# please help me understand this huge price discrepancy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934 "2014-12-11T12:21:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/21 "2014-12-11T18:14:13Z")
> [@Hermitian](#): > > Isn’t that pretty much the rest of the world? Aren’t pretty much all luxury items a bad bargain? The whole point is conspicuous consumption. Not necessarily - I bought an omega several years ago - I think around four now - and omega and other watch brands have been doing regular price increases. Last time I checked I would about break even if I sold it today. If you buy something that is in high demand - from a good brand - that isn’t widely sold - you can sometimes not lose too much money by buying smart. Which usually means buying at a discount or gently used. Granted paying thousands of dollars for a watch isn’t “smart”, but if you aren’t going to lose too much on it - and you get some enjoyment out of it - it isn’t that bad. It probably doesn’t work as well for things like handbags which I guess can get pretty abused. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/22 "2014-12-11T18:19:24Z")
FWIW, it looks like the exact same watch is available from Amazon: > **[Amazon.com: Charriol St-Tropez Flower Ladies Mother-of-Pearl Dial Watch...](https://www.amazon.com/Charriol-St-Tropez-Flower-Mother-ST30PC-560-013/dp/B00GJ287X0)** > > Buy Charriol St-Tropez Flower Ladies Mother-of-Pearl Dial Watch ST30PC.560.013 and other Wrist Watches at Amazon.com. Our wide selection is eligible for free shipping and free returns. Sold by Amazon, too, so it should be legit. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/23 "2014-12-11T18:38:17Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Granted paying thousands of dollars for a watch isn’t “smart” :eek: But have you seen the new Seamaster. I _need_ one. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/24 "2014-12-11T18:52:05Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > :eek: But have you seen the new Seamaster. I _need_ one. Yeah - it pisses me off - mine has the cheap ass looking pins instead of screws - and no liquidmetal bezel - or transparent case back. I don’t really like the liquid metal DIAL that much - I do like the bezel - but think the dial (the flat part - not the detail) is a little too reflective - and takes away from the beautiful anti-reflective coating effect. So that’s what I tell myself - I like my matte dial better so I don’t need your new version 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/25 "2014-12-11T18:58:41Z")
In other news, can I be your next ex? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/26 "2014-12-12T02:53:07Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > :eek: But have you seen the new Seamaster. I _need_ one. > [@DataX](#): > > Yeah - it pisses me off - mine has the cheap ass looking pins instead of screws - and no liquidmetal bezel - or transparent case back. > > I don’t really like the liquid metal DIAL that much - I do like the bezel - but think the dial (the flat part - not the detail) is a little too reflective - and takes away from the beautiful anti-reflective coating effect. So that’s what I tell myself - I like my matte dial better so I don’t need your new version 🙂 Hadn’t seen it—I had to google it up. I assume you are [referring to this watch](http://www.omegawatches.com/collection/seamaster/seamaster-300/master-co-axial-41-mm/23330412101001). I’m kind of “meh” about it. I like the look of the 90’s era Bond Seamasters better. My first nice watch was a [Seamster Pro Chrono](http://www.omegawatches.com/collection/seamaster/diver-300-m/chronograph-41-5-mm/22258000)I bought in 1998, and it’s still on my wrist today. If they would make the older style with the liquidmetal bezel and transparent case back, that would be sweet! And if they would make the same thing, with screws instead of these Omega pins, better still. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/27 "2014-12-12T03:23:36Z")
TL;DR Manufacturers routinely list MSRPs so high that even the retailer with an outrageous markup can point to the MSRP and say “See! I’m saving you $200!”. I ran into this when I needed a new control board for my furnace: MSRP: $500 Local supply house: $300 Online: $250 And, for the furnace part, that was assumed to be the price the HVAC guy charged the homeowner - and then he adds his labor and any other thing he can think of to sell. For a watch, the jeweler can say: MSRP + engraving cost. They make money of both the hardware and thier service. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/28 "2014-12-12T09:00:49Z")
Now I’m confused. The prices all look about the same on ebay, the official site and the Amazon link at the moment. They’re all about $1,300 -$1,400 at the moment. OP, what price did you find on ebay and on the official website? Did they change or am I looking at the wrong prices? Maybe it was a loss leader or a bid on ebay? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2014, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/29 "2014-12-12T10:14:01Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Hadn’t seen it—I had to google it up. I assume you are [referring to this watch](http://www.omegawatches.com/collection/seamaster/seamaster-300/master-co-axial-41-mm/23330412101001). I’m kind of “meh” about it. > > I like the look of the 90’s era Bond Seamasters better. My first nice watch was a [Seamster Pro Chrono](http://www.omegawatches.com/collection/seamaster/diver-300-m/chronograph-41-5-mm/22258000)I bought in 1998, and it’s still on my wrist today. > > If they would make the older style with the liquidmetal bezel and transparent case back, that would be sweet! > And if they would make the same thing, with screws instead of these Omega pins, better still. Young whippersnappers! Here’s mine, a [1968 Seamaster Deville](http://omegaforums.net/data/attachments/41/41046-3dc58d5bb6fca3945eac8cfef434d5bd.jpg). Actually it was my Dad’s and I got it when he passed. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934/30 "2014-12-16T14:05:21Z")
> [@crucible](#): > > For example: > > [Amazon.com: KITCOX70427FOL00367CT - Value Kit - Folgers Coffee (FOL00367CT) and Glad ForceFlex Tall-Kitchen Drawstring Bags (COX70427) : Grocery & Gourmet Food](http://www.amazon.com/KITCOX70427FOL00367CT-FOL00367CT-ForceFlex-Tall-Kitchen-Drawstring/dp/B00MON9N9U/ref=sr_1_5?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1418306585&sr=1-5&keywords=folgers+coffee) Well DUH - you’re completely ignoring the fact that it comes with some trash bags as well. That’s what makes the difference. 😉 Interestingly the “customers also viewed” now includes a Charriol watch :D. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-this-huge-price-discrepancy/706934.md?page=1)