What Is Considered "Flipping"?

[TexEd]

I'm curious about what is considered "flipping" by the Rolex buying/selling community. I assume one that buys the watch from an AD and immediately sells the watch, for a handsome profit, that this is actually flipping. However, how about the buyer who makes the purchase from an AD, keeps the watch for a month or two, and decides to trade it or sell it (for a profit) because he is not happy with the watch? Where is the line drawn?

[Law52]

I consider it being one who gets them from AD’s directly or has people who get them for the intention of being sold.

[2thdock]

Originally Posted by Law52

I consider it being one who gets them from AD’s directly or has people who get them for the intention of being sold.

This would be my definition as well. Even if you do wear it for a while, if your ultimate intention is to sell for profit, you are a flipper.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by subtona

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

This!


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[JackGale]

If you buy a watch based primarily on a profit motive and, at the time of purchase, with the intent to sell it in short order after your purchase, you are, in my opinion, a "flipper." If you decide to sell a watch you purchased because you are not happy with it, you are not a "flipper." Short term profit isn't your motivation. You are just a dissatisfied owner.

[Tim Plains]

Buying with the sole intent of selling for a profit = flipping.
Selling because you don't like something = discovering your own preferences.

[EEpro]

Depends on the model, intent, AD etc.

3-5 years is probably OK unless it's a Daytona. Then the holding period is forever.

[Marcjvr]

There is no flipping.

There are only those who bond with their new watch and those who don’t (and are forced to sell it as a result)

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

There is no flipping.

There are only those who bond with their new watch and those who don’t (and are forced to sell it as a result)

What about those that buy with the sole intent of selling on for profit?

[bluestreak]

So basically you have to know what is in someone’s heart to determine if they are a flipper.

Lol

[chro.nic]

Selling=Moving=Trading=Flipping.
Regardless of profit.
I also don't consider it a derogatory term.
It's part of the hobby.

.nic

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by chro.nic

Selling=Moving=Trading=Flipping.
Regardless of profit.
I also don't consider it a derogatory term.
It's part of the hobby.

.nic

i think this is a fair take

[subtona]

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

[Pauln]

This is my definition as well. The idea of a 3 year holding period as a couple mention is absolute bullshit.

Originally Posted by subtona

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Pauln

This is my definition as well. The idea of a 3 year holding period as a couple mention is absolute bullshit.

Agree. I once owned a watch for 10 minutes and realized it wasn’t going to work.
Btw It was purchased as a preowned watch.

[tifosi]

Originally Posted by subtona

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

This

[TexEd]

Originally Posted by subtona

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

I no longer purchase from a local authorized Rolex dealer. I do not want "a relationship" and all that entails. When I buy a watch I consider it is mine to do with as I please. Buying from the secondary market gives me that freedom.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

Buying with the sole intent of selling for a profit = flipping.
Selling because you don't like something = discovering your own preferences.

Originally Posted by subtona

Intent
Buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

Wis
Buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
Crown is too small
Watch is too thick
Watch is too bling
Bracelet is too wide
Clasp is too bulky
Clasp is not as secure
Bracelet is constructed like sh@t
Complication missed the mark

All of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But I never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

This ^^^

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by subtona

intent
buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

wis
buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
crown is too small
watch is too thick
watch is too bling
bracelet is too wide
clasp is too bulky
clasp is not as secure
bracelet is constructed like sh@t
complication missed the mark

all of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But i never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

100%

[winst]

Originally Posted by subtona

intent
buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

wis
buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
crown is too small
watch is too thick
watch is too bling
bracelet is too wide
clasp is too bulky
clasp is not as secure
bracelet is constructed like sh@t
complication missed the mark

all of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But i never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

This is the way.

[Nav01L]

If you have to ask it’s probably flipping.

My ADs have a 3year holding period you have to sign when collecting a watch from them. It’s not something they can enforce directly but if you don’t live by it and they find out, you’ll probably not get a watch again.

Also would feel kinda wrong to walk back in there and lie to them. If I ever had to resell one of the watches they got me, out of hardship or whatever, I’d probably go and talk to them about that.

As in every honor system, ultimately, you alone can define what it means to you to be honorable.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Nav01L

My ADs have a 3year holding period you have to sign when collecting a watch from them. It’s not something they can enforce directly but if you don’t live by it and they find out, you’ll probably not get a watch again.

I would never buy from an AD in the first place if that had that policy.

[Little machines]

I enjoy the beauty of those timepieces ! I buy a watch because I enjoy collecting these great timepieces and then I just want another watch sometimes I keep some and sell . It's great to make a profit by chance and if not I do not sweat it. These watches are my hobby and not to pay my bills. I think that most of us on this forum just love the ability to collect and sell/trade these timepieces. You're not a flipper because you do not like the watch and happen to make a profit after you sell it.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by TexEd

I'm curious about what is considered "flipping" by the Rolex buying/selling community. I assume one that buys the watch from an AD and immediately sells the watch, for a handsome profit, that this is actually flipping.

It used to be that flipping was just a shorthand way of describing moving a watch on or trading it in for something else. All part of the illness/hobby. Latterly, it seems to be used more as a pejorative term to describe the kind of person you refer to in the quote above.

Or there's the other option:

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I define it as buying for the purpose of selling but admittedly the definition is subjective.

[Tricolore66]

If you’d feel uncomfortable telling your AD what you did with the watch, it’s probably flipping.

[Mrhenish]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

If you’d feel uncomfortable telling your AD what you did with the watch, it’s probably flipping.

This is a brilliant answer

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by mrhenish

this is a brilliant answer

+1

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

If you’d feel uncomfortable telling your AD what you did with the watch, it’s probably flipping.

This in a nutshell

[Tricolore66]

Flipping is like pornography, hard to define but we all know when we see it. If you need someone else to validate that you didn’t flip your watch, then you probably flipped your watch.

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

This in a nutshell