Is anyone actually still paying over MSRP for watches from Greys right now?

[ArtNouveau]

Originally Posted by 77T

If they have created a warranty card that is nameless on its face, then the AD is likely encoding the buyers name at time of sale.

That way, during the card swipe process to register the warranty, the true buyer’s name is loaded into Global Rolex Service network.

I don’t know about this new card myself. If true, then the grey’s are not selling blank cards - I’d wager AD is inserting a name and it won’t be yours unless the grey takes it to his source AD for processing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...+warranty+card

[rtalk]

I have done it and it worked out.

. And by the way, if you ever bought a vintage watch, you are paying way above MSRP even if you adjust for inflation.

[RolexSimon]

My new WG pepsi came with the new card - with a built in chip. Apparently it's meant to make it easier for Rolex to track the watches round the world. ADs selling to grey's in a different continent etc. Regular patterns can then be identified. Regular flippers will also be recognized more easily - not that ADs will definitely stop selling to them, it just may open the door to other mere mortals such as myself - here's hoping.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Spence4

I am cheap so I wouldn't pay over MSRP. I also don't know that I would choose even a BNIB for a 10% discount from a grey. I like the experience of buying it at the store, getting my name on the card etc. No knock against anyone and their chosen profession, but I get a lot of piece of mind by buying from an authorized reseller of a product. Finally, since I plan to hang onto the ones I buy and pass them onto my kids, I like the idea of them only being in my family. This would of course change if I had a hankering for a vintage piece.

Sorry for the lengthy response. This social distancing thing is real.

I don’t think you’re being cheap one bit and I happen to agree with everything you just wrote.

Not wanting to pay more than what something costs is perfectly normal. I really like the AD experience as well. I’m pretty tight with most of my ADs and they treat you pretty good.

Having said that if people want to pay over MSRP for a difficult to get piece, it’s their money and more power to them.

[doboy007]

I haven’t paid over MSRP for any of my watches, but I’m willing to pay up to $2k over for a new white Daytona :)

[samson66]

If you factor in (lack of) sales tax, travel and time to several AD's which is very limited at the moment anyway, convenience of the watch you want being delivered to your front door, yeah I would be willing to still pay over MSRP with a trusted seller to get a watch I really want.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S10 using Tapatalk

[4vCoupe]

I still remember a time when buying from a grey dealer meant paying under MSRP for brand new watches with your name on the warranty card.

Will we ever get back to that? Who knows. I felt that back then the greys served a great purpose. They helped ADs move volume of desirable and undesirable watches.

As a consumer I could get what I wanted quickly without having to deal with an AD bs and saved money too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Lex_Ordo]

Guess it really depends on a few factors.
First and foremost, Do you have money to spend?

I suspect that as the financial crisis continues, there will be far less people with disposable income to spend on expensive watches. However, there will always be people with lots of money to spend on whatever they like.

Second, How hard is it to get he watch from an AD? Is there a waiting list, How often do they replenish stock, etc?
Third, How badly do you want it? Do you want to wait, or do you want to have it now?

[joli160]

Why not ? A few bucks more or less on a lifetime pleasure is irrelevant

[watchmework]

Marc, I can't help but think despite you stating that there will be "no judgement"...all there will be by starting this thread is judgement from everyone. If you need proof, look around at the comments in the threads about the grey dealers and Rolex pricing

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by watchmework

Marc, I can't help but think despite you stating that there will be "no judgement"...all there will be by starting this thread is judgement from everyone. If you need proof, look around at the comments in the threads about the grey dealers and Rolex pricing

Well what can I say, I am an optimist...

There is a cost to everything in life. Sometimes it is money, sometimes it is time. Pay more now and save time, or pay less later but lose time. To some people time is more important than money and to others the opposite is true.

That is why I don’t judge.

[watchmework]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

Well what can I say, I am an optimist...

There is a cost to everything in life. Sometimes it is money, sometimes it is time. Pay more now and save time, or pay less later but lose time. To some people time is more important than money and to others the opposite is true.

That is why I don’t judge.

...I’m just curious, why do you care what everyone is doing without giving an indication of what you’re doing or what you’re looking for from the answers you’ll get?

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by watchmework

...I’m just curious, why do you care what everyone is doing without giving an indication of what you’re doing or what you’re looking for from the answers you’ll get?

