New member with a query.

[Jwalker66]

Hi, I'm new to the Forum and new to Rolex but have a query which I hope someone can help me with.

Now, this may be a stupid question but why is Watchfinder advertising a 2019 Submariner for £11,999 and the same ref. new from an authorised dealer for £7,500 ish?

Is this because they are in short supply?

If this is not the case perhaps I'm missing something. I appreciate early vintage subs are sold at a premium but can't see why you'd buy a year old watch for more than new?

Apologies if I'm being a bit thick but just curious.

Thanks;

[Tools]

Re-sellers can ask any price they want, it doesn't mean that they are going to get it.

Cashing in is a fleeting exercise. There are quite a few who feel that they must have it immediately for Fear Of Missing Out, even though they may be the ones left without ever being able to realize the high prices they pay.

Profiteers are more than happy to take your money.

[newu5er]

I believe if he's getting involved in Rolex right now, he may be missing that there's a pretty significant shortage (SS models). That's why you are seeing the market price where it is.

[JohnGingerwood]

Because if someone wants to pay retail for that watch they are going to have to wait months maybe longer to get it. My AD told me that Subs are getting harder to come by then before. At least for his shop.

[bp1000]

Welcome to the forum and presumably your first watch hunt

I think you may find that getting a sub at the moment as a new customer is very very hard.

That’s why they are advertised at a premium. People pay over the odds because they want a watch quickly and as you may find will either be told 4 years wait or even sorry our wait list is closed.

Reality is, you’ll be told anywhere from 1 to 4 years but it’s highly likely to land in 6-18 months.

Black dial subs have been a wait list piece for an age now. At least in the UK. They use to take 1-3 months, that pushed to 6 in around 2017/18 and now it’s usually 6-12 months.
12+ is possible however.

Good luck if that’s what you want.

Ps people pay a premium because they figure that it generally holds its value or even goes up so even if they need to sell it, they get their money back. You do have to buy well however. Watxhfinder stack the prices higher than most, can be difficult to negotiate with, have plenty of cards up their sleeve, you may find trusted sellers with better prices but be reasonable with them. They need to make a living and pay bills, a better priced trusted seller will flex to 5% but will be insulted when you try to push for more. ADs for certain watches are a different story.

[Rado63]

Welcome. Lot's of good material on the forum.

[DaVinci Watches]

Everyone explained it very well, but it is as simple as supply and demand.. People don't want to wait for the watch and most times have enough disposable income to pay a premium.

[Jwalker66]

Thanks for your responses. It just seems amazing to me that people would pay a 'significant premium' potentially to get a second hand watch rather than look around and wait a while for a brand new one.

Fully appreciate this with a vintage watch but another ad had a 1993 watch even more than a 2019. To me, the early nineties don't constitute vintage but then, I was a classic car show recently and it included a Mini Metro so what do I know.

Really appreciate the replies though. Clearly there is plenty I have to learn about watches.

Secondary question though...... Are Rolex holding them back to increase desire for their products/models? or is this simply a case of demand outstripping supply?

As a manufacturer, I'd be very upset to think that recent second hand watches are demanding a premium over new unless It had a positive impact on my sales?

[1665fan]

Green sub worth that.....black sub hell no and they will never get it....yes prices are supply and demand...

[Redadmiral2]

Originally Posted by Jwalker66

Hi, I'm new to the Forum and new to Rolex but have a query which I hope someone can help me with.

Now, this may be a stupid question but why is Watchfinder advertising a 2019 Submariner for £11,999 and the same ref. new from an authorised dealer for £7,500 ish?

Is this because they are in short supply?

If this is not the case perhaps I'm missing something. I appreciate early vintage subs are sold at a premium but can't see why you'd buy a year old watch for more than new?

Apologies if I'm being a bit thick but just curious.

Thanks;

Watchfinder are very greedy try Mark Worthington at Wilmslow

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Jwalker66

Hi, I'm new to the Forum and new to Rolex but have a query which I hope someone can help me with.

Now, this may be a stupid question but why is Watchfinder advertising a 2019 Submariner for £11,999 and the same ref. new from an authorised dealer for £7,500 ish?

Is this because they are in short supply?

If this is not the case perhaps I'm missing something. I appreciate early vintage subs are sold at a premium but can't see why you'd buy a year old watch for more than new?

Apologies if I'm being a bit thick but just curious.


Thanks;

Hi Jwalker,
Welcome!

Have you tried to purchase a 2019 Submariner from an 'AD' for £7,500?

