AP price drop 17% , will Rolex follow suit?

[superdog]

I would never buy a watch from a company that had a price drop. Keep prices level? Fine. But to drop prices is a slap in the face to anyone that purchased one before the drop.

Even knowing about this drop would stop me from ever buying an AP. I find it to be a terrible move. If I bought one and they dropped a few weeks later, I'd be livid.

[Sarajevo]

Reducing prices raises a whole range of complicated issues for any brand - previous customer frustration, increased expectations of future reductions, brand equity dilution, etc.

Rolex will never reduce MRSP prices. They may not increase prices by as much as previously planned over a set period, but reducing headline prices? Never. It would go against everything they stand for and we as consumers rely on.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by bayerische

AP isn't compeating with Rolex IMHO.

AP is in a segment above Rolex.

Yes!

[superdog]

Originally Posted by bayerische

AP isn't compeating with Rolex IMHO.

AP is in a segment above Rolex.

100% off. Truth is AP is considered by many a better watch.

That said, the vast majority of people looking for a nice watch, will look at both brands.

People will buy a rolex over an AP, regardless of the quality of watch. And vice versa.

Therefore it is absolutely competition.

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by superdog

I would never buy a watch from a company that had a price drop. Keep prices level? Fine. But to drop prices is a slap in the face to anyone that purchased one before the drop.

Even knowing about this drop would stop me from ever buying an AP. I find it to be a terrible move. If I bought one and they dropped a few weeks later, I'd be livid.

Agree

[leica]

You're kidding right?

[jlc123]

Its more likely that they'll counter with a 17% raise.

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by leica

You're kidding right?

Are you asking if we are kidding about purchasing a brand that decreases prices by almost 20%? I am very serious I will not and if I am not mistaken AP has done this before... Someone correct me if I am wrong. It will absolutely KILL pricing on the secondary market for these pieces and if I took an additional $10-20k hit I sure wouldn't be smiling..... The people that own these pieces just lose 2-3 SS Subs over night... Out the window.

[FremStar]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

Are you asking if we are kidding about purchasing a brand that decreases prices by almost 20%? I am very serious I will not and if I am not mistaken AP has done this before... Someone correct me if I am wrong. It will absolutely KILL pricing on the secondary market for these pieces and if I took an additional $10-20k hit I sure wouldn't be smiling..... The people that own these pieces just lose 2-3 SS Subs over night... Out the window.

All valid facts Adam, however, all is not lost for those of us who purchased at the AP boutiques as some of us (depending on when we purchased) were offered the difference between what we paid and the current selling prices in form of a store credit, which could mean a free SS model depending on what precious metal AP reference was purchased

The AP price drop is not cool for AP owners who purchased early but great for folks that wanted to step into a precious metal AP model but were hesitant.

Secondary market on AP precious metal pieces are trashed now, however, it is what it is... I guess now I can take the stickers off my 44..

[MortgageGuy]

[QUOTE=FremStar; I guess now I can take the stickers off my 44..

[/QUOTE]



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. that's hilarious Sam!!! We will need an unveiling threads this you realize

[FremStar]

Originally Posted by MortgageGuy

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. that's hilarious Sam!!! We will need an unveiling threads this you realize

;-)

[MortgageGuy]

Originally Posted by FremStar

;-)

Good to see you buddy I agree with your points too.

[s14roller]

Originally Posted by superdog

100% off. Truth is AP is considered by many a better watch.

That said, the vast majority of people looking for a nice watch, will look at both brands.

People will buy a rolex over an AP, regardless of the quality of watch. And vice versa.

Therefore it is absolutely competition.

I'm going to disagree...when I take a look at what I considered to be the "right" Rolex for me, I went with a Sub first, and arguably one of the watches that the majority of Rolex owners would consider buying (or GMT2, etc, all around 8-9k retail). My first AP was a ROO (which I think is the line AP sells the most) which retails for 25k...

I agree that some people may never buy one brand over the other, but I wouldn't say they are battling over the same market.

I doubt Lambo really cares how many BMW/MBs are sold

[Evil bendy]

Originally Posted by FremStar

All valid facts Adam, however, all is not lost for those of us who purchased at the AP boutiques as some of us (depending on when we purchased) were offered the difference between what we paid and the current selling prices in form of a store credit, which could mean a free SS model depending on what precious metal AP reference was purchased

The AP price drop is not cool for AP owners who purchased early but great for folks that wanted to step into a precious metal AP model but were hesitant.

Secondary market on AP precious metal pieces are trashed now, however, it is what it is... I guess now I can take the stickers off my 44..

Lol wear it in good health - its a beautiful piece at any price

Sent from my Z10 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

[mldaytona]

Originally Posted by ispep

AP is dropping their gold models by 17 % . Do you think Rolex and other brands will follow suit?

[Chaching]

Originally Posted by ispep

AP is dropping their gold models by 17 % . Do you think Rolex and other brands will follow suit?

[thomaspp]

Originally Posted by superdog

100% off. Truth is AP is considered by many a better watch.

That said, the vast majority of people looking for a nice watch, will look at both brands.

People will buy a rolex over an AP, regardless of the quality of watch. And vice versa.

Therefore it is absolutely competition.

