zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: Pricing comparisons across countries get
: complex.

: Retail prices set differently based on many
: more factors that just the currency exchange
: rate between Switzerland and each region.
: Other factors include pricing relative to
: other competing brands in each area,
: relative to the quality and premium brand
: expectations of customers in that country,
: and also the discount structures inherent in
: the distribution networks of each country.

: You will see cases like where retail is higher
: in countries like the USA than it is in
: others like Finland (as in Harry's example).
: But you will likely find also that dealers
: where retail price is lower are also less
: likely to discount the watches as much. In
: the USA, virtually every dealer discounts a
: *minimum* of 10 to 15%. In some other
: countries, any discount at all can be rare.

: So often what you will actually pay in another
: country won't be as advantageous as it might
: at first seem. Particularly after you
: include exchange rate fees, local taxes, and
: potential import duties.

: Sure, better deals are possible, but more by
: either chance or after significant research
: into the dealers in that country. Simplest
: would be if you can get a recommendation
: from someone of the best price dealer in the
: place(s) you will be going--then visit them
: and see if the resulting deal is
: sufficiently better than the best you could
: get at home.

: The one area where I have heard multiple tales
: of Omega and other fine watches being the
: least expensive is in certain Middle East
: countries like Dubai.

I agree with you, that its hard to make accurate price comparisons across borders, even within one's borders sometimes. But I do think it would be great if we could compile (bcos there would be Omega buyers from all over the world coming thru this website) the prices paid by owners across the globe. This would enable future owners to ensure they get a fair price for their purchase or ammunition to use when bargaining with the authorised dealer or buy your omega overseas when on holiday or business. When I bought my bond mid-size I scourged the net looking for the best prices and in the end found that the authorised dealer in my country was selling it at a price better than 99% of web retailers!... If you don't want to host such info I don't mind hosting it on my website.