Gang is flying out in a couple of days and debating what to buy, claim for TRS and a possibility of bringing items back to Oz. iPad, laptop and DSLR are some. Anything else?
What Do You Buy for TRS?
spychiatrist on 12/12/2014 - 10:39
Comments
Sporting equipment, Rolex watch, Cartier jewelry, Hugo Boss suit, Asko dishwasher, Miele induction cooktop, Dyson.. lol….
Just take what you were planning to buy anyway, no point buying stuff that you don't need just in order to claim TRS.
edit… damn you iChopstick and your sneaky posting! lol
Dont buy a Rolex or any other high end watch for that matter, what you save on TRS falls far short of the discount you get on buying the same item overseas, USA in particular, even with the state of the AUD. I am thinking consumer electronics or maybe luggage.
Actually, a Rolex Submariner with TRS is now cheaper in Australia (rrp AUD $9,650) than the USA (rrp USD$8,550 + tax).
You will get $0 discount here, and only a 5% discount in the USA if you are lucky due to high demand. Considering you can get a tax refund here and the fact you will pay sales tax in many states of the USA, you will find it cheaper here with the current exchange rate.
I know, because I was looking for one in the past year and have recently bought a used here, no stock in Aust, and even no stock in Singapore or Malayia (if if they had stock you will pay full price if you want one).
Other watches, I can't confirm.
Surprising, I bought an Omega Aqua Terra about 18 months ago in the US and managed to get a 35% discount on the US RRP from a Bricks and Mortar Jewellers shop in Washington. I could understand something as iconic as Rolex Sub being hard to get a discount on, I've bought a few other swiss watches (edox, Tag etc) mail order from the US and always beat Aust prices by a wide margin. I'll be in Vegas in Feb, I'll ask there and report back!
Because Rolex restrict supply to each boutique in Australia (and globally) and it's their most popular seller, they don't discount.
Why would they when they get 1, yup 1 Sub C per month, in fact there is a waiting list.
Given there are only 15 Rolex Boutiques in the whole of Australia, they really limit the supply and sell each one they can get. I called up about 7 or so to ask if they have stock, all said no. I asked one in Melbourne, ok, what is the waiting list, their response was 'If you want one, you need to pay the full amount up front and we will call you when it comes in!' lol..
I called up a few stores in Singapore and Malaysia.. all out of stock.
Omega is a different story, plenty of stock and I find I can get a pretty good discount of also 35% here.
But Omega is trying to do what Rolex are doing, that is only sell their watches through Boutiques, that is Omega Boutiques who do not sell any other watch brand. Omega are also trying to stop discounting their prices and in recent years have really increased their RRP to compete against Rolex. They are also dropping their quartz range of watches.
You'll be pleased to hear about the increase in RRP and you may be able to sell your Aqua Terra (beautiful watches by the way) for more than you paid.
Here is the same store selling the Sub C and an Aqua Terra
http://www.jomashop.com/rolex-submariner-watch-116610ln.html
http://www.jomashop.com/omega-watch-23110392101001.htmlI guess a 2% discount is better than nothing! lol
But a less popular Rolex, you can get much better discounts, especially gold Rolex's (yuk).
@JB1: Yep, I've been following the anger at Omega's new marketing strategy over on Watchuseek for a couple of years now! In fact i was put onto the Jewellers I bought from via a well respected collector on WUS who referred me to what was at the time an unwritten little club of folks that had been pre-agreed discount rates for certain watch brands. I couldnt find a cheaper deal for an Aqua Terra anywhere, even grey market and the one I bought came with Factory warranty etc. The AT is nice but I've since agonised over whether I should have bought a Planet Ocean instead. I actually thought about flipping the AT and trading it with one of the traders in the US against the cost of a newish Planet Ocean.
I'd love a sub though. I actually went to have a look when I was in Hong Kong a couple of years ago. Basically no discounting there either, there were busloads of chinese day-trippers over from the mainland all desperate to buy a Rolex status symbol regardless of cost. I wondered if a Blancpain 50 fathoms would have been a better buy, all of the mainlanders seemed to only be interested in Rolex's. Most seemed interested in Datejusts and Presidents, I guess if you arent into watches they are the obvious Rolex watches.
Personally I probably like the Milgauss or GMT Master II if I could afford one at the moment. I suspect I would have the same issues with either of those. I will have a browse through the Rolex shop in Vegas and see what they are selling them for!
You can get a GMT II or Milgauss at a slight discount.
Funny enough you mention GMT II. Got tired of waiting for a Sub C (over a year), and a watch dealer who I was waiting to get me a new grey market Sub C had a GMT II Ceramic that was traded in. So I bought the GMT for a good price.
What do you know, a few weeks later another watch dealer got me an used Sub C. So currently have both watches. Original plan was to flip the GMT when I got the Sub for the same price or for a small profit.
But I'm actually having trouble letting go of the GMT, it's such a beautiful watch (and less common than the Sub). No rush flipping it as it will only go up in value as AUD goes down.
Having said that Sub C has better resale value as its much more popular. Downside of Sub C is that its much more common.
If it wasn't for long term resale value and glidelock , I would sell the Sub C and keep the GMT. Both watches are similar, but I prefer the the GMT. Only Rolex could price a more complicated watch (4 hands) cheaper than their simpler model.
Advantage of Sub is both my wife and I can wear the Sub as you can adjust the band on the fly.
I'm trying hard to justify keeping both :D
Please ignore
Pretty much what you listed, also phones and couple pairs of shoes. At the end of the day though, buy what you need. Don't just buy for the sake of claiming TRS.