Agree with this. This describes me every time I'm in the market for a new piece... Again

[agfebres]

When pigs fly

[Mickey®]

No of course not.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by s14roller

I'm going to disagree...when I take a look at what I considered to be the "right" Rolex for me, I went with a Sub first, and arguably one of the watches that the majority of Rolex owners would consider buying (or GMT2, etc, all around 8-9k retail). My first AP was a ROO (which I think is the line AP sells the most) which retails for 25k...

I agree that some people may never buy one brand over the other, but I wouldn't say they are battling over the same market.

I doubt Lambo really cares how many BMW/MBs are sold

I will see your disagree and raise you another disagree.

First, I think comparing watches to cars is an unreasonable analogy. Second, if I were to accept it as a valid arguement, I would say going for a Lambo or Ferrari over a BMW would be very different than comparing AP to Rolex. If I were looking for a Ferrari type car, I would never even consider even an M6.

Bottom line, I was just in line to get a nice watch. I looked at AP, PP, Jaeger, BP and more. I ended up with a WG Rolex. That alone, makes them competition. I bought the one, over the other.

I own a few fitness centers, and we are top notch. Everything we do is to the best of our ability. There are other centers by me that do not have the same level of quality. However, some people go to them instead of my place. That makes the competition. It is pretty cut and dry, regardless if my product is superior.

Some people that look at AP instead buy Rolex. It would be folly for the AP heads to think otherwise, regardless of the "details" behind the watch. Someone buying a watch 10k and above are absolutely looking at all the top brands. They are therefore competition for one another.

I don't know why they decided to have this price cut. I think it is a huge mistake. Could it be to be more in line with some of their competition? I absolutely think it could be. I admit that I do not know. How could I?

BUT, in any reasonable sense, they are absolutely in competition with one another. This is true regardless if the AP brand is "better" than Rolex.

And again, with many other options, I much prefer the watch I ended up ordering, a Rolex. Not saying it is the right move for everyone. Many will think I made a mistake. For me, for my reasons, it was the right move.

But for sure it was a turtle race till the end. A true competition.

[s14roller]

Again, in your case, you ended up buying a WG Rolex which isn't exactly Rolexes bread and butter. A 8-9K SS is. Likewise, a 25K SS ROO is AP's bread and butter. Yes, when someone is looking to spend 30-40K, they will look across all brands...someone looking to spend 5-10k? Not so much...

In terms of fitness centers, I will say after going to Lifetime, I wont be going to any cheaper ones. I'd argue that gyms that charge $100+ a month go after a different target audience than ones that charge $15-30 a month. But you're the expert on that, not I

Anyway, I think these are going a bit off the original intent so we'll leave it as you say rolex and Ap compete for the same customers and I will say they dont. just my opinion anyway.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by s14roller

Again, in your case, you ended up buying a WG Rolex which isn't exactly Rolexes bread and butter. A 8-9K SS is. Likewise, a 25K SS ROO is AP's bread and butter. Yes, when someone is looking to spend 30-40K, they will look across all brands...someone looking to spend 5-10k? Not so much...

In terms of fitness centers, I will say after going to Lifetime, I wont be going to any cheaper ones. I'd argue that gyms that charge $100+ a month go after a different target audience than ones that charge $15-30 a month. But you're the expert on that, not I

Anyway, I think these are going a bit off the original intent so we'll leave it as you say rolex and Ap compete for the same customers and I will say they dont. just my opinion anyway.

agree on all accounts and appreciate the debate and your argument/viewpoint.

that said, it is a relevant conversation as the main point is that AP dropped their prices on precious metal version. this sub-topic was spawned as someone made the point that maybe AP is trying to be more in line and sell instead of a Rolex. in that regard, it is very relevant.

either way, i do respect your opinion.

in regards to the question of the OP. no, i do not think that Rolex will follow suit. and if they did, i personally would be livid and lose respect for the brand. i would also be super annoyed that i paid something and then saw the price change so drastically. i would never feel comfortable buying the brand again. this is just my opinion. i don't think Rolex will drop, but i also really hope that is the case.

[herbie911]

Can't see this coming unless the Asian market starts to crash! Your average Mr and Mrs middle class will most likely to purchase a Rolex as their first luxury watch before they are aware of other higher end brand out there. Most of my family are professionals (doctors, lawyers) and some of them don't even know what a Patek is but they all got a Rolex or Rolexes?

[Vincent65]

nope!

[zhiunit]

why would rolex lower their price? last i checked, they are very high in demand (even the gold ones).....and honestly if i ever looked at AP, i would be for their SS or ceramic+SS peices, but that is just me >.<

[Sam Philip]

Originally Posted by ispep

AP is dropping their gold models by 17 % . Do you think Rolex and other brands will follow suit?

Very unlikely

[HL65]

Not gonna happen!

[Jsan20]

I would still buy one but at a 35% discount. I sure wouldn't take less considering the move down.

[Darlinboy]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I don't believe Rolex have ever had a price decrease in over a century of their existence, and I doubt they will start any time soon. I believe the AP price cut is to control discounting - Rolex has done the same thing by cutting dealer margins

This!

[kilyung]

IMO if Rolex dropped their prices (never going to happen), I'd be pissed but it wouldn't dissuade me from buying again. I have several precious metal Rolexes and I very much enjoy them for what they are and not any intrinsic value. Watch collecting isn't an investment and I entered it understanding I could loose everything I put into it just like any of my other hobbies.