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Dear Watch Industry,

marcdesade

Looking Around
15/11/20
3
1
0
Dear Watch Industry
(i know you are reading)

I am not a supporter of piracy, it's illegal but more importantly I think it's morally wrong. So why am I here?

I am a business man and I love to treat myself with nice things, cars, boats, art and of course watches. In the past 20 years, after each good deal I bought myself a new "toy", I own all the fancy cars, several boats, some fancy art and - of course - some beautiful watches. A few months ago my Rolex dealership (of which I've been a customer for decades) told me that Rolex no longer allows them to sell two similar models, e.g. GMT Pepsi vs Batman, to the same client. WTF ?!

"A crown for every achievement", yeah right.

The shortage of watches is obviously intended by the industry, I understand the scarcity element, BUT here is where you watchmakers are getting it wrong:

The watch industry's strategy fuels the grey market and punishes watch enthusiasts.

Every single model from R, PP and AP is available in unworn condition on Chrono24 (e.g. 61 unworn 5711/1A) while watch enthusiasts need to wait years to get one. That strategy hurts your end clients and is counterproductive, don't you watchmakers realize that? Encouraging speculation isn't good for any industry, never has been, never will be.

5711/1A is listed at 26k but "worth" 80k. It's steel for god's sake, if this is not a bubble then what is?

There is no shame in increasing production numbers. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, none have taken a hit in brand value by the increased production numbers, nor will you.

Increase your production numbers, cut out the shady middlemen / grey market.

There is no win win for the industry, other than to increase production numbers and meet the real demand.

Dear Watchmakers, you need to change your strategy before it's too late and your customers end up buying replicas instead; PPF's 5711 (0.5k) is so damn close to GEN (80k), it's ridiculous.

from Geneva with love
MrD
 
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beau7816

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
20/9/16
6,933
1,683
113
UK Devon
You'r certainly not bloating your own ego with lots of cars, boats and art (probably Ford Fiesta, Rowing Boat and a copy of the crying boy). Hell no, none of these beat my Unicorn, Rocket Ship and my own secluded Island in Dubai......nuff said.
 

John Abel

Known Member
15/5/20
127
84
28
UK
Oh, no, they won't. If they take that route is because they are 99% certain of what's ahead. Business is business and it's all about earning money. If "business" requires things to disappear, well, it's how it is. They only cry when what disappears is their money. I guess we are living the last breaths of the watch industry as we know it and they just try to squeeze the "gens" till the last piece.

Mechanical watches are beautiful but I think their technology has reached a plateau (not an insider in the industry, just an engineer). When this happens in other industries, the phase of prices going down begins. Typically they try to counter that effect by adding new features (they do exactly that with cars by adding more electronic gadgets).

The watch industry is probably the last (officially) unconquered land by the "made in China" revolution. they stood within their walls, proud of their European heritage and free of anything Asian. It has been an epic fight. Prices grew up, sales went down, mechanical watches went from ordinary items (I was given one when a kid in the 70s) to "expensive" and finally to "luxury". As you say very well "it's just steel, for God's sake". But now I feel it's the end.

What they may have planned for the future? I suppose to take over the gray market, whitening it. Create European brands with production in China making quality mechanical watches comparable to current super clones. Probably they know by their market intelligence that setting these brands will give customers more confidence than buying from no-one-knows, so in short, the reps becoming the new gens.
 
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nipe

PINK PONY RIDER
9/4/16
2,637
810
113
EU
Dear Watch Industry
(i know you are reading)

Oh yes, the entire board of Rolex SA are certainly long-standing members of RWI, they read and comment on most threads, of course under aliases. This write-up sure will teach them a thing or two on how to run their business. It will certainly show them they're doing the wrong thing, even though their 2020 profits will be the highest yet.

Thank you Mr. Businessman, may I never need your advice in business.
 
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ZoomBoy

I'm Pretty Popular
9/11/11
2,533
288
83
Christ, you guys are hard on new members. OP, liked reading your thoughts. Thanks for posting.
 
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nipe

PINK PONY RIDER
9/4/16
2,637
810
113
EU
Christ, you guys are hard on new members. OP, liked reading your thoughts. Thanks for posting.

Clearly a troll account though, doubt that he will ever make another post again.
 

trailboss99

Head Honcho - Cat Herder
Staff member
Administrator
Certified
30/3/08
42,448
12,356
113
Oh you own a few nice boats, how quaint.
One of our members owns this ( and her sister, the motor yacht Black Legend):


He has some quite nice cars as well . . .


You are not impressing us, there are several folk here who could buy you from petty cash.
 
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Watch Industry

You're Saying I Can Sell?
16/6/18
25
8
3
Oh yes, the entire board of Rolex SA are certainly long-standing members of RWI, they read and comment on most threads, of course under aliases. This write-up sure will teach them a thing or two on how to run their business. It will certainly show them they're doing the wrong thing, even though their 2020 profits will be the highest yet.

