Omega vs. Costco

[jon84gt]

Has anyone on here bought one of these watches at Costco in the past? Omega is in the process of suing, see AOL headlines today!

[marcinthemiddle]

That's wild...I've seen Cartier 'Santos' and 'Tank Francaise' watches at the CostCo in Milford, CT- but no Omegas...yet.

[RRGHOST1]

What are they suing for, unless Omega stipulates their watches have to be sold through AD's.If that is the case then, where did they get them from and who supplied them ? I woder what discount they sell them for ?

[SLRdude]

Costco Omegas are great market and they do not come with a warranty card. They are also discounted quite a bit.

[Flash Gordon]

You can set any policies you want but you can't stop anyone from selling your products unless the products were faked. It's a silly law suit but it won't get you anywhere! You think Costco is so dumb that they don't know any better!

[blackmsport]

Originally Posted by SLRdude

Costco Omegas are great market and they do not come with a warranty card. They are also discounted quite a bit.

you meant grey market ???

[RLXSTR]

Hmmmm...then how is certain Costco's selling Rolex? Oh yes...they are.

[STEELINOX]

I once bought an X33 at my COSTCO, saved over 30% as I recall...

[snowbird]

I would assume Costco had their legal staff check into the legalities beforehand. On the other hand, if Costco doesn't sell that many Omegas, it may not be worth it to them to fight the suit.

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by blackmsport

you meant grey market ???

Yeah

[toolr]

Someone posted on another forum a while back a photo of a Platinum Day-Date for sale at his local Costco.

[oo7]

Nothing better than seeing an Invicta or Movado in the same display as a SMP Chrono while getting 4 dozen eggs and Hanes. LOL! I can see why Hayek blew a gasket.

[blackmsport]

Originally Posted by toolr

Someone posted on another forum a while back a photo of a Platinum Day-Date for sale at his local Costco.

well look like I start hanging out at the local Costco to pick up some bargains then

Thanks for the tip

[enronforme]

I've found it seems Costco Canada has had Rolex's, Omega's etc. quite a bit, but not much for us here in the U.S.A.

[Perdu]

This is a nice little summary. The case is based on the first sale doctrine. If Cost Co wins it's better for consumers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...596764410.html

[globoat]

Costco: Toronto (Etobicoke) Canada as of today. Not sure how good these prices are. Any feedback?

[darwen]

I bought a SMP from my local costco at approx 500 GBP less than my local AD.

The watch siezed after 2 weeks, I got my money back and went to the AD instead.

They said that a lot of the Costco watches are old unsold items and therefore in need of a service.

Not sure if this is true, but since an omega service as abount 300 GBP so I've been told, and takes months here in the UK, I'm not going to buy another watch from Costco and prefer to go to the AD instead.

Although I did see a Panerai at about 800 GBP cheaper than list price this week...

Hope this little story helps someone.

Darwen.

[globoat]

Also at coati were:
Gucci, movado, tag hauer, and some deaigner type watches but no rolex at this location.
My AD will give 25% off retail so I'm on the fence at the moment.

[007Willster]

Interesting...

Can Swatch Stop Costco from Selling Omega Watches?
By DANNY KING Posted 7:00 PM 11/08/10

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/d55lSt

Costco Wholesale (COST) on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to continue to allow it to sell products made overseas at a discount in U.S. stores. The debate comes after Swiss company Swatch Group (SWGAY) pushed to use its copyrighted logo to legally prevent the largest U.S. warehouse retailer from selling its Swiss-made watches in the U.S., Bloomberg News reported.

Costco asked the court to extend a 1998 ruling that limits foreign manufacturers' ability to bar goods from being imported to the U.S. after they'd been sold to a distributor or other entity overseas, according to Bloomberg. The ruling opened the door for the so-called "gray market," in which retailers can take advantage of lower prices offered in other countries.

Swatch's Omega unit imposed its copyright after Costco found an overseas distributor selling Omega's Seamaster watches at such a low wholesale price that Costco was able to offer them for almost $700 below the watch's $1,995 suggested retail price, according to Bloomberg. A Deloitte report estimates the gray market can cost global manufacturers $63 billion, or almost 5%, in annual sales, the story notes.

Costco said last month that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 16% from a year earlier, while same-store sales increased 6%. Revenue rose 7.8% to $23.6 billion.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/d55lSt

[bbqBiker]

Just another incident of the "the man" fighting the other "man." Go Costco-man!

[WTB007]

There are no Omega or Rolext at my Costco. I am looking to buy my first high end watch, so I am disappointed.

I hope Costco wins this, and Omega is forced to pay Costco's lawyers fees. Once something is purchased, there should be a right to resell it.

[Jakey]

I bought my Omega Speedmaster from a Dutch PX in Afghanistan. The cost was a mere £1000 compared to the list price of £2310 here in the UK.
Am I really buying a quality time piece or an over priced Swatch watch ?
Before this I purchased a New James Bond Seamaster for £800 (full size) from a UK dealer.

Whats the supplied cost I wonder?

[sparkhill]

So is the Omega warranty still valid at Costco? I purchased a Baume Mercier at Costco and three years later had a problem. I was asked whether I wanted my money back or the watch sent in for repair. I assume Costco warranties the watches if the manufacturer does not.

[globoat]

At costco.ca...

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....A&Sp=C&topnav=

Omega
Michael Schumacher Legend Chronograph
Speedmaster Collection
Men's Watch
Limited Edition
White Dial
Stainless Steel Case
Item # 256412
$3,499.99

[Flash Gordon]

My local Costco used to sell Contellations. I have not seen them the last year or so, probably very few people bought them. Last couple of weeks, I saw a nice 18K, automatic Cartier Santos with leather strap on display. Damn! Very tempting!

[Saxon007]

My Costco has a 36mm SS Aqua Terra for about $1800. They also have a Breitling Navitimer for around $4600.

And a big stand alone display of Citizen watches for either $79 or $179 (I didn't pay much attention, just remember the '79' in there somewhere). They just stood it up a week ago or so, must be a Christmas thing.

[globoat]

Originally Posted by Saxon007

My Costco has a 36mm SS Aqua Terra for about $1800. They also have a Breitling Navitimer for around $4600.

And a big stand alone display of Citizen watches for either $79 or $179 (I didn't pay much attention, just remember the '79' in there somewhere). They just stood it up a week ago or so, must be a Christmas thing.

Is that aqua terra automatic or quartz? Which costo is that?

[jon84gt]

Omega wins!!!! (I guess) - bet the gray market overseas salesmen are licking their wounds now! I would hate to lose a big customer like that!

[psv]

My local Costco even offers IWC Portuguese, all diamond-filled Breitling, Cartiers etc.

It is strange how the international market works, a pair of Levi's that are $30 in the US sells for well over $100 in the stores in Scandinavia, Levi's Company has monopoly on distribution.

That is what Omega/Swatch is trying to do here as part of their overall strategy of escalating the value of their brand. They want to move that brand up, they've started cutting back on ADs, they'll open 100s of new Omega-only stores etc.

[Flash Gordon]

That nice looking 18K Cartier is gone at my local Costco!!! I was too late last week. They don't know when they are getting it. There are no Omegas now.