Noticing slower gray market sales

[Henrimontgomery]

Originally Posted by espanol

My biggest wish is that the bottom completely falls out on watches. Burn baby burn! I've got a list of watches I'd like to buy from cryptobros for cents on the dollar...

I'm here for the watches, not the casino

Same. I want to see the flippers disappear, these parasite have had enough of people’s money.

I want to be able to get and buy the watch I want against a base of people who want it, not thousand of speculative people waiting for their easy turnaround money.

I bet if you suppressed 100% of the people who don’t want the Pepsi, but kept those who want it, and those who want to gift it, we’d all get allocation within the year.

[febie111]

Originally Posted by Henrimontgomery

Same. I want to see the flippers disappear, these parasite have had enough of people’s money.

I want to be able to get and buy the watch I want against a base of people who want it, not thousand of speculative people waiting for their easy turnaround money.

I bet if you suppressed 100% of the people who don’t want the Pepsi, but kept those who want it, and those who want to gift it, we’d all get allocation within the year.

I agree 100%..This and the greasy Rolex AD shenanigans have really turned me off of the brand...I think all of this nonsense will hurt Rolex in the long run but saying this on a Rolex "junkie" Forum will probably not go over very well...Rolex people seem to enjoy the abuse they get from the AD's.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Henrimontgomery

Same. I want to see the flippers disappear, these parasite have had enough of people’s money.



I want to be able to get and buy the watch I want against a base of people who want it, not thousand of speculative people waiting for their easy turnaround money.



I bet if you suppressed 100% of the people who don’t want the Pepsi, but kept those who want it, and those who want to gift it, we’d all get allocation within the year.

This is about as logical as saying that we can eliminate traffic jams if everyone would just agree to drive faster.

There is less suppy than demand. You can't prevent people from selling something they bought and you can't limit how much they ask.

Unless supply increases, or demand drops, there will be a secondary market.

[garyk]

Sometimes these little conversations are years old and not really acknowledging where the state of the market is currently. Things have changed a lot in the past two years and perseverance landed me two watches I seriously waited for since the Pandemic hit. Cheer up!

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by febie111

I agree 100%..This and the greasy Rolex AD shenanigans have really turned me off of the brand...I think all of this nonsense will hurt Rolex in the long run but saying this on a Rolex "junkie" Forum will probably not go over very well...Rolex people seem to enjoy the abuse they get from the AD's.

The beauty is there are other great watch brands selling at or below msrp to buy. Diversify the collection seems to make most more happy and care less about what one brand is doing.

[BillA]

Originally Posted by Mystro

The beauty is there are other great watch brands selling at or below msrp to buy. Diversify the collection seems to make most more happy and care less about what one brand is doing.

Agree.

I got sick of the premiums for Rolex watches that the greys are charging. Diversified to Cartier, Breitling and more recently Omega. These watches do not value like Rolex, I understand that. The goal is to buy them at a good price under msrp.

I have always wanted a Breguet. But not going to pay crazy prices, they do not hold their value.

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by BillA

Agree.

I got sick of the premiums for Rolex watches that the greys are charging. Diversified to Cartier, Breitling and more recently Omega. These watches do not value like Rolex, I understand that. The goal is to buy them at a good price under msrp.

I have always wanted a Breguet. But not going to pay crazy prices, they do not hold their value.

100% this - I used to have only Rolex and the random Casio watches and I've too diversified to Cartier, Omega, Breguet and also bought .... Yes, a Hublot... It is virtually worthless in the second market but it gets the most complements when worn and it is also SUPER comfortable, versatile and light.

The world is so much bigger than Rolex. When you stop caring and start wearing, any brand will do as long as you like it.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

100% this - I used to have only Rolex and the random Casio watches and I've too diversified to Cartier, Omega, Breguet and also bought .... Yes, a Hublot... It is virtually worthless in the second market but it gets the most complements when worn and it is also SUPER comfortable, versatile and light.

The world is so much bigger than Rolex. When you stop caring and start wearing, any brand will do as long as you like it.

Yes, exactly. We wear what we like and the hell what the secondary market values it. That makes us WIS and not “watch banking” investors.

I wear my Bell&Ross military ceramic all the time. I love that watch and that simple eta movement keeps wonderful time and cheap to service. It’s a durable $2500 watch that punches way above its price point.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Yes, exactly. We wear what we like and the hell what the secondary market values it. That makes us WIS and not “watch banking” investors.

