Daddy, where do grey market watches come from?

[TKEPilot]

Where do grey market watches come from?

[ducatidoc]

Why , son, the grey market watch stork brings 'em and drops them down the chimney. I already told you that. Now go to sleep !

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by ducatidoc

Why , son, the grey market watch stork brings 'em and drops them down the chimney. I already told you that. Now go to sleep !

Daddy i thought it was a mixture of Black and White markets...

[Tools]

The Grey market is a phenomenon of what is termed "Parallel Imports"

Typically, Rolex SA imports their watches only to their distributor, Rolex USA, and there are certain laws and trade practices in place whereby Rolex USA only distributes these watches to their own Authorized Dealers.. This is the Retail Market..

Also though, Rolex SA imports their product to other markets outside the USA......... these watches are then imported through import/export Dealers into the USA too (Parallel importing), and bypass the franchise or Primary Distributor (Rolex USA in the case of the US). These watches are sold at overseas wholesale to Dealers who set their own market prices..

Grey Market is not used watches, forum sellers (for the most part), Internet sales, or stolen product (black market).

So, a Grey Market watch will always be from outside the country point-of-sale.

[propedderkustom]

Originally Posted by Tools

The Grey market is a phenomenon of what is termed "Parallel Imports"

Typically, Rolex SA imports their watches only to their distributor, Rolex USA, and there are certain laws and trade practices in place whereby Rolex USA only distributes these watches to their own Authorized Dealers.. This is the Retail Market..

Also though, Rolex SA imports their product to other markets outside the USA......... these watches are then imported through import/export Dealers into the USA too (Parallel importing), and bypass the franchise or Primary Distributor (Rolex USA in the case of the US). These watches are sold at overseas wholesale to Dealers who set their own market prices..

Grey Market is not used watches, forum sellers (for the most part), Internet sales, or stolen product (black market).

So, a Grey Market watch will always be from outside the country point-of-sale.

Thank you for the great explanation. I've always wondered about this question.

I've also heard the urban legend that some of these grey market watches also come from ADs who need to move excess inventory. Any truth in that?

[Watchdog]

From Santa Claus . . .




Otherwise known as St. David SW.

[icnbne]

Originally Posted by Tools

The Grey market is a phenomenon of what is termed "Parallel Imports"

Typically, Rolex SA imports their watches only to their distributor, Rolex USA, and there are certain laws and trade practices in place whereby Rolex USA only distributes these watches to their own Authorized Dealers.. This is the Retail Market..

Also though, Rolex SA imports their product to other markets outside the USA......... these watches are then imported through import/export Dealers into the USA too (Parallel importing), and bypass the franchise or Primary Distributor (Rolex USA in the case of the US). These watches are sold at overseas wholesale to Dealers who set their own market prices..

Grey Market is not used watches, forum sellers (for the most part), Internet sales, or stolen product (black market).

So, a Grey Market watch will always be from outside the country point-of-sale.

you sound like Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory

[nch209]

Some good answers so far! Excess inventory is also part of the equation, as well as them buying from regular WIS's like us... I've sold several to grey dealers over the years. These were never worn, but usually had my name on the paperwork- they never seemed to care either way. These big grey dealers move some watches for sure!!!

[Ultraman]

Originally Posted by children

you sound like Sheldon in the Big Bang Theory

[rsg]

Originally Posted by Tools

The Grey market is a phenomenon of what is termed "Parallel Imports"

Typically, Rolex SA imports their watches only to their distributor, Rolex USA, and there are certain laws and trade practices in place whereby Rolex USA only distributes these watches to their own Authorized Dealers.. This is the Retail Market..

Also though, Rolex SA imports their product to other markets outside the USA......... these watches are then imported through import/export Dealers into the USA too (Parallel importing), and bypass the franchise or Primary Distributor (Rolex USA in the case of the US). These watches are sold at overseas wholesale to Dealers who set their own market prices..

Grey Market is not used watches, forum sellers (for the most part), Internet sales, or stolen product (black market).

So, a Grey Market watch will always be from outside the country point-of-sale.

This is where I get confused about the definition of grey market dealers.
I am going to recieve a BNIB watch this week with all papers in my name from an authorized AD in the US at about 30% off and no tax (~9% in CA) from one of our sellers here on TRF.
Is this person a grey dealer?

