Scalpers and Speculators

[exador]

Thought provoking article from Ariel Adams (love him or loathe him) at ablogtowatch.com.

For me, the answer to how to deal with watch scalpers and speculators is really simple – vote with your wallet. If the profit they make from selling watches goes away, so do they. Collectors and watch consumers, in general, need to have some serious discipline here; just say no to paying above retail.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/how-sca...any-consumers/

[Swiss Mad!]

That has always been my philosophy.

It goes through me to pay the ridiculous premiums grey dealers are asking for the popular SS models.

I have been on my AD's list for an SD43 since May 17...but that's ok I ain't going anywhere..lol

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[DocHorton]

For many people the feelings of happiness and joy of ownership is worth much more than a few thousand dollars. For those, paying over MSRP is irrelevant compared to the emotion it provides.

[rominvicta]

That article is irrelevant and biased to e certain extent. Compare price of a SS Nautilus with SS Rolex and let me then know which one is overpriced what is relevant and what is not.

[Ichiran]

There are always very affluent individuals, and/or older folks who are willing to spend more to get the watches they want.

[YoyoGift8]

Good read, thanks for sharing.
In the current climate, takes a lot of self restraint/discipline not to pay over retail for popular ss models that you want to own. I probably will only do it for discontinued models but not on current production ones.

[joli160]

Retail price is not important, market dictates.
For some SS watches market price is above and for others it's below MSRP.

I wonder if all the people crying over this would also insist on paying MSRP if they were to buy a model which can be bought grey well below.

[Dilemma]

I’m fortunate to have purchased my watchs prior to this madness. I knew precisely what I wanted, waited until it was available and made my move. I do have one more purchase in my sights but it’s not really one of the popular kids so I shouldn’t have too much trouble procuring it.

[AzPaul]

For many people the feelings of happiness and joy of ownership is worth much more than a few thousand dollars. For those, paying over MSRP is irrelevant compared to the emotion it provides.

Materialism 101

[Etschell]

a watch has two values. intrinsic and external.

ive worn tired of the entire industry, media and consumers yapping about availablity and pricing. it is what it is. more reason to enjoy what you currently own. definitely has made me appreciate the prices ive paid for my watches in the past. more importantly ive opened my eyes to other offerings and am enjoying what i currently own even more.

but what it has done more than anything else is reduce my interest in hard to get models and brands. if i know it is a long shot there is no reason to even care for me.

[1William]

I read the article and understand the perspective. I think that in a free market economy items will bring what the market will support. I think as a group many watch people have driven the prices with the incessant whining about prices and availability. Most of the watches from PP and Rolex that are desirable and obtainable are readily available. Just not through the AD's if you do not luck up or are VIP. I never heard this complaining when we walked into the AD's and most watches, short of the SS Daytona, were readily available with 5-15% off. We bragged about the deals and felt good and did not slam the manufactures. Now it is the opposite. To sum it up, get the best deal available on the watch you want either from a grey or an AD and either buy it or not.

[dddrees]

Yeah, just glad I got in and got out before all of this silliness.

[Chewbacca]

Why would anyone loathe someone who makes sense?

[danwang0520]

that's why i couldn't buy a BLNR, and end up getting my first Panerai instead~

[kaiserphoenix]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

There are always very affluent individuals, and/or older folks who are willing to spend more to get the watches they want.

Ironically its the Affluent ones that buy it at retail as they are the VIPs, and get the desired watches.

[MinMay]

Why are there members who hates and criticizes flippers or scalpers but yet they flip at current market rate. Lol. Funny. I’m sure the members know who they are

I wouldn’t question folks who can pay premium for what they want. They’re doing something right and probably worth more than you can imagine.