I wear my Bell&Ross military ceramic all the time. I love that watch and that simple eta movement keeps wonderful time and cheap to service. It’s a durable $2500 watch that punches way above its price point.

I’m looking at buying one of those, excellent military watch!!

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by garyk

I’m looking at buying one of those, excellent military watch!!

They are so thin, flat and comfy on the wrist. The design is brilliant.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by febie111

I agree 100%..This and the greasy Rolex AD shenanigans have really turned me off of the brand...I think all of this nonsense will hurt Rolex in the long run but saying this on a Rolex "junkie" Forum will probably not go over very well...Rolex people seem to enjoy the abuse they get from the AD's.

The opposite of love isn’t hate, it is indifference.

You sound like you’re in love.

[Ohiorolex]

The flip side of this is when you buy a Cartier or IWC or Panerai or Breguet and want to move on from it a few years later you take a beating. When you buy a Rolex and decide you want to try a different watch a few years later it is a wash. For me the market condition is having the opposite effect. My collection is becoming predominantly Rolexes. If I don’t wear a watch and want to move on, I don’t feel like I am getting taken advantage of for it.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by Ohiorolex

The flip side of this is when you buy a Cartier or IWC or Panerai or Breguet and want to move on from it a few years later you take a beating. When you buy a Rolex and decide you want to try a different watch a few years later it is a wash. For me the market condition is having the opposite effect. My collection is becoming predominantly Rolexes. If I don’t wear a watch and want to move on, I don’t feel like I am getting taken advantage of for it.

You only take a beating on Panerai and Breguet if you don’t buy smart. If you buy smart you’ll still lose a few $$$ on the resell but that’s the cost of enjoyment.

Even Rolex back in the day if you’d flip it you’d lose a few $$. That’s how I was able to get a ND sub in 2015 NIB for 5.5k

[enjoythemusic]

My wife totally scored on our 12th Anniversary / Valentine's Day. ~60% off. Gentlemen, there are deals to be found.

Happy Wife
Happy Life

[Bartolo]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

You only take a beating on Panerai and Breguet if you don’t buy smart. If you buy smart you’ll still lose a few $$$ on the resell but that’s the cost of enjoyment.

Even Rolex back in the day if you’d flip it you’d lose a few $$. That’s how I was able to get a ND sub in 2015 NIB for 5.5k

I've come around to buying brands that depreciate a lot on the "gently used" market and taking advantage of the depreciation.

The other way to do this is to make sure you're getting 30% or more off MSRP. I'm not sure how/where to do this in the US these days. This could easily be done in the Caribbean pre-covid and probably still can today, on many Richemont and Swatch Group brands, UN, etc.

[TickTockChuck]

Originally Posted by G23

AD's are going to hold onto COVID hype as long as humanly possible. My AD told me I can have anything gold I want right now. Lots of stock. The only thing is I am not going to pay 15% more for it.

I agree, was just offered a gold GMT even though I'm on their list for for a SS one. Gold watches are starting to sit. I'm not going to buy a $60k watch when I only want a $13k watch. Plus I agree the ADs are addicted to having the upper hand in dishing out watches and leveraging it to promote other jewelry sales.

I'll be glad when this is all over.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Henrimontgomery

Same. I want to see the flippers disappear, these parasite have had enough of people’s money.

I want to be able to get and buy the watch I want against a base of people who want it, not thousand of speculative people waiting for their easy turnaround money.

I bet if you suppressed 100% of the people who don’t want the Pepsi, but kept those who want it, and those who want to gift it, we’d all get allocation within the year.

These parasites as you call them are simply the general public chasing the current Rolex collecting mania. As with any other collecting, collections change, and people swap in and out. Value retention allows the Rolex buyer a degree of fickleness not commonly found in consumer goods. It's all good and is what drives the Rolex retail market and makes scarce products available to the general public which it otherwise would not be. If consumers cannot transition out of watches, they quickly lose the ability to buy more and the whole thing implodes. Hype breeds demand, but it also disappointment for many. They get that Daytona or whatever, and it just doesn't measure up to the end all be all and the rest is history as they say.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

You only take a beating on Panerai and Breguet if you don’t buy smart. If you buy smart you’ll still lose a few $$$ on the resell but that’s the cost of enjoyment.

