I promise I will stop here... but

I am continually amazed when members of this forum still believe that Patek cares at all about this sort of thing...

If Patek really wanted to control their products, they would do something about the rampant gray marketing of their watches... of which this is just another example... How would they stop the gray marketing? By checking the movement and case numbers of the watches that are being sold at Gray Markets, then cutting off the AD's that originally had the watches... But PP does not do that. Why? Because PP knows that this is all part of the bottom line, which--I'm sorry--matters more than this silliness about 'the next generation.' Unless it's the next generation of Gray Market sellers. This message has been edited by Mostel on 2011-05-30 16:18:11 This message has been edited by Mostel on 2011-05-30 16:25:30

💰1731 Marketplace Listings for Patek Philippe›

Costco selling PP

By: jonrus : May 30th, 2011-11:51

We were shopping @ Costco in St Louis yesterday. The store has a YG 24 for sale. Open papers on the warranty card. My wife feels that this cheapens the brand and so do I.

Not be be uncharitable, but...

By: Mostel : May 30th, 2011-12:45

The 24 is a dime a dozen piece... to me, it makes no difference where that watch is purchased, as long it is authentic... it is usually quartz, etc, who cares? If a 5070P were in the case, well, different story. The 24 is there because it is such a pedest...

Does HSWA and PP care?

By: jonrus : May 30th, 2011-13:39

If I'm a female customer that just purchased a 24 from and AD and sees the same watch at Costco, I'd care. My wife and sister in law certainly did, and they both wear a 24.

Live and learn, I would say to that female customer

By: Mostel : May 30th, 2011-16:09

AD's discount that watch VERY heavily... probably more than Costco! On our watch-journeys, we have all seen a watch we bought for sale, cheaper, somewhere... either at an AD, the gray market... This message has been edited by Mostel on 2011-05-30 16:10:35

This has been periodically topical

By: Nomer : May 30th, 2011-15:15

I seem to recall that this came up a few years ago and further research by a few individuals suggested that Costco was not an authorized dealer, implying that the warranty would not stand. I don't know for sure if this is firmly the case but a quick check...

I promise I will stop here... but

By: Mostel : May 30th, 2011-16:14

Agreed!

By: rosspanics : June 1st, 2011-07:30

I agree! It seems like it would be easy to cut off the gray sellers if they wanted to (via the ADs that support them).

Would not bother me

By: gqmagic : May 30th, 2011-19:26

If I saw a ref. that I wanted at a price I was willing to pay I'd get one. Though I doubt you'll see very hard to get models.

It will never happen...

By: chris4 : June 2nd, 2011-01:29

Publicly all the big names bemoan the gray market, privately they all need it & use it to shift stock. You are right it would be relatively easy for any of the low volume/high value manufacturers to cut off the gray market, as I say it will never happ...

question about costco and PP

By: jasper435 : June 2nd, 2011-12:11

Do you have to sign up for their membership in order to purchase the watch? Also if you purchase say 500lbs of dog food can I get a discount?