Compared to certain other spreads between list prices and real selling prices, dealers' spreads on vintage watches seem relatively small. For example, I believe that new watches typically sell at a significant discount to the list prices (maybe 20% to 40% -- ??). Vintage watch dealers seem to list fairly close to their real prices, with a 5 to 10% discount being somewhat generous.

Dealers typically sell their timepieces above comparable ebay prices, with purchasers paying a premium for reliability, integrity and a selection of in-stock inventory. Sometimes, that premium also helps the dealer cover rent and employee costs.

Let us know how you do in your dealings with the dealers.

Jeff

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: As a newbie to the watch world, I have a basic
: question.
: How firm are the prices you find on a dealer's
: website?
: Are they usually just a starting point for
: negotiation? Or is that pretty close to what
: you're going to pay?
: I realize that this surely varies from
: establishment to establishment, but I'm
: trying to figure out how closely the asking
: and selling prices usually correspond.
: Thanks
: Allen