Community Stories

Omega discounts drying up

gatorcpa
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Evitzee Evitzee
Firms are supposed to now collect sales tax based on where the telephone or online sale is being sent. Example: a dealer in CA who sells to a buyer in TX is supposed to collect the applicable sales tax for the TX address and remit that tax to TX. (US Supreme Court decision in 2018; South Dakota vs Wayfair). Some companies don't comply or are dragging their feet as long as possible, but eventually most will have to comply as states aren't going to allow sales taxes to go unpaid, they need the money!
You are 100% correct. However, most states have a threshold for retailers, below which they are not required to collect and remit destination sales tax.

When you are dealing with smaller stores, they are likely under the limitation. Some states have agreements with other neighboring states to collect. If you are buying from a place in a larger city that is on a border with other states (like Philadelphia or New York City), they are likely over the threshold in NJ or CT.

The whole system sucks, but it is what it is.
gatorcpa
 
G
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Adding recent experience - was unable to get ANY discounts on Omegas in NYC from ADs or OBs. I did find another AD in a smaller metro area that would do 15%, but I have been a repeat customer and I got the impression that this was not standard for them. I had also contacted another AD that was closer to me about starting a relationship and they would only do 5% off (and acted like this was a huge favor to me). If people are getting 20%+ off and no sales tax, I'd love to get a PM with a contact... Thanks to everyone for sharing what they are seeing. I totally understand Omega wanting to move away from deep discounts, but as a consumer, I will always try to get the best deal I can (or shift to preowned, as others have noted). Even without discounts, Omegas still seem to be a good value to me.
 
B
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G gdhoosier
Adding recent experience - was unable to get ANY discounts on Omegas in NYC from ADs or OBs. I did find another AD in a smaller metro area that would do 15%, but I have been a repeat customer and I got the impression that this was not standard for them. I had also contacted another AD that was closer to me about starting a relationship and they would only do 5% off (and acted like this was a huge favor to me). If people are getting 20%+ off and no sales tax, I'd love to get a PM with a contact... Thanks to everyone for sharing what they are seeing. I totally understand Omega wanting to move away from deep discounts, but as a consumer, I will always try to get the best deal I can (or shift to preowned, as others have noted). Even without discounts, Omegas still seem to be a good value to me.
That’s disappointing to hear the AD’s or OB’s in NYC aren’t offering any discounts. My wife and I will be there in a couple of weeks and I already booked an appointment at one OB to view some pieces. Do you mind sharing which smaller metro area retailer offered you the discount? Maybe I’ll go there if it’s close to NYC.
 
fc3861
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The most discount I’ve been able to get recently on a new piece at my local AD (with purchase history) has been 6% which just covered the sales tax. A little over a year ago, I was able to get about 15% at the same place. My AD has said that Omega is trying harder to control the prices. It probably puts their AD status at risk if they discount too much.
 
Evitzee
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Less discounting today will help support used prices tomorrow. Many companies have learned that lesson over the years.
 
M
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Looking at grey prices for non moonwatches, and it’s hard to rationalize buying at an AD, let alone the OB. Seeing listed prices 20% below retail on unworn, have to think there’s even a bit more room to negotiate. Don’t know if this is temporary due to the market right now, or if will force AD’s to drop prices a bit.
 
F
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Don't understand all this talk; never believed in any kind of discounting or negotiations. You pay what they price it at. Love Tesla's sales model; car price haggling is the absolute worst.
 
Unfamiliar_Moon
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F Frank J Malloy
Don't understand all this talk; never believed in any kind of discounting or negotiations. You pay what they price it at. Love Tesla's sales model; car price haggling is the absolute worst.

So I just want to get this straight, you like paying more for something?
I agree, I wish there was one WYSIWYG model, but that's just not the current state at AD's. So if you're not attempting, you're potentially paying more. You're quite welcome to go to the Omega Boutiques that I believe have halted offering any discounts.

As for the "tough negotiations" it's been mostly "I really love this watch, is there any room to move on price" -- them: after reviewing with the manager, we can offer X%".

Hardly painful.
 
F
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Unfamiliar_Moon Unfamiliar_Moon
So I just want to get this straight, you like paying more for something?
Of course I don't. But I wonder why there's an expectation of some kind of discount for this item, and complaints when they dry up. Why can't I ask for "any room to move on price" when I buy other things, from an expensive steak to a Gucci handbag to a hotel room, lawnmower, or a laptop computer? Teslas are in huge demand and are the most successful EVs, and they don't do haggling or discounts.

A good product fairly priced shouldn't have to be negotiated. I guess that's just me.
 
Evitzee
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F Frank J Malloy
Don't understand all this talk; never believed in any kind of discounting or negotiations. You pay what they price it at. Love Tesla's sales model; car price haggling is the absolute worst.
Customers come in all flavors, I once was visiting with the owner of Cellini Jewelers on Madison Ave in Manhattan (they sell high end watches and jewelry) and he said most of his customers come in, see something they like and pay the asking price, they aren't interested in negotiating or getting a reduction on the price even though they were open to negotiating. I did that on several pieces. Others like to negotiate to wring the last penny out of the deal. That's just the way the world works.
 
