Who prefers reps to gens?

[Pugwash]

It's often said that the richest people are often the most tight with their money.

Yes, but that's utter crap and everyone knows it.

[Victoria]

Yes, but that's utter crap and everyone knows it.

No, it's not Puggers! The richest people are the cheapest people on earth. They will diddle you for 10p, if they can, and bargain you down for anything.

Just because they can go inside a building and buy it, doesn't mean they won't, as Rose Kennedy used to do, try to get her deposit back on nail varnish bottles at Woolworth's.

Or make her chauffeur pay for his own coffee.

Rich people are cheap. As my mum says, maybe that's why they're rich and we're not...

[Miss Understood]

I will add with absolute confidence that I have sampled "replicas" and I much prefer the "real thing".

[Victoria]

I will add with absolute confidence that I have sampled "replicas" and I much prefer the "real thing".

Miss Understood, which rep graces your dainty little wrist, at present? I'd like to get a proper visual of you!

[rbscott]

To me, there's something about the excitement of buying a rep.....I can relate to what By-Tor said.....I even get a rush, when I know my watch or watches are sitting in US customs and I'm tracking status online....wandering if I'm going to get a call or a visit from a federal agent....It's that shady, illegal, I'm doing something wrong feeling....(I love it)..It's also fun to buy watch after watch, as if I'm loaded, because I'd never be able to do this with Gens....and I'm sure I would if I could. I mean if I had the money, why not......It also allows me to decide if I want to buy the gen after sporting around the rep a bit...To me it's the excitement of experimenting, testing and experiencing all the different flavors of watches...without having to spend a fortune first....not to mention the people and friends you make along the way....from all over the world....It's a hobby, it's fun, so what the hell...

Cheers,

rbscott

[SportsterRider]

No, it's not Puggers! The richest people are the cheapest people on earth. They will diddle you for 10p, if they can, and bargain you down for anything.

Just because they can go inside a building and buy it, doesn't mean they won't, as Rose Kennedy used to do, try to get her deposit back on nail varnish bottles at Woolworth's.

Or make her chauffeur pay for his own coffee.

Rich people are cheap. As my mum says, maybe that's why they're rich and we're not...

This isn't being cheap, it's being shrewd! Cheap, as this discussion implies, is buying a $120 replica Submariner when you could buy a genuine with the cash in your pocket. Cheap is buying a 1972 Fiat when you could easily afford a new R8 for every day of the week. By and large, rich people don't do this and as such, aren't 'cheap'.

What does a rich man get for buying his chauffeur a coffee? Nothing of any value. So making him pay for his own isn't cheap, it's simply a choice. Just because a person has money doesn't mean he's obligated to give it away.

It cracks me up when people lament the 'outrageous' prices a genuine Rolex, Omega or Panerai fetches, but they have no problem wearing a fake with these names painted on the dial with the obvious intent of fooling folks into thinking they DO own one of these pieces. If you're really going to thump your chest at the outrage these theives perpetrate with their crazy prices, why not buy a Seiko and support a company that sells something you can afford? I could even respect a person like this if he/she wore a non-branded 'copy'. But wearing a replica while getting preachy about the costs of a genuine? Hmm..

Now ME, on the other hand... Ya, I'm a cheap SOB!!

[Victoria]

This isn't being cheap, it's being shrewd! Cheap, as this discussion implies, is buying a $120 replica Submariner when you could buy a genuine with the cash in your pocket. Cheap is buying a 1972 Fiat when you could easily afford a new R8 for every day of the week. By and large, rich people don't do this and as such, aren't 'cheap'.

I think nouveau riche people may not do this, but the people I know certainly do.

Gentry in the UK don't buy new sheets, or counterpanes/bedspreads. They send theirs out to be mended, year after year, decade after decade. The Queen hasn't bought a new Land Rover since the 1970s. The Daimlers date to the late 40s.

The famous story of Mrs. Nancy Reagan arriving in a spiffy black shiny limo, with police outrider escort, only to meet the Queen emerging from a muddy, old Land Rover which she had driven herself, is still remembered in the UK.

There is a difference. I stand by my conviction that rich people are the cheapest people on earth. Doesn't mean they can't be Bill Gates and donate a billion to UNICEF.

But Steve Jobs is a horrible tipper and rarely pays for his own bill, leaving it to whomever is his lunch partner to do so. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about.

That's my mum all over, bless her. This is why I overtip, in compensation for my parents' UTTER UTTER cheapskateness.

What does a rich man get for buying his chauffeur a coffee? Nothing of any value. So making him pay for his own isn't cheap, it's simply a choice.

Wow. What can one say?

EDIT: OH! BTW, another Queen anecdote. She once came upon a couple of footmen in a huge, brightly-lit room in Buckingham Palace, having a hearty chat. She stared at them, harrumphed, and turned off the lights in their face.

Hey, she's a child of the Great Depression and the War. But man is she cheap. In her case, since we're paying, good on her!

