• You get all the goodies with the watch
• You know the watch is brand new
• You might get some other freebies
• Establish a relationship which enables you to get additional benefits in the future (i.e. access to certain watches, discounts, etc)
• You get a warranty

Allan

Agree 100%. However, a grey dealer might be able to offer a better price and many are very trustworthy.

[Cato]

Frankly, I regret going with an AD (Ben Bridges). There are plenty of reputable "grey dealers" to choose from that even offer excellent warranties. I suppose if you are a super rich guy and money is no object and you have an excellent buying experience then the AD's prices are warranted. I just went into a Ben Bridges in the mall and special ordered the my Rolex. The sales man didn't know how to special order, so the manager had to teach him with my order. That bothered me because I'm paying MSRP AND I'm being utilized for training. Now I did get some hard candy and a bottle of water out of the deal!

Next time I'll go with Swiss lux or jomashop. Maybe I can cut my loses with a fat online discount.

[walds11]

None in my opinion, unless it's a watch that I can't get from the internet or grey dealer. I prefer to buy pre-owned to save some cash. I'll let someone else take the initial hit.

[Bebot]

Some people like buying from AD because it feels good. Spending your hard earned money on a place where they treat you right and show that you're important as any client of theirs is priceless.

[Numismatist]

The way some ADs are discounting right now, they are not too far off the Grey's (sorry Greys), in the not too distant future that'll change again.

Right now, I'd say pay the extra few hundred and go AD (providing you can find one that discounts good).

imho

[smallcandle]

If I'm looking to buy new I generally prefer to do business with an AD. In the long run I feel better about the Rolex warranty and being somewhat catered to during the whole watch "courtship". But that being said, I have seen so many great reviews of our TRF sellers that it is getting harder and harder to justify the price differences.

[chc4au]

Originally Posted by AubreyAces

Im a newbie here, and will be purchasing soon. What are the advantages of the AD besides knowing that I am getting the read deal? I plan on purchasing from Las Vegas and having it shipped tax free to me, from a reputable AD, but I see so many out there from non AD's for a lot less. Thanks,

I think the only advantage going Grey over an AD is price.
I have bought both ways and the "service" from most AD's is overated.
Also I have yet to need the Rolex Warranty.
As said on here many times buy the seller.

[mfer]

I'll buy at an AD if the watch doesn't take to dramatic of a hit on the secondary market. I bought my sub and my IIc at AD.

I won't buy from an AD if they have a watch that will take a big hit on the secondary market.

I buy from an AD and pay a little more b/c I do go in all the time to look at watches, etc. It is worth keeping them in business so I get to try these watches on there before I buy them.

So I do both.

[wantonebad]

I figured the extra $850 for my TT 16613 was better off in my pocket, it was just that simple. I got all the "extras" "freebies" I needed/wanted and I paid less, plus it was tax free. I'd most likely never buy from an AD again based on my states recent sales tax increase and the fact that I'm going to get a 30% discount, depending on the model, from a grey dealer. Larry's right, some people pick price, and that's exactly what I did.

Except of course that when I was shopping for hard to get items, SS Daytona and various Milgauss' (I've owned and flipped 3 Milgauss watches and 2 Daytona's) I bought from an AD, but 4 of those were quick turnaround flips

[sexner]

I have been strictly an AD purchaser in the past for all the reasons stated above.

As was said, the only advantage from buying elsewhere is money. As also reiterated above we have built a very solid relationship with folks at our retailer.

[TempoKing]

You know you are getting a real Rolex
You get all the goodies with the watch
You know the watch is brand new
You might get some other freebies
Establish a relationship which enables you
to get additional benefits in the future
(i.e. access to certain watches, discounts, etc)
You get a warranty

Buying... from an Authorised Rolex dealer is an excellent idea...


I better get used to say that.
Very soon I might become one myself...
But ..ya all... do not worry...discounts galore for my TRF
buddies will always be available

I wonder who would be my first client in New Zealand..??...

TempoKing

[rsg]

I bought from a non-AD and have a warranty card from a US AD with my name on it. The price was great and there was no BS.

[snow_rocks]

Buying new is one thing,

but buying VINTAGE is another,

when it comes to reputable dealers.

