Metrowatch - Killing a Brand?

I'm really not sure how the whole process works Z ! Like you said, when a watch retails for $475..how
can it be sold for $127.50 and still make a profit ? Maybe it's the direct from the Zodiac distribution center
element. It would be similar to when a department store, or online shop has a watch for say..$299, $249,
$399 etc. The watch may retail for alot more..but they sell for these prices !! The REAL difference I think, is that..the department stores and online stores are trying to make more money on us ! They could probably sell them for much less as well..but just don't or won't. Where as we are kind of getting the direct prices from Metro instead .I guess since the outlets you spoke of really are not selling the Zodiacs as they used to, that perhaps Metro has taken on that duty ! Like I said, I'm really not sure how it all works..for myself I'm glad to have Metro, because I never experienced finding them in the outlets..but it's a good question and you make some great points too !

Z-Freak wrote:

I started this thread because while I am selling a lot of Zodiacs, I still respect the brand and am keeping all my 3-hand models.

Before Metrowatch ( http://myworld.ebay.com/metrowatchcompany/ ) was on ebay, all the Fossil outlets sold Zodiacs; hardly any of them do now. I got a great deal of my watches form the outlets including some of the newer models, but never a model less than 6 mos old, brand new (not refurbed) for 65% off...

How do you sell a ZO7100 that retails for $475 for $127.50 and make ANY money?

CUT AND PASTED FROM EBAY:

ZODIAC SWISS MADE MENS GREY CROSS OVER WATCH ZO7100 NEW
Ships Direct from the Zodiac Distribution Center! NIB
Item condition: New
Ended: Sep 21, 200915:00:38 PDT
Bid history: 11 bids
Winning bid: US $127.50
Shipping: $6.95UPS Ground See more services See discounts | See all details

Not really sure how I feel about this. IMO this is DRASTICALLY devaluing the brand...

Terrible...This is the one problem I have with Ebay. These sellers selling just about anything at a crazy low price really hurts eveyone. In my industry it is very hard to make money on ebay anymore when you have sellers that dont care about only making a buck...I seen it destroy plenty of business's because of these seller's who devalue these products...I find it terrible...

I'd like to take advantage of one of their Oceanaires that keep selling for $150, but they will not let me bid because I do not have a PayPal account.

Kind of sounds like a poor business model...you have to depend on volume sales. In this economy, that is a tough thing! That's their business though...I hope they make it!

[quote="Z-Freak"]I asked METROWATCH the question DIRECTLY on a forum they are a member of (worded the same you see here). This was their response:

Re: How are you doing it MetroWatch?
« Reply #3 Today at 7:33am »

Quote :

Unfortunately, that is something we cannot openly talk about. We certainly understand the argument for both sides. What we can tell you is we lose quite a bit of money on most styles that we sell. So all we ask is that you appreciate the deals that you are getting. It's quite distributing when you are selling a $695 watch for $100 and people are sending you offers on the side for $50. As we've stated before, the 99 cent listings are not a given and never will be. Obviously if we can them forever, there is now ay we would be a successful business.
« Last Edit: Today at 7:34am by metrowatchcompany »

Pretty honest answer. I guess selling 500 units for net profit of $25 is better than 500 units sitting in the warehouse...

It's great that you were able to get your question answered right from the source ! Metro seems to be very honest ! I remember just in the last couple months, them stopping the auctions and putting "buy it now" pricing in ! Mainly because they had to, and those prices were still good ! Great topic..thanks for the info too !