What Is Considered "Flipping"?

[Steverin06]

Flipper, to me, is anyone whose sole intention in buying a watch is to sale sell it immediately and for a profit.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

There is no flipping.

There are only those who bond with their new watch and those who don’t (and are forced to sell it as a result)

What about those that buy with the sole intent of selling on for profit?

[Bozack90]

I think if you're getting it to sell it quickly for a profit then that's flipping, if you just sell it because you don't like it then that's different.

And as for the duration of time, meh, again if its a quick buck then flipping, if you're getting it to hold onto, and then eventually sell for a profit then I'd consider that more of a collector.

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by subtona

intent
buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

wis
buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
crown is too small
watch is too thick
watch is too bling
bracelet is too wide
clasp is too bulky
clasp is not as secure
bracelet is constructed like sh@t
complication missed the mark

all of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But i never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

100%

[rolexgs]

When you sell your watch at a higher price than your buy in price.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

If you’d feel uncomfortable telling your AD what you did with the watch, it’s probably flipping.

This in a nutshell

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by rolexgs

When you sell your watch at a higher price than your buy in price.

So someone that sells a 1655 they bought at retail is a flipper?


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[winst]

Originally Posted by subtona

intent
buying a watch with intent to resell specifically because there is an upside on the secondary market.

Vs

wis
buying a watch because it was consuming their dreams for far too long only to find out that it is not scratching the itch or there was some issue with the watch you didn’t notice before but now that you had a chance to own it you realize that the relationship will never work. So you sell it.

Some examples:
Hands are wrong size / shape
crown is too small
watch is too thick
watch is too bling
bracelet is too wide
clasp is too bulky
clasp is not as secure
bracelet is constructed like sh@t
complication missed the mark

all of the above have resulted in otherwise amazing watches being traded and occasionally sold.

But i never bought a watch solely with the intent to flip

This is the way.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Nav01L

My ADs have a 3year holding period you have to sign when collecting a watch from them. It’s not something they can enforce directly but if you don’t live by it and they find out, you’ll probably not get a watch again.

I would never buy from an AD in the first place if that had that policy.

[RKunz]

People have been flipping Rolex for a long long time. Most everyone on this forum has flipped and if they said otherwise they’re not being honest. Most brands out there are unflippable because the watch loses value the moment you walk out the door.

[RKunz]

The last year I worked in the watch business I saw on average 20 clients a day looking to buy and flip. 20 every day! As long as a watch company wants to keep their watches from being discounted they will keep a short supply of product and keep pent up demand. They can live with seeing their watches selling ABOVE list over the internet. That’s basically the marketplace saying “Your product is worth MORE than suggested list. Companies can live with that. So flipping is now more prevelant than ever.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by RKunz

People have been flipping Rolex for a long long time. Most everyone on this forum has flipped and if they said otherwise they’re not being honest. Most brands out there are unflippable because the watch loses value the moment you walk out the door.

People into watches, buy, trade or sell watches all the time. It's called collecting and that is what collectors do. Baseball cards, coins, stamps, you name it, it's all about getting that next one and getting the collection perfect which inevitably involves trading out of stuff which no longer appeals.

Years ago, there were no "collectors." People bought one watch for a lifetime and maybe handed it down. If the world was like that now, there would be plenty of available inventory at ADs.

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

People into watches, buy, trade or sell watches all the time. It's called collecting and that is what collectors do. Baseball cards, coins, stamps, you name it, it's all about getting that next one and getting the collection perfect which inevitably involves trading out of stuff which no longer appeals.

Years ago, there were no "collectors." People bought one watch for a lifetime and maybe handed it down. If the world was like that now, there would be plenty of available inventory at ADs.

How many years ago are you talking!? Haha.

My dads been collecting rolex for almost 50 years.

[ArtNouveau]

I would agree the terms flipper and flipping have been around since I bought my first nice watch in the 80’s but the connotation has gotten more negative in the last decade or so. I like the comment about if you feel uncomfortable then it probably is.
I got my BLNR in November ‘17. When I got my BLRO in December ‘18, I knew within 3 weeks that I would not wear the BLNR much if any again so I sold it. I told my SA and he understood, I have gotten two more watches from him since and still have my three Rolex.

[Andad]

I have never sold or traded a watch.

I consider myself a potential flipper.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by Mathematoxic

What about people buying undesirable watches from ADs to build their profile and then sell the watch at a loss? Is this flipping? I don’t think ADs will consider this flipping and they will thank you for taking the loss. Ironic isn’t it?

I don’t think that this is flipping, I think this is crawling!

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

How many years ago are you talking!? Haha.

My dads been collecting rolex for almost 50 years.

Neat. Are you able to wear some of what must be super an incredible collection?

