Purchasing my 2nd Rolex - my experience with Kirk Freeport at Grand Cayman

[TurfyMurfy]

I went on a cruise last month on the Carnival Magic during which one of the stops was at Georgetown - Grand Cayman, BWI

A couple days before arriving, I noticed in one of the magazines a large ad for Kirk Freeport Grand Cayman. I was told that they are one of the largest authorized Rolex dealers around.

Since I sold my 1st Rolex (posted some pics in my 1st thread here at TRF) I had been itching for another. Just after I sold that watch (to a Craigslist buyer) I went on the Rolex website and saw a picture (posted below) of the DJII with green roman numerals. I was (or at least I thought) in love. It was not for another 6 months until I was able to find an AD with one in stock. Unfortunately after trying it on, I didn't like it. Something about the size didn't seem right to me and I just wasn't feeling it.

Months later I went to another AD and was introduced to a Rose Gold Daytona with black face. I tried it on and (at the time) was quite impressed but my (future) fiance wasn't - once again reminding me that I wasn't a pimp (think stylish pimp - ala Bob Barker but much much younger - see pic below) Also the 30k-ish price wasn't what I wanted to be spending at that time considering I was getting ready to purchase an engagement ring.

After my engagement, I happened to stumble into another Rolex AD to browse one day and the young professional sales lady asked me what sort of Rolex I was interested in. I explained that I really didn't know but I just would keep looking here and there and I would know it when I saw it. She said, I have something to show you that I have in my vault. We just got it in and its still in the shipping container. That is when she brought out a SS Daytona with a black face. At that point, I really had no idea of the whole SS Daytona "mystique" but as you guessed she was sure to give me a rapid education. After waiting for her to take about 20 minutes unwrapping the thing, I finally was able to try it on. While I was trying it on, she said that the watch was already sold but if I were interested the Daytona they might have another one coming in later in the year. I thought the watch was great but wasn't sure I believed everything she was telling me about the Daytona and questioned (to myself) how could only a plain stainless steel watch (no gold or platinum) be really all that big of a deal? After we talked for another 40 minutes or so, I thanked her and headed home to do my own research.

So at that point I was really interested in the Daytona but my fiance also had me look at the Milgauss GV. I really liked that watch because of the green crystal but when compared to the Daytona the Milguass GV (to me) appeared a bit too plain.

Several months later I received a call from the same woman at the AD and she said I should stop by if I had a chance. This time she had a white face Daytona (once again already sold) but she let me take some time and try it on. I thought the white was sharp and was glad to have the opportunity to see one on my wrist.

So many more months of looking around and no luck in finding any Daytonas (with the exception of a used Zenith Daytona found during a trip) I felt the itch getting stronger and I had made up my mind that I definitely wanted a SS Daytona.

So last month - off I went to the cruise. When I saw the Kirk Freeport ad I said...hmmm just maybe.......but 1st stop was to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

In Jamaica, stopped by Rose Hall shops and no luck at the one Rolex shop (2 yr waiting list the salesman claimed) I was impressed though the price he said they were able to do on their other Rolex models. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much out of Jamaica. That didn't stop every guy (and girl) on every corner from attempting to offer some Jamaican "STUFF" though.

So next stop was Grand Cayman. Off the boat and straight to Kirk Freeport's shop on Cardinall Avenue. As in the past while visiting so many other ADs, I started browsing the cases like I was on as mission. A young cocky latin guy (Josea) came up and asked me what I was looking for. I immediately asked if they had any SSDs. He said no, sorry, they are very hard to come by. I was like damn, that sucks. I thanked him and decided to take some time and look at the other watches since they had quite a selection. I came across what I call the "Clown Daytona" and wasn't impressed - especially the ~$90k price. But to each his own right?

After about 5 minutes young Josea comes back out with a smirk on his face and says that he "might" have a SSD in his vault but it "might" already be spoken for. He asked if I would like him to check and I said (which I think might have caught him off guard) "are you kidding - of course I would..." So after waiting for about 10 minutes, young Josea emerges from the "secret" back room with a brand new SSD. I was ecstatic.... After trying it on (only the second time I've had one on my wrist) I immediately told him I want it. We briefly spoke on price and I was offered a reasonable discount (5%) and saved the huge sales tax hit on top of that. I might have been able to get more but I was satisfied. They even let me use my Amex even though I had left it at home (yeah I know...American in Distress - Don't leave home without it).

