Going back to my beginning in watch collecting, 1986 in the US Navy I saw a diver wearing a seiko dive watch, I went to the PX in Gitmo Cuba and bought a seiko 6309, it was $125 dollars, I was making $880 per month. this was my only watch for years. in 2016 I started buying and trading watches looking for my grail or what ever watch would be the best. now its 2023 I have retired , after owning 5 Rolex 5 Omegas and countless other watches, I have returned to Seiko my first love, the King Turtle 003 black dial is the perfect watch.
“Build up a purchase history first” and maybe wait several years before we’ll _maybe_ allow you to buy what you actually want 😂. Can you imagine doing this with other purchases? What a bunch of bullish!t that’s been going on in the watch world. Just as bad are the people who desperately throw their money into a predatory system like this and allow it to work.
At this point it seems it can all be chalked up to greed. Greed of the manufacturers, dealers and end consumers. I’d say we end consumers are the worst. Marching like sheep towards the next shiny, more or less, useless object. Gotta have it now. I deserve it now. I’ll pay double to have it now. Look at what I got. Look at me. Me me me. Makes me sick, about myself too. Reevaluation of priorities is sorely needed, then prices will moderate, but we all know that isn’t going to happen.
Rolex doesn’t do this with certain watches. Now they do it with EVERY WATCH and dealers sell the vast majority to the grey market. Watches never hit the floor, they go in the back for specific celebrities, etc. and the rest get sold to grey market dealers for kick backs. A shame that none of you have the balls to just outright say it…
You can’t go on RUclips and make accusations like that without proof - or you can get sued. Show some evidence of that happening and I can assure you people will cover it.
@@JustBlueFish Given my position in the industry, I unfortunately can’t give you proof. But I also know exactly what I’m talking about. And things can be said without “getting sued.” Opinions and editorial content are fair game.
"A shame..." This is the best comment! 100% agree! We need watches with at least 100m water resistance because, at the moment, we are in a deep-deep @$$.
I think it’s ridiculous for a customer be asked to buy anything they didn’t want in order to be considered for a chance at a product they want. The whole idea puts a bad taste in my mouth. If the AD would start a new wait list every 1/4 or run it as a lottery, but telling someone they have to “build a relationship” with the dealer?! Nope.
This is EXACTLY like high end Scotch & Bourbon these days. Many many liquor stores hide and hold desirable bottles of whiskey behind the counter and only offer them to "valued customers who buy lots of booze frequently" so basically spend at least $200 a week with us on Jack Daniels and Smirnoff vodka if you want us to grace you with the opportunity to buy a $40 MSRP bottle of Eagle rare for $100 cash....its freaking stupid.
The information asymmetry with secret lists and hidden inventory status makes me feel like I am not a valued customer no matter how much I spend. I'd pick an AD selling at market rate over this nonsense any day (I know that they are obligated by the brands to sell at MSRP). I just can't buy from dealers with mostly "exhibition only" and empty cases. Maybe that's why I love brands like JLC, Omega, GS, and Cartier so much. As for brands like Rolex, Patek and AP: The grey market experience is so much more premium and enjoyable.
As hard as it might be for me to bring out the violins for someone blowing over 200 grand on what amounts to trinkets, I nevertheless see the ramifications of ADs future faking customers to milk them for more money, IF what was alleged in the lawsuit was indeed true. Consumer protection is important, but at this point, you’d have to get something in writing, rather than just an AD rep telling it to you verbally.
yeah I imagine a lot of people will have the opinion that if someone wants to blow 200k on watches "screw 'em", but that's not one person isn't the issue - it's just bad for all consumers.
This purchaser's actions are just incomprehensible. All he has to do is say 'no'. If I wanted to incentivize the AD I would say I want this PP within six months (or whatever) otherwise the deal is off. Still, I hope he wins his lawsuit - it would be a great precedent.
Tell if them I want it in 6 months or the deal is off doesn’t incentivize the dealer of a product in short supply at all though. They’ll just move on to the next customer without a second thought.
I an very curious to know if anyone knows aside from the luxury watch brands & ADs ‘openly’ running such ‘spend more on products you don’t want so that we can consider to sell you the product you want’ scheme, is there any other consumer products/industry that running the same scheme? Jewelry? Branded purse/bag?
Such practice should be passed down as law to be criminal. This is typically luxury goods practices, including Hermes for Birken Bag. The demands for forced buying items are a waste of resources, the suppliers should just produce items in demand and if the demands are really high, just price it high and stop producing unwanted items.
Well first all ….these luxury brands have artificially inflated prices. If you look at what’s the actual net cost of any of these watches it’s already price gouging. Once people are willing to keeping paying these high prices and believe these brands are worth what they are charge then of course this leads to shady practices by the brand themselves and at retail level.
