Curious for the MSRP only crowd

[isuolympic]

Well...I'm waiting to get my next from an AD at a discounted off MSRP just like 2 of the last 3. SS Daytona was #2 with special financing at no interest for 30 months. I can and will wait.

[skkali168]

Haven’t bought a Rolex in a few years so I’ve been lucky to be able to buy used for less than Msrp or lucky to buy new at msrp.

Can’t ever imagine buying over msrp for anything. Not shoes or watch or anything


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[xrole]

I don't think paying anything over MSRP is bad, but it depends how much you pay over MSRP. Would I pay 5-10% over MSRP if it means getting the watch I knew was otherwise very rare or that I knew would be unavailable for the forseeable future? Yes. Would i pay 20% or more? No, not a chance and I genuinely pity the people who are paying double the MSRP for SS Sky Dwellers from the scalping and unethical flippers in the boutique sections of this forum and on Chrono24.

[teck21]

Refusing to pay above MSRP for it’s own sake is just ridiculous grandstanding.


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[PepsiBezel]

2018 TRF: “I would NEVER pay a cent over MSRP for a 116500LN stainless steel Daytona! Paying $17K is crazy!”

2021 TRF: “Well, I would pay up to $17K for a 116500LN stainless steel Daytona… But any thing beyond that is crazy!”

[Captainbob]

What goes around comes around!

Yes, there’s a craze for all things SS at the moment but tastes change over time.

Come the next trend, people will remember dealers insisting on bundles, high margin jewellery and the like.

When this market dies down (and it will for some but not all pieces), I know already the dealers I will and will not be visiting!

An AD with no stock but an interest in clients is very different to some of the SA’s you see who give car salesmen a good name!

[greggywatchguy]

I would pay what the Rolex AD charged me when I picked up my watch (even if msrp was much higher than now) or I would wait and buy other luxury goods. I wouldn’t buy outside of an AD or boutique. My mailbox is not an elegant shopping experience like getting one from the boutique. Rolexes are special luxury goods and with all luxury goods I buy I want the luxury experience. The way they size it for you, explain the features, and wrap it, also often giving you little gifts as well (watchwinders in my case). It all adds to the memory of acquiring the piece. If Rolex fails to give me that I’ll head to VC or Cartier. Also I have to know it’s authentic.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by greggywatchguy

I would pay what the Rolex AD charged me when I picked up my watch (even if msrp was much higher than now) or I would wait and buy other luxury goods. I wouldn’t buy outside of an AD or boutique. My mailbox is not an elegant shopping experience like getting one from the boutique. Rolexes are special luxury goods and with all luxury goods I buy I want the luxury experience. The way they size it for you, explain the features, and wrap it, also often giving you little gifts as well (watchwinders in my case). It all adds to the memory of acquiring the piece. If Rolex fails to give me that I’ll head to VC or Cartier. Also I have to know it’s authentic.

Personally, I prefer to skip the “luxury experience” and just make a deal, usually from a great reseller, and get the watch in the mail. I prefer to size it myself and the goodies are of no interest. Different strokes as they say.

[greggywatchguy]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Personally, I prefer to skip the “luxury experience” and just make a deal, usually from a great reseller, and get the watch in the mail. I prefer to size it myself and the goodies are of no interest. Different strokes as they say.

Yes, there are many good ways to go depending on what someone prefers!

[subdownunder]

I recently paid $1,000 above MRP for a 1 month old Explorer 2.

Why? 5 years ago I promised my son his first Rolex upon graduation from Masters Engineering and securing his first job.
Promise was more important than the $1,000

Would I otherwise?
Hell no. I do not support scalpers and flippers who see a quick dollar and the expense of people like me who desire the watch for long term ownership or a special gift.

[IR201]

Originally Posted by subdownunder

I recently paid $1,000 above MRP for a 1 month old Explorer 2.

Why? 5 years ago I promised my son his first Rolex upon graduation from Masters Engineering and securing his first job.
Promise was more important than the $1,000

Would I otherwise?
Hell no. I do not support scalpers and flippers who see a quick dollar and the expense of people like me who desire the watch for long term ownership or a special gift.

Awesome delivering on that promise for your son!

If I understand your position then, you would pay above MSRP if you felt you had a legitimate reason, but would not otherwise?

[subdownunder]

Originally Posted by IR201

Awesome delivering on that promise for your son!

If I understand your position then, you would pay above MSRP if you felt you had a legitimate reason, but would not otherwise?

