How to get a discount from an AD

[Divergirl]

I've read some posts that mention getting a small discount from an AD. Is this possible? If so, how do you negotiate it? Any recommendations for the Washington, DC area would be appreciated.

[FrankinCA]

my understanding is that AD's don't discount sports models. If they do discount, it might be 10% or so [my AD gave my sister a small discount on her watch]. That's been my experience.

I'm interested to see what other people's experiences are.

Frank

[mfer]

Easy.

1. Be ready to buy it for real.
2. Have cash or check.
3. Have friend/family out of state that you can ship to.

Say, I'll buy it if you can give me a cash discount and ship it to my sister. Saves you guys money on credit card charges and save me on state taxes.

I've seen anywhere from 2-10% off this way.
+ free sales tax

[Divergirl]

I was looking at the SS Submariner with date

[BigHat]

Well you are in my area. It's hard to walk in cold and get a discount around here. Maybe try a small family owned shop. There's one on King St in Alexandria. As far as Tourneau and L&B go, it's quite hard to do.

What are you looking for? Think I remember you posting earlier but forget the watch you were thinking about.

You work in PNT City Mall? Have you visited Tourneau and asked them? As far as strategy is concerned, just be straight with them. Something like: I really like this watch but it's a stretch to my budget, do you have any flexibility on the price?

[champion5]

i jsut purchased a submariner w/date today
list 5850
my cost 5100 out the door

you can get atleast 15% if not 20

[mretzloff]

Originally Posted by mfer

Easy.

1. Be ready to buy it for real.
2. Have cash or check.
3. Have friend/family out of state that you can ship to.

Say, I'll buy it if you can give me a cash discount and ship it to my sister. Saves you guys money on credit card charges and save me on state taxes.

I've seen anywhere from 2-10% off this way.
+ free sales tax

About the sales tax...I live in NC. If I were to buy the watch in SC, would I not have to pay sales tax?

[carlyman]

I'm curious on the sales tax as well! Even though you are supposed to claim it in your home state, I'm surprised an AD would allow this somewhat shady work-around.

[meloncap78]

My LV was my first experience with any AD and Rolex period. I do however believe that my LV was heavily discounted. It is a 2007 z serial and was LNIB literally not a blemish on it with all papers box hang tag and COSC tag purchased from a reputable AD. Lets put it this way, I got it for under $4100.00 USD. Maybe I feel I got a great deal but perhaps this is the norm. Any LV's that I am seeing for sale, pre owned are in the upper 4k range some even in the 5's. Correct me if I am mistaken.

[mretzloff]

Originally Posted by meloncap78

My LV was my first experience with any AD and Rolex period. I do however believe that my LV was heavily discounted. It is a 2007 z serial and was LNIB literally not a blemish on it with all papers box hang tag and COSC tag purchased from a reputable AD. Lets put it this way, I got it for under $4100.00 USD. Maybe I feel I got a great deal but perhaps this is the norm. Any LV's that I am seeing for sale, pre owned are in the upper 4k range some even in the 5's. Correct me if I am mistaken.

How did you get thie discount? Did you pay cash? Ask the dealer?

It'd be nice if you guys would elaborate a little more

[DrSheily]

The best way to get discount is through personal connection or having friends who know someone in AD.

[Numismatist]

It's more of an art than a science. Depends on too many things to make a guaranteed instruction manual.

Here's some of the things I can think of - maybe others have some:

How you're dressed - doesn't always matter but sometimes does
What their Inventory is and what is incoming
How ready to buy you look
Do you have cash or credit card
Their location - wilderness or middle of hot destination
How sales people are paid - commission/flat/etc.
How many sales already made that day
The list really goes on and on...

Just give it a try!

[f16570]

Be polite and ask, it wil always help if the salesperson likes you. Do not come across as arrogant, this will only make the salesperson want t o get one over on you.

[mretzloff]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

How sales people are paid - commission/flat/etc.

How are most paid?

[meloncap78]

Originally Posted by mretzloff

How did you get thie discount? Did you pay cash? Ask the dealer?

