The Rationale Behind Flipping?

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

I love flippers, they nearly always sell at a loss and some of us gain from that.

Personally I would not dream of selling a Rolex, how can you love a watch one day and sell it the next?

Mick

So you have never flipped a watch?

[Al1969]

Originally Posted by Jake B

A lot of the time it's VERY simple and guys flip to try out another model. If they lose a little dough in the process then they consider it to be a sort of " rental fee". I think that if you were to do a survey, you'd find that majority of the "flippers" are Millenials and/or people who might considered by most to be "liberals" for whom ownership of private property is less important. They likely keep a floating Paypal balance and occasionally supplement with credit/debt when they want to "upgrade".

All this of course in contrast to the more conservative (and likely older) of us who shy away from credit, preferring to save in order to pay for their watches in full and then keep them for life to pass down to the next generation.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by AK797

A lot of this has to do with TRF allowing pics.

Very true Neil! At least in my case I flip to try different watches as cannot afford to own every watch I like!


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[Investr]

I'm always a bit entertained by the why do people flip threads. I owned my watch 50 years, wear it everyday, blah, blah. Most people that flip, they flip bc they can. If I wear a watch a year or so, and get tired of it, and there is something else I really want. its gone! If I lose $1500, well that's the fee to play. We can't keep em all. Same thing with cars, golf clubs, etc. It doesn't mean they have a void in their life, it's a hobby. So, flipper haters- enjoy your old watches and old cars......OUT


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[caprebels]

Never flipped a watch in all my years I have collected until recently getting the GMT BLNR. The BLNR was slightly above my budget so I felt like I had to sell off my Longines HydroConquest to make up some of the cost and keep the number count of watches the same. Other reason was that I thought they both shared some similar characteristics (sports watch). I knew once I got the GMT BLNR, the Longines wouldn't get much wear either and would just sit there. After flipping it, I have to admit, I haven't really missed it one bit, so in this case....flipping it was the right choice.

[beachbum]

Flipping is like a hobby to me and yes it costs money but most hobbys do. I don't understand why some people find the word flipper offensive lol! If there weren't any flippers the pre-owned watch market would not be as popular that's for sure

[Justinmg]

Great thread, it's like AA I feel better knowing it's not just me. I have flipped a lot of watches in only a few years. But I have learned a lot from it and being on TRF. And like many have said its a hobby and it cost to play. I am happy with the two I have now but it took going threw a few watches to really understand what I like. I do envy the guys that keep a watch for fifty years, that's one of the things I love about watches. I hope the few I have stick and I hope to add from now on.... Just need to stay off this forum!!

[TripLockG]

Originally Posted by Bulliondesk

Umm to make money.. Just a guess.

Anyone with a Daytona C , is certainly able to flip for a tidy profit

[kultschar]

Rolex has a huge stunning range. Ive sold, swapped etc in the past simply to learn and discover what I really want. For example there are several watches that I have lusted for due to pictures and trying on at an AD however never truly loved when I finally become an owner.

Also after cumulating many watches over the years you realise you neglect several and your more a collector then a wearer. I have reached this status with 2/3 models that I simoly dont wear at all and therefore will sell these enabling me to buy a special piece that was previously unattainable in one purchase. This will also reduce my collection and allow me to wear each of my favourite watches more often.

Flipping has allowed me to explore and narrow down my collection to the ones I really love

[watchwatcher]

I've flipped a few watches to get into a couple of PM's.

Now I'm going to back and pick up the steel models I really miss.

[Spartacus]

So many factors come into play on this topic. I would generally say that, ownership and longevity, and building almost a relationship with the piece is much more valuable to me than the acquisition process.

At the end of the day, big picture, they are just watches and it's just a hobby, enjoyed differently by a diverse population.

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Bulliondesk

Umm to make money.. Just a guess.

I too read a lot of posting about flipping but never got the impression that they actually made money doing so. Interesting.

[Zyfon]

Personally, I flip because I want to try new watches. I love watches, but unfortunately, can only afford to own 1 at a time. Last year, I had everything from Panerai, Omega, VC to Grand Seiko. I think my flipping days are over though. My current Hulk is absolutely perfect IMO.

[LuminousMaximus]

We are lucky that we are all here on TRF, and can flip so easily, and cheaply!

Plus, I'm sure that there would be a majority of people who would like a SS Sunray Dial or Smurf dial sub, or even a GMT, for about $10 Large, but Rolex, is a smart company that gives you most of what you want in ONE watch, but not all...

[Verdi]

For a long time I kept the same watches.
All of a sudden I got bored and sold them. Did I loose anything? No!
After 7-8 years price has gone up so much that I could sell them for almost the same I paid for them.

Now, with Rolex I have flipped 3 watches. They were all bought pre-owned and I didn't loose anything, on the contrary.
Why did I flip them? Because they were not all what I wanted and also to work my way up to other more expensive models.