As a general rule I prefer not to support a situation where people seek arbitrage by gaming the market for a quick buck (how many new Rolexes are finding their way to the Grey market with tags and stickers? Obviously flippers or shady dealings by AD's going on).

But nothing is black and white. In my situation, after waiting 2 years via normal channels it was either $1,000 or a broken promise after my son upheld his part of the arrangement. In this situation $1,000 premium was a good tradeoff. Were it double the price of the Explorer 2 then maybe not.

Only the individual can determine their person boundaries, when its not an illegal or morally wrong decision. Mine was an unkept promise vs $1,000.

[srvrf]

I think that there’s also a stage of collecting aspect to this. If you bought before the craze or if you’ve been fortunate enough to get 1-2 hot watches at MSRP, I think you’d be reluctant to pay a premium. Personally, I am limiting myself to MSRP or less because the last thing I need is another watch. If I get anything else, it better be both a great watch and a great deal. There’s nothing more to it for me.


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[teck21]

Originally Posted by srvrf

I think that there’s also a stage of collecting aspect to this. If you bought before the craze or if you’ve been fortunate enough to get 1-2 hot watches at MSRP, I think you’d be reluctant to pay a premium. Personally, I am limiting myself to MSRP or less because the last thing I need is another watch. If I get anything else, it better be both a great watch and a great deal. There’s nothing more to it for me.


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A whole new breed of Rolex buyers have become accustomed to paying a premium, either outright from greys or from bundling/relationship building.

This is the normal they know, in the way discounts are a normal to an older generation of buyers.


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[airchitect]

Not one red cent over msrp for me. It’s a matter of principle.


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[ThatOtherGuy7]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Not one red cent over msrp for me. It’s a matter of principle.


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This! I don’t think I have ever paid over MSRP for anything. Usually it is bought at a discount. Rolex is probably the first luxury item that I had to pay MSRP for.

[jimcameron]

Each person has their own limit. It's a wonderful thing.

[garyk]

I have gone grey a couple of times over the years, only once for a Rolex and at retail price for a new unworn piece. I wouldn’t mind a small increase over retail but in the case of a watch that’s selling for double, I would feel like an idiot doing that. I’ve worked hard for my money and that sounds like going to a casino and blowing a fortune!

[PhilippeD]

I'm lucky I'm mostly attracted to the "lesser wanted" models, such as the 126660 and 226570 black dial. I got those by just walking into the AD, order, wait a few weeks, and there they are. No need to go grey.

If you're talking about the more popular models, like a Batman/Daytona, I'd probably pay no more than 10-15% above MSRP. Like said by someone else; The Daytona is not a 35k watch, and the Batman is not a 18-20k watch (in MY opinion).

[RyanJ]

Originally Posted by IR201

For those who refuse to pay over retail on Rolex, I'm genuinely curious as to this hypothetical:

Would you pay 10,000 USD plus tax for a BLRO, if you wanted one?

or 13,500 USD plus tax for a ceramic daytona, if you wanted one?

Or is it a matter of principle and you'd rather wait for years possibly than pay literally 1 cent over MSRP?

The only reason people are paying over MSRP is because of the value of Rolex watches. When Rolex watches were readily available, no one paid over MSRP. If Rolex watches could not be re-sold for what you paid or more than what you paid; no one would be rushing to pay over MSRP. People say they do not care about the "money" part of Rolex but that is mostly a lie. I would argue most absolutely care about value retention. It is one of the biggest selling points of a Rolex.

I will not and have never paid over MSRP. I have gotten all the watches I wanted within a month or two. Granted, I dont like many Rolex models which helps. Explorer, DateJust, and a DayDate are the only 3 I would wear. Nothing against the other models, I just prefer other brands.

[Andrews148]

Not one penny over retail, on principle.

[Bigsoftee]

I don’t like to buy grey, prefer to be the first owner of the watch. Only ever gone to an AD.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Santiago32

I never understood folks only willing to pay MSRP but developing spend history on unwanted items.

Wouldn't grey be cheaper at that point?

Originally Posted by Bigsoftee

I don’t like to buy grey, prefer to be the first owner of the watch. Only ever gone to an AD.

I think that the “buying pieces you don’t want” scenario is more easily explained in reference to those who use “msrp-only” as a proxy for “AD-only” (like me).

Might also apply to those who see desirable watches more as trophies, where being “offered” the watch by an AD is part of the “trophy” itself.