Customers that accuse ADs of being "sleazy"....it comes across as sour grapes. In the same way that a kid complains when it doesn't get the toy it wants. (I am not talking about the specific case involving the lawsuit, as that involves potential law-breaking activity). We all know that even at MSRP, these luxury watches are already "overpriced". In this market, you have to pay to play - or just accept that you cannot compete and move on, instead of blaming other people. None of us have any right to these goods. When you blame the manufacturer for "artificially limiting supply", it shows a lack of appreciation of how markets work in the context of ostentatious goods.
First it was Rolex and AP ADs that started this sleazy practice, now Patek and Lange ADs are doing it too apparently… just very unfortunate. A Rolex or AP I can easily do without. Never been a big fan of those brands anyway, but now Patek and especially Lange as well? I like those brands quite a lot.
I understand the desire for a watch but I find an AP Royal Oak and a Patek Nautilus ugly dated watches from the 70’s. Even if I had the cash to buy, it’s not my style. I just don’t get why guys want these models?
@@Milofchg It's a status symbol, looks good on Instagram, shows the great unwashed how successful you are. Puts them a few rungs above the Rolex crowd.
It is easy to fix if they want to, Make an international list on the web page where AD registers you and it is open to everyone, or to the ones who pay %20 of the retail price….
@@JustBlueFish it is working for the AD and the company….line them up with money in their hands, begging you for the watch. It is a corporate wet dream🤣
Can you imagine the situation, when someone is going to the drug store, wanting to buy some aspirin (for example) and the drug AD is telling him "Hey, I can sell you some aspirin, but first you have to buy some other unnecessary medications to prove that you deserve the aspirin". If a customer wants to buy some damn aspirin, the drug AD has to sell it to him, if it's available. We can't blame the customer - if he wants/needs the product and he has the money to buy it, he should get the product if it's available. That's it.
Join the JustBlueFish Watch Club - facebook.com/groups/JBFWC
Going back to my beginning in watch collecting, 1986 in the US Navy I saw a diver wearing a seiko dive watch, I went to the PX in Gitmo Cuba and bought a seiko 6309, it was $125 dollars, I was making $880 per month. this was my only watch for years. in 2016 I started buying and trading watches looking for my grail or what ever watch would be the best. now its 2023 I have retired , after owning 5 Rolex 5 Omegas and countless other watches, I have returned to Seiko my first love, the King Turtle 003 black dial is the perfect watch.
That's a great journey and story thanks for sharing!
Wow, that's very cool. Is that the only watch in your collection or do you have more?
@@TheWatchDoggg I have twenty watches in my collection. Seiko is the best watch for the price. I still have three omega watches.
@@inlandwatchreviews5745 that's awesome. Wear them in good health
“Build up a purchase history first” and maybe wait several years before we’ll _maybe_ allow you to buy what you actually want 😂. Can you imagine doing this with other purchases? What a bunch of bullish!t that’s been going on in the watch world. Just as bad are the people who desperately throw their money into a predatory system like this and allow it to work.
Thanks for watching!
At this point it seems it can all be chalked up to greed. Greed of the manufacturers, dealers and end consumers. I’d say we end consumers are the worst. Marching like sheep towards the next shiny, more or less, useless object. Gotta have it now. I deserve it now. I’ll pay double to have it now. Look at what I got. Look at me. Me me me. Makes me sick, about myself too. Reevaluation of priorities is sorely needed, then prices will moderate, but we all know that isn’t going to happen.
Don’t be too hard on yourself!
Rolex doesn’t do this with certain watches. Now they do it with EVERY WATCH and dealers sell the vast majority to the grey market. Watches never hit the floor, they go in the back for specific celebrities, etc. and the rest get sold to grey market dealers for kick backs. A shame that none of you have the balls to just outright say it…
You can’t go on RUclips and make accusations like that without proof - or you can get sued. Show some evidence of that happening and I can assure you people will cover it.
@@JustBlueFish Given my position in the industry, I unfortunately can’t give you proof. But I also know exactly what I’m talking about. And things can be said without “getting sued.” Opinions and editorial content are fair game.
"A shame..." This is the best comment! 100% agree!
We need watches with at least 100m water resistance because, at the moment, we are in a deep-deep @$$.
I think it’s ridiculous for a customer be asked to buy anything they didn’t want in order to be considered for a chance at a product they want. The whole idea puts a bad taste in my mouth.
If the AD would start a new wait list every 1/4 or run it as a lottery, but telling someone they have to “build a relationship” with the dealer?! Nope.
Lol ya it’s kinda ridiculous.
The youtubers create the hype (often for the watchdealers) Watchcompanies can’t beef up production in very short periods of time….
Thanks for watching.
History has shown there's a sucker born every minute
I've heard that.
I don't know how we can really blame manufacturers when their pumping out 1.2 million of a product per year................. Dealers maybe.
This is EXACTLY like high end Scotch & Bourbon these days. Many many liquor stores hide and hold desirable bottles of whiskey behind the counter and only offer them to "valued customers who buy lots of booze frequently" so basically spend at least $200 a week with us on Jack Daniels and Smirnoff vodka if you want us to grace you with the opportunity to buy a $40 MSRP bottle of Eagle rare for $100 cash....its freaking stupid.