It'd be nice if you guys would elaborate a little more

I paid cash in 3 separate installements. I had it all payed off within a 2 week period. They did not once use the word discount though. There are 2 Henry Wilson jewelers by me. Both are in malls. The first one I went to I spoke with a gentleman about getting a pre owned Sub, actually I was just feeling out prices and it was more like a dream. He asked me if I would be interested in a green bezel and I said why sure, thinking this was going to be waaay out of my price range. He said he thought he could get me one for $4850.00 plus tax pre owned and asked if I would like to see it. I said sure why not. He said that he would go pick it up that day and bring it back there for me to take a look at so I told him that I would stop back. In the meantime I decided to take a trip to the other Henry Wilson after I got out of work. When I stopped in there I was looking at a brand new LV in the case marked $5600.00 plus tax. I started talking with the woman behind the counter who happened to manage the place about the LV that the other gentleman was going to show me at their other location and what kind of price he had quoted me. She replied by saying "Oh we have a pre owned LV here in pristine condition! Would you like to see it?" I said sure. Well she went to the safe to get it and it was gone. She was pretty frantic about it until I told her that the other gentleman had said he had to go pick it up. Her frantic mood soon turned to livid. She called them right up and asked for the other gentleman and they started talking back and forth and the next thing you know she is saying "well you had no right to come and take something that is inventory at this location and not mention it to anyone" and demanded that he return it. We then started talking and I was telling her what I could afford realistically. She started working some numbers down on a calculator and the next thing you know she is saying "tell you what, how does $3750.00 plus tax sound?" I got pretty happy inside and said sure before I had even seen the watch. I ended up being able to hold it and try it on after my second payment. It was pristine as pristine could be. Bezel guard, sticker on the back, COSC tag still on the bracelet, the whole nine. I was astounded and even more impatient to get that last payment in to them. A week after that it was mine and hasn't come off since. I still don't know if this is considered a great discount or not and if it is I sure don't know where the actual discounting came into play or (what truck did this thing fall off the back of)

[Chunky]

I always say, if you don`t ask, you`ll never know. Be polite and give it a try. What`s the worse that can happen? They`ll say no, that`s all.

[mretzloff]

Thanks meloncap.

[wweaver]

Agree - good info in this post.

I'd say ask around for referrals of people that you know that might have a good relationship at an AD. Maybe get them to setup a call ahead of time "hey manager of store, I'm sending a good friend of mine in, they are really ready to buy - anything you can do to help them out would be appreciated".

Then when you go in, try some of the steps mentioned above, dress well, be REALLY ready to buy for real, and offer cash or check and the out of state shipping thing.

Wouldn't hurt to also express interest (only if serious though) in other items that you might be in the market for soon (i.e., yeah for Christmas I was thinking about a pearl necklace for my mother, etc.).

[BigHat]

And try to avoid wearing a Rolex that you bought elsewhere, even though you tried them first and they couldn't get you one.

[mretzloff]

Originally Posted by wweaver

dress well,

When you buy Rolexes, what do you wear?

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by mretzloff

When you buy Rolexes, what do you wear?

The MOST important thing is no Grey Poupon stains on the velvet smoking jacket.

[crimscrem]

I simply ask for a discount. I go in or call knowing what 10%, 15%, 16%, 17%, and 18% off is. They give me a price. I then ask if they can do better and/or throw in anything more. If I like the price, then I go for it. If I don't, then I continue on.

[Gaijin]

I recieved my first discount and all subsequent discounts by shopping around. I went to several ADs. I hate to admit it but I played them against each other. I was rwady to buy. I got one to offer me a small discount and then told the other to beat it. They did and they became my AD. I ended up buying several watches from them.

[champion5]

you can always order from a store out of town...

[thecoinopcollector]

I go to the AD. Look at the watch I am interested in and if I am ready to buy I tell them the discount I want in order to buy the watch. My 2 local AD's will then basically look to see what they have in the watch and then either agree or counter and tell me what they can in fact do for a discount. Sometimes its OK, I can do that and other times it's "this is the best I can do". If you don't ask you don't get.

Marc

[cbsmohai]

I usually walk into all places with cash in hand and dressed like I slept in my trunk the night before

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by carlyman

I'm curious on the sales tax as well! Even though you are supposed to claim it in your home state, I'm surprised an AD would allow this somewhat shady work-around.

It's the same if you go online and order anything from a store out of state. As long as that particular stone does not have another franchise or store in your state, you don't pay sales tax. It is perfectly legal.
So it would not work in many states for Ben Bridge, Tourneau or other chain stores that have many stores throughout the country.

[carlyman]

Hmmm...interesting. Could prove useful!

[bgp123]

Seems like it's a buyer's market at the moment, and the key word is 'cash'.

I was in a shop today looking at Rolexes, and asked the salesguy that I didn't like asking for discounts, but would he be prepared to budge a bit on the price?
He asked me how sir would be paying, and I replied 'cash'.
After that, he offered around 13-15% off, and more for the more expensive models.

[mretzloff]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

It's the same if you go online and order anything from a store out of state. As long as that particular stone does not have another franchise or store in your state, you don't pay sales tax. It is perfectly legal.
So it would not work in many states for Ben Bridge, Tourneau or other chain stores that have many stores throughout the country.

So, if there's a local jewlery store in SC that's an AD, they'd ship to NC without sales tax?