Understanding grey market pricing

omegawatchlover · Jul 26, 2022

mydeafcat
There’s a fancy new Tudor Boutique here. Not a GMT nor BB Pro to be had. Lengthy wait list, too. Mind you, both it and the Rolex Boutique across the street are owned by the same family so perhaps the same shenanigans as described above are in play. They really pushed me to buy a new Ranger when I was in last week. “Buy it as a collector’s piece…it’s an important historical watch”. I’m serious. Maybe that’s the price of admission. I’m not biting.

There are two other ADs, as well, each with with 2 locations. Nada. One says I can put down $2500 and they’ll add me to their order list; I’d be 35-40 down the list. Insanity.

It saddens me to hear that. I’m sorry. I hate when people think they can just take advantage of you. Someday, we will get back to when they are begging us to buy a Rolex! Smh the ranger isn’t even iconic but it is a decent watch. 36mm made more sense. Good on you for declining. I would avoid that AD entirely. Honestly, that sort of business aka bundling is common in Asia. But then your AD is comprised of 2 separate stores so you can’t take a Tudor and rolex in the same transaction. There is no guarantee you’ll get what you truly want.
I’ve gone to an AD where they kept telling me VIPs get the rolex and wouldn’t register my interest in store, to just go do it online.
Wait it out! I know that feeling! There are good salespeople out there.

mydeafcat · Jul 26, 2022

Thanks, @Duracuir1. I’ll carry on with the delusion that I’m doing it, er, my way. (Great choice, btw. Sid was a dodgy lad, certainly, yet I’m a huge Sex Pistols fan 👍)

mydeafcat · Jul 26, 2022

omegawatchlover
It saddens me to hear that. I’m sorry. I hate when people think they can just take advantage of you. Someday, we will get back to when they are begging us to buy a Rolex! Smh the ranger isn’t even iconic but it is a decent watch. 36mm made more sense. Good on you for declining. I would avoid that AD entirely. Honestly, that sort of business aka bundling is common in Asia. But then your AD is comprised of 2 separate stores so you can’t take a Tudor and rolex in the same transaction. There is no guarantee you’ll get what you truly want.
I’ve gone to an AD where they kept telling me VIPs get the rolex and wouldn’t register my interest in store, to just go do it online.
Wait it out! I know that feeling! There are good salespeople out there.

I liked the new Ranger yet I was far from loving it. Buying it is neither affordable for me as I search for Tudor’s GMT, nor desirable. Frankly, ifI were to seek out and buy a second watch, it’s the grail-esque Tudor 9080/7017 Jumbos, notwithstanding the recent news of parts scarcity for older Tudors (and Rolexes).

The bundling you reference is fairly common here; it very well could be a case of demographics. Many of the luxury boutiques in my city (watches, fashion, automobiles) are primarily staffed by those who share the culture and language of the buyer class to whom they cater. Frustrating as it is for us financial mortals, I know it’s simply business. I get it. It also amounts to preferential and usually rubbish customer service, in my view, much of it based on profiling. It’s a well known issue here, not an intolerant observation by a soon-to-be-official old git.

By far my favourite AD here (official Swatch Group repair centre for Western Canada yet lost Omega as a brand when the OB opened for the Olympics) have been around for almost 50 years. They were many years ago a Tudor and Rolex AD. They are passionate watch folks who carry many fine brands and sell pre-owned and vetted gems from mint 60’s Connie’s to $70K Daytonas. To your point @vbrad26 , they’re the only place I’d trust for used.

Evitzee · Jul 26, 2022

omegawatchlover
Someday, we will get back to when they are begging us to buy a Rolex!

Ehhh......no. That day is not on the horizon, at least in our lifetimes.

Bourne1984 · Jul 26, 2022

It’s a bad situation but unfortunately supply and demand finds it’s own level

johnireland · Jul 29, 2022

Though watches are cheaper than houses and exotic cars, the recession is already affecting car and home sales. With luck, it might also take some wind out of watch prices...new and vintage.

DoctorEvil · Jul 29, 2022

johnireland
Though watches are cheaper than houses and exotic cars, the recession is already affecting car and home sales. With luck, it might also take some wind out of watch prices...new and vintage.

Fingers crossed. But I suspect that grey market prices of "hot" watches such as stainless steel Rolex sports models will still remain well above MSRP (at least 50% mark up).

Understanding grey market pricing

omegawatchlover

mydeafcat

mydeafcat

Evitzee

Bourne1984

johnireland

DoctorEvil

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