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edge591 · 20 August 2010, 04:39 AM

Can you fine folks (once again, I'm sure) lay out all the pros and cons of this topic.
I'm tired of paying retail for the piece of mind of the warranty and having the watch not be a fake (big plus).
Is this a trustworthy way of going?

jvo300 · 20 August 2010, 04:53 AM

I think your one statement already sums it up! The key to paying well below retail (and feeling good about not getting ripped off) is to buy from trusted sellers. There are several on this forum who are AAA+++ when it comes to price, product, and communication. Just look through the Whos Who section and the names will pop out at you. Goodluck!

Wisconsin Proud · 20 August 2010, 05:16 AM

We can lay out all the cons of buying gray but if you dont want to pay extra for an AD purchase we are just wasting our time and yours.

Decent deals can be had now at ADs. Go visit one andoffer them your deal.

Numismatist · 20 August 2010, 05:22 AM

I have my DJ from an AD:

pros - commemorative of a great vacation in the Virgin Islands (bought it there), got a nice discount (close to grey but not all the way), fun experience

cons - paid a few hundred more, didn't help out our wonderful grey sellers here on TRF

I have my seadweller from TRF greys:

pros - saved a bunch, helped out our sellers

cons - did not have the fun of buying in a store with salespeople, etc.

Really, it's a matter of personal taste. The next one will likely be from a grey dealer unless offered a close-to-grey price at an AD.

TheLino · 20 August 2010, 05:40 AM

I'm thinkin' that buying a watch from an AD is kind of like buying a new luxury automobile:

everyone should experience it once in their lifetime.

After that(?) ... eh. After a few weeks, a 1-year-old MB/BMW/Lexus looks and drives exactly like the "fresh off the showroom floor" model. Ditto for a nice timepiece as long as you purchased it from a trusted seller.

Max · 20 August 2010, 05:49 AM

Here is my long winded opinion:

It really depends on A) the AD and B) your negotiating skills. There are many ADs who simply will not go more than 10% off or some other arbitrary discount. That's fine, take your money elsewhere. When I bought my DJII right when they were released I got it for considerably cheaper than any grey dealer. I also got to try on 5 or 6 different DJIIs in the store and decide. The dealer also sized it for me and I enjoyed supporting a local business run by a watch enthusiast.

I just bought an Audemars Piguet that was priced lower than 90% of grey dealers and was matched with the lowest grey dealer I could find. On a nearly $21,000 list price watch, it was worth the peace of mind to purchase from an actual AD with my name in the warranty booklet. The dealer also has a relationship with AP and ordered a strap for me that a grey dealer likely would not be able to do.

On the other side of the coin, I bought my Panerai on the grey market for nearly dealer cost. It was a few hundred cheaper than any other grey dealer. I never needed the warranty, but now that I'm a better negotiator I probably could've gotten a similar price at an AD I now have a relationship with.

I think if you want a watch *now* and you'd rather not negotiate, grey dealers are a good fit. However, it's worth a little extra time to me to find good ADs that I can build a relationship with and know I can count on in case there are any issues with my purchase.

edge591 · 20 August 2010, 06:15 AM

There are no AD's for Panerai in my city or close to it. I bought my Rolex's and Omegas from the AD's here and got pretty decent deals.
From what I've seen, Panerai AD's do not discount in Canada as there are only a handful of dealers. Full pop if you want it and like I said, after getting 35% off of Omega and 22% off Rolex, to pay full price for Panerai is going to suck.

Can anyone recommend a trustworthy grey market dealer? Is the Warranty a huge issue? I just took one of my Omega's in for a service issue and it was well past my warranty date so I have to pay anyway. What are the chances that a new watch is going to need to be fixed during the warranty period unless you get a lemon?

Mosco · 20 August 2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edge591

Can anyone recommend a trustworthy grey market dealer? Is the Warranty a huge issue? I just took one of my Omega's in for a service issue and it was well past my warranty date so I have to pay anyway. What are the chances that a new watch is going to need to be fixed during the warranty period unless you get a lemon?

slim to none... Besides, the warranty follows the watch, not the buyer, so if it is within the period, you'll be covered regardless of whether your name is on the docs.

Max · 20 August 2010, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edge591

Can anyone recommend a trustworthy grey market dealer? Is the Warranty a huge issue? I just took one of my Omega's in for a service issue and it was well past my warranty date so I have to pay anyway. What are the chances that a new watch is going to need to be fixed during the warranty period unless you get a lemon?

Check the Paneristi forums, tons of excellent grey dealers there.

edge591 · 20 August 2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max

Check the Paneristi forums, tons of excellent grey dealers there.