F
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Evitzee Evitzee
Customers come in all flavors, I once was visiting with the owner of Cellini Jewelers on Madison Ave in Manhattan (they sell high end watches and jewelry) and he said most of his customers come in, see something they like and pay the asking price, they aren't interested in negotiating or getting a reduction on the price even though they were open to negotiating. I did that on several pieces. Others like to negotiate to wring the last penny out of the deal. That's just the way the world works.
I guess to me it feels awkward low-balling on purchases; it's like saying "I don't think your product is worth what you're asking". And why it's acceptable to ask for a discounted price on a luxury watch, but not the tons of other luxury items or other products. And complaining about discounts that are going away also seems odd - "It's so unfair I can't get my 20% off like I used to!". We all have our opinions, this is mine.
 
Unfamiliar_Moon
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Veblen goods have so much markup built into them, yes, there’s room to negotiate while the seller can still profit. That’s why it happens in some luxury or high dollar items, but you’re not going to haggle Walmart on a lawnmower.

These are more questions better suited for an economist than for a casual watch fan like myself.

As for feeling afraid to insult a luxury goods purveyor by having your own evaluation of value and worth, that’s better suited for a psychiatrist.
 
F
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Unfamiliar_Moon Unfamiliar_Moon
As for feeling afraid to insult a luxury goods purveyor by having your own evaluation of value and worth, that’s better suited for a psychiatrist.
I guess this thread should be restricted to whining about dried up discounts instead of a healthy discussion?

Never said "feeling afraid", but..wow. Would you have said that to my face at some kind of social watch gathering?

As for your anti-social issues with someone who disagrees with you and hides behind a keyboard, I'd say that's also better suited for a psychiatrist.
 
Unfamiliar_Moon
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F Frank J Malloy
I guess this thread should be restricted to whining about dried up discounts instead of a healthy discussion?

Never said "feeling afraid", but..wow. Would you have said that to my face at some kind of social watch gathering?

As for your anti-social issues with someone who disagrees with you and hides behind a keyboard, I'd say that's also better suited for a psychiatrist.
Yes I would have said that. You said you’d feel awkward low-balling (not what I suggested doing), so yeah, I’d ask why you feel afraid. You have quite a reaction that I’m some sort of insulting keyboard warrior, I must have struck a nerve or some underlying issue you have. Odd that I’m labeled anti-social by engaging in the same discussion as you. You seem to have fallen victim of the trope where you loudly accuse others of that which you’re doing.

You’re painting this thread as whining. You’re also skipping over several posts, including my own, sharing that discounts have not disappeared.

We’re here offering each other advice and helping each other to save money on expensive purchases. You come in and pass judgement that we are strange for not bending over in praise of the almighty corporation and pay whatever it asks.

And you wonder why you’re met with a lack of warm regards.
 
F
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Unfamiliar_Moon Unfamiliar_Moon
You said you’d feel awkward low-balling (not what I suggested doing),
Ah, so I went against your suggestion. Mea culpa...?

Be honest - suggesting a psychiatrist should reward you with lots of "warm regards"? Sorry, not seeing it...

There are lots of gray market avenues that can be explored. Also pawn shops with stolen Omega watches. Saves money on expensive purchases....
 
F
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Unfamiliar_Moon Unfamiliar_Moon
And you wonder why you’re met with a lack of warm regards.
You could have taken a higher road, but you didn't. Sorry. Well, actually I'm not, since you resorted to a personal attack. Quite quickly.

Carry on working hard to get the best possible discounts...
 
Unfamiliar_Moon
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F Frank J Malloy
You could have taken a higher road, but you didn't. Sorry. Well, actually I'm not, since you resorted to a personal attack. Quite quickly.

Carry on working hard to get the best possible discounts...
So we both agree you entered the thread on the low road (and have stayed there by suggesting we seek discounts buying pawned stolen goods). Thanks for all you’ve had to offer on the topic.
 
M
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I’ll try and address the discount aspect from an economics perspective. In the case of Rolex, AP, Vacheron,…there’s scarcity involved, so prices hold firm (and are in fact higher on the gray market for many pieces). Companies like Swatch (Omega) are their own worst enemies. They ramp up production, having multiple variations of different lines, leading to an oversupply (the Speedy seems to be the exception to this). They attempted to counter this by demanding ADs hold firm, which in turn leads to further supply increases as the market has softened. The greys were able to alleviate this while the market was tight (potential Rolex buyers giving up and going elsewhere), but now the greys are in a position where they aren’t purchasing new watches (Watchbox apparently has publicly acknowledged this), and are trying to clear inventory.

This is a long winded way of saying that just because a manufacturer throws a price on an item, that doesn’t mean it’s worth that. Omega could come out tomorrow and say the 3861 hesalite is now $10k. Would most people pay that? Of course not. If a manufacturer is going to overproduce an item, and a discount is readily available, why wouldn’t I take advantage? On the aspect of negotiating even further, that’s my personality. My perspective is that during a hot market ADs had no problem requiring jewelry purchases for Rolexes, and greys were fine charging multiples of retail, so why should I be sympathetic? Jewelers are used to the negotiations-they routinely do it on jewelry, including diamonds.
Edited:
 
Scooterino36
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I enjoy bargaining, and I enjoy even more getting a good deal.
Perhaps it's a cultural thing. What appears shrewd to me, appears uncouth to others.
 
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