Curious for the MSRP only crowd

[kizerman]

AD only. The most respected grey dealer is a second hand purchase and a used watch no matter what anyone says. The chain of custody has been broken and you will never know completely if parts have been harvested.

[zengineer]

The thing is we know even at MSRP almost all luxury watches have huge profit margins built in. Almost any mid tier watch brand (and yes, thats what Rolex is)...Omega, Grand Seiko, JLC, etc. will sell under MSRP as long as supply is in line with demand.

We talk about a Daytona being $14k but the day before it was $10k when the AD bought it from Rolex. It's insanity fueled by an intentional and calculated scarcity.

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[WalterW]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

The watch isnt worth dick until you go to sell it
Would you trade 4-5 years of kissing an ADs ass on a monthly basis for $20K?
My time and dignity are worth more than that

Sure I’ll wait 4 years. But why would you have to kiss ass? You just have to spend money. The more you spend the faster you get it. No tossing of salads required

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by WalterW

Sure I’ll wait 4 years. But why would you have to kiss ass? You just have to spend money. The more you spend the faster you get it. No tossing of salads required

Spend Money?
Pretty easy way to eat up the profit you plan on making...
There's not much point in spending $50k to make $20k

[mml4]

Originally Posted by greengold

Priniciple and i'd hate the thing knowing i'd paid more than it 'costs' every day I look at it

x2

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

You're assuming a 2 year wait for a Daytona without decent spend history or significant bundling is realistic



I totally understand how people with some money would look down the barrel of

A: asking nicely and then waiting til their dead to "get the call"

B: Building out your wifes watch box in the hopes it curries favor with your AD

C: Stump up the difference and get what you want



I feel like people who start these conversations about "never paying over retail" dont understand that there are people out there where "just waiting for a while" is not an option as they will NEVER get the call without greasing a few palms first

That's fair and maybe not the strongest example but for me it still comes down to the reasonableness test. Is a SS Daytona $35,000 worth of wristwatch?

I want a lot of things I ultimately don't buy and this thread was about those who have self imposed limits. I'm just explaining mine. I'm not willing to pay $35k for a $15k item just because the manufacturer is manipulating the market.
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[IR201]

Originally Posted by greengold

Priniciple and i'd hate the thing knowing i'd paid more than it 'costs' every day I look at it

Just to be clear, is this in my hypothetical example or current market rates?

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by WalterW

Who in their right mind wouldn’t take a panda Daytona for 14k. That’s an immediate 20k profit. Would you take 20k for free?

Is that the question you think is being raised here?

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[RollieNZ]

That's the very reason why the Daytona is priced as it is.

[DocChand]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

The watch isnt worth dick until you go to sell it
Would you trade 4-5 years of kissing an ADs ass on a monthly basis for $20K?
My time and dignity are worth more than that

This!

I went grey and paid ~25% over RRP for a BNIB Z-Blue Milgauss earlier this year. I tried on every Rolex I was interested in and there were only 2 watches that looked great on my wrist - the Milgauss and Sub-Date. I didn't see the merit in developing an AD "relationship" (which in SG means spending huge money) if all I wanted was 2 watches over 5-odd years.

For the Sub-Date, I will probably go grey when I'm ready and willing to pay the market price...maybe a TT Black Sub will be what I go with since I can pull off TT and there's a decent chance I can get it from an AD (don't even mind grey if the mark-up is <20%).

[loftycomfort]

I am that not-a-penny-over guy. My stand on that (for new Rolexes) is so firm it’s militant. Sure, a penny over is immaterial and I’d be silly to pass on that if for some weird reason an AD does that (they won’t, so that’s a moot point). But if 1 cent is immaterial, how about $10? Still ok? How about $100? As you can see, it’s a slippery slope.

What if I really want that watch? Well the moment a watch starts fetching absurd premiums on the market and becomes out of reach for me, it becomes less attractive to me. The whole unobtainium psychology of these luxury goods actually working exactly the opposite way on me - if something becomes too good for me to buy, then I’ll say “ef them” and go buy something else.

[cvo]

Just depends on the watch, yes - 25% above MSRP is about the max I would go. It is just a watch, I enjoy wearing my Sub Date. Having a GMT would be nice but not a big deal. Sometime, patience and waiting for your next watch is fun. Having the full spectrum to pick and chose from, at least from a possibility perspective.

[Posh Gentleman]

i have no issue paying over retail if the market price of a watch makes sense to me compared to alternatives in that price range.

2.5 yrs ago, i bought Daytona C from grey for 18k. for 18k, daytona was far ahead of the pack in terms of desirability compared to any other watch from any brand. ex: i much would prefer to have a daytona than an omega speedy + a panerai for 18k combined.

i would never ever pay the market price of 100k for a patek nautilus. because for 100k, id much rather get a Lange datograph in pt, rather than a basic SS patek thats hyped up to insanity.

[214270Explorer]

Won't pay over MSRP.
After all, it's just a watch, and AFAIAC they are all overpriced even at MSRP.

