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Old 13 July 2017, 05:54 AM   #1
kd_submariner
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What % will a reseller pay you for your watch?

I know brands, models and condition will vary, but out of curiosity: what percentage of the retail price will a reseller pay you if you sell them your watch?

I found this article below that stated somewhere between 30%-50%, which caught me off guard as I always assumed brands like Patek and Rolex will stay relatively closer to their MSRP if it ever came time to sell. The article is more geared towards those looking at getting into the reselling business

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"Most dealers will buy watches at about 25 cents to 30 cents on the dollar for mint pieces, complete with boxes, papers and documents. Most deals should be negotiated as close as you can to those numbers. To calculate, simply take the retail price of the watch and take 30% of that, then try to negotiate buying watches as close to that as possible. The following brands hold true to that 30% rule: Patek, Audemars, Hublot, Panerai, Ulysse, Jaeger, and Rolex. All of which are high end pieces and should be bought at least 2 years old. Watches less than 2 years of age might bring closer to 50% due to their new nature and valid warranty card. Watches purchased from online sources instead of authorized dealers will bring in less than 30% and watches with wear marks, blemishes, worn down bracelets or lack of documents will bring in even less."
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Old 13 July 2017, 05:59 AM   #2
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As you said, it depends on the watch, completeness, and condition....really Rolex and Patek are anomalies outside of the regular watch resale value.....so I think those #'s are pretty accurate as there are hundreds of watch brands out there. Don't get sucked into thinking value retention is brand exclusive, it really is about the watch though. You can and will take a good hit on almost all modern Rolex pieces on resale/trade in unless it's specific references. People see what's happened to certain 5 digits or vintage 4 digits and all of sudden think buying from ADs modern 6 digits will retain value no problem......clearly not true.
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:00 AM   #3
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Absolute nonsense when it comes to Rolex. I know 100% for a fact that the popular resellers here arent going to offer you a mere $2500 for a like new 116610ln SubC
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:04 AM   #4
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Just looked to flip my 2010 gmt c , offered 10% more than what i paid new
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:04 AM   #5
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Dependent on too many factors to give an actual answer
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:06 AM   #6
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This is easy to figure out, so why speculate? Email a few resellers and tell them you have a watch to sell. See what they offer.

Some will be laughable. Try it and report back.
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:23 AM   #7
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From my past experiences this is not true pertaining to Rolex
at least ... I got 80% of msrp on a great sports model !!!
You gotta buy right ... that's all
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:26 AM   #8
Likestheshiny
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Quote:
I found this article below that stated somewhere between 30%-50%, which caught me off guard as I always assumed brands like Patek and Rolex will stay relatively closer to their MSRP if it ever came time to sell.
Keep in mind that what you get for your watch is going to be based on the street price of the watch (what people who know what they're doing are actually paying) and not MSRP. While popular steel sports models often sell for at or close to MSRP, other models routinely get significant discounts. If a watch can be bought new for 70% of MSRP, and the reseller needs to make a profit after buying your watch (and remember he has to warranty it as well), then you're sure as hell not getting 60% of MSRP for it.
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Old 13 July 2017, 06:35 AM   #9
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People are spitting out a lot of meaningless numbers or no numbers at all, but then it is a pretty silly question (too general, broad).

I recently sold my 3 months old SubC date with full box and papers for $6500 to an online watch vendor. IIRC, paid $7500. It was in mint shape.

I can't imagine getting the same amount back on any Panerai these days which is sad. I can't think of another brand in that price range with that strong a resale.
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Old 13 July 2017, 07:14 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CYKBC View Post
People are spitting out a lot of meaningless numbers or no numbers at all, but then it is a pretty silly question (too general, broad).

I recently sold my 3 months old SubC date with full box and papers for $6500 to an online watch vendor. IIRC, paid $7500. It was in mint shape.

I can't imagine getting the same amount back on any Panerai these days which is sad. I can't think of another brand in that price range with that strong a resale.
I sold my Subc after a few months and lost just £200, but at least UK resale is very strong on these scarce models now.

No surprise for my 36,000th post I'm talking about UK prices.
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Old 13 July 2017, 08:01 AM   #11
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when I was buying my Z blue a few months ago there was only a $318 difference buying new after figuring in fees and a polishing at the AD. His was a 2014.
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Old 13 July 2017, 08:04 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by dmash View Post
Absolute nonsense when it comes to Rolex. I know 100% for a fact that the popular resellers here arent going to offer you a mere $2500 for a like new 116610ln SubC
Guess I did pretty good on the 6 I sold
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Old 13 July 2017, 08:26 AM   #13
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Way to many factors to answer that question.


