Rolex- the stupidest, lamest company

[cash_tx]

Shocking to think that my childhood friend's dad walked into a Rolex dealer in Acapulco in the early 80's, plopped down $1500, and walked out with a watch...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Pity, they are good watches, never give any issues. Take a trip over to South Africa, there are many stores in Johannesburg and Cape Town and I saw Charles Greig in Hyde Park has a good selection. Phone them. Then whilst you are here you may as well hunt a buffalo, like a Rolex safari!

 

[BRICKBURN]

What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?

• Sense of self-importance.
• Preoccupation with power, beauty, or success.
• Entitled.
• Can only be around people who are important or special.
• Interpersonally exploitative for their own gain.
• Arrogant.
• Lack empathy.
• Must be admired.

Although the DSM is focused on human subjects, it seems to fit the corporate identity.

 

[PCC600]

I like nice things - just never been into watches . When I lived and worked in Asia over 30 years ago every second person had a gold Rolex ( often bejeweled ) . Put me off Rolex for life. A decision between a Rolex and a Rigby or Westley Richards rifle ? No contest a rifle will win every time .

 

[Sourdough]

Shocking to think that my childhood friend's dad walked into a Rolex dealer in Acapulco in the early 80's, plopped down $1500, and walked out with a watch...

During Vietnam all SF soldiers were given a Rolex with the idea that they would have something to bargain with if they ever needed help.

 

[Red Leg]

Love my Submariner. Been working perfectly for nearly forty years in every condition to include Hunting and Desert Storm.

 

[GuttormG]

A decision between a Rolex and a Rigby or Westley Richards rifle ?

Rolex vs Rigby or WR? Easy choice.

 

[Warbeast]

It will only show the time anyways

 

[Dudders]

The wifes grand father did a bit of work setting up the rolex workshops after the war, He was offered a job in switzerland but turned them down. He was setting up his own jewlery shop and asked for dealership which they gave him instead. Always said the Tudor watches were far better than option than the Rolex.

 

[VertigoBE]

I had heard they are trying to push their exclusivity, but reading these horror stories, is giving me reflux too…

 

[Rez Exelon]

If I had Rolex money I'd have the kind of money needed to build my dream rifle....a semi auto 375H&H.

 

[spike.t]

Yeah every watch in a dealer is for display only....friend back where I come from has top end jewelry shop...sells the top end watches as well....we bought a few rolexes over the years....but the days of walking in and buying one are long gone....when was back there last Aug I picked up my breitling as it had to go back to factory for full rebuild...including new strap glass etc...got back basically new watch....so gave it to my son for his bday...he likes watches ....when I was in was talking to my friend....said quite fancy new watch....asked about the titanium daytona....he looked at me and said not a chance...rocking horse shit....asked bout gold daytona..said nope....as we not bought for long time we don't have credits basically....rolex is big money for them, and he has had to buy or rent a whole new shop opposite their existing one to put a in a rolex showroom, even though none of the watches on display will be for sale....they told him if he didn't he would lose his rolex franchise...and his family has been selling them for decades....he said got some nice chopard and cartier ....tudor ..pannerai...plus other makes...including patek phillipe I could have walked out with....but not a rolex...could tell he was bit embarrassed as we went to school together ,and my mother used to buy a lot of stuff form then....but out of his hands...and massive long wait lists ...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Rolex vs Rigby or WR? Easy choice.

The GMT is as close as you get to double barreled.

 

[uplander01]

Never had one, never will. They’re busy selling everything they make to the richest people in the world.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Rolex is following the Diamond marketing strategy. Keep the on hand inventory low. Make them appear to be rare.

The one key difference is a Rolex has good resale value.

Unless a Diamond is part of a larger piece of art or has some provenance they are almost worthless. Unless you are inside the network and can buy them at far below wholesale. And they purposely control who gets rough diamonds.

