Buying a Rolex in Costa Rica, Ripoff or Good Deal?

[Jack Bauer]

There's a Rolex store at an upscale department mall in Costa Rica, authorized dealer, I verified on Rolex.com.

They want $14,000 taxes included for this Submariner. Model # says M116613LB-0005. Offered a 10% discount in cash.



They want $11,500 for this 36mm datejust two-tone. Model #116233-0149. I was afraid to buy it because the tag says Oyster though its obviously a Jubilee, made me question the legitimacy. Offered a 10% discount in cash.



Also the salespeople claimed all the models were new 2016's when I knew that wasn't the case.

So hard to find current MSRPs online. Prices a good deal or ripoff? Most things in CR are marked up a ton. Just wanted to verify it wasn't a scam. Tough buying something so expensive when salespeople seem at best uneducated with the product and at worst deceptive.

[Hodog16]

Think the Oyster refers to the case and not the band. Says the same for the Sub.

USD MSRP for Datejust is $10,900 and the Sub is $13,400.

[Jack Bauer]

Originally Posted by Hodog16

Think the Oyster refers to the case and not the band. Says the same for the Sub.

USD MSRP for Datejust is $10,900 and the Sub is $13,400.

Thank you so much. Not bad then, the prices seem about right. I felt better after confirming the authorized dealer status, assuming there's some level of oversight.

There was some plastic on the back of the Sub, looked new but no idea how long its sat in display case or been tried on. Lady said 5 year guarantee and that it'd come with all the papers and box. Clasp seemed a little tricky.

[Jack Bauer]

Are you able to tell from the pic if that's the latest version of the blue sub, which I think is circa 2009 with what's referred to as a sunburst dial vs. older flat blue? I looked at some comparison pics and finding it tough to tell the two distinctly apart depending on lighting.

Also guessing prices went up, apparently this blue sub used to go for around $10,500 in 2013?

[mailman]

Asking price in the FS section here for a BNIB 116613 is around $10900. Cheaper than the AD in Costa Rica.

To,answer your question it's definitely a sunburst dial in your picture.

[Jack Bauer]

Originally Posted by mailman

Asking price in the FS section here for a BNIB 116613 is around $10900. Cheaper than the AD in Costa Rica.

To,answer your question it's definitely a sunburst dial in your picture.

Thank you. I'm assuming the $10,900 is due to not being sold by authorized dealer? Couldn't someone buy at that price and flip it on Ebay for guaranteed profit?

Strange how it seems the 2009 sunburst has gotten more expensive, inflation I guess?

[watchwatcher]

Actually, the sunburst version came out somewhere around 2013-14, I believe.

[Jack Bauer]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Actually, the sunburst version came out somewhere around 2013-14, I believe.

Thanks. One thing I'm worried about is the dial didn't have any plastic on it that I could notice, some of the back of the bracelet had plastic on it though. Shouldn't all brand new Rolexes on display be protected with plastic?

[RichM]

Mr. 24, That TT SubC can be had here by a TS for under $11,000 USD no tax. How's Chloe?

[mailman]

Originally Posted by Jack Bauer

Thank you. I'm assuming the $10,900 is due to not being sold by authorized dealer? Couldn't someone buy at that price and flip it on Ebay for guaranteed profit?

Strange how it seems the 2009 sunburst has gotten more expensive, inflation I guess?

Correct on the non AD. Someone can try to flip it on eBay. No guarantees on the profit thou.

[schwartz914]

Jack Bauer. Come on. Don't buy anything unless you research more. These models are discounted a lot. You won't make anything on the watch. Thus is where they are sold at for educated buyers.

[Jim Smyth]

http://davidsw.com/product/rolex-116...riner-18kss-7/


Trusted seller, green hang tag................doesnt get much better than that!

[dabbotjordan]

Jack Bauer: Tony, I need detailed background on a ROLEX TT SUNBURST Dial now!

[dabbotjordan]

I'm federal agent Jack Bauer. This is the longest thread of my life!

[Jack Bauer]

Originally Posted by schwartz914

Jack Bauer. Come on. Don't buy anything unless you research more. These models are discounted a lot. You won't make anything on the watch. Thus is where they are sold at for educated buyers.

Yeah that's why I'm surveying here. I've never wanted a sub but the blue one felt somewhat magical on wrist. I won't be around an AD in the USA for around six months so that's why I was looking into if the markup was worth it, and if the AD was legit.

Reading the forum here, it's tough to pinpoint a date the 116613LB was last updated, there is talk of an update being made in 2015 to make the bezel itself sunburst in addition to the dial, but I don't see any confirmations from Rolex of this, which then puts next mod date at 2013-2014 for sunburst dial, and according to Rolex Wiki, the model started production in 2009 and no mod dates are listed.

[brooklyndodger]

Originally Posted by Jack Bauer

There's a Rolex store at an upscale department mall in Costa Rica, authorized dealer, I verified on Rolex.com.

They want $14,000 taxes included for this Submariner. Model # says M116613LB-0005. Offered a 10% discount in cash.



They want $11,500 for this 36mm datejust two-tone. Model #116233-0149. I was afraid to buy it because the tag says Oyster though its obviously a Jubilee, made me question the legitimacy. Offered a 10% discount in cash.



Also the salespeople claimed all the models were new 2016's when I knew that wasn't the case.

So hard to find current MSRPs online. Prices a good deal or ripoff? Most things in CR are marked up a ton. Just wanted to verify it wasn't a scam. Tough buying something so expensive when salespeople seem at best uneducated with the product and at worst deceptive.

I paid $12,000 for my M116613LB-0005 in Dubai in 2014. No tax. Has the retail price in USA gone up to $14k? If so, then wow.

[DeeTee]

Those are both horrible deals

[Andrés G]

Costa Rica is the worst place to buy anything. Find a cheap flight and get it in Panama.
You don't even need to leave the airport. Tocumen International has a Rolex boutique that's duty free and gives good discounts on all modells.

[superstarmar]

Here's my blue sunburst dial sub purchased BNIB
June 2015 by yours truly ... Muah!!! At a US authorized
AD with 5 year warranty... A substantial discount was offered
to close the deal ...
The dial update was released at Basel 2013 back to
Sunburst from flat blue and I believe the ceramic bezel
Shade changed in 2014/2015 to match with dial better but
that's neither here nor there ... Hope my pic helps you out in
Some way ... Btw , I love my bluesy !!!

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by mailman

Asking price in the FS section here for a BNIB 116613 is around $10900. Cheaper than the AD in Costa Rica.

To,answer your question it's definitely a sunburst dial in your picture.

And---why pay retail?

[mailman]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

And---why pay retail?

Where did I say to pay retail? MSRP of a 116613 is US $13,400.

[mtgjr]

Jack Bauer, I don't care if you buy either of those watches but please leave those cargo shorts in Costa Rica.

[Jim Smyth]

2 more from trusted sellers............at a SUB Stantial savings from a AD!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=486181

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=484144

[captain_NEMO]

Originally Posted by mtgjr

Jack Bauer, I don't care if you buy either of those watches but please leave those cargo shorts in Costa Rica.

I'm genuinely curious about your disdain for cargo shorts.

What's...the deal, with that? (Seinfeld accent)

[GB-man]

Horrible deals. Move along and research a bit more. There's no sunburst ceramic to match the dial either.

[masyv6]

Originally Posted by captain_NEMO

I'm genuinely curious about your disdain for cargo shorts.

What's...the deal, with that? (Seinfeld accent)

I read that in a Seinfeld accent even before you mentioned it