You can blame anyone you like.. AD, grey, runner, flipper but there are people out there getting steel models at retail price.
They're just not pushy about it.
Just because you've got 100k to spend on watches doesn't mean they need to lay down the red carpet for you. Because there are a lot of other people who can spend much more than that.
Still it doesn't mean that you can't get it or you need to spend xxx amount first. That's just a test to see what kind of buyer you are. Nothing wrong in wanting to collect only steel ROLEX but then so does everyone else and the flippers and the greys so how do you present yourself as different.
And as the market prices go up, how many aren't tempted to cash in?
I'd say it all boils down to how people approach the subject. No AD would dare to guarantee a delivery date for any watch. Even the solid gold DayDate are now hard to get from ROLEX. You need to have patience with an AD and make friends with them. Asking them to guarantee a delivery is a sure fire way to wear out your chances.
I'm not sure if you're speaking to me directly but I truly, honestly do not blame any one. I just want to buy the watch I want and I need to know exactly how and when I can get the watch, that's all.
I can assure you that in real life, you will definitely not see me as a condescending, cocky guy with the "look at me I've got money to spend" attitude. When I speak to these SAs in the ADs, I approach them with very sincere and humble attitude. I may have omitted that in my last post to make me look pushy, but bottom line is, I myself do business with other very successful people and I learn from all of them, I treat others the way I'd like to be treated, so I definitely speak with these SAs with utmost respect. I also don't act like I'm begging either, I'm sure you know what I mean.
I'm only curious about the "spend history" or "bundling" aspect of it because some members here mentioned it, while I myself have never heard it directly from the SAs despite many visits. To me, if the ADs has a precise requisite for me to get on the list, I definitely would try that out.
It really doesn't matter to me though, because I have already gone grey for all of my pieces that I wanted and I'm content with my collection (for now). Still, I would want to begin a relationship with an AD because I never know if there's a next piece I want.
You make total sense and I don't disagree with you. And from the replies of other members here, it sure sounds like even the ADs don't know when or what pieces they will be getting, so I understand now that by asking them for a guarantee would not be the wisest thing to do - and so that really leaves me one sure way to obtain the piece I want, which is grey, and I've already done so long ago.