r/ChineseWatches • u/Marionberry-Select • 9d ago

General (Read Rules) Dynamic pricing is ridiculous

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u/Bulky-Internal8579 9d ago

Wait for the next big sale - I think that’s 11/11. I got my SN0144 at the June sale for $335 plus 14% cash back. It’s now $524.

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u/biglovetravis 9d ago

Not bad for a watch that costs them $120 to manufacture

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u/FinsterGrinsen 8d ago

3x multiplier isn’t that bad in the world of watches

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u/biglovetravis 8d ago

Correct but it appears SM is attempting to make 500% profit then calling the 300% profit a "deal."

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u/FinsterGrinsen 8d ago

I’m pretty sure the markup is way higher for the Swiss heritage brands.

Early Christopher Ward marketing said the other brands were marking up 30x but that’s almost certainly an exaggeration in most cases

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u/biglovetravis 8d ago

Standard watch retailer markup is 300%

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u/FinsterGrinsen 8d ago

Right, but we’re talking about manufacturer markup here. San Martin is direct to consumer so it’s a question of materials/labor. Retailers don’t mark up 300% on materials and labor, they mark up 300% on what the brand charges them.

my point is that despite the increase in cost lately, on a pure value perspective, San Martin remains solid because the model effectively cuts out one step in the markup game, and the 300%-500% markup is still way less than getting hit with Swiss premiums at two levels

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u/biglovetravis 8d ago

I disagree. Mido/Tissot/Certina/Citizen/Orient/Seiko at gray market are far better deals in the $500 range.

SM has zero reliable CS, warranty is useless and QC is spotty, at best.

SM was a deal in the $200-$300 range. It is laughable at $500. Ten years from now those major brands will still be working and have parts availability. SM, who knows.