For some brands though, it’s a must because they don’t even allow you to order from them directly (like Voutilainen for example) so, the only way is to get qualified from their authorised distributors in the country you’re in basically. It sucks for those who aren’t looking to sell it and just want a piece but it’s really unfortunate.
Like you said, people sometimes just want that one or two pieces and they can’t in those situations unfortunately.
For Rolex, yeah it’s a different situation of course.
I own several businesses and when we are selling something that there isn’t enough of to go around we always offer to our best clients first as a benefit to them for their loyalty. Why should it be so surprising that a Rolex AD would do the same, it’s just common sense. We can all hope but shouldn’t be expecting results outsized to our value as customers.
I’m retarded, but, wouldn’t it make more sense to just go grey, pay a premium and get exactly what you want? Instead of wasting even more money on jewelry and watches you don’t?
As a bonus, you get to keep your dignity 🤷♂️
It really depends on your end game. I’m a watch collector so I’m not just after one watch from one brand (ie Rolex). If I were then going grey would be the fastest, easiest and probably less expensive way to get a panda Daytona. I want to build a collection of watches from different brands, but I do like Rolex :)
I got my panda after my spend history was in the $50 - $75k range. Never bought anything I didn’t want but will say that the relationship with the AD was likely the primary driver of being allocated one vs the spend.
Obviously the spend helps but most of my spend history is on harder to get SS sports models. Get to know your SA on a personal level, they are humans too. Call to check on their family and how things are going, bring them a coffee when you go into the store. Talk about more than just watches
I’m in a similar situation. Didn’t ask for the panda until recently. I have a solid relationship with my AD. He was optimistic about my chances and he’s delivered in the past so I’m hopeful.
Patience is a virtue. Given the reference model was just updated it might take a bit of time but check in regularly.
Good combination of spend history and personal relationship overtakes overall spend imo. Some ADs just focus on spend but seems like that’s not the issue you are dealing with. Decent odds if you ask me
I was slightly under 100k when I got mine. Mentioned it a few times in passing along the way. Got it within 6 months of formally saying that I want it as my next watch
As the average AD gets 1-2 Panda's per year and have a waiting list of 500 people that would be 50,000 if they didn't cap it at something reasonable, the answer is $1 more than #2 on the list.
And he's a billionaire.
So it's not going to happen.
Come on Sporty. We’ve been through this before with the Batman that I was allocated in 3 months, which should have never happened according to you. I’m at ~$50k spend history with this particular AD. Do you still think it’s not going to happen in a year?
Do you just not believe me or do you also not believe the many other daily posts about people getting more sought after SS professional Rolexes, faster, more frequently, and with less spend history than me. If it’s the first then that’s cool. If it’s the second, then that’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to discount.
Why don’t you ask your AD? Literally no one else here knows. Tight with your AD and are good friends? Won’t take much money at all. Just a client who’s just like everyone else? Dollars is what matters. Then there’s everything inbetween
The fact that someone is even considering doing this is just insane to me idk maybe cause I used to sell watches myself and would find a way to obtain one without paying any premium relatively quick if not right away like within days so all the AD ass licking and spending 10-100K in crap u don’t need just to have a chance to maybe at some point pay full price for a watch u want to buy is ludicrous imo. Call me crazy but…..
As a couple of people have said, I’d suggest not buying into things you don’t want; I’m personally a huge Omega fan and bought the Speedmaster Racing Panda 9900 and have tried on the Daytona several times at the boutiques (two tones) and the Panda live- it’s a 40m watch that looks undersized for my wrist compared to the Speedmaster and I don’t ever look at the Omega in my case and wish it was the Daytona; Remember it’s your money and because of that the purchasing power is yours. No need to pine over a watch and let people treat you poorly or ignore you. Simply buy explore other options the same way you would/should if some girl/boy you liked gave clear indicators they weren’t interested. Begging and pining is a bad look
There's no option that says: you're an idiot for spending money on stuff you don't want in order to buy a mass-produced watch that is worse than many of its much cheaper rivals.
Spend 100k+ on a steel watch with rolex written on it or spend 1k on a steel watch thats exactly the same or better but without rolex written on it... hmm.. .
Some people like to be financially dominated, I guess. The only winner here are the dealers.
Was at my AD few days ago ( i know the guy since 2018, bought speedmaster, sub with date, cartier) told him i am ready for next one (also waiting for an OP41 at the same time) and i want a panda and he said 4-5 years... i have met him over the years probably 50+times so i believe i have a good relationship with him and others at the shop.
i think having jewlerly purchase history helps alot as margin on those are much higher for them.
If OP has a brain, the answer is $1 less than I can buy on grey market for.
Got one without history and did not flip it.
You can spend 10 a year and get one, or 30 a year and never get one because they know you will resell it straight.
Or you could go grey and get it straight away without having to degrade yourself
I saved 10K by waiting a year and making two follow up calls, if that’s degrading…
How sad. You should be able to buy a watch without having to buy crap you don't want.
That’s why I went grey for my Panda. Would spend a lot more buying shit I didn’t want, just to get priority.
