NickO
1726
Okay, let’s build the model….
Assume an individual has a rare, luxury item worth $500K they were considering leasing. What would this business model look like?
First, I’d recommend a sizable security deposit to be held in escrow should the item not be returned in the condition it was delivered. A 10% security deposit would be $50K.
Second, I’d require the lessee to carry full insurance. For a rare luxury item, this may be 2% of the insured value per annum. So that’s another $10K in annual insurance.
Finally, what would the monthly lease fee be? Well, luxury cars often lease for approximately a little less than 1% of retail value per month. So let’s put this this in the region of $3K to $4K per month for the lease fee.
So, if I was the individual considering leasing my $500K luxury item, I would be looking for a lessee who was willing to put $60K down to cover insurance and escrow and spend somewhere between $35K to $50K per annum in lease fees.
Perhaps some would be willing to lease it for less or more, that’s absolutely their prerogative, but that’s my back-of-the-envelop calculation. I’d also have an iron-clad lease agreement drafted by my attorney and jurisdiction in my state should any disputes arise.
The rarer the item, defined as harder for the lessee to actually acquire one for themselves, the more likely you’ll find someone interested in leasing your item. Would I ever personally lease out a luxury item I owned? Nope. But, if I did, the above would represent my early thinking on what the model would need to look like to even consider it.
Crazy Proposition
Guys, would you ever consider LEASING a DUFOUR SIMPLICITY? It's something I have considered offering. I hope this is an appropriate subject here. If not, please delete. M
Really depends
If you mean leasing out your own then clearly no, but leasing the watch I may consider short-term as a valid option to test drive and confirm it fits my wrist and lifestyle, it's so easy to get fitting wrong and even harder with independents.
Your post made me smile the way you put scratched and stolen right next to each other…
It’s like Mr. Lincoln didn’t like the play versus Mr. Lincoln got shot dead in the theatre But as a watch aficionado, I know exactly what you mean!
From these replies, I can determine this is the wrong forum to acquire answers.
Thank you sincerely, will look into other avenues. best, M
I’m not sure how you reached that conclusion
You received two responses and both were a definitive “no, I would not lease my Dufour Simplicity”. I’m sorry you don’t like that answer. If you’re looking for confirmation bias for a decision you’ve already decided to make, I wish you well in pursuing ot...
Post has only been up a few hours. Give it a couple days! It's a good conversation topic!
This is a very radical concept. One that the watch brands have hired top expert consultants on. It's a very foreign concept to most people as well. Give it a couple days. Don't give up! It is likely to be very different in different regions. For instance,...
Thanks Patrick!
Some of the very first replies made me think the concept was misunderstood. No offense to anyone of course. Appreciate your judicious comment!
No worries at all...
Since it's just such a foreign concept, that people will have varying responses.
I suppose that's a big part of the calculation...
We don't really mention pricing and costs on this forum. As we don't want to get into those details. But yes, that's a big part of the calculation.
Thanks Patrick for your swift reply
Of course I concur 100%, here is not the place for mentioning cost, price or such matters.
So, without getting into pricing AT ALL--
The concept is, for a fee, you lease a watch that no one can 'get'. Insurance obviously plays a central role here, and, like leasing a supercar, or luxury apartment, credit checks etc are all mandatory. It's just a business concept, and wondered if anyone...
Well, yes. We need to get into deeper details.
Yes, everything you stated is definitely to be considered. But more details about leasing... Like for instance you mentioned details like insurance and so on. What would be your pricing structure? 1% of the value per month? What kind of minimum commitment...
I would consider it if there was a purchase option at the end.
For me , the emotional connection comes with ownership.
In this case, as a concept anyway--
ownership would not be an option. Just for conversation here...
What's the purpose?
A Simplicity is something that the majority of us will ever see in pictures, the value has skyrocketed, but we know neither the terms nor conditions, thus if your final plan is to keep your watch, I wouldn't do it.
100%
I would pay to be able to try a variety of independents. There are so many great ones I’d love to own for a bit.
Yes M2
It seems that many collectors would want to do it... but it's just a conversation/idea at this juncture...
Obviously the luxury watch leasing concept is old, many companies have come and gone.
I never got it personally; the lease cost was always too high and that was for watches which were a fraction of the Dufour in terms of value. Also, and this is a big one for me, why would an owner lease something that was not replaceable? I wouldn’t do it...
Hey Jay
Yep. It may be too special ultimately. But with stringent vetting, it might be possible...
I guess if one was otherwise OK with selling it then why not earn some extra income leasing.
Being OK with selling means, if destroyed or “lost”, an insurance payout would be OK. Being OK with selling also means the “wear and tear” which would likely come with leasing is not going to bother you. I think NickO has laid out the economics, more or l...
Here's another idea...
Let's say you're a movie star. You go to Chopard to borrow jewels to walk the red carpet! Chopard insures the jewels. The wear and tear is minimal. And it's only used for one occasion and for some photographs. While Chopard doesn't charge for this service...
Yup!
I had read about those companies too. And the watches were so beat up in that pool of watches. No pride of ownership. And at the $300 a month they charged to lease a Rolex, after three years, you'd be able to own a Rolex. True, it might not be a President...
Are you leasing to make a personal profit?
Or are you doing it as an altruistic act of kindness for the countless collectors who will never be able to own or even see a simplicity in the metal? I don't think it makes sense from a profit perspective. Just sell the watch.
In this concept, yes for profit.
A person owns an object desired by many. But the person does not want to ever part with it. Yet the person can't help considering how to 'share' the object... and yes, be paid to share it. There must be far greater value objects, equally rare, that are le...
Okay, let’s build the model….
Assume an individual has a rare, luxury item worth $500K they were considering leasing. What would this business model look like? First, I’d recommend a sizable security deposit to be held in escrow should the item not be returned in the condition it was ...
Thanks for the effort of making the concept more concrete with figures but…
…to be honest this was my fear since the beginning of this thread : as mentioned earlier in this thread by patrick_y and confirmed by me we can discuss the principle or the idea of such a leasing but if the discussion drifts towards the monthly fee it wil...
This idea does exist in the art world.
For instance, big corporate HQs lease art for their executive offices! Now, art has less wear and tear (it mostly hangs on the wall). But still has risk of fire, damage, theft, loss, etc. Here's the funny thing. Sometimes the art is owned by one of the ex...