Where can I find this forum?

mfer · 20 August 2010, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edge591

Where can I find this forum?

maybe google Paneristi

Typically it isn't nice to link one watch forum to another so we are going to make you do the search yourself

Welshwatchman · 20 August 2010, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edge591

Where can I find this forum?

I believe it's on the internet.

edge591 · 20 August 2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

I believe it's on the internet.

What about a Rolex Forum member(s)?

20 August 2010, 04:39 AM	#1
edge591 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: canada Posts: 143	Grey Market vs Retail (Again With This Topic) Can you fine folks (once again, I'm sure) lay out all the pros and cons of this topic. I'm tired of paying retail for the piece of mind of the warranty and having the watch not be a fake (big plus). Is this a trustworthy way of going?

20 August 2010, 05:22 AM	#4
Numismatist "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Chris Location: Camden ME & STT Watch: 116600 Posts: 6,350	I have my DJ from an AD: pros - commemorative of a great vacation in the Virgin Islands (bought it there), got a nice discount (close to grey but not all the way), fun experience cons - paid a few hundred more, didn't help out our wonderful grey sellers here on TRF I have my seadweller from TRF greys: pros - saved a bunch, helped out our sellers cons - did not have the fun of buying in a store with salespeople, etc. Really, it's a matter of personal taste. The next one will likely be from a grey dealer unless offered a close-to-grey price at an AD. __________________ Rolex 116600 Sea-dweller Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White Legrand FP Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White RB Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond Mozart BP Montblanc Meisterstück Mozart BP

20 August 2010, 04:53 AM	#2
jvo300 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: TX Posts: 1,897	I think your one statement already sums it up! The key to paying well below retail (and feeling good about not getting ripped off) is to buy from trusted sellers. There are several on this forum who are AAA+++ when it comes to price, product, and communication. Just look through the Whos Who section and the names will pop out at you. Goodluck!

20 August 2010, 05:16 AM	#3
Wisconsin Proud Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 351	We can lay out all the cons of buying gray but if you dont want to pay extra for an AD purchase we are just wasting our time and yours. Decent deals can be had now at ADs. Go visit one andoffer them your deal.

20 August 2010, 05:40 AM	#5
TheLino Retired Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 196	I'm thinkin' that buying a watch from an AD is kind of like buying a new luxury automobile: everyone should experience it once in their lifetime. After that(?) ... eh. After a few weeks, a 1-year-old MB/BMW/Lexus looks and drives exactly like the "fresh off the showroom floor" model. Ditto for a nice timepiece as long as you purchased it from a trusted seller.

20 August 2010, 05:49 AM	#6
Max Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 161	Here is my long winded opinion: It really depends on A) the AD and B) your negotiating skills. There are many ADs who simply will not go more than 10% off or some other arbitrary discount. That's fine, take your money elsewhere. When I bought my DJII right when they were released I got it for considerably cheaper than any grey dealer. I also got to try on 5 or 6 different DJIIs in the store and decide. The dealer also sized it for me and I enjoyed supporting a local business run by a watch enthusiast. I just bought an Audemars Piguet that was priced lower than 90% of grey dealers and was matched with the lowest grey dealer I could find. On a nearly $21,000 list price watch, it was worth the peace of mind to purchase from an actual AD with my name in the warranty booklet. The dealer also has a relationship with AP and ordered a strap for me that a grey dealer likely would not be able to do. On the other side of the coin, I bought my Panerai on the grey market for nearly dealer cost. It was a few hundred cheaper than any other grey dealer. I never needed the warranty, but now that I'm a better negotiator I probably could've gotten a similar price at an AD I now have a relationship with. I think if you want a watch now and you'd rather not negotiate, grey dealers are a good fit. However, it's worth a little extra time to me to find good ADs that I can build a relationship with and know I can count on in case there are any issues with my purchase.

20 August 2010, 06:15 AM	#7
edge591 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: canada Posts: 143	There are no AD's for Panerai in my city or close to it. I bought my Rolex's and Omegas from the AD's here and got pretty decent deals. From what I've seen, Panerai AD's do not discount in Canada as there are only a handful of dealers. Full pop if you want it and like I said, after getting 35% off of Omega and 22% off Rolex, to pay full price for Panerai is going to suck. Can anyone recommend a trustworthy grey market dealer? Is the Warranty a huge issue? I just took one of my Omega's in for a service issue and it was well past my warranty date so I have to pay anyway. What are the chances that a new watch is going to need to be fixed during the warranty period unless you get a lemon?

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