Buying from the high street
Discussion
Is it worth it?
During the Christmas shopping a few weeks back i took a little time out to have a look at a few watches for myself. Nothing in particular just a TW steel to see if they really are that BIG and a few Tissot's and Seiko's. Once i returned home i checked a few prices on-line of watches i had tried on. I was quite surprised that even on a watch of around the £3-500 mark you could still get the prices between £40 to £80+ less on-line than the high street on various makes, and that was not including e-bay.
Had the difference in price simply been a few pounds it would not have bothered me and i'd buy from a shop as i like the getting 4 or 5 watches in the table and the trying different watches/styles on. Then go for a spot of lunch with the misses to admire your purchase
I'm just interested in your thoughts really. Is the internet the way forward or are the bargains out there in the shops, you just have to look a little harder.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year,
FG
During the Christmas shopping a few weeks back i took a little time out to have a look at a few watches for myself. Nothing in particular just a TW steel to see if they really are that BIG and a few Tissot's and Seiko's. Once i returned home i checked a few prices on-line of watches i had tried on. I was quite surprised that even on a watch of around the £3-500 mark you could still get the prices between £40 to £80+ less on-line than the high street on various makes, and that was not including e-bay.
Had the difference in price simply been a few pounds it would not have bothered me and i'd buy from a shop as i like the getting 4 or 5 watches in the table and the trying different watches/styles on. Then go for a spot of lunch with the misses to admire your purchase
I'm just interested in your thoughts really. Is the internet the way forward or are the bargains out there in the shops, you just have to look a little harder.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year,
FG
eccles said:
Much like any other shopping, I tend to use the high street to actually look at the item in the flesh to see if I like it, then go home and see if it's cheaper online. If the online price isn't much cheaper, then i'll usually buy in the shop.
Sadly the chances of the shop being cheaper than the online outfit are slim, and this is what's killing the high street.I have always bought online - it's brilliant for pre-owned stuff, with some fantastic bargains out there, and while certain manufacturers bang on about not buying their watches new online, if a particular site - grey or otherwise - has good references and it's all above board then I would have no qualms about making a purchase
Seb d said:
I have always bought online - it's brilliant for pre-owned stuff, with some fantastic bargains out there, and while certain manufacturers bang on about not buying their watches new online, if a particular site - grey or otherwise - has good references and it's all above board then I would have no qualms about making a purchase
How can something be 'pre-owned'? Surely it's just been 'owned'?You can say 'second-hand' as well, it's not a dirty word.
Funk said:
Seb d said:
I have always bought online - it's brilliant for pre-owned stuff, with some fantastic bargains out there, and while certain manufacturers bang on about not buying their watches new online, if a particular site - grey or otherwise - has good references and it's all above board then I would have no qualms about making a purchase
How can something be 'pre-owned'? Surely it's just been 'owned'?You can say 'second-hand' as well, it's not a dirty word.
Seb d said:
Funk said:
Seb d said:
I have always bought online - it's brilliant for pre-owned stuff, with some fantastic bargains out there, and while certain manufacturers bang on about not buying their watches new online, if a particular site - grey or otherwise - has good references and it's all above board then I would have no qualms about making a purchase
How can something be 'pre-owned'? Surely it's just been 'owned'?You can say 'second-hand' as well, it's not a dirty word.
to answer the OP's question, I would say that you should always be able to negotiate with a high street jeweller and you should be able to narrow the difference between online and a shop. Ask to speak to the manager and be respectful and you'll probable be able to do a deal. Even on cheaper stuff <£500. I got 20% off list of a watch for the wife in January of this year. It was a £400 watch and made it worth buying in store rather than buying through a broker or one of the online retailers. That was before the current high street trading conditions - I would imagine that they'll be very pleased to sell anything at present...
Family Guy said:
Is it worth it?
During the Christmas shopping a few weeks back i took a little time out to have a look at a few watches for myself. Nothing in particular just a TW steel to see if they really are that BIG and a few Tissot's and Seiko's. Once i returned home i checked a few prices on-line of watches i had tried on. I was quite surprised that even on a watch of around the £3-500 mark you could still get the prices between £40 to £80+ less on-line than the high street on various makes, and that was not including e-bay.