Thank you Mr. Businessman, may I never need your advice in business.

I'm here !
 

marcdesade

Looking Around
15/11/20
3
1
0
First, let me say that those who don't like to hear what I have to say, just move on, don't waste your time with unfriendly comments.

Second, I know for a fact that that all major brands have people reading through forums ALL THE TIME. It's called market intelligence.

On the boats and cars, agreed - I should have not mentioned that, it doesn't add to my thread.
 

c_hall100

El Presidente
Gold Patron
Certified
14/2/20
3,574
7,963
113
UK
First, let me say that those who don't like to hear what I have to say, just move on, don't waste your time with unfriendly comments.

Second, I know for a fact that that all major brands have people reading through forums ALL THE TIME. It's called market intelligence.

On the boats and cars, agreed - I should have not mentioned that, it doesn't add to my thread.

What a plank


Sent from my iPhone 11 using Tapatalk
 

nipe

PINK PONY RIDER
9/4/16
2,637
810
113
EU
administrator please delete my entire post, I am speaking to wrong audience here. Regards

Oh he's back, wow. I honestly did not expect that.

Don't worry, mods wont delete your post, this is too funny.

I wonder why you think you're speaking to the wrong audience? It's not even one post ago that you wrote:

"Second, I know for a fact that that all major brands have people reading through forums ALL THE TIME. It's called market intelligence."

Seems like market intelligence trumped your own intelligence.
 
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c_hall100

El Presidente
Gold Patron
Certified
14/2/20
3,574
7,963
113
UK
Oh he's back, wow. I honestly did not expect that.

Don't worry, mods wont delete your post, this is too funny.

I wonder why you think you're speaking to the wrong audience? It's not even one post ago that you wrote:

"Second, I know for a fact that that all major brands have people reading through forums ALL THE TIME. It's called market intelligence."

Seems like market intelligence trumped your own intelligence.

giphy.gif



Sent from my iPhone 11 using Tapatalk
 

Glaude

Tech Admin
Staff member
Administrator
11/8/17
6,755
5,364
113
Well administrator why aren't you doing something about this thread ? Just come back from the Rolex SA Board meeting and get to work !
 
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EuroTime25

Lost Soul of Watches
Supporter
Certified
24/7/20
957
1,161
93
West USA
Dear Watch Industry
(i know you are reading)

I am not a supporter of piracy, it's illegal but more importantly I think it's morally wrong. So why am I here?

I am a business man and I love to treat myself with nice things, cars, boats, art and of course watches. In the past 20 years, after each good deal I bought myself a new "toy", I own all the fancy cars, several boats, some fancy art and - of course - some beautiful watches. A few months ago my Rolex dealership (of which I've been a customer for decades) told me that Rolex no longer allows them to sell two similar models, e.g. GMT Pepsi vs Batman, to the same client. WTF ?!

"A crown for every achievement", yeah right.

The shortage of watches is obviously intended by the industry, I understand the scarcity element, BUT here is where you watchmakers are getting it wrong:

The watch industry's strategy fuels the grey market and punishes watch enthusiasts.

Every single model from R, PP and AP is available in unworn condition on Chrono24 (e.g. 61 unworn 5711/1A) while watch enthusiasts need to wait years to get one. That strategy hurts your end clients and is counterproductive, don't you watchmakers realize that? Encouraging speculation isn't good for any industry, never has been, never will be.

5711/1A is listed at 26k but "worth" 80k. It's steel for god's sake, if this is not a bubble then what is?

There is no shame in increasing production numbers. Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, none have taken a hit in brand value by the increased production numbers, nor will you.

Increase your production numbers, cut out the shady middlemen / grey market.

There is no win win for the industry, other than to increase production numbers and meet the real demand.

Dear Watchmakers, you need to change your strategy before it's too late and your customers end up buying replicas instead; PPF's 5711 (0.5k) is so damn close to GEN (80k), it's ridiculous.

from Geneva with love
MrD

Dont start a new post as a member saying you know its illegal and morally wrong, then go to show off what cool toys you have. No one likes show off. Most members are here for similar reason. They were sick of waiting years for a watch or told not enought in stock because rolex wants to sell to important people. So you were not important to them. Rolex will sell you same watch different style if you are a celebrity or someone who they find value to have that person wearing it. Plus lots of members here have Gen watches, they sometimes buy a rep so see if they will like it before spending $5k plus on a watch. You will see how many buy reps and sell it after trying it on for a day because it doesnt fit. Best thing is to just say hi, read a lot, and not bash. Unless its someone posting the thing you just posted. This forum give you all the info you need and want. Also a rep is a good fill in till your gen is approved by Rolex so you are not watch less. Just calm down go for a drive in your fancy cars or boat and see your life is good. Bitching about a watch is really not a big deal.