Is the Root Beer a RIPOFF?

[1665fan]

Very nice watch.....not a steal..not a ripoff....fairly priced, I didn’t vote because there is not fairly price option....and for the record I do not own one

[joli160]

Beautiful watch, plenty get sold, so not a rip off.

Gold is gold and always commands a premium.

[amanbra]

Originally Posted by Yess

All Rolex watches are "over priced".

You can get a Grand Seiko/Omega equivalent of most Rolex watches at a much cheaper price point new... (objectively a lot of these watches from other brands are "better" timepieces). If you go used or grey that price point is exponentially disproportionate.

But that's not how many of us buy things! If we did, yeah that old saying, an $8 Casio, or a G-Shock would be what we'd buy.

No use trying to make sense of pricing on a luxury item - no matter what it is - it would just drive you mad.

This. The watch is over priced as it is, material pricing is not the way to analyse this.


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[Wcdhtwn]

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

I think Dad's root beer is worth the money. I never liked Hire's root beer. A&W has great root beer, if you get it in the mug at the restaurant. But Dad's is my favorite--I think it's worth it.

Barq’s is terrific as well.

[Rushhour]

Originally Posted by Rick Deckard

The Rootbeer is quite a bargain compared to the steel model. You should buy one before Rolex figures this out. Let me explain and simplify:

Let us assume that the stainless steel GMT weighs about 160 grams and, quite frankly, the watch is mostly steel and other non-precious metals in the movement as well, so we will assume the stainless GMT to consist of 160 grams of steel. Purchased in bulk, high quality stainless steel like 304 is around $2,000 per ton, so around $2 per kg or 32 cents for the 160 grams needed for a stainless steel GMT.

The stainless steel GMT therefore has a material value of $0.002 per gram of the watch and at $9,700 for the watch, the stainless steel GMT is 30,313 times more expensive than the material.

Let us further assume that the Rootbeer GMT weighs about 180 grams, so for simplicity let's assume it's just an extra 20 grams of 18k gold you get with the Rootbeer, so 15 grams (or half an ounce of pure gold). Gold is $1,800 an ounce, so half of that is $900 worth of gold. Add to that the 32 cents for the steel in the rest of the watch and you get a raw material value of $900.32 for the Rootbeer.

The Rootbeer GMT therefore has a material value of $5.00 per gram of the watch and at $14,800 for the watch, the Rootbeer is only 16.4 times more expensive than the material.

The Rootbeer is a STEAL! You are getting so much more for your money.

PS: Seriously, if this is the way you approach expensive watches, you need to find a different hobby.

Thanks you for laying this out sir - it was extremely informational for newbe like myself.

I view your PS to me was the most important point. I was not a TT fan, until I looked at the Rootbeer in person. That watch in my eyes just screamed "Steve - I'm gorgeous and you know you want me" and the rest is history.

Thanks again

Steve

[mmaggi]

All Rolex sports watches are overpriced by 50%

[Jim_GMT]

Originally Posted by bleighs

What is overpriced is the Batman, Pepsi, Daytona, Hulk. The Rootbeer is selling at around 2k above retail, way less than those 4 models which are between 4k to 8k above. If anything, the Rootbeer is underpriced.

The current market price is irrelevant, he's asking about the difference in list price not what desperate people are prepared to pay to wear the latest in-watch!

[Harry-57]

Cost is cost. Value is in the estimation of the individual. I would rather spend £11,850 on something I want and adore, than £1 on something I end up throwing away, which for me is the definition of a waste of money.

If you think it is a rip off, just pass and let it go to a home that will appreciate it. You get to keep your money and avoid what you perceive as a rip off, and someone get's their dream come true. A win all round.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Etschell

You realize stainless steel isnt worth 9k right??

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[AK797]

Price is fair given its position in the lineup. TTs are actually good value, you get that bit of PM luxury but for nothing like the price of full PM.

[1William]

Not a fan of TT and the RG does not work for me either. I think the watch is nice but not one for me.

[gold&black]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

Cost is cost. Value is in the estimation of the individual. I would rather spend £11,850 on something I want and adore, than £1 on something I end up throwing away, which for me is the definition of a waste of money.

If you think it is a rip off, just pass and let it go to a home that will appreciate it. You get to keep your money and avoid what you perceive as a rip off, and someone get's their dream come true. A win all round.

This

I got mine just before the price increase in December, but would have still bought it at the new price.

[LOWERCASE GUY]

Possibly the best value GMT on the market imo.

[airchitect]

Reality is, regarding materials and construction cost, ALL Rolex are complete ripoffs, but the same can be said for most products. $1300 smartphone anyone???

[TswaneNguni]

Rootbeer and Batgirl just doesnt work for me .
Kermit ..where's Miss Piggy ??

CHNR TT is a lovely reference .Not my forst choice or in my collection ,but still like it a lot !

[Coronette]

Its one of the top 5 most beautiful and sophisticated watches Rolex makes. Its worth every penny.