[Tricolore66]

Flipping is like pornography, hard to define but we all know when we see it. If you need someone else to validate that you didn’t flip your watch, then you probably flipped your watch.

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

This in a nutshell

[RyanJ]

To me it doesn't matter. People should do whatever they want with the things they buy.

If you can get it from an AD at MSRP and make a profit immediately, have at it. Your watch, your life.

Flippers and people who pay over MSRP are who help give Rolex watches their monetary value.

I mean Rolex is starting their own certified flipping err.. Certified Pre-owned program.. I wonder how long that 3 yr requirement will be around... I am betting we will see newer than 3 yr old watches being sold at a premium...

[amh]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

There is no flipping.

There are only those who bond with their new watch and those who don’t (and are forced to sell it as a result)

Oh it's far more sinister than that. Join Facebook and get on Moda, you'll see more BNIB Rolex at some Greys than you _ever_ saw even at a fully stocked Rolex boutique.

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

When you sold and lost money it was ‘It didn’t sing to me.’

When you sold and broke even it was a ‘catch and release’.

When you sell and make a profit it’s ‘flipping’.

When you buy and hold it’s ‘investing’.

You see directly into the dark soul of a WIS

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Neat. Are you able to wear some of what must be super an incredible collection?

Of all his watches there aren’t too many that interest me in regards to actual wrist time.

Almost all his watches he’s collected over the years are in the 36mm and under range which I find to be a bit too small For my liking. My personal favorites are his 1665 Mark 1 explorer 2, my grandfathers SS thunderbird, a relatively rare 1970s pink gold day date with factory diamond dial.

He also has several presentation dials from the Middle East. He has other day dates, some old datejusts, oyster dates, oyster perpetuals. He had an incredible time capsule zenith Daytona from the 90s that was unworn, unsized compete set with original receipts, etc. but I helped him sell that a couple years ago.

His explorer is my favorite and I do wear that occasionally.

[EEpro]

My favorite was my AD complaining that DavidSW got a watch before they did.

[GHEN]

I must have the coolest AD in the world. No purchase history is needed (or even mentioned), no BS "holding period".

They ask that you email them exactly what you are looking for; if a special event is tied to the purchase and timeline; and they call you when your turn comes up.

[DG123]

Originally Posted by TexEd

Where is the line drawn?

1 year.

[daOnlyBG]

I (respectfully) disagree with many of the definitions suggested, which I think come close to what a flipper could be but don't define it precisely. Of course, I am just some guy on the internet, so make of that what you will.

"Flipping" is taking advantage of riskless profit, or as those in the trading community call it, "arbitrage." You go into a dealership, buy a Submariner for X, and know that any dealer on 47th street or on Jeweler's Row will pay you X+Y. You go to said dealer and sell for whatever you can get. Your entire purpose in the free market was to take advantage of a price differential.

Once you take on inventory risks, I think you've gone from being a flipper to an actual reseller or grey market dealer. Your profits aren't necessarily guaranteed depending on how long you hold that ceramic Submariner. You might even have bought it discounted from full market price but above MSRP. But your objective is still, presumably, to stay in business.

[train-time]

So, if you buy a watch and at some point down the road you sell it, you are a "flipper?" If you sell it at a loss, are you still a flipper?

Or is that like the proverbial question, if a tree falls in the woods....

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by train-time

So, if you buy a watch and at some point down the road you sell it, you are a "flipper?" If you sell it at a loss, are you still a flipper?

Or is that like the proverbial question, if a tree falls in the woods....

Selling at a loss is probably fine unless hard to get (Lange, VC come to mind).

If it's a rainbow or meteorite Daytona probably no length of time is OK to sell.

If it's a sub or OP I think a couple years and a good story is all you need.

I dropped my 114060 and dented the lug. Tried to have it polished but it sucked. Sold it and told them why it did it and they didn't care. Sold me 116610 just as covid was hitting. Was about 18 months between purchases.

[JJGreen]

IMO, buying with the main intention to sell (at a profit).

I'm ashamed to admit I did it a few times, sort of. One I wasn't sure, so I bought it and looked at it every day for a week and I thought it was ugly, so I sold it. But deep down I made the snap decision to buy it in the first place because I knew I could easily sell it.

[Rico_Brasole]

Originally Posted by JJGreen

IMO, buying with the main intention to sell (at a profit).

I'm ashamed to admit I did it a few times, sort of. One I wasn't sure, so I bought it and looked at it every day for a week and I thought it was ugly, so I sold it. But deep down I made the snap decision to buy it in the first place because I knew I could easily sell it.

No shame in that.

Hey, if someone wants to hand over more than double what you paid for a used item at that point, who are we to tell them no?


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