Try selling just an average stone even up to 5 carrots. You will lose your ass

My father’s wife buried him in his Rolex. I’m sure it never actually made it into the ground. We didn’t see the dirt actually going onto the concrete. I’m guessing one of the funeral staff got themselves a nice watch.

 

[BeeMaa]

Love my Submariner. Been working perfectly for nearly forty years in every condition to include Hunting and Desert Storm.

A Rolex Submariner is an excellent example of pricing because it's been around for so long. I'm guessing there is a pretty good chance that when you got your Submariner there were only three digits in the price before getting to the quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Things have changed a bit but the watch you have is sure to be an incredible piece.

I said earlier in this thread..."There are many reasons my wife and I have been an Omega family for more than 30 years. This is just one of them." Quality was never one of the reasons.

Rolex makes a very durable movement and do in house accuracy testing that rivals CSOC Swiss chronometer accuracy certification. They are indeed a very good timepiece. How they are treating potential customers has changed significantly over the past 10 to 15 years because of demand. As consumers, we get to decide what brands we support by buying them or not. Ultimately we (the public in general) have enabled Rolex to behave in this manner and until there is a recalibration, it's unlikely to change in the near future.

Here is a breakdown by model of Rolex Pricing over the years. You can do your own calculations for what that money means once it's been adjusted for inflation.

Rolex Price Evolution

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

What are the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder?

• Sense of self-importance.
• Preoccupation with power, beauty, or success.
• Entitled.
• Can only be around people who are important or special.
• Interpersonally exploitative for their own gain.
• Arrogant.
• Lack empathy.
• Must be admired.

Although the DSM is focused on human subjects, it seems to fit the corporate identity.

Thank you Mr. Super Moderator!

 

[Major Bonkers]

In London, there are specific gangs ('Rolex rippers') that target Rolex wearers. The modus operandi is apparently that a pretty girl (or boy - some of these muggings take place in Soho) acts as a spotter and you get jumped after leaving the restaurant or pub. Sometimes things escalate to murder (Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Araimi, a 20-year old Omani student was murdered outside Harrods; Saul Murray was murdered after posting photographs on Instagram). In one case, a victim (Emmanuel Odunlami) was stabbed to death for his fake Rolex (and that was in the City, usually considered a safer area).

Things have got so bad that the Indian government - whose citizens like their bling - has raised the issue in diplomatic talks.

Our otherwise useless police take down a few of these footpads, but the reality is that it is easy money with a low risk of punishment. It is the result of draconian laws enforcing disarmament on the civil population which, of course is completely ignored by the criminal element.

 

[Altitude sickness]

It would be fun to purposefully bait those watch stealing punks into an alley. Where some pipe hitters are waiting for them.

 

[HankBuck]

Rolex has to be the stupidest, lamest company I've ever dealt with. I want a specific Rolex for the wife. The conversation has gone like this:

[Big Rolex dealer in Boston] "I can neither confirm nor deny that we have that particular watch in stock," [he actually said that] "You'll have to come to our store in Boston to see if we have it." [WTF? He knows I'm in Louisiana. Okay so I'll try a Rolex dealer in NOLA, one that is part of a network of stores] "Very nice watch. We don't have it and neither do our other stores. we can request one from Rolex, it will take two to three weeks to respond whether they are wiling to make it or not, and if so when they will make it. Probably take four months or so if they decide to make it." [Double WTF. This is a watch Rolex currently lists on their website and they might not make it. That's crazy. And three other dealers essentially said the same thing. Rolex has to be the stupidest, lamest company I've ever dealt with.]

Glad I've never given Rolex any of my money, and never will. Oh, btw, I wear a Garmin Tactix Delta all the time, including when I'm hunting.

SOURDOUGH: That’s what I’m going through Now with Caesar Guerini trying to get a Summit Sporting 12ga, 32” barrels in Left Hand….hope I live long enough for them to make a few because no dealer will ever order one.
Also, if you want a watch with a well known Brand Name that ends with an “X” - get a ”Timex” - they are accurate, sold in Walmart, waterproof….at least for the year or two before they stop working