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.