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Where do Grey Market dealers get Omega watches? My reasoning is:
1) If from Omega factory, then Omega seems to be undermining its reputation.
2) If from boutiques and AD’s, then how can the grey dealers sell at a considerable discount?
Please help me solve this mystery.
 
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Can you provide a specific example? Which watch and what the discount is?
 
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Can you provide a specific example? Which watch and what the discount is?
Moonwatch sells at 15-20% below retail. New.
 
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Moonwatch sells at 15-20% below retail. New.
Buy one yet?
 
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Better check the seller
Are they known dealers? What kind of warranty, if any? Is watch really new?
Remember if it’s too good to be true…….
Check out the watches for sale section here on OF known dealers there.
 
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Jomashop is completely legitimate. I have bought several Omegas from them and never had a problem. The watches are new and unworn. You will get everything that you would get from an Authorized Dealer (watch, box, booklets, etc. EXCEPT THE OMEGA MANUFACTURER/WARRANTY). So the risk is that IF you get a lemon, you have no Omega Manufacturer/Warranty. Now, that doesn't mean that Omega won't fix it if there is a problem. What it does mean is that you will have to pay for it. As I said, I've never had a problem with any of the Omega's watches from Jomaship, but it could happen. As for your question about the Grey discounts, it's simple. Luxury watches have a huge mark up from AD's. If AD's have watches that are not selling or not selling fast enough, they sell them for Grey's at a lower cost than you can get from the AD. Then the Grey still has enough off a mark up to sell to you and still have a profit. Think of it this way. An AD has high expenses given that it has to have a nice official store, employees, etc. For a Grey, it has a warehouse and sells the watches via email -- so the Grey buys excess watches from the AD at a lower price, they have lower expenses to sell from you, and that's why you get a discount.
 
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Jomashop is completely legitimate. I have bought several Omegas from them and never had a problem. The watches are new and unworn. You will get everything that you would get from an Authorized Dealer (watch, box, booklets, etc. EXCEPT THE OMEGA MANUFACTURER/WARRANTY). So the risk is that IF you get a lemon, you have no Omega Manufacturer/Warranty. Now, that doesn't mean that Omega won't fix it if there is a problem. What it does mean is that you will have to pay for it. As I said, I've never had a problem with any of the Omega's watches from Jomaship, but it could happen. As for your question about the Grey discounts, it's simple. Luxury watches have a huge mark up from AD's. If AD's have watches that are not selling or not selling fast enough, they sell them for Grey's at a lower cost than you can get from the AD. Then the Grey still has enough off a mark up to sell to you and still have a profit. Think of it this way. An AD has high expenses given that it has to have a nice official store, employees, etc. For a Grey, it has a warehouse and sells the watches via email -- so the Grey buys excess watches from the AD at a lower price, they have lower expenses to sell from you, and that's why you get a discount.
That means AD’s are in violation and Omega hates them for this.
 
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That means AD’s are in violation and Omega hates them for this.
It's called business. It happens all the time and not just from Omega watches. Look at Jomashop and you'll see lots of Swiss luxury watches that are sold at considerable discounts.
 
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It's called business. It happens all the time and not just from Omega watches. Look at Jomashop and you'll see lots of Swiss luxury watches that are sold at considerable discounts.
Yes i know, but I assume the brands have an agreement that AD’s are not allowed to do that?
 
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Yes i know, but I assume the brands have an agreement that AD’s are not allowed to do that?
Sure they do, but remember that the manufacturer IS getting the money that he wants from the AD's. It's the AD's that discount the watches and that's why Grey's have a business.
 
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Yes i know, but I assume the brands have an agreement that AD’s are not allowed to do that?
So Omega can terminate their agreement, or decide the AD is worth keeping in spite of their actions. It's business. Gray markets clear out slow selling, sometimes unwanted, merchandise.
 
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So Omega can terminate their agreement, or decide the AD is worth keeping in spite of their actions. It's business. Gray markets clear out slow selling, sometimes unwanted merchandise.
Exactly.
 
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Sure they do, but remember that the manufacturer IS getting the money that he wants from the AD's. It's the AD's that discount the watches and that's why Grey's have a business.
Then this grey market hurts the manufacturer because the brand perception and market value of its products suffer!
 
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Bottom line, bottom line, bottom line.

Only then can a business with shareholders have the luxury of thinking about future market values etc
 
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I'm in the semiconductor business. We have the same issues. All depends if we are in a feast or famine situation. We don't call them gray market dealers, they are called brokers. Love hate relationship.
 
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Then this grey market hurts the manufacturer because the brand perception and market value of its products suffer!
Yes and no. It also clears inventory and provides an additional sales channel for watches that don't sell otherwise. Ubiquitous discounting by ADs has the same result, BTW, and the brand can't even control that.

And ... why do you care? It's not your company. If you like the watch, buy it. If you don't like the watch, don't buy it. If you like the price on the gray market, buy on the gray market. If "brand perception" is so important to you, buy a Rolex.
 
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I've purchased two brand new from Watchmaxx on Ebay. My Diver 300 and Hesalite 3861. Way below retail, but they are not hard to find models. In Nov 22 the 300 was 4300 including tax, the speedy was 5800 all in in August 24. Yes, it's a risk as you don't get the factory warranty, they handle that themselves. To me on these it was worth the risk to save a ton of money. No way was I paying retail for common watches.
Edited:
 
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A number of years ago, I attended an auction that featured many NOS watches (anonymous prestige brand). No reserve. I noticed a principal from a local dealership in the audience. If he didn’t like the final bid, he’d bid it up a few bucks, and the hammer dropped! How to solve an inventory problem and maintain your franchise! He’d have to pay a commission, but better than giving the watch away.