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by dannyp

I think that the “buying pieces you don’t want” scenario is more easily explained in reference to those who use “msrp-only” as a proxy for “AD-only” (like me).

Might also apply to those who see desirable watches more as trophies, where being “offered” the watch by an AD is part of the “trophy” itself.

I get that. I myself buy jewelry for my wife. My attitude has always been… I am going to buy it anyways might as well be from my AD.

It’s a game and it’s great if you buy things you already wanted. But if you really wanted a Sea Dweller and bought a “substitution watch” (such as a Panerai) because it‘a available and it moves you closer to get the watch you want. I feel like it may scratch the itch temporarily and never make you truly happy. Of course, if you had a desire for the Panerai then that’s great.

I do know of people that buy things that they did not originally want for the sole purpose of moving up the list. They resell these items for a loss. Those are the behaviors that are odd to me. To your point, we are after the trophy… so to each their own.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by Santiago32

I get that. I myself buy jewelry for my wife. My attitude has always been… I am going to buy it anyways might as well be from my AD.

It’s a game and it’s great if you buy things you already wanted. But if you really wanted a Sea Dweller and bought a “substitution watch” (such as a Panerai) because it‘a available and it moves you closer to get the watch you want. I feel like it may scratch the itch temporarily and never make you truly happy. Of course, if you had a desire for the Panerai then that’s great.

I do know of people that buy things that they did not originally want for the sole purpose of moving up the list. They resell these items for a loss. Those are the behaviors that are odd to me. To your point, we are after the trophy… so to each their own.

I buy jewelry for my wife as well at my AD, this helps and would have bought them regardless. Also - don’t forget about referring people to your AD, especially for jeweler. This also helps.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Santiago32

I do know of people that buy things that they did not originally want for the sole purpose of moving up the list. They resell these items for a loss. Those are the behaviors that are odd to me. To your point, we are after the trophy… so to each their own.

This actually makes some economic sense if one:

1. Has a reasonable risk tolerance.
2. Is ok with paying over MSRP but wants to shrink that spread.
3. Prefers buying from an AD.

For anyone meeting all three of those criteria, it’s a decent move. For those looking for a simple, risk-free transaction at the lowest price, it makes no sense.

[JakeK]

Interesting question. I’m in the msrp + tax camp. There are very few things I can’t wait for, watches are not one of them.

[IR201]

Happy to see this great discussion

My opinion - everyone should do whatever makes them HAPPY with no judgment (Iegality assumed)

I believe happiness is the ultimate currency

That said, sometimes immediate gratification over longer term projections/thought can be problematic

It is up to those buying now at grey prices to consider that - but really for all of us to think about and do our best to find the right balance in all aspects of life

But on this forum the judgment hurricane seems overly hurled in one direction - the old school MSRP crowd tends to judge the grey buyers and hoist upon them every negative assumption they can muster - the grey buyers tend to stay in their own lane and leave the MSRP crowd alone and really only criticize them to defend themselves

Those are generalizations and there are exceptions on both sides

Just my perception

Everyone should be happy without judgment or ridicule


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[greggywatchguy]

Originally Posted by IR201

Happy to see this great discussion

My opinion - everyone should do whatever makes them HAPPY with no judgment (Iegality assumed)

I believe happiness is the ultimate currency

That said, sometimes immediate gratification over longer term projections/thought can be problematic

It is up to those buying now at grey prices to consider that - but really for all of us to think about and do our best to find the right balance in all aspects of life

But on this forum the judgment hurricane seems overly hurled in one direction - the old school MSRP crowd tends to judge the grey buyers and hoist upon them every negative assumption they can muster - the grey buyers tend to stay in their own lane and leave the MSRP crowd alone and really only criticize them to defend themselves

Those are generalizations and there are exceptions on both sides

Just my perception

Everyone should be happy without judgment or ridicule


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I think it goes both ways. I see a lot of degrading comments also about how foolish people are who go to ADs, whether it’s saying they can’t afford to ‘flex’ and pay 3x MSRP, or how they are foolish and buying things they don’t want (most aren’t).

I think we can all be kinder to each other but i have definitely seen insults both ways.

[IR201]

Originally Posted by greggywatchguy

I think it goes both ways. I see a lot of degrading comments also about how foolish people are who go to ADs, whether it’s saying they can’t afford to ‘flex’ and pay 3x MSRP, or how they are foolish and buying things they don’t want (most aren’t).

I think we can all be kinder to each other but i have definitely seen insults both ways.

Fair. That should stop too IMO


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