After completing the purchase, my friend and I headed over to the Bayshore Mall (another Kirk Freeport store is there) and he decided to buy an Omega Seamaster Professional 300M. This is the strange thing. They had many Seamasters but not the one he wanted. He asked and was told that no, they didn't have that watch. After we looked around (again for about 5 minutes) it was like deja-vu. They all of a sudden were able to find one, yada yada yada. And yes, we've both had the watches checked out after returning home - they are real...)

So the last part of this was US CUSTOMS!!!!!!!!!! Arriving back to the US, I filled out my form and headed to the line. Customs agent takes my form, looks at it and says ok - have a nice day. I was stunned because I knew that a duty would be due on my watch and I clearly declared it on my form. I thought for a second then stopped and turned to him and said, "shouldn't I be paying a duty on my declared item?" He looks at my form again and says, yeah I guess you are supposed to. He then tells me that he works immigration and was just there filling in. He said I probably shouldn't have said anything because he wouldn't have caught it but sincerely appreciated my honesty because he claims not alot of people would have done that. I said I wouldn't feel right not paying what should be paid. He took me over to another agent and I watched them attempt to figure out what my duty would be and finally he said we think it is $400.00. So I give them the cash, asked for my receipt and I was happily on my way because I still saved a decent amount on my new Daytona.

[kamek]

Great write up and a pleasure to read. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the new watch!

[luvsub]

Nice Daytona. Black face looks really nice.

[hdrazor251]

Congrats. Great story.

[Hairdude1]

Congrats! Enjoy it

[Psmith]

Congrats!

[SS Oyster]

Lovely watch - I prefer the black dial. Nice purchase!

[caryyee]

Congrats!

BTW, you were way too honest in by basically saying 'please charge me duty on this Rolex' after they had already waved you thru! I applaud you! :)

[LA_LEC]

Congrats - Looks Great!

I would have let the import duty slide however. I mean...you did your legal obligation declaring it on the form.
You should not have to beg for Uncle Sam to take more of your hard earned money!

[Chris B]

Many congratulations

[Jason71]

Kirk Freeport is a great AD. Several of the sales associates are very well informed on the Rolex line. I actually prefer the Bayshore mall location. Congrats on your watch and good write-up

[Roller07]

Congrats.

[brlay]

Great write up

[77T]

Enjoy your Daytona.

[Darlinboy]

Congrats, great pickup! I bought my SubC while on a cruise - in St. Maarten... always brings a smile to my face to remember the trip.

[Cru Jones]

Lookin great! Enjoy.

[SUBversive]

Great story and what a citizen you should have been given an award when you paid customs!

[cop414]

Congratulations, great story and even greater watch!

[VICI]

Congrats on the find and purchase.

Too bad you couldn't do business with the woman from the ad. She will surely call you again.

[nick c]

Congrats

[texex91]

Congrats on the pick-up--Daytona is great.

No comment on the paying the duty...let's just say they get enough as it is But if you can sleep better at night, I give you kudos.

Enjoy that amazing watch--I know you will

[GerardoG]

Great story and congrats!

[Rags]

Great story & a beautiful watch. Wear it in good health.

[cedargrove]

Congrats on your watch.

I'm not sure why both stores initially indicated they didn't have a particular watch. There might be some obscure sales tactic there (possibly to make the watch seem hard to get) but they also risk you leaving without buying. Maybe they legitimately didn't know they had them.

We were just in Grand Cayman for a week, and visited a couple of the Kirk Freeport stores a few times. Dealt with a few very knowledgeable staff. Didn't end up buying a watch, but bought my wife a Cartier eternity ring from them.

We declared the ring at customers, but if they let us go without any duty I'm not sure I would have volunteered a second time. However I have since learned that you might have a problem if you ever had to make an insurance claim, and your receipt wasn't stamped by customs (at least in Canada), so maybe a good thing you mentioned it again.

[mjclark32]

Congrats!

[MiamiHeatLuver]

Wow!!!!

[beshannon]

Congrats on the Daytona and great story.

Kudos on properly declaring the watch at Customs. I buy one watch a year, on vacation and for the last 6 years I have only been charged duty once.

[GermanyMatt]

Curious what kind of discounts you were offered in Jamaica as I'll be there myself in about three weeks.

[tinger]

Very nice, congrats!

[m j b]

Beautiful!

This reminds me of a trip to the Bahamas where I bought my first Breitling. I declared it and as I was paying my duty, I asked the customs agent what would have happened if I didn't declare it and got caught. He said that I'd pay double the rate, and I'd be flagged for intensive searches (my term) any subsequent time I returned to the US.

It's kind of stupid to become a criminal for a few hundred dollars, and like the OP, I'd feel a little guilty if I didn't pay what I'm supposed to. Some people aren't bothered by it, and I suppose I'd get over it eventually.