Rolex discount in St. Thomas?

[Leibrecht]

I am new to this forum and have enjoyed reading through the posts. I currently own several watches - including Omega, Baume & Mercier, Maurice Lacroix and Cyma - but have decided to take the plunge with Rolex. I will be going through St. Thomas in June of this year. I know that AH Riise is the authorized dealer there. Can someone please let me know what kind of discount I can expect to find there? I would love a Daytona, but don't think I would be lucky enough to find one sitting on the shelf. So, I am looking at either a stainless Submariner or Explorer. In addition, are there any drawbacks to buying from an AD outside of the US?

Thanks for all your assistance and advice.

[Speed]

I think many ADs in tourist / pass thru locations don't discount much if at all. I.e. Las Vegas.

Advantage to buying at a local AD is if you like dealing through them for any ptential issues OR you want t establish a relationship so you may negotiate a discount on your next purchase.

[lowphat]

I was in St Thomas over New Year's and visited AH Rise. They didn't have any stainless Daytonas when I went, just some gold ones. They said the SS were still really hard to get.

I didn't really ask too much about prices, but from what I gathered, they were offering around a 15% discount from the ticketed price. That was without any negotiating.

[GerardoG]

Originally Posted by Leibrecht

I am new to this forum and have enjoyed reading through the posts. I currently own several watches - including Omega, Baume & Mercier, Maurice Lacroix and Cyma - but have decided to take the plunge with Rolex. I will be going through St. Thomas in June of this year. I know that AH Riise is the authorized dealer there. Can someone please let me know what kind of discount I can expect to find there? I would love a Daytona, but don't think I would be lucky enough to find one sitting on the shelf. So, I am looking at either a stainless Submariner or Explorer. In addition, are there any drawbacks to buying from an AD outside of the US?

Thanks for all your assistance and advice.

First of all, welcome to the club; remember to post some pics of your babies (we love them!). Because of business, I travel throughout the caribbean to places like Cancun, Cozumel, Barbados, St Thomas, St Marteen, Nassau, etc.; doing so for over 17 years now.

My comments are:

-There are no drawbacks from buying @ caribbean; places like AH Riise are authorized Rolex dealers so you get full warranty at a better price.

-Special pieces like the SS Daytona are almost impossible to get, but you can be lucky; I know people that have been at the right place/time and purchased them.

-Discounts vary from dealer to dealer, the larger discount will be in full gold/platinum versions (seen 15 to 20%+), followed by 2 tone (seen 10% average) and oddly enough SS will fetch from zero to 5%.

-Pricing @ caribbean is duty free, so the AD already saves money and therefore can offer you a better deal.

One last comment: if you visit while on a cruise; look around in the morning, get discounts and go out; come back later. Sales staff will be willing to negotiate more as the ship is about to leave because they know this is the last chance to get your purchase.

Enjoy!

[Numismatist]

A. H. Riise is awesome. I bought mine there. Discount yes. The trick: go when there is no cruise ship in port.

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by Leibrecht

I am new to this forum and have enjoyed reading through the posts. I will be going through St. Thomas in June of this year. I know that AH Riise is the authorized dealer there. Can someone please let me know what kind of discount I can expect to find there?

I recal checking a year ago. I would be surprised if you got more than 15%. I'll be there in a few days and I check & report back.

BTW if you are in Atlanta, Mayers in Northfield Mall offered me 20% on one and 25% on two. This was in Late November.

[Speed]

25 % on stainless steel!?? To anyone - not a regular / "VIP"

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

F

-Pricing @ caribbean is duty free, so the AD already saves money and therefore can offer you a better deal

Yes but you still have an allowance "Caribbean Duty Free Shopping: The USVI raised its duty-free allowance to $1,600 per person. Family members traveling together can make a joint declaration that increases the amount of their allowance. Gifts valued $100 or less can be mailed (no more than one package per day) & do not need to be declared in the exemption. US visitors are allowed to return with six bottles of liquor if one of the bottles was produced locally. "

Beyond that you will pay duty, probably about 3% of declared value. I can not attest to A H Reise but there are stories all over the net about watch stores that report to customs since they get a reward.

