The new Rolex, no thank you

They have strong competition from Richemont as well as independent brands like Rolex, Patek, and Journe, so I do not really know if they have a true monopoly but I am sure they can twist the arms of their ADs.

 

I was browsing in Timemachine (tourneau) in NYC. The salesman was helpful and ready to deal.

 

I gotta ask, where's your evidence? Dealer word of mouth counts for nothing.

Can someone tell me how many Rolex USA dealers there are - this time last year there were 715. I can't access the Rolex USA website, but the Rolex UK website lists approx 160 authorised dealers in the UK.

UK
Population is 62 million
Area is 94,000 sq miles

USA
Population 309 million
Area 3,800,000 sq miles



Population is 5 times greater
Land mass is 40 times greater


Let's say we use the population multiple, Rolex would therefore have 800 dealers (which fits in nicely with last years total number of dealers) , or 16 in each State. On this basis of losing 175 in the south east, could we then assume 150+ in the north east, 150+ in the north west, 150+ in the south west? Total = 625+ dealers closing down.

Therefore leaving 175 dealers, or 3 per State?! Now given that you guys have States bigger than the UK itself, would 3 dealers really serve this huge area?


The US Rolex forums on Timezone only have a record of a handful of dealers closing. No one there has been able to prove that hundreds of dealers in the US alone are losing their franchise.

 

So you are saying that one single online forum is a better source of info than dealers who are actually in the business experiencing it firsthand?

 

To an extent, yes. But why not ask every Rolex forum, author and expert - they'll agree.

The dealer stated to someone that 175 dealers were losing their Rolex franchise in the region, however there are no reports or records of hundreds of stores actually losing their franchise.

That dealer is not part of a network of hundreds of stores - how is he going to know that this is actually happening to anyone other than himself? More than likely he's just trying not to lose face to customers due to his own inadequacies.

The facts are: Rolex make 1,000,000 watches a year, the US is their largest market, they have more dealers in the US than any other country, Rolex only has one self owned boutique (in Switzerland - the US one's are not Rolex owned), there are no records of hundreds of stores closing/losing franchises. In addition the enthusiasts who go out and buy these watches regularly are not experiencing a mass closure of Rolex selling points, just the usual one or two dealers closing here and there.

If the dealer is right Rolex would be smashing up their own very successful business model!

It's simply the case that now and again dealers lose their franchise as they can't hit sales targets or break their franchisee contract - I'm willing to bet that as many stores selling Rolex have opened in the last 12 months as have closed.

 

They did this in the eighties; many of the shuttered doors had been discounting, and Rolex doesn't like that.

 

I have information from a reliable source Rolex is cutting it's dealer base by half over the next few years. They are going to a true one price selling model and most of the dealers being terminated are the ones who have discounted their product over the years. I was skeptical about this and had talked to a guy at Mayors 6 months ago about a Sea Dweller Deep Sea, which I was getting 7% off. I call him and tell him that I wanted to go ahead and finalize the transaction at 7% off and he tells me can't discount Rolex's anymore. Yes, I know Rokex has threatened termination for this since the beginning, but it is now a reality.

Rolex wants to bring back the exclusivity to their product, and I'm sure the prices will go up as their dealer base is trimmed. Did anyone know that Rolex is a Trust and most of their profits fund orphanages all over the world? Check it out...

 

Really? What's the reliable source, if it's a dealer (or CEO of a dealer) it really isn't that reliable.

Well, what we actually know is that the principal shareholder in Rolex Sa is The Hans Wilsdorf Trust, which provides funds for educational purposes, but the main beneficiary of educational funds is the Rolex Learning Centre University of Lausanne for 11,000 students and researchers.

The HWF also builds and operates watchmaking schools all over the world, including several in the US, and provides charitable works to retired or needy watchmakers in Switzerland.

In addition Rolex spend plenty of their cash on civic works to Geneve, new bridges, improved roads, that sort of thing.

No further record that I'm at all aware of showing cash being spent on orphanages or additional institutions.

 

CEO of a chain of stores for 50+ years, close to someone at Rolex, doesn't really matter. Thanks for the push, I officially hate this forum and won't be renewing...

Since everyone here already knows everything about everything, what's the point of this forum anyway? I'll enjoy my cars just the same... Best of Luck...

 

I have heard the exact same thing about Rolex and my local AD, Sam Yampell in Haddonfield NJ, had their contract cancelled a few months ago.

There is much discussion about AD terminations on rolexforums.con

 

Don't let the door hit your saggy ass on the way out Gramps.

 

This is one of the most pathetic posts I've seen in a long time!

I wonder if there is a clock in here?
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Dean,

I'm 35, my ass is all good dude, don't confuse me with your old lady.

 

Settle down everybody. We don't need tit-for-tat here.

 

yeah, what he said.

No cat fights, no ***** slaps allowed.

D
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Holy smokes!

He's been the CEO of a chain of stores for 50+ years and is only 35!

He not only knows about my "old lady's" ass but he has breeched the time-matter continuum!

This guy is definitely too cool/smart/mystical/magical/important for us!

Addendum: I notice Mr.50-year-CEO was on at 10:48 this morning despite his baby-whining about leaving.

 

HEY! You said "Tit"!!

Aren't you supposed to be setting some sort of an example?

 

Only to my children, not the inmates at the asylum of FChat.

 

I am pretty sure he meant he knows somebody who has been the CEO for 50+ years. I didn't read it as an age discrepancy.

 

We figured the $15 was a bit high for your budget.

 

I still just don't get why people have a such a hard on for Rolex. Every one of their watches that I have tried on via a friend or at a store years ago has never impressed me. The light band and loose clasp always feels cheap, and the watch designs just don't do anything for me. The Explorer series is the only one I've ever thought looked decent. I'm not out to slam the brand (like I used to when I was younger). I just don't think that it's a quality product anymore and the prices remain sky high while the company continues to live off of the name.

 

In luxury watchs nothing beats a used Rolex for value.
You can buy a used one, wear it for years, polish it up, and get most or all of your money back.
New ones hold value as well and the new crush by Rolex will only reinforce that.

I'm looking at older Sea-Dwellers or a used Blancpain 50 Fathoms.
I think the Rolex wins money-wise.

 

Okay, so by value you mean holding its value for resale. You are right in this regard. I still have no evidence of quality, therefore I do not want one

 

I am not sure what you would be looking for. Evidence compared to... what? As for me I have three and not one of them has or is giving me trouble. One is in fact my fathers old watch.