New boutique

El Matarife
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
I think the only TH boutiques in the UK that are actually owned by the brand is the Oxford Street one and maybe the other one in London.
And Bicester? I believe there are staff members that alternate between Oxford Street and there?

Aquagraph Aquagraph
I don't know if the other boutiques will offer discount, but from what I understand there are no discounts at the flagship Oxford Street store.
I guess Bicester is the physical representation of TAG's discount strategy in the UK 😀 Although, where does Bicester get its stock from, is it from the Goldsmith's et al associated boutiques, or is it from the pukka TH boutiques internationally (or is it returns from ADs generally - which is why really old stuff sometimes turns up?).

I would love to know more about how the business is structured. Would also love to know more about how to haggle, as I think I'm too polite (i.e. a mug)... I was offered a small discount (£50) on my very first TAG years back for paying upfront in full. And I was once offered a discount if I bought two watches - with payment in full upfront - but I couldn't justify that at the time 😀

(N.B. I have no regrets about any of the purchases I have made 😀 I wouldn't have been in the shop if I didn't genuinely want them!)
 
kappa_md
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Yes!!! Please teach, teach us! I also want to learn from the masters the “secret art of haggling” 👍👍😜😜
 
Jim Dollares
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kappa_md kappa_md
Yes!!! Please teach, teach us! I also want to learn from the masters the “secret art of haggling” 👍👍😜😜
I think the secret is to buy 20-100 new watches from AD per year just like Hubert and THJunkie
 
Hubert
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Jim Dollares Jim Dollares
I think the secret is to buy 20-100 new watches from AD per year just like Hubert and THJunkie
giphy.gif
 
THJunkie
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Jim Dollares Jim Dollares
I think the secret is to buy 20-100 new watches from AD per year just like Hubert and THJunkie

It is not that challenging really. But certainly if there is an intent of repeat business. Buy one at full price to show goodwill but make it clear you expect to be looked after long term.

build a relationship - like anything in business the more you transact the better the relationship.
don’t be shy about asking
Always be polite but firm.
Be prepared to walk away if you don’t get what you set out as a bottom lone position.
Consolidate purchases - buying two at once.
Roll over discounts as deposits on next purchase.

all or any of the above will work. Worst I got was 5% at an Omega Boutique.

best I got was 40% off. But that watch was a hard to sell so easier. But still managed £500 off the already low asking.

but ultimately it depends on what you want. Harder on the rare - in demand pieces. But even then it is doable - unless you’re talking Rolex of course.
 
Aquagraph
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El Matarife El Matarife
And Bicester? I believe there are staff members that alternate between Oxford Street and there?


I guess Bicester is the physical representation of TAG's discount strategy in the UK 😀 Although, where does Bicester get its stock from, is it from the Goldsmith's et al associated boutiques, or is it from the pukka TH boutiques internationally (or is it returns from ADs generally - which is why really old stuff sometimes turns up?).

I would love to know more about how the business is structured. Would also love to know more about how to haggle, as I think I'm too polite (i.e. a mug)... I was offered a small discount (£50) on my very first TAG years back for paying upfront in full. And I was once offered a discount if I bought two watches - with payment in full upfront - but I couldn't justify that at the time 😀

(N.B. I have no regrets about any of the purchases I have made 😀 I wouldn't have been in the shop if I didn't genuinely want them!)

Sorry yes Bicester Village and Cheshire Oaks (and the Hull one that closed) are all TAG Heuer owned, but they are outlet stores rather than 'boutiques'. It amazes me what turns up, I know they did have a shipment from Singapore a couple of years ago so I guess it's stuff from the boutiques. They also had an Ernest Jones limited edition in there too, so perhaps they buy them back if they don't sell?
 
Mr_Orange
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
They also had an Ernest Jones limited edition in there too, so perhaps they buy them back if they don't sell?

That's suprising. EJ would have had to have commissioned the the LE and pay for them. If hey didn't sell, that would EJ's problem and, if I was TH, I wouldn't be buying those back.
 
Aquagraph
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Mr_Orange Mr_Orange
That's suprising. EJ would have had to have commissioned the the LE and pay for them. If hey didn't sell, that would EJ's problem and, if I was TH, I wouldn't be buying those back.

Yes, although... they aren't marked as such and they aren't obvious limited pieces. I think if I remember correctly it was a quartz Aquaracer with a black dial and blue bezel. They didn't even know it was a limited edition until I told them.
 
OttoWilliam
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40% is master haggle ! best i ever got was 35%. not that we're keeping score 👍

I keep telling them to inform me the very special deal like not moving stock etc in case i want an old brand new watch (or brand new old watch ?)
 
Mr_Orange
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My best is just under 45% but I had inside information on an RRP reduction, so that helped get me over the line.
 
El Matarife
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Wow, you guys are masters of negotiation! Do reductions as big as 30%+ only come when spending the most money and buying the most expensive watches? Or is it the other way around, and cheaper watches get a higher percentage (but a lower cash) discount?
Edited:
 
OttoWilliam
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El Matarife El Matarife
Wow, you guys are masters of negotiation! Do reductions that big as 30%+ only come when spending the most money and buying the most expensive watches? Or is it the other way around, and cheaper watches get a higher percentage (but a lower cash) discount?
I am actually very happy with my biggest discount of 35% because what i got was Carrera Calibre 18 Telemeter. So it was not just some old dead end stock. I only got it because they said they are one watch short of achieving target or something like that. Never happened after that no matter how hard i tried and wait. It's a shame really because i really really really want Calibre 16 Aquaracer Phantom at 35% discount.
 
