First Rolex. Where to buy ?

[Grajulmeg2]

Hi.
I have chosen the model - Explorer ii 216570 white face - My AD has one for sale for £5500 ( 8350 USD ). Later this year I will be in Hong Kong and UAE and was wondering if I should wait to compare prices with UK and hopefully get a better deal there. Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Grajulmeg2

Hi.
I have chosen the model - Explorer ii 216570 white face - My AD has one for sale for £5500 ( 8350 USD ). Later this year I will be in Hong Kong and UAE and was wondering if I should wait to compare prices with UK and hopefully get a better deal there. Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Its possible you could get a better deal over in Hong Kong but again its possible to get stopped by customs on return to UK. So any gain had by buying in Hong Kong could lead to be more expensive than the one in the UK.

[JGX]

You'll get loads of replies telling you to buy from a trusted seller - easier done in the US than here in the UK. HK is cheaper, UAE not so much so but as Padi said, if you get stung by HMRC you've had it.

If you're not happy negotiating hard then, buy a single share in Signet Group [SIG.L] (currently about £45 + Charges) and get a Shareholder Discount Card that will give you an automatic 10% off anything bought in Ernest Jones or Leslie Davis.

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by Grajulmeg2

Hi.
I have chosen the model - Explorer ii 216570 white face - My AD has one for sale for £5500 ( 8350 USD ). Later this year I will be in Hong Kong and UAE and was wondering if I should wait to compare prices with UK and hopefully get a better deal there. Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Have you also considered Jersey or Guernsey? Both have lower tax (Guernsey less than Jersey) and it's a lot closer to home! You still run the risk of being stopped but if you take the ferry and wear it while you drive through the border, no-one will notice.

The selection there is not great, probably due to everyone from here going over there to buy but you can call ahead and check stock. Don't be surprised if they give you a cold shoulder though, LOADS of people probably call through and only a small percentage actually turn up.

I considered this a while back but they never had what I wanted whenever I visited and never bothered to call in advance (I wasn't really looking at the time).

When I passed through Dubai airport recently I did check the prices of a YG SubC while I was there and I was a little surprised to find it pretty much exactly the same as the UK prices and if you get a bad deal from the exchange (either on your card or via the bureau) you'll find it costing more than the UK. Perhaps there are better deals to be had in the actual city?

Good luck with your search and let us know how it pans out.

[singkwokhk]

I have bought 3 rolex watches from Ken Watches in Hong Kong. They are great!

[Lion]

Welcome to TRF and good luck on your price shopping. There are many excellent sellers here on the Forum so I would suggest checking out our For Sale Sub-forum Category!!!

Take it easy.....Leo

[Pharmacist]

I would 100% suggest the forum, truly the lowest prices you can find, my first purchase was done here as well. Cut out the middleman

[HRFdez]

I think someone listed the model you are looking for last night. I hope you get it, it is a nice watch, I just got mine two days ago and I am just loving it.

Good luck!

[JGX]

I have to say the standard, automatic, "Buy from a Trusted Seller" response to these threads drives me utterly nuts.

Yes, of course it is often cheaper to buy from a trusted seller IF THE SELLER IS IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS YOU. Sadly, most trusted sellers seem to be in the USA but as the OP is in the UK, it will NOT be cheaper to buy from one.

HRFdez mentioned a watch for sale similar to the one the OP was looking for. I'm assuming it's this one. It's a bargain price of $7,100. Assuming insurance and shipping to the UK will be in the order of $100 then that makes it $7,200 or £4,740 in Church of England.

Sadly, by the time you add import VAT that becomes £5,670 which is more than the OP has been quoted at the AD:



I appreciate the benefits of the trusted sellers and I think they provide an amazing service but can we PLEASE stop the endless 'one size fits all' replies to these threads as sadly, they are not always the best options especially for new members.

