100 new Daytonas at 50% off with full warranty...

[Auragentum]

Not sure if this has been posted yet.

A Swiss discount/deal company recently sold a truckload of new Daytonas (almost 100 units) at half price with full warranty.

Seems they have done something similar in the past with other expensive items like cars - e.g. new Porsche 911 Carrera S at half price.

Here's the original offer on the website:
http://www.qoqa.ch/fr/offer/5777

Here's an article about the stunt in French:
http://www.bilan.ch/entreprises-les-...atiser-le-luxe

Here's an article in German:
http://www.20min.ch/finance/news/story/21000648

Thread on TZ UK:
http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...t-was-possible

Quite a stunt

I'm sure Rolex SA has gone into full investigation mode In fact, here's a short article about them officially starting an investigation: http://www.tdg.ch/suisse/rolex-reagi...story/27888776

Found no articles in English, so it seems it hasn't reached the other side of the pond yet... until now

[perpetualman88]

Nuts wish groupon would do these kind of deals LOL

[SLS]

Crazy...why do 50% when they could have easily sold them at 30% off. I guess they are getting publicity

[Auragentum]

Originally Posted by SLS

Crazy...why do 50% when they could have easily sold them at 30% off. I guess they are getting publicity

Publicity indeed!

[AK797]

Free publicity is not cheap.

[kultschar]

Hmm but did it actually happen? Im skeptical until somebody claims they got this deal

[HRC-E.B.]

I'm a francophone. If given a little bit of time, I could translate these for you!

[MonBK]

Finally someone who sells them for what they're worth.

[HRC-E.B.]

Here is a translation of the last article, relating to the so-called Rolex "investigation"

Rolex Reacts to QoQa's Offer

Rolex will investigate the bargain-priced watches

Friday, December 13, 2013, website Qoqa.ch offered Rolex Daytona watches for 5,700 Swiss Francs instead of 11,400 Swiss Francs. The offer from Qoqa.ch, which sold out quickly, raised a significant number of questions.

The brand itself is perplexed. «To this day, Rolex is not able to tell from whom the Qoqa.ch, an online reseller, obtained its watches, considering that any of authorized distributors only has a limited number of Daytona models in steel», said Virginie Chevailler, a spokesperson for the brand.

Since it commercializes its watches only through authorized distributors, «Rolex is unable to opine on the authenticity of the watches offered by Qoqa», further said the spokesperson.

Perplexed, the brand will investigate as soon as this Monday on «the whole of the information», Virginie Chevailler concluded.

[Auragentum]

Originally Posted by HRC-E.B.

I'm a francophone. If given a little bit of time, I could translate these for you!

I'm sure people would appreciate that

That said, I think most people will do fine with e.g Google translate.

[Furbo]

I don't see a price. Just a -50% sign is often misleading. It could still be overpriced.

[HRC-E.B.]

Here is the most interesting article:

After Electronics, QoQa Aims to Make Luxury Affordable

The Romand site sold, on Friday, December 13, 2013, Rolex watches at half-price. A further venture into the high-end, which gives Pascal Meyer, founder of the company, some new ideas.

Online sales. Qoqa has scored a major coup this week. Following in the footsteps of an unlimited mobile telephone plan for 29 Swiss Francs last Wednesday and reportedly impossible-to-find XBOX and PS4 consoles the next day, the online sales site offered half-price Rolex watches last Friday, December 13: Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona models for 5,700 Swiss Francs, versus 11,400 Swiss Francs at a dealer, because «if at 50 years old, you haven't bought a Rolex at half price, you have failed in life», muses Pascal Meyer.

Qoqa's chief executive wanted to underscore the business's eighth anniversary with a whole week's worth of crazy offers. The operation was a success in terms of exposure, especially on social media, where the stunt generated a flurry or reactions and comments on the reaction to be expected from the Swiss watchmaker.

How many Rolex were sold? As is its habit, Qoqa, which sells products for a day in limited quantities, did not provide an exact number: «Less than 100 for a demand estimated to 35,000 persons on the website.»