THJunkie
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El Matarife El Matarife
Wow, you guys are masters of negotiation! Do reductions as big as 30%+ only come when spending the most money and buying the most expensive watches? Or is it the other way around, and cheaper watches get a higher percentage (but a lower cash) discount?

i think broadly speaking the margin within which ADs can discount is broadly the same for most of the range within 5%. But giving away e.g 25% of RRP is a lot less painful for them on a £10k watch than on a £3k piece in terms of cash as they still make a good amount off the transaction.

the big discounts are rarer than circa 25% though as they tend to be on older pieces that may have been in stock a while or have been flagged to be discontinued.

recently e.g saw a ‘Vintage Black’ DSOTM for just under £6k. Kicking myself for not snapping it up as the price just went up to so that would have been 42% off the current list! But can’t win em all.
 
OttoWilliam
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Remo Remo
Maybe here is one. If it's true, that catalogue price was CHF 4'000 then this would be discounted 34%. They also mention that they ship abroad for free.
Box and papers, almost like new 😀.
https://rent-a-box.ch/tag-heuer-aquaracer-calibre-16-black-phantom
My friend "imported" a watch before (by that i mean shop online) because he thought it was a good idea.

when it arrived he paid like 30% import tax and duties.

::facepalm1::

i am just afraid it will happened to me as well. So i tend to only buy it when i am there physically.

We are a bit primitive in here. ::facepalm1::
 
Anthony.
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OttoWilliam OttoWilliam
My friend "imported" a watch before (by that i mean shop online) because he thought it was a good idea.

when it arrived he paid like 30% import tax and duties.

::facepalm1::

i am just afraid it will happened to me as well. So i tend to only buy it when i am there physically.

We are a bit primitive in here. ::facepalm1::

This is why I'm reluctant to Purchase from Online retailers outside of Australia.
I'm just not sure how much the charges Would be on import.

I would love to buy from Chrono 24 as I've seen some really great pieces but I'm scared.

Maybe @Calibre11 could shed some light on Import charges coming into Australia if you know?
 
Remo
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OttoWilliam OttoWilliam
My friend "imported" a watch before (by that i mean shop online) because he thought it was a good idea.

when it arrived he paid like 30% import tax and duties.

::facepalm1::

i am just afraid it will happened to me as well. So i tend to only buy it when i am there physically.

We are a bit primitive in here. ::facepalm1::
I understand your concern. Taxes seem to be somewhat unpredictable. Also that you can't try on the watch is a problem with onlineshopping. I guess I wouldn't take the risk either.
 
Mr_Orange
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Anthony. Anthony.R
This is why I'm reluctant to Purchase from Online retailers outside of Australia.
I'm just not sure how much the charges Would be on import.

I would love to buy from Chrono 24 as I've seen some really great pieces but I'm scared.

Maybe @Calibre11 could shed some light on Import charges coming into Australia if you know?

I did it once from the UK. DHL were the shipper. They prepaid everything 'on my behalf' and then charged me a service fee. I had a fight with them about it since I didn't ask them to do that. They also screwed up their assessment of the government charges. End result was that they eventually agreed with me and so I paid GST at 10% plus one other charge (duty maybe) but not any of DHL's fees or the government fee that I didn't need to pay.

This put me off importing since DHL is so often the shipper of choice. That said, DHL are nothing to Australian Government and what I paid to them was what I expected to pay.
 
OttoWilliam
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Remo Remo
I understand your concern. Taxes seem to be somewhat unpredictable. Also that you can't try on the watch is a problem with onlineshopping. I guess I wouldn't take the risk either.

I really want to though. Not all brands are represented in here or at least well represented.

Internet online shop still the biggest and largest option out there but at 30% (or more) of the value of the watch...i don't think i dare to gamble anything other than Swatch or Seiko. 😁

There is a online shop that offer to import it for you and tell you the import duty in advance etc but they charged so so high and the option of the watch is very limited. I don't think you can even find Tag Heuer there but maybe Seagull, Movado, Mondaine, Nomos etc etc.
 
Anthony.
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Mr_Orange Mr_Orange
I did it once from the UK. DHL were the shipper. They prepaid everything 'on my behalf' and then charged me a service fee. I had a fight with them about it since I didn't ask them to do that. They also screwed up their assessment of the government charges. End result was that they eventually agreed with me and so I paid GST at 10% plus one other charge (duty maybe) but not any of DHL's fees or the government fee that I didn't need to pay.

This put me off importing since DHL is so often the shipper of choice. That said, DHL are nothing to Australian Government and what I paid to them was what I expected to pay.


Thanks @Mr_Orange

I was looking at buying from the US.
Agreed a price and worked out the exchange rate including the shipping fees.
When I asked about the tax payable coming into Australia they said it had nothing to do with them and I would have to work it out on delivery of goods.

I know Anything over $1000 is subject to GST (10%) but I have no idea how it's eventually paid?

I haven't come across anyone that can explain it or who has done it before.
There are lots of good deals to be had from overseas.
 
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