Even Rolex back in the day if you’d flip it you’d lose a few $$. That’s how I was able to get a ND sub in 2015 NIB for 5.5k

Absolute true. The bargains are out there and in general you don’t lose much after a few years of use if you do sell. I have actually broke even many of times with non-Rolex brands. In the end who cares as it’s about enjoyment and experience you gain in ownership.

[whiskyrolex]

Just FYI fakes are sold on MODA and I know someone who was sold a fake. I would get that watch inspected very carefully.

If it's too good to be true...

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by TickTockChuck

I'll be glad when this is all over.

Imho it's over. Rolex 2029 will be a glorious thing for true lovers of their timepieces.

[SVH]

I think older ADs have been though enough cycles to understand they have to maximize profit whey they can, can't hold that against them even though purchase history etc feels icky, especially given Rolex's shady distribution tactics re: arbitrarily allocating SS watches and other in-demand pieces, not allowing dealers to order particular pieces.

10 years ago our city had 3 ADs and they were all stocked - submariners, sea-dwellers, Yachtmasters all available in multiple formats, and the occasional Daytona, they couldn't move DJ or Explorers even with hefty discounts.

now there is one AD, the free pandemic money is gone, the effect of inflation is catching up with the middle class and production is higher than before, and it seems we're experiencing a return to availability for many pieces based on the spike in incoming posts- imagine how many buyers are NOT on the forum that are also picking up new pieces.

[mrproc]

Does this mean prices might come down a little?

[trout_thumper21]

I purchased an unworn, fully-stickered 126660 DSSD D-Blue for a few grand under MSRP + sales tax. So on some references, the market is for sure softening. The D-Blue was never a super hyped reference given the size, but SS brand new for under retail is SS brand new for under retail.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by febie111

I agree 100%..This and the greasy Rolex AD shenanigans have really turned me off of the brand...I think all of this nonsense will hurt Rolex in the long run but saying this on a Rolex "junkie" Forum will probably not go over very well...Rolex people seem to enjoy the abuse they get from the AD's.

[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by Mystro

The beauty is there are other great watch brands selling at or below msrp to buy. Diversify the collection seems to make most more happy and care less about what one brand is doing.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by Snow-Dweller

I’ve looked on FB and there are a number of MODA groups. Which is the one to join?

Moda Watch Club. You typically need an established FB account to be accepted.

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by Maleg

Moda Watch Club. You typically need an established FB account to be accepted.

Thanks

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

My wife totally scored on our 12th Anniversary / Valentine's Day. ~60% off. Gentlemen, there are deals to be found.

Happy Wife
Happy Life

]

Congratulations and happy anniversary

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by zengineer

This is about as logical as saying that we can eliminate traffic jams if everyone would just agree to drive faster.

There is less suppy than demand. You can't prevent people from selling something they bought and you can't limit how much they ask.

Unless supply increases, or demand drops, there will be a secondary market.

It is true. If EVERYBODY drove faster traffic jams will disappear. It's the handful of people toddering along at snails pace that create the bottlenecks.

If the number of speculative investors dropped significantly there would be more watches available to both consumers and gray dealers. The supply of overpriced watches at the gray dealers would go down and the overall gray market prices would drop as well.

In the pre-bubble days the big grays had both friendly AD's selling below market and "contractors" buying watches for them all over the world at discount prices. They passed those discounts along to us. The current Rolex inventory model eliminates these options and the grays resort to buying overpriced merch from speculative investors. Get rid of these snails and the traffic will open up.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Maleg

It is true. If EVERYBODY drove faster traffic jams will disappear. It's the handful of people toddering along at snails pace that create the bottlenecks.

If the number of speculative investors dropped significantly there would be more watches available to both consumers and gray dealers. The supply of overpriced watches at the gray dealers would go down and the overall gray market prices would drop as well.

In the pre-bubble days the big grays had both friendly AD's selling below market and "contractors" buying watches for them all over the world at discount prices. They passed those discounts along to us. The current Rolex inventory model eliminates these options and the grays resort to buying overpriced merch from speculative investors. Get rid of these snails and the traffic will open up.

I understand it is true...my point is about the two things being equally impossible to make happen.

You can't build a plan based on getting everyone else to behave the way you wish they would.