27 replies to this topic

[Angelplayz]

Why not find a friend (or girlfriend) who works for one of the jewellers? I (Dean's missus) work for Ernest Jones and we get staff discount of 30% (plus a once a year 40% discount voucher) we can use on anything, including Rolex watches? For the ordinary customer, we could really only knock upto 5% off the price at managers discretion (I have NEVER heard of anyone knocking off more than this on a Rolex, or any other prestige brand watch in my 2 and a half years of working there!). Admittedly as a member of staff buying, we still have to be added to the usual Rolex waiting list (which currently stands at upto 6-12 months depending on the model) as there is no way of jumping the list but it still gives great savings. Personally, if I was going to purchase a Rolex, it would be from a Leslie Davies or Ernest Jones store (which are both part of the Signet Group) as we have the best trained staff and also the nicest to deal with in my opinion compared to the likes of Goldsmiths which we receive constant complaints about from new customers. We are also the largest retail jewellers in the UK and so if anyone is going to give you a good deal, its going to be us! We also offer 0% finance which can be done over 9 or 12 months (requiring a 20% deposit up front) and offer cover against accidental damage and theft (which people never take out but could save you huge repair bills and claims on your household insurance if you do plan to wear it daily). In any case they feature toughened Sapphire Crystal glass so are pretty resistant to knocks and most are 100m water resistant or higher. Sorry for the sales spiel but I think people do talk a lot of rubbish when it comes to buying watches. Firstly, no retail jewellers is going to knock more than £200 off the price because as others have said, there is always someone else who will pay full price plus there just isn't the margins when it comes to Rolex. Secondly, don't be put off buying a high quality timepiece in favour of a cheap & disposable fashion brand. Rolex feature handmade movements with swiss parts unlike many of the cheap japanese parts found in the quartz cells of many fashion brands. They will last you 25 years, maybe longer if you have them serviced every 2-3 years and only become more desirable and valuable with age as they become retro and vintage classics. There's nothing wrong with your everyday likes of Armani or CK, they're great for being fashionable and affordable but if you can afford to buy better then I would encourage you to. Do check out web deals but bear in mind most retail stores won't match these and buying from the web can be dodgy, often with no comeback should it be faulty or fake.

[Angelplayz]

Whys that then mate?

Ive never paid the asking price for a watch in my life...

I was in Goldsmiths a few weeks back and a bloke next to me asked for 'the best price' on a breitling...sales woman said she would ask the manager....then came back, asked if it was for cash, and offered the bloke £200 off

Im presuming thats because its a Rolex then?

It doesn't make a difference to us whether the customer pays cash or pays through interest free credit, in fact the store manager actually makes money on IFC sales therefore I doubt that was the reason for the discount. The thing about Rolex is that only a few specific stores are allowed to sell them (as given permission by Rolex) so you usually will only see one Rolex dealer within a town or city, whereas with most of the other prestige brands many different jewellers can be selling them within a town/city therefore they will be more eager to make the sale then and there (by use of a 'today only discount' to prevent you shopping around for the best price, if needed).

[M3 BFG]

IMO the waiting list thing is genuine! Last year I called every pretty much every dealer in Central London and they had neither a Submariner or Sea Dweller (new) in stock. So I ordered a SD for my brother-in-law from MW in Oxford Street and waited 9 months before getting a firm delivery date. By pure luck, my other half happened upon a SD in a store window in Bromley that had arrived the same day and was an unfulfilled order. As she sat down to get her CC out another chap came in asking about the SD in the window. When he discovered it was sold to Liz he offered her £200.00 premium to let him buy it AND SHE SAID NO!!! Every time the brother in law comes round now I admire his watch. The design and quality is stunning and I'm sure will last a lifetime.

[jam]

i walked past this place on Sunday and noticed they had a submariner in the window - might be worth a call.
http://www.watchesofwarwick.com/

[convict]

Admittedly as a member of staff buying, we still have to be added to the usual Rolex waiting list (which currently stands at upto 6-12 months depending on the model) as there is no way of jumping the list but it still gives great savings.

Personally, if I was going to purchase a Rolex, it would be from a Leslie Davies or Ernest Jones store (which are both part of the Signet Group) as we have the best trained staff and also the nicest to deal with in my opinion compared to the likes of Goldsmiths which we receive constant complaints about from new customers. We are also the largest retail jewellers in the UK and so if anyone is going to give you a good deal, its going to be us! We also offer 0% finance which can be done over 9 or 12 months (requiring a 20% deposit up front)

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but there are much better finance deals available from some very reputable dealers. David M Robinson for example offer 3 years interest free credit with the same deposit, which makes the whole thing much more bearable

I (Dean's missus) work for Ernest Jones and we get staff discount of 30% (plus a once a year 40% discount voucher) we can use on anything, including Rolex watches? For the ordinary customer, we could really only knock upto 5% off the price at managers discretion

Interesting, 5% deposit? I've been told by a couple of dealers that Rolex won't let authorised agents give discounts. I wonder if they were having me on - Might try the 'Ernest Jones will give me 5% off line' if/when I do get round to buying one.


p.s. A way round the waiting list is to get cheap flights to geneva or zurich and buy there. Not much cheaper but have a much wider range and have instant availability. If you can get 99p flights you won't have spent any more and no waiting list. Would very much be covered by the international warantee so no risk either

[walkes]

Don't be daft Rolex's that price are chap piles of rubbish, real ones start at £10k and over..