Where do the precious timekeepers come from? « Not from Switzerland. We have called upon a distributor that moves a significant volume for the brand and that sold the watches with a minimal margin.» Pascal Meyer estimates the distributors' typical margin to be in the 40 to 55% range, typically, and mentions having worked for more than six months on this deal, purported to be "impossible", given how sought-after the brand, and this model in particular, both are.

As for Rolex, its spokesperson indicated on Friday not being "able to tell from whom the online seller Qoqa obtained the watches, considering that each of Rolex's authorized distributors only has a limited number of Daytona models in steel". The coronet brand did not want to opine on the authenticity of the watches offered and declared "that it wishes to inquire on the whole of the information as soon as next Monday".

Selling Luxury Goods?

This stunt follows another in 2011 where Qoqa also sold at half-price 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S Models, for 72,000 Swiss Francs. All of which inspires new ideas to the owner of Qoqa : «I would like to create a site for selling luxury goods.» Qoqa previously offered products via other theme-oriented sites (QWine, QSport, Qooking). Soon QLuxe? We can't tell you any more for now...

Qoqa currently employs 38 collaborators in its offices in Bussigny (VD) and should close out its first profitable fiscal year after 8 years of existence, with revenues estimated at 40 millions Swiss Francs.

«I'm a firm believe in this "community-based" economic model, explain the young CEO. We are sharing good plans with our 200,000 fellow Qoqasiens. Our operation allows people to make significant savings, as was the case with the 29 Swiss Francs unlimited plan, without hassle. No undisclosed renewals or similar; we are working for the community.»

[HRC-E.B.]

5,700 vs 11,400 Swiss Francs... Looks like half-price to me!

[HRC-E.B.]

Originally Posted by Auragentum

I'm sure people would appreciate that

That said, I think most people will do fine with e.g Google translate.

Google translate may allow to get the general gist of an article, but all of the finer points, and the humor, regional particularities, etc. would be literally "lost in translation"...

Hope this provides for interesting reading!

[GreatCircle]

Thanks for translation HRC-E.B.

WOW, funny story, but this just can't be true ?!? Who on earth is able to move about a hundred SS Daytona's without them in geneva knowing of it.

The rep from Rolex mentioned in the acticle has a LI account, Virginie Chevailler
Perhaps a nice idea to mail the lady and tell her you obtained on of the watches and willing to cooperate to share some info (serial) at a certain cost, a free PT Daytona ?

[Alpino]

Originally Posted by HRC-E.B.

Here is the most interesting article:

After Electronics, QoQa Aims to Make Luxury Affordable
...
or similar; we are working for the community.»

Could you please translate this to French for me ...

[Cru Jones]

He seems quite pleased with himself.

[kilyung]

If it had been platonas...

[Silverfever]

Looks like the white dials are now on close out... Doesn't look like there were any black dials in the 50% off sale.

[cornerstore]

Great business model.They lose money on every unit but make it up on volume.

[xjeeunitx]

Is this forreal?

[viper9669]

Sounds too good, if only.....

[SL1229]

wow...if this actually is true...wish I found out sooner somehow...sigh...and then wished that I had the money to buy one...

[dardeca]

Wow!!!!!!!

[southtexas]

Cheaper than a Super Bowl commercial, and with longer exposure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GB-man]

Here the question, this pops up on groupon, are you going to buy? I'd be skeptical and probably miss out. Then again I guess that is what amex is for....

[travisb]

Craziness..

[bayerische]

They should have advertised it as 100 years worth or Rolex!

So conclusion... Is the Daytona "Rare"?

[Passionata]

I think the AD-or ADs- who sold them is in trouble now.

[HL65]

Interesting that they are selling them for much less than what the AD had to pay for them so all in all it is a sizable loss or investment for publicity depending on how you look at it. AD pays 62.5% of retail price for watch so 50% it a pretty hefty hit. I wonder what he got them all for from AD's?