[DAVIDSW]

They are a Great AD. The average discount is about 15% below the US MSRP. You will be very lucky to find a Daytona there...

The prices are very firm there. It does not matter if you buy in the morning/ evening or if there is a ship in port or not. The price is the same.



Regards
DavidSW

[brkanand]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

First of all, welcome to the club; remember to post some pics of your babies (we love them!). Because of business, I travel throughout the caribbean to places like Cancun, Cozumel, Barbados, St Thomas, St Marteen, Nassau, etc.; doing so for over 17 years now.

My comments are:

-There are no drawbacks from buying @ caribbean; places like AH Riise are authorized Rolex dealers so you get full warranty at a better price.

-Special pieces like the SS Daytona are almost impossible to get, but you can be lucky; I know people that have been at the right place/time and purchased them.

-Discounts vary from dealer to dealer, the larger discount will be in full gold/platinum versions (seen 15 to 20%+), followed by 2 tone (seen 10% average) and oddly enough SS will fetch from zero to 5%.

-Pricing @ caribbean is duty free, so the AD already saves money and therefore can offer you a better deal.

One last comment: if you visit while on a cruise; look around in the morning, get discounts and go out; come back later. Sales staff will be willing to negotiate more as the ship is about to leave because they know this is the last chance to get your purchase.

Enjoy!

Well said.

[brkanand]

I live in Antigua and I paid US$9420/- for a brand new SS Daytona white dial with a waiting period of just 8 weeks. NO DISCOUNT was offered to me on this watch.

This was during the last week of November 2009.

I also had purchased a TT Yachtmaster midsize blue dial from the same AD - Abbots and had paid US$7509 /- after a 15% discount and that was in June 2009.

Now compare the prices in St. Thomas and you will know the approximate benefits. Goodluck!

[Leibrecht]

Thanks to everyone for the great information. And "hsfrank", I would greatly appreciate any new information you get from your trip to St. Thomas in a few days. And I am in Atlanta, so I can check Mayers.

[Evan614]

I was told multiple times that prices go down when ships are not in that day. (not sure if it is true about Rolex, but I know the jewelery prices change) I also witnessed price changes from off season to in season. So the prices go up as the 'demand' goes up.

[LVSuber]

I was just in Aruba 12/23 to 12/30/09. Gandelmans had quite a bit of selection at their 2 stores 100 yds apart in Oranjestad. Discounts were 10% for SS, 15% for TT and 20% for gold. Plat ?--they had a Pres Plat/ice dial, though--beauitiful, beautiful. $800 per family member, duty free, then esclating taxes on amount left over up to 5.5% (I think that 5.5 was on leftover amounts $5000+). Last time I went to Aruba was in 1986 and Little Switzerland had Rolex then, now they carry TAG, Omega, Brit, etc. Caribbean is awesome place for watch shopping.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by LVSuber

I was just in Aruba 12/23 to 12/30/09. Gandelmans had quite a bit of selection at their 2 stores 100 yds apart in Oranjestad. Discounts were 10% for SS, 15% for TT and 20% for gold. Plat ?--they had a Pres Plat/ice dial, though--beauitiful, beautiful. $800 per family member, duty free, then esclating taxes on amount left over up to 5.5% (I think that 5.5 was on leftover amounts $5000+). Last time I went to Aruba was in 1986 and Little Switzerland had Rolex then, now they carry TAG, Omega, Brit, etc. Caribbean is awesome place for watch shopping.

John,

Were you very close to buying any of these watches ??? Or did this AD simply walk through all their models and tell you the discount off MSRP if you bought that day or???

Thanks!

[LVSuber]

Originally Posted by Speed

John,

Were you very close to buying any of these watches ??? Or did this AD simply walk through all their models and tell you the discount off MSRP if you bought that day or???

Thanks!

