Buying Rolex GMT in Tokyo

[crille88]

Hey there,

I'm headed to Tokyo next week, and have read that there are good deals to be made for us Europeans on SS Sport models if you can find one.

I'm looking for the BLNR or the 116710LN and have heard about grey sellers like Jack Road or AD's.

Do all give a 5% discount for foreigners plus the 8% tax back?

Where would be a good start to look?

Thank you

[Lol-x]

There are lots of used watch retailers in Japan.
I went to one called something like "Kamakuchi" (not sure how to spell) a few years ago and they had really good value 'as new' Rolex models with great discounts.

[THC]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

There are lots of used watch retailers in Japan.
I went to one called something like "Kamakuchi" (not sure how to spell) a few years ago and they had really good value 'as new' Rolex models with great discounts.

OP, welcome to TRF.. you are in rare territory, when the main man of TRF, replies to your first post..

[hchj]

For popular sports models, Japanese ADs offer the best price (retail price minus 8% tax). But you need some luck and legwork to get one from an AD.
Grey dealers seem to have more ready stocks but they normally sell above retail prices.


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[Gaijin]

Jack Road, Kamekichi or Housekihiroba. All in Tokyo. It has not been my experience that any of them sell over an ADs price. They are high volume grey dealers. Their prices are low already and there is little room to negotiate. Bring your passport for the sales tax refund.

[bbressler]

I visited several ADs looking for a 116710LN. Ended up buying at Housekihiroba for slightly higher than AD price. With 8% back and good US$/yen rate at the time it was still at excellent buy

[JCLerit]

Bought my blnr and sub nd from jackroad bnib. Highly recommended.

[red29ant]

Originally Posted by crille88

Hey there,

I'm headed to Tokyo next week, and have read that there are good deals to be made for us Europeans on SS Sport models if you can find one.

I'm looking for the BLNR or the 116710LN and have heard about grey sellers like Jack Road or AD's.

Do all give a 5% discount for foreigners plus the 8% tax back?

Where would be a good start to look?

Thank you

Best place to look for the best price, best collection is Jackroad at Nakano. When I bought my GMT TT this July, I got it tax free (show your passport) and did not get a discount.

It is 674,075 Yen BNIB (tax free) as of today for the watch that you are after.

http://www.jackroad.co.jp/shop/g/grx338/

It is 569,445 Yen for an pre-owned one.

http://www.jackroad.co.jp/shop/g/g2520955/

[crille88]

Thank you for the replies!

It seems the LN is cheaper at grey dealers, whereas the BLNR is cheapest at AD's with a 5% discount card and the the 8% Tax refund.

How is the availability of the BLNR? I've been looking for contact email addresses on the Rolex website without success.

[RollingRollie]

I was there 3 weeks ago and the 2 BLNRs on the showcases were already reserved.

Originally Posted by crille88

Thank you for the replies!

It seems the LN is cheaper at grey dealers, whereas the BLNR is cheapest at AD's with a 5% discount card and the the 8% Tax refund.

How is the availability of the BLNR? I've been looking for contact email addresses on the Rolex website without success.

[red29ant]

Originally Posted by crille88

Thank you for the replies!

It seems the LN is cheaper at grey dealers, whereas the BLNR is cheapest at AD's with a 5% discount card and the the 8% Tax refund.

How is the availability of the BLNR? I've been looking for contact email addresses on the Rolex website without success.

Which AD are you referring to that provide the 5% discount? When I was in Tokyo for 9 days, I was not able to locate any BLNR nor 116710LN nor Subs at at least 10 ADs that I visited.

[crille88]

Originally Posted by red29ant

Which AD are you referring to that provide the 5% discount? When I was in Tokyo for 9 days, I was not able to locate any BLNR nor 116710LN nor Subs at at least 10 ADs that I visited.

I just read in some forums that the department stores where some AD's are located offer 5% bonus cards.

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Jack Road, Kamekichi or Housekihiroba. All in Tokyo. It has not been my experience that any of them sell over an ADs price. They are high volume grey dealers. Their prices are low already and there is little room to negotiate. Bring your passport for the sales tax refund.

Those are my three go-to stores...

[IwateJapan]

Is there a 30% discount for gold day daye


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[red29ant]

Originally Posted by crille88

I just read in some forums that the department stores where some AD's are located offer 5% bonus cards.

I do not think there will be any SS models available. Do give it a try though. Good luck!

[Kanoo]

Hi all, just discovered this post it's two years later and I am actually heading to Tokyo on holiday next week myself and on the lookout for a BLNR while I am there.

I heard a rumour that there are no waiting lists in Japan and so I might be lucky enough to find one at an AD if by chance they have had a recent delivery? If not I can apparently pick a new one up on the grey market - although now, this year I should expect to pay at least $1000 USD above retail? :O
Can anyone confirm this?