[gjgman]

Originally Posted by rsg

I bought from a non-AD and have a warranty card from a US AD with my name on it. The price was great and there was no BS.

Does that always mean that what you purchased is real or was stolen??

[DAVIDSW]

Originally Posted by gjgman

Does that always mean that what you purchased is real or was stolen??

It means that the watch he purchased was REAL!!

Regards
DavidSW

[rsg]

Originally Posted by gjgman

Does that always mean that what you purchased is real or was stolen??

I've put some thought into this and here's the way I see it....

I've read a few posts here from people who have bought 2 or 3 watches from an AD and have become a special customer to that AD. This results in those people recieving great discounts from the AD and other special treatment.

Now imagine a "grey" dealer who works with a few AD's, but buys not 2 or 3 watches/year, but 4 or 5 watches/week! Can you imagine the deals they should be able to get? The margins may not be as big, but it is made up for in volume.

I could be way off here, but it makes sense to me.

BTW, I would never do business with someone if I had even the slightest suspicion they were dealing in stolen property.

[gjgman]

Originally Posted by DAVIDSW

It means that the watch he purchased was REAL!!

Regards
DavidSW

When you don't know someone from the man in the moon that's a risky leap of faith to take.
I'd buy one in a minute but I gotta have to be absolut ley sure it's real.At least when you buy from a AD or a brick and motor store there is someone to go back to if a problem occurs. I'm in the NYC area how do I deal with that when the vendor is in Dallas or Miami??
I've purchased many items "gray market" in the past mosly electronics stuff like Pioneer Elte home theatre stuff for about the same price rang that we're talking about here.At least when the stuff was delivered there was never a question that it was a fake Pioneer plasma flat screen ect.
A Rolex watch is something a little too techical for most people to be able to tell.

[gjgman]

Originally Posted by rsg

I've put some thought into this and here's the way I see it....

I've read a few posts here from people who have bought 2 or 3 watches from an AD and have become a special customer to that AD. This results in those people recieving great discounts from the AD and other special treatment.

Now imagine a "grey" dealer who works with a few AD's, but buys not 2 or 3 watches/year, but 4 or 5 watches/week! Can you imagine the deals they should be able to get? The margins may not be as big, but it is made up for in volume.

I could be way off here, but it makes sense to me.

BTW, I would never do business with someone if I had even the slightest suspicion they were dealing in stolen property.

How can you say you really know a person that you met on the internet?? Maybe I'm too paranoid but I've seen cases before where people were really victimized by elaborate fraud. Ever hear of a guy named Madoff??

[allanofcalifornia]

Originally Posted by gjgman

When you don't know someone from the man in the moon that's a risky leap of faith to take.
I'd buy one in a minute but I gotta have to be absolut ley sure it's real.At least when you buy from a AD or a brick and motor store there is someone to go back to if a problem occurs. I'm in the NYC area how do I deal with that when the vendor is in Dallas or Miami??
I've purchased many items "gray market" in the past mosly electronics stuff like Pioneer Elte home theatre stuff for about the same price rang that we're talking about here.At least when the stuff was delivered there was never a question that it was a fake Pioneer plasma flat screen ect.
A Rolex watch is something a little too techical for most people to be able to tell.

This is why we tell everyone here to buy the seller and not the watch. TRF has a section for references of people who buy and sell their watches on TRF. If a seller has a ton of great references from TRF members buying watches from him, then I would trust that person. We get to know the GD sellers on TRF. I would even bet that the GD TRF seller who has been around and has sold many many watches on TRF will probably try harder to make sure that another TRF member is happy than a AD would.


Allan

[Dr.B]

Bought my SS Daytona right here on TRF
No BS
No problems with the transaction
Warranty card with my name on it
Shipped directly from a AD through a TRF member (seller)

I would do it all over again......

[gjgman]

Originally Posted by Dr.B

Bought my SS Daytona right here on TRF
No BS
No problems with the transaction
Warranty card with my name on it
Shipped directly from a AD through a TRF member (seller)

I would do it all over again......

Shipped directly from a AD..now your talking. When a purchased my Home Theatre system I went "grey market" for the Pioneer stuff but the vendor had an authorized Pioneer Elite dealer sent it out to me from California.I could live with that.

[Clay]