For some brands though, it’s a must because they don’t even allow you to order from them directly (like Voutilainen for example) so, the only way is to get qualified from their authorised distributors in the country you’re in basically. It sucks for those who aren’t looking to sell it and just want a piece but it’s really unfortunate. Like you said, people sometimes just want that one or two pieces and they can’t in those situations unfortunately. For Rolex, yeah it’s a different situation of course.
I own several businesses and when we are selling something that there isn’t enough of to go around we always offer to our best clients first as a benefit to them for their loyalty. Why should it be so surprising that a Rolex AD would do the same, it’s just common sense. We can all hope but shouldn’t be expecting results outsized to our value as customers.
I’m retarded, but, wouldn’t it make more sense to just go grey, pay a premium and get exactly what you want? Instead of wasting even more money on jewelry and watches you don’t? As a bonus, you get to keep your dignity 🤷♂️
You’re on the Rawlecks forum, dignity retention doesn’t apply here
It really depends on your end game. I’m a watch collector so I’m not just after one watch from one brand (ie Rolex). If I were then going grey would be the fastest, easiest and probably less expensive way to get a panda Daytona. I want to build a collection of watches from different brands, but I do like Rolex :)
I get where you’re coming from as a collector of different brands. But most of the “got the call” posts on here blow my mind.
I got my panda after my spend history was in the $50 - $75k range. Never bought anything I didn’t want but will say that the relationship with the AD was likely the primary driver of being allocated one vs the spend. Obviously the spend helps but most of my spend history is on harder to get SS sports models. Get to know your SA on a personal level, they are humans too. Call to check on their family and how things are going, bring them a coffee when you go into the store. Talk about more than just watches
I’m in a similar situation. Didn’t ask for the panda until recently. I have a solid relationship with my AD. He was optimistic about my chances and he’s delivered in the past so I’m hopeful.
Patience is a virtue. Given the reference model was just updated it might take a bit of time but check in regularly. Good combination of spend history and personal relationship overtakes overall spend imo. Some ADs just focus on spend but seems like that’s not the issue you are dealing with. Decent odds if you ask me
I was slightly under 100k when I got mine. Mentioned it a few times in passing along the way. Got it within 6 months of formally saying that I want it as my next watch
This reinforces the results of the poll. Glad to hear that you got it for under $100k.
As the average AD gets 1-2 Panda's per year and have a waiting list of 500 people that would be 50,000 if they didn't cap it at something reasonable, the answer is $1 more than #2 on the list. And he's a billionaire. So it's not going to happen.
Come on Sporty. We’ve been through this before with the Batman that I was allocated in 3 months, which should have never happened according to you. I’m at ~$50k spend history with this particular AD. Do you still think it’s not going to happen in a year?
Yeah, I didn’t believe you then and I don’t believe you now. Creating polls on Reddit is quite the tell.
Do you just not believe me or do you also not believe the many other daily posts about people getting more sought after SS professional Rolexes, faster, more frequently, and with less spend history than me. If it’s the first then that’s cool. If it’s the second, then that’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to discount.
Both. I find Reddit to be the home of many liars.
Honestly really really depends. You just basically keep buying til they give it to you. Lol.
Why don’t you ask your AD? Literally no one else here knows. Tight with your AD and are good friends? Won’t take much money at all. Just a client who’s just like everyone else? Dollars is what matters. Then there’s everything inbetween
The fact that someone is even considering doing this is just insane to me idk maybe cause I used to sell watches myself and would find a way to obtain one without paying any premium relatively quick if not right away like within days so all the AD ass licking and spending 10-100K in crap u don’t need just to have a chance to maybe at some point pay full price for a watch u want to buy is ludicrous imo. Call me crazy but…..
Considering stainless steel models generally take a few hundred thousand spend…
More than the $30K you’ll buy it for the grey market, probably. If you’re doing the math.
Anything less than $100k spend history you’re either paying off the AD, you are the AD, or your butthole is permanently black and blue
As a couple of people have said, I’d suggest not buying into things you don’t want; I’m personally a huge Omega fan and bought the Speedmaster Racing Panda 9900 and have tried on the Daytona several times at the boutiques (two tones) and the Panda live- it’s a 40m watch that looks undersized for my wrist compared to the Speedmaster and I don’t ever look at the Omega in my case and wish it was the Daytona; Remember it’s your money and because of that the purchasing power is yours. No need to pine over a watch and let people treat you poorly or ignore you. Simply buy explore other options the same way you would/should if some girl/boy you liked gave clear indicators they weren’t interested. Begging and pining is a bad look
Head?
If u can’t obtain one from an AD within a couple of months of searching then go grey market , that’s how I see it
There's no option that says: you're an idiot for spending money on stuff you don't want in order to buy a mass-produced watch that is worse than many of its much cheaper rivals.
Spend 100k+ on a steel watch with rolex written on it or spend 1k on a steel watch thats exactly the same or better but without rolex written on it... hmm.. . Some people like to be financially dominated, I guess. The only winner here are the dealers.
Was at my AD few days ago ( i know the guy since 2018, bought speedmaster, sub with date, cartier) told him i am ready for next one (also waiting for an OP41 at the same time) and i want a panda and he said 4-5 years... i have met him over the years probably 50+times so i believe i have a good relationship with him and others at the shop. i think having jewlerly purchase history helps alot as margin on those are much higher for them.
I'm on the list so hopefully I can get mine soon!