Buying a Rolex in Hong Kong
Apr 18th, 2009, 06:28 PM
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Buying a Rolex in Hong Kong
Are Rolex watches cheaper in Hong Kong? Could fodorites who have Rolex watches please let me know if the watch had lived up to your expectations. The only thing that keeps putting me off buying one is the cost and the fact that the watches are often stolen.
I am not interested in a fake Rolex. I'm willing to spend on a genuine Rolex. I am wondering if prices are less in certian countries, or am I wasting my time comparing prices if prices are fixed.
Please share your thoughts/comments.
Thank you.
I am not interested in a fake Rolex. I'm willing to spend on a genuine Rolex. I am wondering if prices are less in certian countries, or am I wasting my time comparing prices if prices are fixed.
Please share your thoughts/comments.
Thank you.
Apr 19th, 2009, 08:06 AM
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Yes, you can almost certainly find a Rolex cheaper in Hong Kong than you can at home. This is because Hong Kong is a free port--free of most duties and taxes on imported goods.
Your first step should be to spend time at home identifying the exact model you'd like to buy, right down to choice of internal mechanism. Look around for the best price you can find at home.
In Hong Kong your options will be to visit an official Rolex dealer (of which there are many) and perhaps that should be your first stop to get the official Hong Kong price. You'll then find there are many independent jewellers with whom you can bargain to get a lower price. You should stick to those listed by the HKTB (tourism board) as reliable, found either from lists given out for free at their offices, or from a decal displayed in the window. They will still be able to give you the full certification, guarantee, and all paperwork.
If your aim is to get the lowest possible price you need to be willing to spend some time on this, visiting say half a dozen places with no intention to purchase until you've bargained at all six, finally returning to the one that has given you the best price.
When bargaining you need not only to be precise about the exact model you require, but precisely how you intend to pay. There will usually be a surcharge for paying by credit card, and the surcharge may vary according to the card offered.
Official suppliers argue that the watches sold by independent retailers may sometimes be older, which means that the battery (if one is needed) may expire not long after purchase.
Twenty years ago I spent some time on acquiring a Cartier watch in Hong Kong, and my eventually purchase price (from a Nathan Road jeweller) was two thirds the price then available in the UK, and half the price in Japan.
You might also want to consider that whatever price you pay in Hong Kong you'll still very likely be exceeded your duty free limit when you return home. You should therefore either declare the watch, which would undo the whole point, or realise that you are committing a criminal offence in smuggling the watch. Needless to say people do this all the time, but it's something to be kept in mind. People will sometimes make sure they have no other watch with them when returning home, and will mail the paperwork and any packaging they want to keep, rather than carrying it with them.
Peter N-H
Your first step should be to spend time at home identifying the exact model you'd like to buy, right down to choice of internal mechanism. Look around for the best price you can find at home.
In Hong Kong your options will be to visit an official Rolex dealer (of which there are many) and perhaps that should be your first stop to get the official Hong Kong price. You'll then find there are many independent jewellers with whom you can bargain to get a lower price. You should stick to those listed by the HKTB (tourism board) as reliable, found either from lists given out for free at their offices, or from a decal displayed in the window. They will still be able to give you the full certification, guarantee, and all paperwork.
If your aim is to get the lowest possible price you need to be willing to spend some time on this, visiting say half a dozen places with no intention to purchase until you've bargained at all six, finally returning to the one that has given you the best price.
When bargaining you need not only to be precise about the exact model you require, but precisely how you intend to pay. There will usually be a surcharge for paying by credit card, and the surcharge may vary according to the card offered.
Official suppliers argue that the watches sold by independent retailers may sometimes be older, which means that the battery (if one is needed) may expire not long after purchase.
Twenty years ago I spent some time on acquiring a Cartier watch in Hong Kong, and my eventually purchase price (from a Nathan Road jeweller) was two thirds the price then available in the UK, and half the price in Japan.
You might also want to consider that whatever price you pay in Hong Kong you'll still very likely be exceeded your duty free limit when you return home. You should therefore either declare the watch, which would undo the whole point, or realise that you are committing a criminal offence in smuggling the watch. Needless to say people do this all the time, but it's something to be kept in mind. People will sometimes make sure they have no other watch with them when returning home, and will mail the paperwork and any packaging they want to keep, rather than carrying it with them.
Peter N-H
