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How do gray market dealers get their watches?
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Author:  surf_rider [ Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  How do gray market dealers get their watches?
How do non authorized dealers get their Breitlings?

Thanks in advance.
Author:  Twotone540 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
They buy them from authorized dealers at the AD price or near that, then sell as a grey
market watch. I know of a large AD of other brands who has a separate entity a few blocks from
his jewelry store that sells his and others as grey market and is quite big on the web.
Most often an AD has to sell a certain quantity to be an AD.
If he doesn't make quota he will loose the brand...So he does what he has to do.
Sell those watches...Grey market style.
I hope this helps. :D
Author:  surf_rider [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 4:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
So the watches are sold initially by Breitling to an AD, who then resells them to a gray market dealer. If Breitling doesn't like this arrangement, why don't they stop it? It ought to be fairly easy for them to track down with AD's are doing this. All they would have to do is buy a gray market watch, and check the serial number to see what gray market dealer they sold to.
Author:  Twotone540 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
Remember... They go to a dealer and the dealer is often unable to sell it....Then he sells
to the grey ....Cut out the Grey Market and the watch company would sell less watches.
The watch co. is in business to sell watches.Whatever brand it may be.
If the AD can't move it one way...He can move it another.....The Watch Co.makes
the same amount of profit .
Author:  Roffensian [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 5:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
surf_rider wrote:
So the watches are sold initially by Breitling to an AD, who then resells them to a gray market dealer. If Breitling doesn't like this arrangement, why don't they stop it? It ought to be fairly easy for them to track down with AD's are doing this. All they would have to do is buy a gray market watch, and check the serial number to see what gray market dealer they sold to.



Of course, but Breitling don't care.

Breitling effectively creates the grey market:

1) Sign contracts with multiple ADs in close geographic proximity to one another
2) Give those ADs shockingly high sales targets that have to be met to maintain the AD status
3) Stand back and watch the monye pour in from AD orders

Other than reputation (which Breitling clearly doesn't care about) all of the damage is to the AD network - the margins of the AD that sells to ADs and the general margin by depressed sales prices from a glut of pieces online.
Author:  Twotone540 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
I was in the largest mall in Charlotte,N.C. 2 wks. ago and I noticed 3 dealers selling Movado.
I've never seen that b/4.
They must be pushing Movado....Great for a buyer....Just run back and forth for the best deal!!
But bad for the AD.Same goes for all AD's regardless of brand.
All watch companies are in business to sell watches.....That's it...The end.!
Author:  zak57 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
I'd like to see Breitling buy back unsold stock and to create an 'archive' chronolog to satisfy the demands of those poor souls who are appalled by the new offerings. This would keep the brand 'exclusive' and would give consumers a wider choice of models.
Author:  angstfree [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
alanfurman.com is a reputable grey marketer in Rockville, MD.
His brick & mortar walk-in, & internet status have earned him
a BBB/ A+ report. No filing off serial #'s, no leaving clients
stranded in space. You get genuine, quality products @
discounted prices. The only difference is that warranties &
services are handled by furman. However, buying any Rolex
earns the buyer a free lifetime extended warranty. He also
accepts trade-ins. I have not tried this firm, but would seri-
ously consider it in the future.
Author:  sharkman [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
Twotone540 wrote:
I was in the largest mall in Charlotte,N.C. 2 wks. ago and I noticed 3 dealers selling Movado.!



Every major department store in every mall I have been to, since becoming a watch geek and noticing, sells Movado. Most sell Tag as well.

Zak57 wrote:
]I'd like to see Breitling buy back unsold stock and to create an 'archive' chronolog to satisfy the demands of those poor souls who are appalled by the new offerings. This would keep the brand 'exclusive' and would give consumers a wider choice of models.


That is never going to happen and this is not a Breitling limited ssue.

I haven't experienced a glut of Breitling ADs where I live - the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area is now well over 2,000,000 and spread out over a large area because there is virtually no high rise residential. We have 4 ADs.

I think it is important to note that MOST higher end Swiss brands do exactly what Breitling does with the result being watches moved to the gray market at cost to near cost. Within the realm of most buyers, there are a couple notable exceptions - Panerai and Rolex. Panerai severly restricts the number of ADs. In my area of over 2mil, there is ONE AD. Rolex has many ADs here but is notorious for their strict regulation and auditing of ADs on issues like discounts and gray market dumps.
Author:  grace2939 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
Greetings!
If you want to see a glut of Breitling ADs, visit Las Vegas, NV. There's around 12 here (not counting the multiple stores one dealer might have.) The ones on the strip aren't into doing deals. I figure they get most of their sales from soaking the hordes of tourists, who probably don't really care about competitive shopping. The off strip ones are more likely to give a discount, especially on discontinued models (I can think of two stores off hand).
As for grey market, I had no idea what that meant when I bought my first expensive watch; a blue mid-size Omega seamaster a number of years back. I was fortunate; it turned out well. I still peruse some online grey market dealers (including one I found on this web site), but haven't purchased from one in awhile. I suspect, if the right watch came along at the right price, I'd probably take another chance. Alas, there are watches out there I'll never afford any other way.
Author:  sracer [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
I was discussing watches while in LV this past weekend with a guy that was a Rolex authorized AD...He said that several years ago, Rolex reduced the number of ADs from 2000+ to around 400. They basically dictate everything about how the dealer operates - advertising, stock (said they came into the store monthly and just restocked what you sold in the prior month, you had to have in the case, what they wanted), you paid in 30 days or you were done. Interesting contrast to how the rest of the market operates, but when you have out marketed everyone else, you get to do what you want, I suppose.
Author:  sharkman [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
sracer wrote:
I was discussing watches while in LV this past weekend with a guy that was a Rolex authorized AD...He said that several years ago, Rolex reduced the number of ADs from 2000+ to around 400. They basically dictate everything about how the dealer operates - advertising, stock (said they came into the store monthly and just restocked what you sold in the prior month, you had to have in the case, what they wanted), you paid in 30 days or you were done. Interesting contrast to how the rest of the market operates, but when you have out marketed everyone else, you get to do what you want, I suppose.



All true
Author:  Kodiak [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
sracer wrote:
I was discussing watches while in LV this past weekend with a guy that was a Rolex authorized AD...He said that several years ago, Rolex reduced the number of ADs from 2000+ to around 400.

They (Rolex) just reduced by TWO ADs in my area in the last few weeks (along with two Omega ADs). Think there is still two Rolex left, only one Omega.
Author:  nr123 [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
Interesting thread - I wondered about how watches went into the grey market.
Author:  Alien [ Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How do gray market dealers get their watches?
There are also other ways, that watches go into the grey market: Just think for a moment, where all the stolen watches go to. I doubt, that a jeweler, who "organizes" a watch from a friend, who is AD, will get a stolen watch, but I would not guarantee that for the bigger players on the grey market. But as long as the brands have no worldwide system to track the serial numbers of stolen watches, You will not find out.

BG
Thomas
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