When does flipping become flipping?

[Milwaukee]

Ok, we all no what flipping is. My question is, how much time or ownership is required before you can sell a new watch and not be flipping? I still have my original day just from 1973 (cost $360.00) and have purchased recent watches that I have fallen out of love with in under six months. So when does flipping become flipping? Interested in the group think here? Thank you.

[Nairn1980]

2-3 years I’d say.

[Explorer2polar]

I'd say out of warranty your ok to swap or trade for another.

Selling to make money is no ..................never.

[P1nky_Up]

I think as long as your intentions were not to sell it for a profit when you bought it, then you aren’t necessarily a flipper. But from an ADs eyes probably 2-3 years minimum

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by P1nky_Up

I think as long as your intentions were not to sell it for a profit when you bought it, then you aren’t necessarily a flipper. But from an ADs eyes probably 2-3 years minimum

Unless you sell it back to them. Buy and sell back a watch they can sell at 2x MSRP as used, and it's unlikely you'll harm that relationship (as long as you don't make enough of a habit of it for Rolex to wonder if it's part of an "arrangement").

[RollieNZ]

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

[steveclr]

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

This is the correct answer. Obviously.

[Robine]

What if you sell it because you dont like it anymore but meanwhile the prices on the secondary market have gone up?

[mattmc1973]

Originally Posted by Robine

What if you sell it because you dont like it anymore but meanwhile the prices on the secondary market have gone up?

I think it comes down to intent when you buy. If you buy a watch because you like it, then 6 months or a year later you decide you want something else, and sell and use the profits to fund your next watch, that’s just smart. Some folks are wealthy enough where they can just accumulate watches incrementally. But for “average joes” who can afford one luxury watch at a time, you have to sell the previous one to buy the next. That doesn’t make you a flipper.


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[Gab27]

It's subjective, IMHO, and dealers may see this differently than we do. I agree that it comes down to purchasing with the primary or sole intent of selling to make a profit.

To me, if you buy a watch with the genuine intent to keep it and wear it, and a week or a month or a year later you absolutely are not feeling the watch and decide to sell it, that isn't flipping even if you make a profit on the sale. It would simply be selling a used item and making a profit (you didn't set market value and you have zero obligation to sell something you own for less than market value.)

Alternatively, if you buy a Daytona with the sole intent of selling it, and hold it for 5 years before selling it, to me that would constitute flipping.

That said, an AD may view the person who sells a watch a month after buying it as a flipper regardless of the circumstances and the person who sells the Daytona 5 years later as not being a flipper regardless of the circumstances.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Robine

What if you sell it because you dont like it anymore but meanwhile the prices on the secondary market have gone up?

Think twice before you buy it, and be sure you love it when you make the purchase.
If you have doubts, don’t buy.

If you suddenly decide you don’t like a piece you have (strange situation that I’ve never experienced in 20 years of buying Rolex), speak to the AD about buying it back, or hang on to it a while before moving it on

[Andad]

Most watch buyers choose a watch and wear it until they (or the watch) stop ticking.

>99% of watch buyers don’t know what ‘flipping’ means.

That probably covers it.

[sgwatchguy]

half of all marriages, in some parts of the world, end in a divorce. These are watches, way less important, and no ones business when you sell, but yours.

[TswaneNguni]

Flipping is running from the AD to " mr grey used watch dealer " and selling for a profit immediately .
The intentions in these cases cannot be defended .
The same goes for ADs ,doing the same ,serving their master ,mr grey .
I believe its the minority of ADs,because they know if they are caught,its

[AK797]

I've always tried to give any new piece 6 months to acclimatize it to my wrist, if I don't feel it after that I sell it.

[Becweb]

When you start making it a side business, or a full business. Nothing wrong with that btw.

[grimps]

Flipping was a term used on here for many years but most the time we made a loss on the watch.
I've owned more than 30 Rolexes and a few other brands over the years and it's only the last 2-3 years that selling a Rolex the minute you walk out the store would see you make any profit. I used to get bored after a couple of years and sell a watch to buy another or just fell out of love with a certain model.

I've used the same Authorized dealer for years and could be classed as a VIP with some of the 'hot' models I've been able to purchase and they usually get me anything I've asked for.
I recently took a Yachtmaster which I'd owned for 4 years to a local Grey dealer in a neighboring city as I never wear it and thought I'd just go and see what they'd offer , their offer seemed low so I decided to keep it.
Now ever since then my AD who i was often speaking to on Whatsapp and thought I had a really good relationship with has gone a bit cagey with me and isn't being as helpful.

I also had a guy on here reply to one of my comments on a subject naming my dealer and bigging up the grey dealer I visited , it seemed as if he'd been researching my old comments and I got the feeling he worked for the grey dealer.

I honestly believe that the grey dealer informed my AD that I'd visited and try to sell him a watch from his dealership , maybe they have some history or maybe they just get along and the grey dealer was mischief making but it seems like that's when my relationship with my AD has changed.
I still own 16 Rolex including all the hot models including Daytonas Batmans hulks ect and the John Mayer , if I was a flipper hoping for a quick profit they would have been sold by now.

If what I think turns out to be true then I'll be exposing the grey dealer and recommending to anyone thinking of using them on all the forums and Facebook groups not to take watches to their Dealership to flip

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

This ^^^

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee

Ok, we all no what flipping is. My question is, how much time or ownership is required before you can sell a new watch and not be flipping? I still have my original day just from 1973 (cost $360.00) and have purchased recent watches that I have fallen out of love with in under six months. So when does flipping become flipping? Interested in the group think here? Thank you.

Did you wear the recent watches or did you fall out of love with them while they were sitting in the safe?

[Pauln]

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

I agree.

[watchmaker]

In my opinion it's the intention of sale and not the duration of ownership that determines if it's a flip or a genuine sale.

[PanosI]

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

Simple!

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

In my opinion it's the intention of sale and not the duration of ownership that determines if it's a flip or a genuine sale.

My AD told me this exact thing.

3 months in the case of a blue overseas sold to a certain YouTuber was definitely considered by them to be a flip.

[1William]

Buying to sell.

[ap1]

Does the definition even matter, it’s your property. I buy to wear and often fall out of love. Used to burn money, now the churn makes a little. It will probably turn at some point again.

[jcdeng]

You are not a flipper as long as you sell it below the price you got it for. I am sure any grey will take a white SS daytona for $11000.

[Robine]

Originally Posted by jcdeng

You are not a flipper as long as you sell it below the price you got it for. I am sure any grey will take a white SS daytona for $11000.

You buy a DJ at, say, 4000 maket. 10 years later you sell but market is now 6000 for pre-owned. At what price are you a non-flipper?

[911991]

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

[Tricolore66]

So if that wasn’t the purchase intention yet you do that anyway it’s not flipping?

Originally Posted by RollieNZ

You are a flipper when you purchase a watch with the intention of selling it for a profit - simple!

[sj24k]

when does this topic go away?

people have been buying and selling items for as long as items have been able to be bought and sold. you buy it. you own it. you keep it forever. you sell it tomorrow. your call.