Thinking this might be one of the few opportunities I get to be able to purchase a BLNR as I'm not high rollin' enough for the dealer in my country to prioritise me on the waiting list – am also concerned they might discontinue the batman next year OR WORSE bring out a new model on a jubilee that can't be changed a la the new Pepsi.

There seem to be a hell of a lot of AD's in Tokyo - but would I be wasting my precious vacation time hitting up the AD's on the off chance they might have a BLNR in stock at retail?

Or should I just bite the bullet and head for the nearest grey market dealer store? In which case updated recommendations are welcome for 2018 :D

[fruitkaleidescope]

As an update to this thread, I'm looking for a BLNR also. As a general estimate, what's the current pricing of the BLNR at JackRoad, Housekihiroba? Rough ballpark?

[Otto]

You can find pretty much any model at the grey dealers in Nakano, Shinjuku, and Shibuya; for a substantial premium, of course. I recommend you go to Nakano and enter the Broadway Arcade out the north exit of Nakano Station (on the Chuo Rapid Transit Line (Orange colored line) on the JR railway from Shinjuku; one stop). Jack Road, Kame Kichi, Ginza NJ Time, and several other stores are carrying most of the high demand models. Walk out the train station and enter the arcade straight ahead. Go to the end of the quasi-outdoor shopping hallway and enter the Broadway Arcade building. Take the escalator to the second floor and start there. The more you wander on the various floors, the more watch stores you’ll see. The stores I mentioned are the ones I know best. I don’t know about regular ADs. The official Rolex boutique near Shinjuku Station didn’t have any stainless steel sport or professional models on display a week or so ago.

For new watches. Used will be less.

https://www.jackroad.co.jp/shop/g/grx660/
https://housekihiroba.jp/shop/g/gRX2232/

[fruitkaleidescope]

Thanks Otto. Fantastic.


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[fastmd]

I’m in Tokyo now. Greys have all the stock. ADs are pretty empty.

[fruitkaleidescope]

Seems to be two issues with Rolex:
1. Is it possible to even find the stock - grey market seems the answer on this one. ADs are clearly limited.
2. Get it at a reasonable price - where in the world are the most competitive grey market shops?





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[Jackumi]

Over the past few years I have bought several new (unworn) Rolex's at different occasions from a grey dealer in Yokohama Japan called Quark. At that time with a bit luck and a lot of searching I could have got these watches from AD's in Yokohama or Tokyo, however Quark were offering these watches below MSRP and I also got the 8%sales tax off that. Now like everywhere worldwide things have changed and the sports watches I bought are very scarce here.

Over the last year or so I have been popping into the AD's in Yokohama every week and every few weeks to others in Tokyo and I have not seen a single SS sports model on display, only a few PM and TT. Also I regularly check the grey dealers like Quark and others that have been listed in other posts, and prices for new unworn sports models are now well above MSRP.

The Yen has also strengthened recently so if you are visiting Japan hoping to buy a new Rolex Sports you will have to pay Japanese inflated grey market prices as you would be very lucky indeed to find one at an AD. You can check out the grey's named on the net and see the prices in Yen, some also show the Yen MSRP prices alongside for comparison.

[Keyetty]

Japan AD have their own local customers (like me) on lists for stuff so I would suggest grey (mentioned above) as they have a wide selection and get your tax free bonus (I can’t get) You’ll save time and be able to see more of the country. Otherwise it’s a bit like the Japanese or Chinese wandering into London or Los Angeles AD while on holiday. You can imagine maybe the situation.

[fruitkaleidescope]

Thanks jackumi, keyetty.

Baselworld 2019 is coming up. How fast will the Japanese grey market retailers adjust their prices if, say, the BLNR gets discontinued?

Are they slow or fast to adjust prices?


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[Jackumi]

Originally Posted by fruitkaleidescope

Thanks jackumi, keyetty.

Baselworld 2019 is coming up. How fast will the Japanese grey market retailers adjust their prices if, say, the BLNR gets discontinued?

Are they slow or fast to adjust prices?


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The MSRP price of a new BLNR at an AD in Japan I believe is around 950,000yen including 8% sales tax, but is virtually impossible to find at an AD. The Grey's here are all asking around 1,500,000Yen including tax. If you check out the Grey's that have been named on the posts and compare prices you will see how closely they are aligned for new and also used Rolex's. So it is safe to say that any change in a particular model's availability/desirability will be reflected very quickly in their asking prices.

[fruitkaleidescope]

No doubt the Grey pricing is aligned but question is, how quickly do the Grey’s typically adjust prices following an event eg A hypothetical scenario where BLNR’s are discontinued following Baselworld 2019?



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