As you are now aware, prices are very high, throughout the entire market.
So, if you find a new Sub, at anywhere near list, snap it up!
Good Luck!

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Jwalker66

Thanks for your responses. It just seems amazing to me that people would pay a 'significant premium' potentially to get a second hand watch rather than look around and wait a while for a brand new one.

Money only matters if you don't have it and if you do have it why wait ?

Fully appreciate this with a vintage watch but another ad had a 1993 watch even more than a 2019. To me, the early nineties don't constitute vintage but then, I was a classic car show recently and it included a Mini Metro so what do I know.

Really appreciate the replies though. Clearly there is plenty I have to learn about watches.

Secondary question though...... Are Rolex holding them back to increase desire for their products/models? or is this simply a case of demand outstripping supply?

Rolex SS sport watches are a hype at the moment, they sell every watch they produce. AD's receive the same stock as before and they have never been happier with Rolex.

As a manufacturer, I'd be very upset to think that recent second hand watches are demanding a premium over new unless It had a positive impact on my sales?

Why would you be upset ? Very good for the value of the brand and the historically slow sellers get sucked into the hype as well. They are laughing in Geneva

[newu5er]

Originally Posted by Jwalker66

Thanks for your responses. It just seems amazing to me that people would pay a 'significant premium' potentially to get a second hand watch rather than look around and wait a while for a brand new one.
Agreed, but "wait a while" is relative. Some people want what they want and have the means to spend more than MSRP to get it, so they do. Also, each person has to make that decision for themselves...wait 3 months, 6 months or maybe a year for a Sub or just pay an extra $1,000....

Fully appreciate this with a vintage watch but another ad had a 1993 watch even more than a 2019. To me, the early nineties don't constitute vintage but then, I was a classic car show recently and it included a Mini Metro so what do I know.

Really appreciate the replies though. Clearly there is plenty I have to learn about watches.

Secondary question though...... Are Rolex holding them back to increase desire for their products/models? or is this simply a case of demand outstripping supply?
Tons of theories on this - personally I think it's huge demand. Simple economics says they should raise the price to decrease that demand, but that's only been happening on the routine basis they've stuck to. I'm hopping back into the hobby after not buying anything in several years, and I had to go see for myself....there's no conspiracy with regard to missing models at the ADs.

As a manufacturer, I'd be very upset to think that recent second hand watches are demanding a premium over new unless It had a positive impact on my sales?

Good luck!

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Jwalker66

Thanks for your responses. It just seems amazing to me that people would pay a 'significant premium' potentially to get a second hand watch rather than look around and wait a while for a brand new one.

Fully appreciate this with a vintage watch but another ad had a 1993 watch even more than a 2019. To me, the early nineties don't constitute vintage but then, I was a classic car show recently and it included a Mini Metro so what do I know.

Really appreciate the replies though. Clearly there is plenty I have to learn about watches.

Secondary question though...... Are Rolex holding them back to increase desire for their products/models? or is this simply a case of demand outstripping supply?

As a manufacturer, I'd be very upset to think that recent second hand watches are demanding a premium over new unless It had a positive impact on my sales?

Wishing you best of luck, you’ll certainly need it

[cascavel]

Ah, the learning curve. So much fun to watch.

[Harry-57]

You've picked a particularly bonkers time to dip into buying Rolex. It is unrepresentative but at the moment, it's an upside down situation. And not likely to flip back overnight.

Just how bonkers it is depends on which watch you are looking for. You've also picked the most over priced supplier of second hand watches you could have found in the UK.

I suggest having a chat with a few ADs, preferably in person, to assess the situation for the model you are interested in. You might get on to a wait list. I have played the wait list game for some of my watches, and gone straight to the second hand market for others. It depends on a number of factors, not least your patience and belief that an AD isn't simply fobbing you off.

So far as can be told, Rolex are producing these popular models at their usual rate. It's just that the current demand has got so far in front of supply that the term "shortage" has established. There is no shortage. Look at all the new and nearly new Subs you can buy from non ADs at more than the list price.

I wish you all the best with your quest. You'll get what you want, sooner or later.

[AK797]

Try on a few of the unloved models, ie with resales similar to their retails, I tried on a YM2 for the first time in a few years the other day and was surprised at how much I liked it, the bezel font in real life is not so bad, in pics it is.

[WatchLurv]

Watchfinder is a bump. Simple as.

[MTdweller]

Welcome to TRF! Demand far outweighs supply at the moment, with popular stainless steel pieces commanding insane premiums on the secondary market. To get the watch you want, you either have to get on an authorized dealer’s waiting list or pay the premium above MSRP. Good luck!