Discounts on retail. Hot take.

No hard rules and if I want it bad enough I'll pay retail. I've only done that for Rolex. I've gotten discounts on every other purchase and typically I get a strap or two thrown in on top of that.

I've never purchased a watch in an actual store, and never spent enough that trying to get some kind of extra discount mattered much. I've purchased them on sale or just "below msrp," but that's it. If I'm going to buy a watch, I probably would pay msrp, and below that is a bonus. I'm also not really a fan of trading customer service, quality guarantee, or warranty for less upfront cost on anything I expect to care about. I do like to choose who is getting the mark-up, though. I'll pay a little more to support stores I like, or have been helped by, over something like Amazon or a massive brand's own store.

I would expect a discount from any AD ‘below’ Rolex. Walked in to an Omega AD a few weeks ago and they offered 15% of a sapphire sandwich without me asking lol.

I would need a large discount to pull the trigger on a A Lange & Sohne. Around 90% 😜

More and more, you’ll see popular models being sold at retail (no discounts). Discounts will probably be at ADs, but not at Boutiques.

Never bought new, never would.

Just don't see the value or appeal.

I have purchased at retail at an AD when I really loved the watch. Most of the time I purchase grey market now.

I buy strictly retail, some ads will offer me around 15-20% courtesy discount, sometimes depends on the demand of a certain model, if the ad has a lot of requests for a specific iteration and the number he can expect to bring in relative to how many he expects to sell. Certain watches I take advantage of interest free plans that seems to be much criticized, misunderstood, for those individuals I suggest to not bother but for me a solid alternative. The last seller that sold me a watch on a plan, they could not give me a discount but an extra few new oem straps retailing for $650. cad each. I have also purchased from the Breitling HO/ service centre here in Toronto which sometimes sells expensive watches at a discount for different reasons but also assures me of excellent after sales experience. Price of a watch is not the single factor for me in buying a next watch. New strictly is my 100% personal choice. I don’t need or even want another enthusiast to suffer the depreciation on my behalf.

For most projects/interests, I look around a LOT to gauge the variants/uses/prices of things first. Once I feel my 'catalog' has enough information, then I let myself spend.

This sounds methodical, but it's a fancy way of telling myself "I can't afford that" until I know what the price range really is.

First… LOL at the end.

Secondly, I like to think if I wait, it means it was meant to be.

Not just in watches but most things.

I have been watching the Timex Q Chronograph for awhile and was waiting to see it go on sale and…last night…I pulled the trigger and saved almost $100 off retail (CAD)!

Can’t wait to get it here and put it on my wrist 🙏.

Never bought any watch at FRP, same goes for preety much anything I buy except grocery.

Always only bought on discount except for my Rolex(I was convinced I wouldn’t get any given the situation so didn’t even venture asking)

I’ve bought at retail when the AD was the only one that had the watch in stock. Otherwise grey, discount, or used.

No rules, as I’ve aged and got a few more dollars, I have enjoyed the retail price experience. Yes, seriously, the experience of shopping at a boutique or the peace of mind with warranty and such has been great, I still look and purchase pieces used if there is no occasion to celebrate and it’s more about the best watch for the money.

Interesting...

Haha nice

You know I'm tending to lean closer and closer to this viewpoint everyday. Especially if collecting is the goal

Same

This actually makes sense and is good advice for someone starting out. Lord knows many of us have burnt our hands through the process

I asked at cartier. Got a complementary candle. Something is always better than nothing. Always ask is my rule. And ask like it means something to you. Lol

If I'm buying for family I almost always go the botique route. The peace of mind triumphs getting a better deal. It's the collecting where I can't make peace with paying retail

Amazingly it was the free baseball cap that pushed me over the line for my Breitling, crazy to think something small like that could influence such a massive purchase 😂

For some watches it's considerably cheaper with a longer warranty.

Smart move!

Hahhaha. A candle at cartier for me