[HRFdez]

Check this one out!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=298702

[HRFdez]

Originally Posted by JGX

I have to say the standard, automatic, "Buy from a Trusted Seller" response to these threads drives me utterly nuts.

Yes, of course it is often cheaper to buy from a trusted seller IF THE SELLER IS IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS YOU. Sadly, most trusted sellers seem to be in the USA but as the OP is in the UK, it will NOT be cheaper to buy from one.

HRFdez mentioned a watch for sale similar to the one the OP was looking for. I'm assuming it's this one. It's a bargain price of $7,100. Assuming insurance and shipping to the UK will be in the order of $100 then that makes it $7,200 or £4,740 in Church of England.

Sadly, by the time you add import VAT that becomes £5,670 which is more than the OP has been quoted at the AD:

Attachment 392880

I appreciate the benefits of the trusted sellers and I think they provide an amazing service but can we PLEASE stop the endless 'one size fits all' replies to these threads as sadly, they are not always the best options especially for new members.

I can understand your point. I have never bought a Rolex from a secondary market. I have always used an AD, same one for years, but that is just peace of mind for me.

It may be possible for me to deal with secondary market sellers, but I really have to trust them 10000%

[JGX]

Originally Posted by HRFdez

Check this one out!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=298702

DavidSW is possibly one of the most Trusted of Trusted Sellers BUT $7,375 equates to £5,887 (roughly $9,000) with VAT, nearly £400 MORE than the OP can pick one up from the AD for. . .

[HRFdez]

Originally Posted by JGX

DavidSW is possibly one of the most Trusted of Trusted Sellers BUT $7,375 equates to £5,887 (roughly $9,000) with VAT, nearly £400 MORE than the OP can pick one up from the AD for. . .

Oh, I see....forgot about the exchange rates, uppps!

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by JGX

DavidSW is possibly one of the most Trusted of Trusted Sellers BUT $7,375 equates to £5,887 (roughly $9,000) with VAT, nearly £400 MORE than the OP can pick one up from the AD for. . .

You seem quite passionate in your responses, so you must have experience with this issue.

Why are there so few/no trusted sellers in the UK? Do we have any on TRF?

Also why is it that a man like DavidSW is universally lauded as the best but it doesn't work when going to Wales/UK?

[Furbo]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

Why are there so few/no trusted sellers in the UK? Do we have any on TRF?

Also why is it that a man like DavidSW is universally lauded as the best but it doesn't work when going to Wales/UK?

Customs duties when importing to EU.

I tried to find a gray dealer in EU, but discounts he offered me were no better that at my AD.

[Ticking_Sonata]

you can fly to switzerland and get it for around 6300 chf for BNIB, i can give you some contact if you want.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[Tony1]

You can avoid customs vat taxes.....

[JGX]

Originally Posted by kingkongkelley

You seem quite passionate in your responses, so you must have experience with this issue.

Why are there so few/no trusted sellers in the UK? Do we have any on TRF?

Also why is it that a man like DavidSW is universally lauded as the best but it doesn't work when going to Wales/UK?

Yea, I'm a consumer rights campaigner and broadcaster.

Don't know why there are so few trusted sellers in the UK, I guess we're a small island with a limited market (and of course there is no possibility whatsoever of shipping them to the US).

Of course, it's always possible to avoid paying taxes, but that's illegal and it's a big risk to take with a high-value item.

Also, our American brethren need to realise that our UK prices are pretty good. Look at the EXP II in question; RRP is £5,530. With a 10% discount that's £4,977 or about $7,550 which is not dissimilar to the price being asked by DavidSW and the £4,977 is in your hand, out of the door from an AD with all the fun that goes with it (IMHO a FAR more pleasant buying experience that waiting for the fedex man to show up)!!

[Daytona-Dan]

Originally Posted by JGX

Look at the EXP II in question; RRP is £5,530. With a 10% discount that's £4,977

I have found it VERY hard to get ANY discount on SS models here in the UK. With gold they are more flexible.
What AD have you been given a discount at?