[oblomov]

Admittedly as a member of staff buying, we still have to be added to the usual Rolex waiting list (which currently stands at upto 6-12 months depending on the model) as there is no way of jumping the list but it still gives great savings.

Personally, if I was going to purchase a Rolex, it would be from a Leslie Davies or Ernest Jones store (which are both part of the Signet Group) as we have the best trained staff and also the nicest to deal with in my opinion compared to the likes of Goldsmiths which we receive constant complaints about from new customers. We are also the largest retail jewellers in the UK and so if anyone is going to give you a good deal, its going to be us! We also offer 0% finance which can be done over 9 or 12 months (requiring a 20% deposit up front)

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but there are much better finance deals available from some very reputable dealers. David M Robinson for example offer 3 years interest free credit with the same deposit, which makes the whole thing much more bearable

I (Dean's missus) work for Ernest Jones and we get staff discount of 30% (plus a once a year 40% discount voucher) we can use on anything, including Rolex watches? For the ordinary customer, we could really only knock upto 5% off the price at managers discretion

Interesting, 5% deposit? I've been told by a couple of dealers that Rolex won't let authorised agents give discounts. I wonder if they were having me on - Might try the 'Ernest Jones will give me 5% off line' if/when I do get round to buying one.


p.s. A way round the waiting list is to get cheap flights to geneva or zurich and buy there. Not much cheaper but have a much wider range and have instant availability. If you can get 99p flights you won't have spent any more and no waiting list. Would very much be covered by the international warantee so no risk either

Discounts from Authorised Dealers are 'banned' by Rolex but having said that the best offered to me by an AD was 30% on an all gold Sub, but I don't like gold Rolex. Firstly I don't like the colour of the gold (too yellow) and also too many people wear them as a symbol of their status, which is a bit pathetic. Deposits requested by ADs vary greatly. I've ordered the same model with no deposit, with £50 deposit and £500 deposit. The no deposit one came first Rolex ban their ADs from selling online also I beleieve.

When the £ was a lot stronger against the Euro there was a time when you could take advantage of the exchange rate and fly to Zurich/Geneva and come back and not declare the watch thus saving VAT also. Not done it myself but I've heard of people who have. Not such clear cut advantages now, although if you happened to be visiting the USA, buying one there would be a good exchange rate and VAT free option.

Presently there seems to be a lot of stock of the more popular sports models in the shops. Even in Italy recently I saw Subs YMs, GMTs and Explorers in shop windows. Time was when such models would rarely stay in the window for more than a day.

I was even recently offered a white gold Daytona for 10k (list is around 16k) with 'open papers' which was tempting (although this was a 'grey market dealer not an AD) when you consider that an SS Daytona presently sells at about 6k, way above the list price.

Most staff in Rolex ADs have little or no knowledge about the product they are selling and are really only interested in the sale, and to this end will tell you any old cobblers to clinch the deal. Goldsmiths are by far and away the worst in this repect. Again recently I made enquiries about a particular updated model (bi metal GMT with maxidial) and the staff didn't know antything about it although in fairness, after making enquiries with Rolex confirmed what I said and also offered to get one within 3 weeks.

[B5M_VX]

Why not find a friend (or girlfriend) who works for one of the jewellers? I (Dean's missus) work for Ernest Jones and we get staff discount of 30% (plus a once a year 40% discount voucher) we can use on anything, including Rolex watches? For the ordinary customer, we could really only knock upto 5% off the price at managers discretion (I have NEVER heard of anyone knocking off more than this on a Rolex, or any other prestige brand watch in my 2 and a half years of working there!).

Admittedly as a member of staff buying, we still have to be added to the usual Rolex waiting list (which currently stands at upto 6-12 months depending on the model) as there is no way of jumping the list but it still gives great savings.

Personally, if I was going to purchase a Rolex, it would be from a Leslie Davies or Ernest Jones store (which are both part of the Signet Group) as we have the best trained staff and also the nicest to deal with in my opinion compared to the likes of Goldsmiths which we receive constant complaints about from new customers. We are also the largest retail jewellers in the UK and so if anyone is going to give you a good deal, its going to be us! We also offer 0% finance which can be done over 9 or 12 months (requiring a 20% deposit up front) and offer cover against accidental damage and theft (which people never take out but could save you huge repair bills and claims on your household insurance if you do plan to wear it daily). In any case they feature toughened Sapphire Crystal glass so are pretty resistant to knocks and most are 100m water resistant or higher.

Sorry for the sales spiel but I think people do talk a lot of rubbish when it comes to buying watches. Firstly, no retail jewellers is going to knock more than £200 off the price because as others have said, there is always someone else who will pay full price plus there just isn't the margins when it comes to Rolex. Secondly, don't be put off buying a high quality timepiece in favour of a cheap & disposable fashion brand. Rolex feature handmade movements with swiss parts unlike many of the cheap japanese parts found in the quartz cells of many fashion brands. They will last you 25 years, maybe longer if you have them serviced every 2-3 years and only become more desirable and valuable with age as they become retro and vintage classics. There's nothing wrong with your everyday likes of Armani or CK, they're great for being fashionable and affordable but if you can afford to buy better then I would encourage you to.

Do check out web deals but bear in mind most retail stores won't match these and buying from the web can be dodgy, often with no comeback should it be faulty or fake.

So what number do I call you on?