Had the difference in price simply been a few pounds it would not have bothered me and i'd buy from a shop as i like the getting 4 or 5 watches in the table and the trying different watches/styles on. Then go for a spot of lunch with the misses to admire your purchase
I'm just interested in your thoughts really. Is the internet the way forward or are the bargains out there in the shops, you just have to look a little harder.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year,
FG
Why don't you have the full online shopping experience and buy them without trying them on. During the Christmas shopping a few weeks back i took a little time out to have a look at a few watches for myself. Nothing in particular just a TW steel to see if they really are that BIG and a few Tissot's and Seiko's. Once i returned home i checked a few prices on-line of watches i had tried on. I was quite surprised that even on a watch of around the £3-500 mark you could still get the prices between £40 to £80+ less on-line than the high street on various makes, and that was not including e-bay.
Had the difference in price simply been a few pounds it would not have bothered me and i'd buy from a shop as i like the getting 4 or 5 watches in the table and the trying different watches/styles on. Then go for a spot of lunch with the misses to admire your purchase
I'm just interested in your thoughts really. Is the internet the way forward or are the bargains out there in the shops, you just have to look a little harder.
Merry Christmas and a Happy new year,
FG
Running a shop on the high street with trained staff and stock levels isn't cheap, hence the difference between this and a man that sells watches from his bedroom.
Thanks for the replies. I hadn't realised that there may be some room for negotiation with the retailer.
As for the full on-line purchase, this isn't what i'm after and as i mentioned, i like going into the shop too purchase. But you can't argue with an internet price that's say £50 cheaper.
I didn't buy anything anyway
Maybe next time,
FG
As for the full on-line purchase, this isn't what i'm after and as i mentioned, i like going into the shop too purchase. But you can't argue with an internet price that's say £50 cheaper.
I didn't buy anything anyway
Maybe next time,
FG
Family Guy said:
I hadn't realised that there may be some room for negotiation with the retailer.
Good lord man, don't tell me you've only ever paid full price for a watch? 10% is a given on most things - if they don't give you 10%, go somewhere else. Anything over that is a nice bonus. Obviously, depends on the dealer and the watch in question, but I treat the price on the tag as a guide, rather than the actualy price simkin911 said:
I spotted recommendations on this forum for Dom H and used him to obtain a couple of Omegas for Christmas presents. I travelled the length of the high street first - reviewing watches and prices - but the discount from Dom was far to good to ignore... and the service was great too.
Dom H ? Watches.co.uk ?Edited by Mr MoJo on Monday 5th January 09:22
Sorry, Dominic H - regular poster on this forum. Email dh@hackettwatches.com and web www.hackettwatches.com
Family Guy said:
Thanks for the replies. I hadn't realised that there may be some room for negotiation with the retailer.
As for the full on-line purchase, this isn't what i'm after and as i mentioned, i like going into the shop too purchase. But you can't argue with an internet price that's say £50 cheaper.
I didn't buy anything anyway
Maybe next time,
FG
I wasn't expecting any great discount from the High Street AD's either, but low and behold, my local Rolex dealer beat a very good online price yesterday. The Sub Date on line was 'pre owned' and I got a brand spanking new one on the high street with 13.5% discount. £100 cheaper than the unused pre-owned online price. As for the full on-line purchase, this isn't what i'm after and as i mentioned, i like going into the shop too purchase. But you can't argue with an internet price that's say £50 cheaper.
I didn't buy anything anyway
Maybe next time,
FG
Went to buy an Omega Speedmaster from Watches Of Switzerland in Cardiff the other day. I asked for a discount and when the chap realised I was there to do a deal he got out his calculator, knocked £250 off and made me a cuppa whilst I waited for the bracelet to be adjusted.
Lovely cup of tea.
Lovely watch.
Lovely cup of tea.
Lovely watch.
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