This has been periodically topical

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 of the website yielded no results for Patek Philippe and so perhaps your sighting was a one-off. I do agree with you about the effect it would have on the brand, and, given the demographic targeted by PP in its advertisements*, I suspect they would agree with you as well.

*To PP the 24 is a PP like any other in its collection and any degradation of brand value (I would hope and expect!) would be taken extremely seriously regardless of whether the watch was quartz or mechanical, steel or precious metal.

💰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 promise I will stop here... but

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

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 th...

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?