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Old 13 July 2017, 09:55 AM   #14
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Way to many factors to answer that question.


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Lot of variables but that 25-30 cents on the dollar is ridiculous and certainly has not been my experience in the more than a dozen deals I have personally done.
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Old 13 July 2017, 10:06 AM   #15
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Lot of variables but that 25-30 cents on the dollar is ridiculous and certainly has not been my experience in the more than a dozen deals I have personally done.
I'll double that and give you 60 cents on the dollar for your 116500
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Old 13 July 2017, 10:17 AM   #16
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Maybe that's what they offer non watch people who don't know better who knows.

A trusted seller offers about 75-80% of the "street price" in my experience.
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Old 13 July 2017, 10:31 AM   #17
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Even ads give you more in trade value. Most ridiculous thing I've heard
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25 or 6 to 4.
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Old 13 July 2017, 10:34 AM   #18
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What % will a reseller pay you for your watch?

Not Enough...
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Old 13 July 2017, 11:31 AM   #19
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Depends on relationship with consigner. I buy with my consigner so he doesn't take as much as normal. This is between you and the consigner.
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Old 13 July 2017, 12:22 PM   #20
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I'll double that and give you 60 cents on the dollar for your 116500
62 cents here. PM me and let's do this today! According to this article you'd be a fool not to take my offer!
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Old 13 July 2017, 12:26 PM   #21
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Guess I did pretty good on the 6 I sold
Don't feel bad P. I just nabbed my third LVc guess I have 4 to go in order to pass you.
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Old 13 July 2017, 12:37 PM   #22
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Depends on the demand for a particular watch.

A trusted seller offered 90% of the selling price for my 116520 Daytona
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Old 13 July 2017, 12:43 PM   #23
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For mint Rolex, you could go to a pawn shop and still do better than 25-30 cents on the dollar

for some other brands mentioned (hublot, ulysse nardin, JLC) it's probably possible. But you can mitigate that by getting a discount upfront
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Old 13 July 2017, 12:47 PM   #24
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In my experience most don't "offer" anything. They just keep asking what you want for it. I say make any offer and their silent.

I had this one guy do this to me over and over. Acting like he was interested but didn't want to throw out a number. I then sold the watch(here on TRF actually.) Then he calls me and I tell him it sold. Then he asks how much. And when I saw the amount he gets all upset saying he would have paid more, and his "client" already wired him money, and now what is he supposed to do?...blah...blah...blah. Didn't even know he was working as a middleman until that call and he kept trying to make me feel bad about selling the watch.
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Old 13 July 2017, 07:41 PM   #25
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Don't feel bad P. I just nabbed my third LVc guess I have 4 to go in order to pass you.
I say six. One of them I owned twice so is it really five
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Old 13 July 2017, 08:53 PM   #26
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Quote:
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I'll double that and give you 60 cents on the dollar for your 116500
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmash View Post
62 cents here. PM me and let's do this today! According to this article you'd be a fool not to take my offer!
Thanks guys I knew I could count on my TRF buds to help me in a pinch!
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Old 13 July 2017, 08:57 PM   #27
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I sold my Subc after a few months and lost just £200, but at least UK resale is very strong on these scarce models now.

No surprise for my 36,000th post I'm talking about UK prices.
Congrats on 36k Neil.
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Old 13 July 2017, 09:23 PM   #28
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A lot of factors to figure in this. But for me the most important is what you pay for the watch. If you get a watch with a good discount at point of sale and it is in good condition with box and papers you should look at 10-15% loss. This is not my figure but the figure of one of the better know TS on TRF. Sometimes though, depending on what you are trading for, those numbers maybe better based on what the dealer has in the watch you are trading for. At certain times it appears I am able to get a better deal than others. This is because I do not know all the factors the seller is dealing with. I do the best I can and move on.
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Old 13 July 2017, 09:45 PM   #29
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Congrats on 36k Neil.
Cheers, Brian.
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Old 13 July 2017, 11:22 PM   #30
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As others noted, it depends on many variables, which include one's own ability to negotiate.
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