[Posh Gentleman]

Originally Posted by zengineer

The thing is we know even at MSRP almost all luxury watches have huge profit margins built in. Almost any mid tier watch brand (and yes, thats what Rolex is)...Omega, Grand Seiko, JLC, etc. will sell under MSRP as long as supply is in line with demand.

We talk about a Daytona being $14k but the day before it was $10k when the AD bought it from Rolex. It's insanity fueled by an intentional and calculated scarcity.

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rolex has mass appeal and cult like following. thus u cant compare rolex to jlc or omega

tons of rolex vintage sells for insane mark up. this shows the strength of the fan base

[Strad]

I've never paid over MSRP for any watch and I've bought many. I enjoy and appreciate my watches but am I happier as a result of having another watch? No. At first you may be thrilled that you've scored a Daytona. But after a while the thrill goes away. Most people won't like you more or think you're cooler because you've got a neat watch.

I think a lot of this hysteria is caused by wanting something that you can't get or is hard to get. When you finally get your Submariner, or whatever floats your boat, you are excited for a while. That excitement doesn't last.

This is true for all possessions and material things.

To answer the question, I would definitely pay MSRP for a Daytona because I want one. I may pay a little more but not Grey Market prices. I realize it is just a watch and not the path to never ending joy.

Rolex, IMO, has priced their watches reasonably. However, they have gone up considerably over the years.

I bought my first Rolex DJ 16014 for $700 in 1985.

Sometimes , you just have to detach yourself from the frenzy. You can but a lot of things for $10/20/30K. Do you want a watch more than any of those things?

[RJRJRJ]

I've never paid above MSRP, but it seems that the never pay above retail people think that the second they pay above retail, the value of their watch will come crashing down to retail. Market price is market price.

[nocaps]

personally speaking, my enjoyment of a new watch
and the amount paid above msrp are inversely proportional so
i don't do it. i'd rather wait. patience is a virtue.

[Nairn1980]

It depends whether you value time or money more.
If you’re heavy on money and short on time (or just impatient), some just buy what they want.

The other way to look at it is life is short, and there are no pockets in a shroud.

[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by kmzandrew777

I would pay above MSRP if it was a popular model like the Daytona or a BLRO/Pepsi.
Not 2x MSRP, but I'd be okay with 10-25% more.
That being said my dream Rolex is a YM and I wouldn't pay over MSRP as I feel prices on them are just inflated by flippers and ADs playing games, forcing people to buy other models just to get access to subs, daytonas, GMT Masters, etc.

I love my YM...I have the TT with chocolate dial and its amazing on the wrist and I got a 10% discount when I purchased it earlier this year....but i'm in an international market where discounts are easier to be had and there are no bundling games or such.

[Xerxes77]

I will pay that but not MSRP x 2

[Boaters]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I think we all have a line in the sand as to what we will pay. It’s different for everyone

Perfect I do believe that would be me..

[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by Strad

I've never paid over MSRP for any watch and I've bought many. I enjoy and appreciate my watches but am I happier as a result of having another watch? No. At first you may be thrilled that you've scored a Daytona. But after a while the thrill goes away. Most people won't like you more or think you're cooler because you've got a neat watch.

I think a lot of this hysteria is caused by wanting something that you can't get or is hard to get. When you finally get your Submariner, or whatever floats your boat, you are excited for a while. That excitement doesn't last.

This is true for all possessions and material things.

To answer the question, I would definitely pay MSRP for a Daytona because I want one. I may pay a little more but not Grey Market prices. I realize it is just a watch and not the path to never ending joy.

Rolex, IMO, has priced their watches reasonably. However, they have gone up considerably over the years.

I bought my first Rolex DJ 16014 for $700 in 1985.

Sometimes , you just have to detach yourself from the frenzy. You can but a lot of things for $10/20/30K. Do you want a watch more than any of those things?

Nicely put

[AEV]

Only from an AD and only at retail - that's my rule. I like to be the first owner.

The chase is part of the fun and also a time of figuring out if I really really want that watch. Plus, as I need to convince these people to sell me the watch, I practice my negotiating and influencing skills.

To each their own.

[teck21]

Originally Posted by Strad

You can but a lot of things for $10/20/30K. Do you want a watch more than any of those things?

The thing is:

How many of those things bring about both the happiness of buying a materialistic something,

AND

Is perceived to keep its value?

My guess is not many.

This point is absolutely crucial in explaining Rolex’s popularity.


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[Luke@TRF]

never pay overpriced items unless the ROI justifies it. Watches are not investment items to me personally.

[Alcibiades]

Most I would pay would be MSRP plus NYC tax (about 9%)

The fact of the matter is that I already have 1 Rolex and don’t feel the desire to overpay for another. Rather just wait, no rush

[Harry-57]

It's different for everyone and it's different for every watch.

I prefer to pay less than MSRP. As things stand, this is unlikely for a Rolex. But never say never. If I can't find a Rolex I really want and can't get waitlisted I will pay over MSRP. For most other brands my search for a new watch starts outside the AD network.

By how much I pay over or under MSRP depends on the watch. One size doesn't fit.

[joli160]

No problem for me paying market value.
I refuse to kiss up and beg at an AD, not worth my time and not good for my self esteem

[beshannon]

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?

From what seller?