The Rationale Behind Flipping?

[ref1655]

countless threads about flipping this for that...having owned my 1655 for over 40 years, I still don't get the concept.

is it based on boredom, investment pipe dreams or simply bad choices? as far as being the 'first one on the block' to own a specific model, let's be clear...there will always be 'a new kid in town' with the newest and/or most expensive offering. that goes without saying.

the 'Rolex as an investment' philosophy/wishful thinking is also full of holes. unless it's a vintage/collectible timepiece which you either purchased new or paid dearly for later down the road, there are probably far better investment options to consider.

like classic BMWs, the esoteric nature of owning a Rolex seems to be lost amongst the countless newbies & Veblen oriented consumers.

[peterskinner]

All true, and good sense. But no hobby is about good sense.

[Speed]

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

[.458Chris]

I love watches, which, might seem counterintuitive but that's why I flip. I get to own many more watches than if I never traded up. I sometimes feel bad letting an old piece go but that quickly subsides once I get my new one on my wrist. To each his own.

[kromdom]

Originally Posted by Speed

Some people are simply unsure of their choices

and may I submit as evidence the dozens of threads/polls asking "strangers" for OPINIONS on what they should spend their money on

[Bulliondesk]

Umm to make money.. Just a guess.

[tommy91]

For me i think it's boredom. I have flipped so many now in such a short period. I see something and think that's what I want then when I have it I want something else. I have decided now I am not flipping my subc and explorer 2 ever, I have a datejust 16233 and 16013 that I am in the process of selling. From then I hope to just add and stop at 5 Rolex I really enjoy.

[Sublovin]

Unless it is being done for profit, I assume for most it is a matter of scratching an itch. Some people want to try many different watches and can't justify/afford to simply purchase all of them. Once they have had t for a while, the novelty wears off and they move to the next.
I am not they type who flips, but I do get it...

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Bulliondesk

Umm to make money.. Just a guess.

Well...I think if most flippers of modern pieces answer honestly, it's mostly a losing proposition.

[visualplane]

I recently flipped a watch because I wanted to give it a try but it wasn't right for me so I sold it.

[kjp1Iam]

Your post overlooks what I believe to be the most obvious reasons:
1. Watches are a fun hobby and it is nice to "try-out" several different models.
2. Most of us don't have unlimited budgets to buy every watch we like and hang onto it forever, so "flipping" lets us own a nice watch for a period of time and then move on to something else when we start to tire of it or something else catches our eye.

I have a vintage Sub 1680 that I love and will Never sell, but other than that, I enjoy trying something out and moving on to try the next thing that catches my eye.
If I were uber-wealthy I might add a few more watches to the permanent stable, but I think I would still buy/sell other models.

[Bulliondesk]

Originally Posted by Speed

Well...I think if most flippers of modern pieces answer honestly, it's mostly a losing proposition.

Yes for those who don't buy right..

[Runfar]

definitely because we love them- we want to try others- we can't afford to keep them all- at least for me that is- I keep a couple sentimental watches and then flop a few others and try new things-

[imperio]

I'm have one foot in the camp that believes one should only have one watch at a time, the other in I want to try everything! I flip whenever I want something different and I always buy used so I minimize my losses.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by Bulliondesk

Umm to make money.. Just a guess.

Bad guess. I assure you the vast majority of flippers lose money on the whole. It's just the cost of practicing their hobby. They're not doing it to make money....typically.

[Bulliondesk]

Originally Posted by mtgjr

Bad guess. I assure you the vast majority of flippers lose money on the whole. It's just the cost of practicing their hobby. They're not doing it to make money....typically.

Flipping is buying a watch with intention to sell for a profit after purchase. Not owning a watch for 20 years and then selling it to buy a new watch.

[Fez217]

My first couple of purchases were on a whim and later I found some others that I truly like and enjoy wearing. So I have traded those first choices for several others that now prefer. It's not really about making a profit, it's about trying not to lose too much on those not so good choices.

[xjeeunitx]

It all comes down to regret. You don't appreciate what you have until it's gone. This goes with everything... not just watches. =)

[Etschell]

I don't get it. Just buy and accumulate. If it's about moving up to PM then I get it.

[ming the merciless]

It's just God's way of telling you that you need to lose some money.

[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

[locutus49]

Concur.

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

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by ming the merciless

It's just God's way of telling you that you need to lose some money.

It's simple. Desire to try new watches within the confines of limited resources to acquire them. It ain't a mystery.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Concur.

didn't you flip a WG Daytona for your platona?!

[AK797]

These things ain't cheap so flipping, esp if you buy at good prices and stay with SS, is actually a good way of trying out a few different models to find out what you really like on your wrist as just a few minutes in the ADs is never enough. Flipping through PMs, however, is not for the faint of heart.

[Javier2.0t]

Originally Posted by kromdom

and may I submit as evidence the dozens of threads/polls asking "strangers" for OPINIONS on what they should spend their money on

Why be so harsh with people who share a hobby with you? I'm sure many of those topics are from people who want to share with the community and get some dialogue going.

[fskywalker]

The fellow members on this forum has a lot to do with the urge to flip

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by Bulliondesk

Flipping is buying a watch with intention to sell for a profit after purchase. Not owning a watch for 20 years and then selling it to buy a new watch.

Sorry, bud, you are mistaken about the meaning of the term "flipper". It is neither of the scenarios you stated above, as most commonly used on this forum.

Buying with the intention of selling for a profit is a form of flipping, sure. But not the usual meaning of the word as used here. Mostly, it's people who buy a watch, wear it for a while, then out of either boredom or just the desire to try a different watch, sell the watch to help fund the next purchase. Make no mistake, this hobby of flipping costs money....it doesn't make it.

[rebel_1]

Even with unlimited funds (I'm not in that club BTW), I can't see a reason to keep a watch I thought I would like and wear when I could turn it into one I will like and wear. At first I never thought I'd flip a watch. Since that thought, I've flipped at least (10), mostly for the good reason that I was not wearing them and to me, the cost of ownership (servicing them) didn't make much sense.

To the OP, if you're in the camp of buy and hold, good on you. NEVER flip. You just might keep your sanity. For me, it's already too late.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Speed

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

Originally Posted by kromdom

and may I submit as evidence the dozens of threads/polls asking "strangers" for OPINIONS on what they should spend their money on

Originally Posted by fskywalker

The fellow members on this forum has a lot to do with the urge to flip

Yep, when you have a dozen or so 'enablers' saying that 'you can't go wrong' with a Sub/GMT/Daytona/Explorer, it's easy to mess up.