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Old 20 August 2019, 01:52 PM   #1
Frank McKay
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Icon5 What’s the salary of a Rolex SA?

Seems like a real fun job. Talking Rolex watches all day, chatting up interesting clients and best of all, handling all the hard to get pieces. Do employees get a discount ? probably not but would they they would.
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Old 20 August 2019, 01:56 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Frank McKay View Post
Seems like a real fun job. Talking Rolex watches all day, chatting up interesting clients and best of all, handling all the hard to get pieces. Do employees get a discount ? probably not but would they they would.
Standing behind a counter all day saying "sorry, we don't have any in stock" isn't my idea of fun
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Old 20 August 2019, 01:58 PM   #3
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Standing behind a counter all day saying "sorry, we don't have any in stock" isn't my idea of fun


Good point
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Old 20 August 2019, 02:00 PM   #4
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Probably depends on the company you’d be working for. I’d assume the fewest SAs actually work for a real Rolex subsidiary, most boutiques, at least here in Europe, seem to be franchises (unlike other brands), and the store in store Rolex sections at the ADs obviously are part of the relevant AD. And yes, most likely do get employee discounts, but I’d assume have pretty stringent limitations on what they can buy on preferential terms and when.

Also I would assume that, like most other high street retail sales jobs, being an SA won’t pay as much as to put one into the position to buy Rolexes on a regular basis (whether or not with a discount).
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Old 20 August 2019, 02:22 PM   #5
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I imagine they get paid the going rate for sales assistants in a high Street jewellers.
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Old 20 August 2019, 02:26 PM   #6
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According to Glassdoor for Rolex.

2 reported salaries for sales associate - 20k-64k
1 reported salary for store manager - 77k-84k

Those are the only sales-related jobs with shared salaries.
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Old 20 August 2019, 02:28 PM   #7
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Not enough that’s for sure. Better off serving drinks at a bar I imagine.
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Old 20 August 2019, 03:04 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SirPolarBear View Post
According to Glassdoor for Rolex.
2 reported salaries for sales associate - 20k-64k
1 reported salary for store manager - 77k-84k
Those are the only sales-related jobs with shared salaries.
When I was young, my first job was selling Rolex watches.
My salary after 3 months training was 50% above the minimum wage.
I think the same applies today for newcomers
When I left the business as a store manager to open my own watch store
I was making a little over 4 times the minimum wage
An AD then was making 50% from retail ...I think lower now
I could have bought a new watch every year with 25% off from the store
and 25% off from the Rolex wholesale office ...only bought one Rolex in 20 years
Most beautiful 6239 exotic (they call them Paul Newman now) white dial with
3 black registers - my manager picked it and forced me to buy because we could
not sell the darn thing...
Back then a Sport Rolex was more of a tool than a ...look at my wrist what I own

Today Rolex sport watches are 90% sold by the grey/black market - thanks to Rolex
Inability to manufacture, supply and distribute correctly and especially
their manipulation of the supply In order to eradicate the grey market..these policies
Have become a boomerang and everyone is laughing at the Rolex management.
Now they have created a Gigantic black market where everyone plays...
...both ADs and Greys
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Old 20 August 2019, 03:07 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast View Post
Standing behind a counter all day saying "sorry, we don't have any in stock" isn't my idea of fun
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Old 20 August 2019, 03:31 PM   #10
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standing behind a counter all day saying "sorry, we don't have any in stock" isn't my idea of fun
+1
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Old 20 August 2019, 03:37 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank McKay View Post
Seems like a real fun job. Talking Rolex watches all day, chatting up interesting clients and best of all, handling all the hard to get pieces. Do employees get a discount ? probably not but would they they would.
Not sure it’s that glamourous.
Plenty of sitting around, following up endless steel sports email and phone requests, stock taking regularly, taking the huge supply of Datejusts in and out twice a day, cleaning lots of glass...plus there will be tough targets in many cases without the stock many are looking for.

As for discounts, I believe at many ADs you get nothing off the steel sports models plus still have to join “lists”

Overall, no thanks.
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Old 20 August 2019, 03:55 PM   #12
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An SA at my AD told me even he can’t jump lists to get desirable pieces. He said he’s been waiting for a BLRO but might have to go grey. I just laughed when he said that. I’m calling BS. I have a feeling he was saying that to not make customers feel bad.
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Old 20 August 2019, 04:27 PM   #13
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A sad existence...dressing up each day, enduring very little traffic through the store most hours...having to make small talk with your peers to bide your time.
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Old 20 August 2019, 04:38 PM   #14
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My friend who I purchase my watches from at our local AD has a much nicer watch collection than I do. He loves his job and is one of the most professional sales people i've ever worked with. No idea how much he makes, but he's great at it.
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Old 20 August 2019, 05:06 PM   #15
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Sometimes is feels as if they make millions... Considering their pompous attitude.
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Old 20 August 2019, 05:23 PM   #16
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I do not think that you could afford a nice watch with that job.. And after a couple of months would not be so much fun.


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Old 20 August 2019, 05:30 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Frank McKay View Post
Seems like a real fun job. Talking Rolex watches all day, chatting up interesting clients and best of all, handling all the hard to get pieces. Do employees get a discount ? probably not but would they they would.
Same as any other shop job....minimum wage plus a little bit if lucky
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Old 20 August 2019, 05:42 PM   #18
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Sometimes is feels as if they make millions... Considering their pompous attitude.
So true!
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Old 20 August 2019, 05:57 PM   #19
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A sad existence...dressing up each day, enduring very little traffic through the store most hours...having to make small talk with your peers to bide your time.

