With all the gen makers going price crazy I've been wondering what the spending limit is to most guys. This isn't a post to ask about income or wealth its a hypothetical question, as I'm sure all of us have different lifestyles, expenses, and income.
So suppose your a average middle class to upper middle class (not an elitest moneybags type) family guy, nice house (probably not paid off), a couple of car payments, and all that shit, you get the idea.
For me as I post this I call my limit about $5,000 at the very top (of course this may vary for others), a few years back you could really get a lot of watch for $5,000 and under. Consider the basic Rolex sub is around $8,500 (way overpriced), or a Omega PO about $5,000 now (also way overpriced) I paid about $2,200 for mine new in 2007 and about $4,200 for a new Rolex that same year.
I do realize these are luxury watches and no one needs one but I feel Rolex and Omega and many others have priced themselves away from the mainstream customer. Now if you visit TRF you would think everyone is buying a new Rolex, no expense spared, however I don't think this is reality to most.
I went to the Omega boutique last night, nice store but the pricing is a joke, no discount, full retail, and a couple of know it all snobs behind the counter who reminded me of high pressure sales men, but I'm no push over and didn't buy shit, however I did wear a gen SM to at least give the appearance that I wasn't just a window shopper and may be a actual buyer.
I was stunned by their new price structure, not shocked because I had a good idea of the pricing from online shopping. I own five gen Omegas and purchased eight Omegas in my years of being a watch guy. My point is that pricing is out of control and these non discount botiques do nothing to help the brand, infact I think it almost alienates them from the customer who wants a nice luxury watch but doesn't want to max out thier credit for a F'ing watch. So where do you draw the line and are you willing to go into debt for a watch??
So suppose your a average middle class to upper middle class (not an elitest moneybags type) family guy, nice house (probably not paid off), a couple of car payments, and all that shit, you get the idea.
For me as I post this I call my limit about $5,000 at the very top (of course this may vary for others), a few years back you could really get a lot of watch for $5,000 and under. Consider the basic Rolex sub is around $8,500 (way overpriced), or a Omega PO about $5,000 now (also way overpriced) I paid about $2,200 for mine new in 2007 and about $4,200 for a new Rolex that same year.
I do realize these are luxury watches and no one needs one but I feel Rolex and Omega and many others have priced themselves away from the mainstream customer. Now if you visit TRF you would think everyone is buying a new Rolex, no expense spared, however I don't think this is reality to most.
I went to the Omega boutique last night, nice store but the pricing is a joke, no discount, full retail, and a couple of know it all snobs behind the counter who reminded me of high pressure sales men, but I'm no push over and didn't buy shit, however I did wear a gen SM to at least give the appearance that I wasn't just a window shopper and may be a actual buyer.
I was stunned by their new price structure, not shocked because I had a good idea of the pricing from online shopping. I own five gen Omegas and purchased eight Omegas in my years of being a watch guy. My point is that pricing is out of control and these non discount botiques do nothing to help the brand, infact I think it almost alienates them from the customer who wants a nice luxury watch but doesn't want to max out thier credit for a F'ing watch. So where do you draw the line and are you willing to go into debt for a watch??
