Are reps getting too expensive ?

[rsh]

Are the reps getting too expensive ?? Are certain dealers charging way too much versus others?

Yes, and yes. I am a senior member here, not nearly as senior as some of you guys but been around long enough to see patterns and changes.

Every few months, a new dealer pops up and quickly becomes the go-to guy, delivering watches at reasonable prices and has good service, communications, QC etc. A few months go by, and prices go up and service level goes down. Then the cycle repeats.

I think some dealers get so big that they jack up prices way too high. Take for example this DJ2
http://www.puretime.co/product/datejust-ii-ss-silver-numeral-dial-oyster-a3135/

and compare it to this DJ2
http://www.tswatchltd.com/12110-xfro6090-day-date-ii-silver-dial-ss-ss-41mm-swiss-eta-2836.html

is it the same thing ?? Is Mark at time shops selling old stock at a loss ? NO, he does not have the watch, he will go get it when you order it. What gives ?
I realize the PT watch has a 3135 look but that only costs a few bucks more to the dealers than the Asian 2836. It is still a clone movement and is very inexpensive.

I realize the reps are a great value compared to gen but they are not as good a value as they were a couple of years ago.

 

[TESLA760]

TS is still higher than the last 4 DJ2's I bought from another TD.

 

[cwazy1]

very different movements.

the puretime is an actual clone of the 3135, which is a very new clone movement and is nothing like the 2836.

yuki sells a3135 movements for around 200+$ for movement itself. whereas an asian2836 will run you only 60-70$ new.

 

[d4m.test]

I've thought so, but I keep hearing that it's the factories charging the money and the dealers barely make anything. Who knows what to believe.

There are still cheap reps for a good value out there though. I think we're getting pickier. Just like a television that's twice as expensive as the one you have already, it's never going to be twice as good. Same with the watches. We keep graduating as a forum to higher and higher end reps and paying twice as much for them for a 10-20% increase in quality. It's our own fault really.

I can still buy a Narikaa PO for half the price of a 5th gen PO, and there's no chance that the 5th gen PO is twice as good. Beginner Panerai 111N watches are still $150 today. Somebody just posted a crappy $35 Silix sub that, um, well, never mind - that one looked like crap. But the cheaper choices are still out there and they're still decent.

 

[TESLA760]

Crap is still crap. But if you shop wisely, you can still find the good deals. Being an AP guy, these all seem cheap :hehehe:

 

[Jaybo]

I've not been in the rep game long enough to see patterns or have meaningful experience. But, I am very content with the prices I'm paying for high-end reps.

 

[rsh]

Cwazy
that DJ2 from PT DOES NOT HAVE A 3135 clone that you are thinking of, or even a variant of the yuki 3135. It is a 2836, just look at the pic

 

[arcadia]

Sometimes, I am wondering if I will just be a dealer and sell select models only to exclusive RWI members.

There will be little profit on my side as it will not be a volume business like my 'front ventures'. But heck, just so we can stabilize a more realistic price list.

 

[cwazy1]

oh shit you're right, I didnt see that faux balance bridge thing..

 

[TESLA760]

Sometimes, I am wondering if I will just be a dealer and sell select models only to exclusive RWI members.

There will be little profit on my side as it will not be a volume business like my 'front ventures'. But heck, just so we can stabilize a more realistic price list.

Hopefully, you don't offer QC pics. :hehehe:

 

[wat44]

way too expensive these days for me

 

[fortis Persicum]

Crap is still crap. But if you shop wisely, you can still find the good deals. Being an AP guy, these all seem cheap :hehehe:

i agree if your search, you can find good deals. of course APs are never cheap, esp the way you guys mod them

 

[Capt. Obvious]

EVERYTHING is getting expensive, not only reps and gens.

Life in general is becoming unmanageable (just look at health or education).

I guess it is just a reflection of the bigger picture!

 

[Dr.Verylong]

Life in general is becoming unmanageable (just look at health or education).

You live in the wrong country Free education + university, excellent health care. No wonder this country is flooded with "economic migrants".

Prices went up, but I think that the quality went up as well in the past years. Look at the lume, AR and overall movements. I used to get rusty movements and even had one of the infamous pubic hairs in movement of an early 127. Then even a lower price does not help if you have a ticking time bomb.

Overall I think just the product range expanded as well as the price range. And the 35$ watch - not too bad for the money. Much better than your average Walmart type of watch anyway

But I grant you that there is such a thing as "price discrimination", as my old professor said. Look at the Montauk V2 that fetched high prices due to limited availability.

 

[faberjay111]

Crap is still crap. But if you shop wisely, you can still find the good deals. Being an AP guy, these all seem cheap :hehehe:

Like the deals you give me!!...and of course all the other members here on RWI!

 

[sombra]

very different movements.

the puretime is an actual clone of the 3135, which is a very new clone movement and is nothing like the 2836.

yuki sells a3135 movements for around 200+$ for movement itself. whereas an asian2836 will run you only 60-70$ new.

+1

 

[davylloyd]

Market forces, and these will always dictate.

If the factories / dealers set the prices too high, sales will fall and then prices will follow.

Always was so, always will be.

 

[rsh]

+1

-1 almost same damn movement :facepalm:

 

[frigpig]

2 words......Little Hero.

Reps are cheaper now than they were. Plain and simple.

They will slowly increase over time due to inflationary things like the price of movements and raw material, but price and quality are far better now than they where.

 

[rek0001]

As long as you have noobs discovering the forums and TDs, people who don't have the historical perspective of pricing the longtime members have, you'll have people happy to step up and pay the higher prices.
If you've been drooling over a gen AP, $400-500 isn't so bad.