Great video....nice NIXIE clock btw....
Thanks!
The information asymmetry with secret lists and hidden inventory status makes me feel like I am not a valued customer no matter how much I spend. I'd pick an AD selling at market rate over this nonsense any day (I know that they are obligated by the brands to sell at MSRP). I just can't buy from dealers with mostly "exhibition only" and empty cases.
Maybe that's why I love brands like JLC, Omega, GS, and Cartier so much.
As for brands like Rolex, Patek and AP: The grey market experience is so much more premium and enjoyable.
Just allow the dealers to sell at market prices. Car dealerships do this all the time.
Yeah dealers being held hostage to MSRP when the product is worth much more is a big part of the problem.
As hard as it might be for me to bring out the violins for someone blowing over 200 grand on what amounts to trinkets, I nevertheless see the ramifications of ADs future faking customers to milk them for more money, IF what was alleged in the lawsuit was indeed true. Consumer protection is important, but at this point, you’d have to get something in writing, rather than just an AD rep telling it to you verbally.
yeah I imagine a lot of people will have the opinion that if someone wants to blow 200k on watches "screw 'em", but that's not one person isn't the issue - it's just bad for all consumers.
This purchaser's actions are just incomprehensible. All he has to do is say 'no'. If I wanted to incentivize the AD I would say I want this PP within six months (or whatever) otherwise the deal is off. Still, I hope he wins his lawsuit - it would be a great precedent.
Tell if them I want it in 6 months or the deal is off doesn’t incentivize the dealer of a product in short supply at all though. They’ll just move on to the next customer without a second thought.
Fine vid Guy. I’m sticking with micro brands right now. I will never have Rolex $$$.
I an very curious to know if anyone knows aside from the luxury watch brands & ADs ‘openly’ running such ‘spend more on products you don’t want so that we can consider to sell you the product you want’ scheme, is there any other consumer products/industry that running the same scheme? Jewelry? Branded purse/bag?
Such practice should be passed down as law to be criminal. This is typically luxury goods practices, including Hermes for Birken Bag. The demands for forced buying items are a waste of resources, the suppliers should just produce items in demand and if the demands are really high, just price it high and stop producing unwanted items.
Well first all ….these luxury brands have artificially inflated prices. If you look at what’s the actual net cost of any of these watches it’s already price gouging. Once people are willing to keeping paying these high prices and believe these brands are worth what they are charge then of course this leads to shady practices by the brand themselves and at retail level.
Customers that accuse ADs of being "sleazy"....it comes across as sour grapes. In the same way that a kid complains when it doesn't get the toy it wants. (I am not talking about the specific case involving the lawsuit, as that involves potential law-breaking activity). We all know that even at MSRP, these luxury watches are already "overpriced". In this market, you have to pay to play - or just accept that you cannot compete and move on, instead of blaming other people. None of us have any right to these goods. When you blame the manufacturer for "artificially limiting supply", it shows a lack of appreciation of how markets work in the context of ostentatious goods.
Thanks for watching, keep it sleazy!
@@JustBlueFish It ain't easy, being sleazy!
No new news there …
Thanks for watching.
Very interesting. I’d rather you didn’t read the entire article to us like we couldn’t pause the video and read ourselves.
Next time!
First it was Rolex and AP ADs that started this sleazy practice, now Patek and Lange ADs are doing it too apparently… just very unfortunate. A Rolex or AP I can easily do without. Never been a big fan of those brands anyway, but now Patek and especially Lange as well? I like those brands quite a lot.
It's funny that AP would play this game, they literally only have 1 watch anyone likes.
@@JustBlueFishI don’t even like the Nautilus, I’d rather have an Aquanaut.
I understand the desire for a watch but I find an AP Royal Oak and a Patek Nautilus ugly dated watches from the 70’s. Even if I had the cash to buy, it’s not my style. I just don’t get why guys want these models?
@@Milofchg It's a status symbol, looks good on Instagram, shows the great unwashed how successful you are. Puts them a few rungs above the Rolex crowd.
Good I hope all AD get sued for using this tactic.
🤞
It is easy to fix if they want to, Make an international list on the web page where AD registers you and it is open to everyone, or to the ones who pay %20 of the retail price….
They should try something, the current system isn't working.
@@JustBlueFish it is working for the AD and the company….line them up with money in their hands, begging you for the watch. It is a corporate wet dream🤣
@@JustBlueFishthe system works really well for the dealers and there preferred grey market dealer, it just doesn’t work for the customers.
Can you imagine the situation, when someone is going to the drug store, wanting to buy some aspirin (for example) and the drug AD is telling him "Hey, I can sell you some aspirin, but first you have to buy some other unnecessary medications to prove that you deserve the aspirin". If a customer wants to buy some damn aspirin, the drug AD has to sell it to him, if it's available. We can't blame the customer - if he wants/needs the product and he has the money to buy it, he should get the product if it's available. That's it.
Thanks for watching and for the comments!