Fair question. I myself have been toying with the idea of adding a 2nd Rolex this year. I have the funds set aside so it is more of a question of when for me rather than if...

However the current economic challenges have definitely made me lean towards the cautious wait and see approach for now. I have noticed more volume than normal hitting the for sale section and it has definitely caused prices on some models to soften. 114060 subs, for example, are not too far from MSRP right now.

So my question was aimed at people in a similar boat to me, out of those ready to buy, who is doing so and who is holding out still to see where things go. I would very much like a 2nd watch but at the same time I can certainly wait 2-3 months. Maybe it means I save $500-$2000 or maybe I don’t. But time will reveal all

[brandrea]

Depends how badly I want the watch.

[Lex_Ordo]

I've bought two of my three from the secondary. One I paid over MSRP, one I paid under.

[Topspin14m]

Put me in the category of people who recently did (e.g. in 2019 I bought two watches from grey dealers), but won't be doing it again any time soon. I think the watch market is going to completely collapse. I don't relish that (as it means terrible things for the economy as a whole), but I just think it's the reality. The wise thing to do is to either conserve cash (if your income is at risk) or put whatever you can into the stock market, which will ultimately rebound.

[Mervynilous]

Except for a rare and compelling piece, I don't think I'd pay more than the out-the-door price at an AD. I've learned that the rush of something shiny and new is nice but fleeting. If that means I have to spend time on a waitlist or awaiting reasonably priced gently used models, then so be it.

That said, when buying for personal enjoyment, whatever premium one's willing to pay, as long as not financially irresponsible, is fine.

[RHIII]

Depends COMPLETELY on the watch. Some of the hot references will not drop to or below MSRP. Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by RHIII

Depends COMPLETELY on the watch. Some of the hot references will not drop to or below MSRP. Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I completely agree with you Roger but standby for flack. Here comes the swarm. 3.......2........1.......

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I completely agree with you Roger but standby for flack. Here comes the swarm. 3.......2........1.......

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kneedeep]

Originally Posted by RHIII

Depends COMPLETELY on the watch. Some of the hot references will not drop to or below MSRP. Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This +1

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by RHIII

Depends COMPLETELY on the watch. Some of the hot references will not drop to or below MSRP. Period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah!!!!!

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Yeah!!!!!

You’re so predictable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[peterpl]

Originally Posted by RHIII

Depends COMPLETELY on the watch. Some of the hot references will not drop to or below MSRP. Period.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Never say never. I bought 2 x Hulks for approx $7k each back in the day. They were trading close to $15k at their peak.

There is NO WAY a LV is worth $15k. Hahahaha.

ALL the hyped watches are dropping bigtime. The pieces that were always steady mostly the PM ones I dont think will drop that much.

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by peterpl

Never say never. I bought 2 x Hulks for approx $7k each back in the day. They were trading close to $15k at their peak.

There is NO WAY a LV is worth $15k. Hahahaha.

ALL the hyped watches are dropping bigtime. The pieces that were always steady mostly the PM ones I dont think will drop that much.

I completely disagree with everything you just said - except that the hulk is not worth 15k. I paid WELL under retail for mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

If so, what is your reasoning?

No judgement at all.

Not yet.

Pouring all of my money into oil funds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dmash]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Not yet.

Pouring all of my money into oil funds.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by dmash

Good, bad, or insane? Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dmash]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Good, bad, or insane? Thoughts?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Easy money. Sold most of my oil shares at $20.5k Dow after buying the bottom, so definitely regretting that right now but we'll have another chance soon. Just can't get a good grip on the market with how nuts everything is right now. Really, a 5% run up with what's happening and the unemployment numbers? LOL crazy.....just gotta play the game but its super dangerous right now.

[mbalmz]

sure, depends how much I want the particular watch.

I think it's kind of silly to think the MSRP vs above MSRP question has much to do with the current climate. As if people who are seriously impacted or have lost jobs or etc are thinking "no way I'll spend 16k on a pepsi gmt now, but 10k for the same watch is a reasonable and responsible purchase for me to be making".

To read some of the posts on this topic you'd think spending 20% over MSRP is insanity but buying a rolex for MSRP is tantamount to buying groceries.