[HRFdez]

Originally Posted by JGX

Yea, I'm a consumer rights campaigner and broadcaster.

Don't know why there are so few trusted sellers in the UK, I guess we're a small island with a limited market (and of course there is no possibility whatsoever of shipping them to the US).

Of course, it's always possible to avoid paying taxes, but that's illegal and it's a big risk to take with a high-value item.

Also, our American brethren need to realise that our UK prices are pretty good. Look at the EXP II in question; RRP is £5,530. With a 10% discount that's £4,977 or about $7,550 which is not dissimilar to the price being asked by DavidSW and the £4,977 is in your hand, out of the door from an AD with all the fun that goes with it (IMHO a FAR more pleasant buying experience that waiting for the fedex man to show up)!!

I don't know, the Fedex man has dropped some nice pieces at my door, LOL. Plus some AD's are just a bunch of morons, without knowledge just trying to make a commission

Your point is well taken, I didn't realized how difficult it could be.

[Grajulmeg2]

Thanks a lot for all the info. Very much appreciated. The AD is probably in poll position at the moment. Saying that my good lady and I are off to Venice this Saturday and I'll be keeping an eye out for the local AD and at duty free.!
Thanks again for all the replies.
If I pick an Explorer up this weekend I'll put a Venetian themed photo on the forum.......!!

[JGX]

Originally Posted by Daytona-Dan

I have found it VERY hard to get ANY discount on SS models here in the UK. With gold they are more flexible.
What AD have you been given a discount at?

Have a look at my first post on here (3rd one down).

For a US visitor buying in the UK the figures get even better. With a 10% discount and the VAT back at the airport, the price for a brand new EXP II at an AD drops to £4,131 or $6,280 US!!

[HillDweller]

Originally Posted by JGX

Yea, I'm a consumer rights campaigner and broadcaster.

Don't know why there are so few trusted sellers in the UK, I guess we're a small island with a limited market (and of course there is no possibility whatsoever of shipping them to the US).

Of course, it's always possible to avoid paying taxes, but that's illegal and it's a big risk to take with a high-value item.

Also, our American brethren need to realise that our UK prices are pretty good. Look at the EXP II in question; RRP is £5,530. With a 10% discount that's £4,977 or about $7,550 which is not dissimilar to the price being asked by DavidSW and the £4,977 is in your hand, out of the door from an AD with all the fun that goes with it (IMHO a FAR more pleasant buying experience that waiting for the fedex man to show up)!!

Definitely agree! It's safe and you get an iron-clad warranty. Not worth flying all over Europe to save a couple of hundred pounds...

[AK797]

The Expy2 can be bought for under £5k in ADs in smaller towns, shop around and play them off against each other. Or join newturfers.com, the UK trf and email the trusted sellers until you trust them enough to buy.

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by JGX

Yea, I'm a consumer rights campaigner and broadcaster.

Don't know why there are so few trusted sellers in the UK, I guess we're a small island with a limited market (and of course there is no possibility whatsoever of shipping them to the US).

Of course, it's always possible to avoid paying taxes, but that's illegal and it's a big risk to take with a high-value item.

Also, our American brethren need to realise that our UK prices are pretty good. Look at the EXP II in question; RRP is £5,530. With a 10% discount that's £4,977 or about $7,550 which is not dissimilar to the price being asked by DavidSW and the £4,977 is in your hand, out of the door from an AD with all the fun that goes with it (IMHO a FAR more pleasant buying experience that waiting for the fedex man to show up)!!

Interesting and thank you for the response.

Cheers!

[ChuckFinlay]

Originally Posted by Grajulmeg2

Hi.
I have chosen the model - Explorer ii 216570 white face - My AD has one for sale for £5500 ( 8350 USD ).

I've PM'd you an AD that will work with you, you won't pay retail for an Explorer II.