So, flipping works fine without loosing a penny if this is the approach.
But if you buy new watches and sell them after 1-2-3 yrs you would of course take a loss every time you do it.

[Watchgeek5000]

I always look at my Rolex as a gift certificate to use towards a different one. Since they are all great, why not try to own them all one at a time? If you loose a couple of hundred bucks each year after trading you did good!

[PatrickJ]

People may flip when smaller model sizes go out of fashion.

[Ruud Van Driver]

I don't get flipping either. Leaving financial difficulties or some other dreadful circumstances to one side, as far as I'm concerned if you need to pathologically flip then you didn't buy right in the first place.

Just my 1.3p

[ming the merciless]

Originally Posted by Watchgeek5000

I always look at my Rolex as a gift certificate to use towards a different one. Since they are all great, why not try to own them all one at a time? If you loose a couple of hundred bucks each year after trading you did good!

Try it in the UK and it'll be a couple of thousands you'll be losing not hundreds.

It's just a non starter over here.

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by Investr

I'm always a bit entertained by the why do people flip threads. I owned my watch 50 years, wear it everyday, blah, blah. Most people that flip, they flip bc they can. If I wear a watch a year or so, and get tired of it, and there is something else I really want. its gone! If I lose $1500, well that's the fee to play. We can't keep em all. Same thing with cars, golf clubs, etc. It doesn't mean they have a void in their life, it's a hobby. So, flipper haters- enjoy your old watches and old cars......OUT


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Whaaaaaat??????? Who says you can't keep them all?? I've done pretty good so far. Of course, now I've just jinxed myself.

[nifsser]

Some people are simply unsure of their choices and/or get bored easily.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

I don't get flipping either. Leaving financial difficulties or some other dreadful circumstances to one side, as far as I'm concerned if you need to pathologically flip then you didn't buy right in the first place.

Just my 1.3p

You didn't marry your first g/f did you? Sow your watch oats and play the horological field and then you're more likely to settle down with the one.

[kultschar]

:)

[Pacheco]

I treat my watches like when I was single. I have a 16710 all black that I'm definitely keeping (that's my main girl) and a 16713 GMT TT that I see on the weekends. Then I met a DJ 1601 all silver that I thought I loved until I saw the blue dial TOG 116264. I loved the TOG, she was sweet to me but then the love wasn't the same something changed between us. I saw the blue dial YM on this damn site and all of a sudden the TOG had to go, I found a new love!! Now tomorrow the YM is moving in and the TOG is moving out!! And I can't wait to meet the new girl!! She's perty!! And all of this has happened since March.

That's it I'm not logging in no more!!

[JP Chestnut]

To people who don't get flipping:

Do you currently own every car that you've ever bought? Do you own every piece of clothing you've ever owned - even ones that don't fit? Do you still own every house you've ever lived in? Never had a garage sale?

If you answered "no" to any of those, you understand flipping. You're simply trying to be obtuse and superior.

[Professorfingers]

OK,

I don't flip watches. But I get it. I don't understand those that are haters for flippers.
This forum is no different than high end guitar or guitar amplifier forums (or probably any other high end consumable, but I know more about guitars). Anyway, there is a group who loves old Fenders and Marshalls. Another group will find a fairly new brand they like and stick with it for years or even decades. There's another group who buy the latest and greatest, selling others that have fallen out of grace. Of course others buy and keep.
It's no different with me. I've flipped many guitars and amps over the years to finally have a select few that I really like. And sometimes I'm still temped to sell one or two for the next "beauty".

Well, different strokes for different folks.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by AK797

You didn't marry your first g/f did you? Sow your watch oats and play the horological field and then you're more likely to settle down with the one.

I married them all

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

To people who don't get flipping:

Do you currently own every car that you've ever bought? Do you own every piece of clothing you've ever owned - even ones that don't fit? Do you still own every house you've ever lived in? Never had a garage sale?

If you answered "no" to any of those, you understand flipping. You're simply trying to be obtuse and superior.

Slightly unrealistic comparison. You might as well ask non-flippers if they have every girlfriend in the garage or something.

Cars: unless you bought a classic, then why would you keep a car? After a while, even the most reliable machines become economically unviable.

Clothing: we change shape and size, plus clothes can wear out as well as become unfashionable. 80s anyone?

House: I think it's fair to say that most people change houses as they develop, earn more, grow up, have a family, re-locate for work and/or downsize after the kids have gone.

Nope, I've never had a garage sale. Where would I keep my motorcycles and ex-girlfriends if I sold my garage?

Buying watches is a different box of fish. It's unlikely that we're going to physically grow out of them; they can run forever if properly maintained; and, in a lot of cases, the sort of watches collected on here don't go out of fashion.

I don't have trouble wrapping my head around someone buying, say, an SS Daytona five years ago and then changing for the ceramic version. I guess that's an upgrade. However, it's the people who flip because it's Thursday are the ones I don't get.

Just my 1.5p