Mentioning grey market buy to AD

[garyk]

Geez.....

[Calatrava r]

To me the first rule is buy wherever you can get the best deal factoring in the uncertain time factor with an AD. Second rule is never tell another dealer, AD or used market dealer, that you bought a watch someplace else. It is none of their business where you shop and who you buy from.

[rockysw]

there is nothing wrong with asking your AD about realistic timeline for the watch you want.

If they are honest they will tell you whether it is something possible or not and you can decide if you can wait that long.

[HotToddyTX]

I made my decision and found the rose/olive day date at a price point that worked for me. 2019 "like new" from a reputable source. Excited to get this in tomorrow! In the end, a few extra thousand was worth maybe waiting a year+ for the watch or even worse the watching going end of life and the price skyrocketing in the grey.

Thanks for all your feedback!

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by kkqd1337

'growing my relationship'

tell your AD what you want. and keep your money to yourself until they give it to you.

This is the best advice.

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by tmcquade88

I made my decision and found the rose/olive day date at a price point that worked for me. 2019 "like new" from a reputable source. Excited to get this in tomorrow! In the end, a few extra thousand was worth maybe waiting a year+ for the watch or even worse the watching going end of life and the price skyrocketing in the grey.

Thanks for all your feedback!

Pictures when you get it. That’s a beautiful reference.

[MangoTree1]

Originally Posted by jgottsman11

ADs are dumb. Buy that watch on the gray market and stop spending exponential markups on jewelry you can get for a lot cheaper elsewhere

ADs are dumb???!!! With this not respectful attitude i understand that you have to go grey!

[Harry-57]

I think it's essential that you ask your AD what the chances are. How else will you know?

I've bought two Rolex watches on the grey market. I took them both to my AD for authentication because they are RSC accredited and they don't mind doing it. If my AD was touchy about their customers using other resources to obtain watches they would not supply, I would be strongly inclined to tell them to get their heads out their bottoms, although asking about a DD after that probably wouldn't be worth the effort!

See where you stand, as opposed to where you think you might stand, jump ADs if you have to. It's the watch that counts, how you get it is up to you.

[HotToddyTX]

Really happy with the purchase!! Appreciate all the feedback here!!

[shawn13ca]

It's only business.

Did they have the watch you wanted when you wanted it? If not, they can't complain a bit you bought somewhere else.

I don't get how people accept to be treated like that by stores selling luxury items.

[Carguy87]

Originally Posted by tmcquade88

Really happy with the purchase!! Appreciate all the feedback here!!

Congrats!! Just don’t get it sized at your AD

[puma1552]

Originally Posted by shawn13ca

It's only business.

Did they have the watch you wanted when you wanted it? If not, they can't complain a bit you bought somewhere else.

I don't get how people accept to be treated like that by stores selling luxury items.

Pretty much this.

And while I'll generally agree with someone above who said you need not tell an AD you bought another watch at another dealer, it goes back to your point immediately above - I'm buying the piece from whoever procures it first, and until I have it on my wrist I'm visiting every AD in town.

In my case I'm on the list for two watches at three different ADs, so at some point other ADs are going to know I got watch A from dealer A and watch B from dealer B, etc. So in my case, I just was up front and said, "Look, given I'm new to the brand and given the current state of the market, it's probably not surprising I've inquired with the other ADs in town." Granted, my divulgence of that was partly due to the fact one AD offers an "intent to purchase" deposit option where 5% of the deposit is not refundable; I told the deposit dealer that the only reason I would ask for a refund is if someone else got the watch for me first, and when another AD reached out to me the other day to reconfirm my interest, I told her in an ideal world I would get watch A from dealer A due to the non-refundable 5% intent to purchase, and she at dealer B would get me watch B, but I also told her if she gets watch A first, I'll take it from her.

Both ADs seem fine with it. Sometimes you just have to be straightforward. It's business...procure the product first and you've got the sale. Need not overcomplicate and scheme, it's just a pair of luxury watches I can certainly do without.

[dba]

Originally Posted by kkqd1337

'growing my relationship'

One of the more stupid things I've heard. Buying a watch is simple commerce. I have money and the AD either has the item or not. If they don't, there's no need for a "relationship". The watch is out there and somebody has it for sale.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by tmcquade88

Do you think it is out of line to ask my AD what my real chances are at this watch and if there is no chance that I will buy from grey market and bring in there to get sized? Will it hurt my relationship at all with them?

Thanks for your input

Tim

Absolutely not. I think honest and frank communication is key to all relationships, personal, business, or professional.

Now, as to your second question, I guess that depends on how much tact you use in framing your first question.

[SS Oyster]

My recommendation is let your AD know your short list of desired watches. If the AD gets you the watch you want, buy it. If you already own it, sell the preowned one and keep the one in your name from the AD.

[Me4u2night]

It’s business. They’re treating you as business, treat them the same as any other business. If you can’t get what you want from one business, you would typically go elsewhere. Treat it the same, don’t take it personally.

[Car32]

Originally Posted by tmcquade88

Really happy with the purchase!! Appreciate all the feedback here!!

I hope you didn't bring it into your AD to size! I agree with the comments

1) resizing is EASY, if you can work a screwdriver you can resize. no need to bring to AD.

2) never tell your AD you are purchasing somewhere else. It will not make them get you anything faster and may hurt the "relationship"

[Calatrava r]

Congratulations on the new watch. Looks super on you.

[cerendigit]

Bring it to your AD for resizing. It’s only fair.