Bill,

I told myself I'd buy if I came out ahead in the casino--needless to say I didn't buy Seriously, they offered that to anyone who walked up to the case that looked like a potential buyer--discounts seem to be their current 'standard' . I was seriously looking at a Blue 16613 M sub they had side by side with the ceramic (116613). I, like others I've seen post here, like the deeper, irridescent blue of the 16613. But I came back and put a deposit on one at my local AD here, and he's nice enough to hold it for me till May (after April 15th-- I know you feel my pain) .

Aruba was like $7200 + inbound tax declarations for the 16613. There were 5 in my family, so 5 x $800 / $4000, would have been tax exempt. Hope this helps!

[Speed]

Originally Posted by LVSuber

Bill,

I told myself I'd buy if I came out ahead in the casino--needless to say I didn't buy Seriously, they offered that to anyone who walked up to the case that looked like a potential buyer--discounts seem to be their current 'standard' . I was seriously looking at a Blue 16613 M sub they had side by side with the ceramic (116613). I, like others I've seen post here, like the deeper, irridescent blue of the 16613. But I came back and put a deposit on one at my local AD here, and he's nice enough to hold it for me till May (after April 15th-- I know you feel my pain) .

Aruba was like $7200 + inbound tax declarations for the 16613. There were 5 in my family, so 5 x $800 / $4000, would have been tax exempt. Hope this helps!

Wow. Thanks for the details. I have yet to encounter anything close to that. ADs i have visited ( while wearing my Rolexes ) were all about MSRP.

[kc8290]

I purchased a mid size YM at Little Switzerland in St. Thomas several years ago. They only gave me a 5% discount. But it paid for the airline ticket to the caribbean.

I acutally called them first to see if they had the watch I wanted. I then put the watch in layaway unit I got there.

[ersnyder]

Buying from an AD anywhere should not be a problem with any other AD in the network should a watch problem arise. That being said, you can sure save some serious $'s by purchasing from one of the reputable folks on TRF.

Welcome to TRF, you'll enjoy it!

[Gman76]

Originally Posted by LVSuber

I was just in Aruba 12/23 to 12/30/09. Gandelmans had quite a bit of selection at their 2 stores 100 yds apart in Oranjestad. Discounts were 10% for SS, 15% for TT and 20% for gold. Plat ?--they had a Pres Plat/ice dial, though--beauitiful, beautiful. $800 per family member, duty free, then esclating taxes on amount left over up to 5.5% (I think that 5.5 was on leftover amounts $5000+). Last time I went to Aruba was in 1986 and Little Switzerland had Rolex then, now they carry TAG, Omega, Brit, etc. Caribbean is awesome place for watch shopping.

I was in Aruba the week before Xmas and purchased a s/s sub date from Gandlemen's. Upon my return and wearing it regularly, I found the watch kept stopping every 48 hours. I contacted Gandelman's and they contacted the Rolex Service Center in NY on my behalf. It is now being repaired for what was called a reverse wheel failure and the contact from Gandelman's continues to email me with status updates. I hope to have it back tomorrow or early next week. They have been very helpful (of course they sold me a faulty watch so they should be).

I received 10% off and they wouldn't budge any further. With the discount + no tax, it was about 20% less than what I would pay in NYC.

[LVSuber]

I'm sorry to hear on your new SS sub. Sounds like Gandleman's is doing what an AD should--following up for you. Nice place for watches and my wife like Colombian Emeralds. Sounds like 10% / 15% / 20% must be their standard--albiet duty free--they aren't at full retail to start with; so more like 15% / 20% / 25% off US msrp. Congrats on your SS sub.

[Gman76]

Originally Posted by LVSuber

I'm sorry to hear on your new SS sub. Sounds like Gandleman's is doing what an AD should--following up for you. Nice place for watches and my wife like Colombian Emeralds. Sounds like 10% / 15% / 20% must be their standard--albiet duty free--they aren't at full retail to start with; so more like 15% / 20% / 25% off US msrp. Congrats on your SS sub.

That is correct, the "retail price" in Aruba was 5% below NYC, so it's really more like 15% off, and then the tax piece as well helps. I was told stainless steel was more like 0-5% on discounting, but since they went with 2 price hikes last year in a down economy, they increased the discounting.