[Z-Sub]

Well, some do have relationship with an AD and gets a substantial discount to sell on the Forum. They can then set the price that is hard for most of us to match

[Tools]

Originally Posted by rsg

This is where I get confused about the definition of grey market dealers.
I am going to recieve a BNIB watch this week with all papers in my name from an authorized AD in the US at about 30% off and no tax (~9% in CA) from one of our sellers here on TRF.
Is this person a grey dealer?

It's easy to get confused.. and even in this thread, there are still some who do not understand that "Grey Market" is a customs/legal description of Parallel Import products into any country.

If it is coming from a US AD, it is not grey market.. If somebody else has gone to an AD and bought it then re-sells it to you... It is a used watch, not Grey Market..

If somebody finagles the paperwork so it ends up in your name, then you have just gamed the system, but you didn't buy a "Grey Market" watch..

[sleddog]

Originally Posted by bodybump

Daddy i thought it was a mixture of Black and White markets...

[Deyn Man]

from a grey stork... leaves it on the doorstep of ADs...

[Speed]

Why from Greyhounds of course..

[kyle L]

The Grey-Market Fairy!!

[BarkMaster]

They are picked from the Rolex tree. At night.

[deserted]

My son i have no idea.......

[kyle L]

I don't know, go ask your mother.



Larry has the best answer so far.

[WatchTimes]

Gray Market watches come from multiple sources, out of country is one but that is not as reliable anymore as US Customs has been seizing them.

I get some of mine from my AD, I but LOTS from them.
If someone needs a watch they contact me and I go to my AD and work the magic...
You need to have cash in hand, have spent a lot with the dealer and sent him a few good customers. A couple dealers I work with will leave the papers open others will put the papers in the new customers (whose buying from me, not my name) name on the card. I have sent a couple forum members direct to my AD and I have also gotten watches for a couple forum members from my AD.

There are of course other sources as well but those are most common.

My .02 its always best to buy from someone like myself whose watches are coming in your name from a US ad just in case there are service issues under warranty you are 100% covered as sometimes they wont service watches (under warranty) from ADs outside the US and I have heard of 2 cases this year where they would not do the work under warranty as the owners name was not the name on the card and they say their warranty is non transferable.

[Gerardus]

Grey is my favorite color

[rolex sweep]

China, they can copy anything due to no copywrite laws in that country.

[Gerardus]

I dont like the 888 code.

[Mosco]

Well, son, one day there was an AD that didn't love his customer very much. Even though the customer has complete trust and confidence in the AD, the AD still scr**ed him by charging full list (or only giving 10% off and acting like you should name your first born after them) - and then nine months later - here comes Grey Market!

Grey market fills the need of those who realize that, for the most part, buying from an AD gives one an expensive, yet false sense of security. If you want to pay top dollar (when in reality, all you're doing is paying for the AD's marble fixtures and mediocre-knowledge salespeople), then buying from MOST AD's is your cup o'tea. If you want to get the same exact watch at an actual fair price - grey market is the way to go. Only one golden rule should be followed when going grey - BUY THE DEALER FIRST.

[watchfreak2003]

Just curious about the (grey) market in US:

How big is the price difference between AD vs. grey market on the Rolex steel sports models e.g. 116710 GMT II ceramic? I assume that the difference in the gold, steel/gold line is HUGE like here in the Northern Europe.
Most of my “grey” Rolex watches come from Italy, but the cost savings at some of the popular steel models like the 116710 is (almost;) insignificant compared to buy at my local AD with a fair discount.

BR
Jesper

[Mosco]

Jesper,

difference is usually 10% - 20% depending on the model.

[watchfreak2003]

Originally Posted by Mosco

Jesper,

difference is usually 10% - 20% depending on the model.

Thanks Greg

[Carlos98326194]

It is from Grey the moment it was NOT DIRECTLY purchase from an AD. Simple as that.??

[WatchTimes]

I know Gray market is a customs term.
I just always assumed getting a new watch with a valid warranty even if not through the AD but a watch dealer was considered Gray in watch talk.

Thanks for clearing that up :)

I always and learning something new

[Tools]

I'm not pointing fingers............

..... I'm just saying......