[watchwatcher]

Rip off? In what perspective?

I tend to think of a rip off in terms of not getting what you paid for, or for spending a bunch of money on something that's suddenly not worth much after you've bought it. I don't think the CHNR falls into either category, barring a collapse of the global economy.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by gold&black

I got mine just before the price increase in December, but would have still bought it at the new price.

I got mine just after the price increase. I has another watch on order alongside the TT CHNR. When the December price rise was announced I realised I didn't want it as much as I thought and I cancelled. The deposit was transferred to the CHNR, which arrived in February.

Reality checks are important. If you have something as frivolous as a Rolex on order and you are having doubts, this is your brain sending you a signal.

[bleighs]

Originally Posted by Jim_GMT

The current market price is irrelevant, he's asking about the difference in list price not what desperate people are prepared to pay to wear the latest in-watch!

If you cant get a Pepsi at list price then list price is not relevant

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Rick Deckard

The Rootbeer is quite a bargain compared to the steel model. You should buy one before Rolex figures this out. Let me explain and simplify:

Let us assume that the stainless steel GMT weighs about 160 grams and, quite frankly, the watch is mostly steel and other non-precious metals in the movement as well, so we will assume the stainless GMT to consist of 160 grams of steel. Purchased in bulk, high quality stainless steel like 304 is around $2,000 per ton, so around $2 per kg or 32 cents for the 160 grams needed for a stainless steel GMT.

The stainless steel GMT therefore has a material value of $0.002 per gram of the watch and at $9,700 for the watch, the stainless steel GMT is 30,313 times more expensive than the material.

Let us further assume that the Rootbeer GMT weighs about 180 grams, so for simplicity let's assume it's just an extra 20 grams of 18k gold you get with the Rootbeer, so 15 grams (or half an ounce of pure gold). Gold is $1,800 an ounce, so half of that is $900 worth of gold. Add to that the 32 cents for the steel in the rest of the watch and you get a raw material value of $900.32 for the Rootbeer.

The Rootbeer GMT therefore has a material value of $5.00 per gram of the watch and at $14,800 for the watch, the Rootbeer is only 16.4 times more expensive than the material.

The Rootbeer is a STEAL! You are getting so much more for your money.

PS: Seriously, if this is the way you approach expensive watches, you need to find a different hobby.

Well said.
But who cares; if the watch sings to you and you can afford it, buy it.

[C0d]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

Not a watch I would ever consider buying, but given what it is, I'd say it's priced relatively fairly in comparison to the stainless GMT

My thoughts exactly.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by vh2k

The next watch my AD is supposed to hold for me is a GMT CHNR (lovingly called the Root Beer).

I was doing the math today... and this thing is pricey.

The regular steel GMT sells for $9,700. The CHNR is $14,800. That is a $5,100 premium over the steel model. Yes, 52.5% more.

Isn’t the case EXACTLY the same as the steel model but with a Brown/Black bezel?

The bracelet is TT RG... but $5,100 difference just for that???

So, I ask... do you think the pricing makes sense or is the Root Beer a RIPOFF?

You're paying extra for the bezel, the crown, the bracelet, the different indices and hands and, well, because Rolex can charge what it wants.

If you think that's bad, an all pm reference is an even bigger rip off compared to the raw material cost in terms of mark up.

There's only about $7,000 of raw platinum in a Platinum Daytona

[Rolli]

RIP off! Not according the open market...,,prices for the TT CHNR have been rising steadily over recent months.....if it got discontinued standby for liftoff! DYOR!

[2nastie]

When you start comparing material costs to the price you pay, every single watch out there is going to be out of line.

It's the total package as a completed piece. It's worth it if you are willing to pay the price for it.

[Seafox0814]

I got my Rootbeer when it was $14,050 and saved on the sales tax by shipping out of the state of purchase...so not a ripoff for me.

Not to mention it's amazing on the wrist and isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[zjd168]

nope

[MRPWRPATX21]

Wouldn't call it a ripoff...just a watch that is generally unappealing, in my opinion.

[thesharpe]

Nope worth it IMO

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[Calatrava r]

All watches are sold at a huge profit to the retailors who then add 40 percent more to create the MSRP for the consumer. It does not cost that much in terms of materials and labor to make a watch once the infrastructure is in place. Plus, Rolex is totally a vertical operation, even making their own metals, further reducing costs of production. However, Rolex watches are a bargain, not because they are worth the price but rather because they retain so much value down the road after dependable service for the owner.

[mg Barcelona]

I paid 12'000 USD for a Rose Gold TT DJ41 brown dial Oyster from an AD 7 months ago. Not a wait list watch, not on Instagram, not in grey dealers, but it is stunning in my opinion. Not financed. I knew the second hand price would be less after I bought it but not by a drastic amount. If it sings to you and you and it won't break the bank then why not. I design cars, I advise people not to buy expensive cars. As for a TT GMT, go for it.