Horological Meandering

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Hi,

If your original post was deemed inappropriate by the moderators of this forum for this forum venue, why would this follow up post about an article be any more apropos?

There is really no real simple answer on the subject of the grey market, just as there are not simple answers how to fix the global economic situation, how to stop poverty and hunger in the world, or even in specific countries or cities or neighborhoods.

Legitimate pieces (pieces that are authentic, not stolen) obviously come from somewhere. Typically, authorized dealers with overstock or who committed to more than they could really "digest" in their market then sell them "sideways" to non-authorized dealers.

If a dealer buys 100 pieces to get a 100 piece wholesale discount, sells 20 of them at retail, then blows 80 pieces sideways, it seems like a victimless crime, like prostitution, fake watches, and voluntary drug use, right? Who cares?

The classic answer is, "Well, the brand does, who cares about how their products are represented and sold."

Except, many of these same brands doing the protesting, and who threaten "no warranty on product not purchased through authorized channels" are the very ones who are supplying some of the grey channels, out of the "back door."

See how quickly it gets very, very complicated?

Some axiomatic truths about the grey market -

Not all grey market goods are stolen or fake.

Not all grey market goods are old, stale stock.

Not all grey market dealers are crooks, and not all authorized dealers are honest, sincere merchants worthy of your support.

Not all manufacturers and brands really have any integrity and don't talk out of both sides of their mouths.

Some brands even don't pay their bills, while they pretend to be luxury brands worthy of your luxury dollars.

BUT...

not all people are nice.

Not all people are honest.

Just a fact of life.

Along these lines, not all product advertised as "real" or "fresh" really are; some are fake, some are old, some are used or pre-owned.

Non-authorized dealers who buy from whomever and wherever open themselves up, and therefore their customers, to the possibility of fake, used, refurbished, butchered, pieces.

At least authorized dealers are covenanted to get their authorized line products (in most cases) directly from the brand manufacturer, thus ensuring authenticity. Maybe not "freshness" but at least provenance and authenticity...

Of course, then there was the story of the Louis Vuitton store manager (yes, a Louis Vuitton COMPANY store) who sold local counterfeited products alongside the real stuff...

I've experienced even the most experienced and honest secondary market dealers unintentionally sell fake product, or "pre-owned" pieces as new. They honestly didn't know (in some cases, I did, as a specialist for that brand, and it was a hell of a time trying to tell the dealer of 20 years he was wrong, and I was right...)

There is no Santa Claus. But that doesn't mean we have to stop believing in him.

Cheers,

TM