What an awful sad existence having to tug ones forelock to every Tom Dick and Harry that deigns to grace ones shop with their elevated presence.
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Old 20 August 2019, 06:45 PM   #20
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Bear in mind they work some evenings and Saturday and Sunday (when comparing pay to 9-5)


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Old 20 August 2019, 07:00 PM   #21
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Retail sales is hard work. I'd rather be selling premium watches than punching a checkout till, but you have to have stamina, a thick skin and endless patience. People who are really good, dedicated and love what they do and/or sell, tend to make it look a lot easier than it is, or at least can be on an average day. Salaries depend in the employer, what they sell and the age and experience of the applicant. I imagine the variation is wide. The SAs at my AD do not get a sales bonus. I don't know about their boss.
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Old 20 August 2019, 09:59 PM   #22
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Retail sales is hard work.
This.

It takes a special kind of person to sell. The really good ones often do very well (beit autos, homes, jewelry) but they are few and far between.

I worked retail in high school. Lots of time waiting for customers to show up.

My local AD, a small family owned store, has all of their sales people on salary. They appear happy and enjoy their jobs, so I presume that they are well compensated. Probably not as well paid as most of us here.
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Old 20 August 2019, 10:38 PM   #23
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The moment I heard a sales candidate ask about the salary (and not the top level of commission structure), I sensed low confidence.

But I get the OP’s question on Rolex AD salaries. My nearby AD uses SA quarterly team bonuses rather than individual comp plans. The metrics encourage sales revenue balances with GPM.

This rolls up to the managers with an additional goal incenting net profit margin.

Is that adequate to fund a decent lifestyle? Who knows? But...
Nobody in the store is driving 10 year old decrepit hoopties...


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Old 20 August 2019, 11:09 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TempoKing View Post
When I was young, my first job was selling Rolex watches.

My salary after 3 months training was 50% above the minimum wage.

I think the same applies today for newcomers

When I left the business as a store manager to open my own watch store

I was making a little over 4 times the minimum wage

An AD then was making 50% from retail ...I think lower now

I could have bought a new watch every year with 25% off from the store

and 25% off from the Rolex wholesale office ...only bought one Rolex in 20 years

Most beautiful 6239 exotic (they call them Paul Newman now) white dial with

3 black registers - my manager picked it and forced me to buy because we could

not sell the darn thing...

Back then a Sport Rolex was more of a tool than a ...look at my wrist what I own



Today Rolex sport watches are 90% sold by the grey/black market - thanks to Rolex

Inability to manufacture, supply and distribute correctly and especially

their manipulation of the supply In order to eradicate the grey market..these policies

Have become a boomerang and everyone is laughing at the Rolex management.

Now they have created a Gigantic black market where everyone plays...

...both ADs and Greys


Wow

That’s really cool!
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:22 AM   #25
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I have never heard of a store that doesn't give the SAs a discount subject to some limits. But they cannot get the watches either, with the demand, as most stores will sell to customers before selling to employees in house.
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:28 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TempoKing View Post
When I was young, my first job was selling Rolex watches.
My salary after 3 months training was 50% above the minimum wage.
I think the same applies today for newcomers
When I left the business as a store manager to open my own watch store
I was making a little over 4 times the minimum wage
An AD then was making 50% from retail ...I think lower now
I could have bought a new watch every year with 25% off from the store
and 25% off from the Rolex wholesale office ...only bought one Rolex in 20 years
Most beautiful 6239 exotic (they call them Paul Newman now) white dial with
3 black registers - my manager picked it and forced me to buy because we could
not sell the darn thing...
Back then a Sport Rolex was more of a tool than a ...look at my wrist what I own

Today Rolex sport watches are 90% sold by the grey/black market - thanks to Rolex
Inability to manufacture, supply and distribute correctly and especially
their manipulation of the supply In order to eradicate the grey market..these policies
Have become a boomerang and everyone is laughing at the Rolex management.
Now they have created a Gigantic black market where everyone plays...
...both ADs and Greys
I seriously question where you determined 90 percent of Rolex watches are sold by the grey/black market. You should know Rolex only wholesales it watches into its AD network. Those ADs then sell the watches to whom they want. By definition that is neither a gray or black market. These folks on-line are resellers of watches they either bought from retail customers or from the ADs.
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:33 AM   #27
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Originally Posted by bayerische View Post
Sometimes is feels as if they make millions... Considering their pompous attitude.
Not only that, some don't even know certain things about the watches. Like dial colors or functions. It's baffling really..
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:35 AM   #28
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"My guy" at the AD is really into watches and seem to enjoy his job. Almost every year he gets to go to different watch factories in Switzerland with his management, but yes, you are working weekends until 9PM, Holidays, etc and the pay isn't terribly well.
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:36 AM   #29
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I can't think of any reason why it is interesting to know how much somebody earns as a salary in any type of business as long as you are not interested to start working in the same kind of business.
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Old 21 August 2019, 12:40 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TempoKing View Post
...only bought one Rolex in 20 years
Most beautiful 6239 exotic (they call them Paul Newman now) white dial with
3 black registers - my manager picked it and forced me to buy because we could
not sell the darn thing...
That’s awesome
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