Hulk and Kermit prices.

[Gary.]

Originally Posted by Patton250

We are pretty much knew this was going to happen if Rolex discontinued the hulk. I was fairly confident they would not do this so I was completely wrong. Now thousands and thousands of people that were on the list to get this piece won’t ever be able to get it and Rolex has just made the grey dealers even more rich then they were before. In the past I argued with other members that Rolex was not in bed with the grey dealers. I insisted they weren’t. Now with this move it looks like I was wrong about that too. Why would they discontinue a reference that at least for now was probably the most popular one in their lineup after the Daytona but continue to make certain crap ass date justs that nobody wants???? Makes zero sense. But does it makes zero sense when you see dozens of grey dealers that literally have dozens of hulks to sell? It’s messed up.

Rolex have updated their Submariner. To conclude that this is a sign that they are "in bed with the grey dealers" is, I'm afraid, a little ludicrous.

What were they supposed to do? Keep making them until everyone who wanted one had one?

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Bizcut1

They don't collude. Very doubtful and, of course, you have no proof.

It may not be direct collusion but there are market leaders, such as Watchfinder here and Govberg in the US who have grown to become behemoths and are quite frankly the Rolex of grey watches, and when they set prices all their main competitors follow as they want in on the gravy train, they do not look to under cut each other, which was a bit surprising at first, they seem to be long game players and its worked for them in spades.

[Gary.]

Originally Posted by YUL

I do not see much foresight or logic behind discontinuing your most in demand model, especially when you obviously have the capacity to produce more. That capacity being used for datejusts is a bit intriguing to say the least. I own a datejust 41 with the newer movement, so it is nothing against that model. I’d pickup the hulk at MSRP any minute - the quest now changes to the new one with the black dial.


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Half of the demand came from speculators who thought that it was going to be discontinued. That's why real enthusiasts couldn't get them. The were all sitting in grey inventories.

If the Datejust had been an "IT" watch, people would have been complaining that Rolex was making too many crappy Submariners.

People want what is hard to get and grey dealers want what they can hike the price on. If Rolex made enough to satisfy the market, then the market/greys would have lost interest and moved on.

It could have been the Sub', OP or even the Cellini. The result would have been the same.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by YUL

I do not see much foresight or logic behind discontinuing your most in demand model, especially when you obviously have the capacity to produce more. That capacity being used for datejusts is a bit intriguing to say the least. I own a datejust 41 with the newer movement, so it is nothing against that model. I’d pickup the hulk at MSRP any minute - the quest now changes to the new one with the black dial.


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Rolex have their own plan and timetable for what they will do which is often set years in advance and they will not deviate from it for the sake of market fluctuations on the whole, and you could argue the Hulk may have been due to be discoed last year or the year before, after all the disco rumours had to originate from some source, as pre-16 this model was no great shakes, but maybe the sudden interest and price moves may have actually paused Rolex for a bit.

[Rado63]

Originally Posted by YUL

I do not see much foresight or logic behind discontinuing your most in demand model, especially when you obviously have the capacity to produce more. That capacity being used for datejusts is a bit intriguing to say the least. I own a datejust 41 with the newer movement, so it is nothing against that model. I’d pickup the hulk at MSRP any minute - the quest now changes to the new one with the black dial.


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This is a good point. Now the OP comes in 28, 31,34,36,and 41 in 7 colors That's 35 watches to manufacture. The datejust comes in too many configurations to list. Making all of these watches versus making and selling more expensive and more sought after models.

[Ferdelious]

Glad I got mine 3 years ago.




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[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by AK797

It may not be direct collusion but there are market leaders, such as Watchfinder here and Govberg in the US who have grown to become behemoths and are quite frankly the Rolex of grey watches, and when they set prices all their main competitors follow as they want in on the gravy train, they do not look to under cut each other, which was a bit surprising at first, they seem to be long game players and its worked for them in spades.

Of course. This makes sense. The "underground cabal" conspiracy theory is just silly.

[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by glamorama

Cmon of course they collude, some are even admitting it on YouTube

Please provide the links...thanks

[smym18]

Originally Posted by ars1g09

I know for a fact that in certain countries, greys have a group chat where they all set prices in agreement within the entire group. this way they coordinate to ensure prices rise/fall accordingly. quite fascinating (if that is the right word) stuff.

This is true.

Originally Posted by Bizcut1

Of course. This makes sense. The "underground cabal" conspiracy theory is just silly.

Believe it all you want, but the greys have large group chats that basically set/manipulate the market. It's pretty annoying, because they don't even make that much on the watches, so why not bring it back down? Honestly surprised this isn't talked about more, unless the topic just gets removed.

[BillhymerMD]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

Because the buyers want it, and can afford it.

These are luxury goods. Their MSRP already has little to do with production costs, methods, or numbers. If you'll accept an abstract and arbitrary MSRP in the first place, why not accept twice an abstract and arbitrary number if you can afford it?

Personally, I'm more likely to accept the actual, real-world street value of something over an MSRP that was decided with little concern for the product itself.

Agreed. It’s comical. Individuals who lecture from their soap box about the absurdity of paying over MSRP miss the irony in the absurdity of paying msrp. As if production cost and R&D have anything to do with the msrp. The true value of any luxury good is defined by what people of means are willing to pay for it. A bottle of wine for $10k...it’s just fermented grape juice. No it’s more then that to some and therefore worth more then that. A Patek for 300k...seems insane to me but probably not to a real collector. My 2 cents.

[interestedwatcher]

Originally Posted by smym18

This is true.



Believe it all you want, but the greys have large group chats that basically set/manipulate the market. It's pretty annoying, because they don't even make that much on the watches, so why not bring it back down? Honestly surprised this isn't talked about more, unless the topic just gets removed.

The evidence is all over instagram - they can't help themselves. 25 Hulks in plastic in a single styrofoam stuffed suitcase - what shortage?