[TeeJay]

It cracks me up when people lament the 'outrageous' prices a genuine Rolex, Omega or Panerai fetches, but they have no problem wearing a fake with these names painted on the dial with the obvious intent of fooling folks into thinking they DO own one of these pieces. If you're really going to thump your chest at the outrage these theives perpetrate with their crazy prices, why not buy a Seiko and support a company that sells something you can afford? I could even respect a person like this if he/she wore a non-branded 'copy'. But wearing a replica while getting preachy about the costs of a genuine? Hmm..

Now ME, on the other hand... Ya, I'm a cheap SOB!!

Obvious intent? I don't know about you, but I've never told someone one of my watches was genuine, or let someone believe it was. Sure, it felt good when a friend actually recognized the brand of a watch I was wearing, and said it was a nice watch, but I immediately told him it was a rep, and then showed him the site I'd bought it from. So speak for yourself, but don't try labelling me as one of the wannabes who go around flashing their rep and telling people it's genuine and that they paid stupid money for it, because that's something I've never done, and never will.

As for why not buy a Seiko or non-branded company, for the simple reason that I like how specific watches look, so want something which is visually similar to that. Note I didn't say identical. I'm not somone who mods watches and swaps them out with gen parts in the attempt of fooling themselves and others that it makes the watch genuine. I don't even buy the high-price reps. I buy the cheapest reps I can, which have the closest appearance to the watch I like. As long as the dial does not read Qmega or Banerai, I'm really not fussed about minor details like it having the wrong strap or movement, simply becasue I don't buy reps to fool other people into thinking they are real. I buy them for my own pleasure, not for the image they convey. If someone wants to think my watches are genuine, that's their business. If someone actually asks me, or makes a comment like my friend did, I always tell them the watch is a replica.

I don't buy genuine watches, or any other brand named product for the same reason. I don't like paying more for a product than it is worth. If I can save money by purchassing a cheaper generic or even replica version of something -anything- then I will. I wear unbranded shoes and jeans. I'll drink supermarket cola rather than buying Pepsi. If I drove, I'd want a kit-car rather than a pretigeous marque.

Sure, there are some folks here who do buy watches to pass them off as genuine, but I'm not one of them, and given your comment appeared directed at me, I don't appreciate your implication that I am, especially when I have made my opinion on this subject very clear in the past (making the majority of my above post a repeat of what I've previously said)

[SportsterRider]

I think nouveau riche people may not do this, but the people I know certainly do.

Well, that could be the difference then, eh? I don't socialize with rich folks on a daily basis, but the ones that I know and the times that I do illustrate a different mindset than 'cheap'. Perhaps it's an 'old' money versus 'new' mindset? Or maybe more accurately, old person versus young?

Gentry in the UK don't buy new sheets, or counterpanes/bedspreads. They send theirs out to be mended, year after year, decade after decade. The Queen hasn't bought a new Land Rover since the 1970s. The Daimlers date to the late 40s.

The famous story of Mrs. Nancy Reagan arriving in a spiffy black shiny limo, with police outrider escort, only to meet the Queen emerging from a muddy, old Land Rover which she had driven herself, is still remembered in the UK.

I can't speak to this as I'm not a Brit. Again, perhaps this is a cultural thing as I don't see much of this here in the US (certainly not in the circles I'm familiar with, anyway). This is what I'd call cheap, for sure. Below, however, not so much..

There is a difference. I stand by my conviction that rich people are the cheapest people on earth. Doesn't mean they can't be Bill Gates and donate a billion to UNICEF.

But Steve Jobs is a horrible tipper and rarely pays for his own bill, leaving it to whomever is his lunch partner to do so. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about.

This is where I see a difference between 'cheap', and 'smart'. Patching up a 50 year old bed sheet set is cheap. Having your lunch partner, who is likely pretty well off as well, pay for your lunch? That's smart!

That's my mum all over, bless her. This is why I overtip, in compensation for my parents' UTTER UTTER cheapskateness.

I also make sure I tip, but I tip relative to the service I get. I've been called 'cheap' for leaving little or no tip in the past, but I don't see it that way.. C'est la vie.

Wow. What can one say?

My comment wasn't meant to be an endorcement of any kind of behavior, one way or the other. But I don't see the illustration between cheap and extravagant where buying an employee a coffee is concerned? That's not an obligation, 'nor is it an example of being cheap, IMO.

EDIT: OH! BTW, another Queen anecdote. She once came upon a couple of footmen in a huge, brightly-lit room in Buckingham Palace, having a hearty chat. She stared at them, harrumphed, and turned off the lights in their face.

Hey, she's a child of the Great Depression and the War. But man is she cheap. In her case, since we're paying, good on her!

As I mentioned above, there seems to be a palpable difference between old money and new (and perhaps UK versus US?).

Anyway, I only replied as I see topics like this come up, from time to time, on all my various message boards. Rich folks are dumb. Rich folks are cheap. People that buy BMW's (seen as rich folks, at least here in the US) are all stuck-up and stupid. Etc, etc, etc. I may not hang out with the Queen of England, but I do know my fair share of well off people and I find these generalizations to be inaccurate, at best.

SR

[SportsterRider]

Obvious intent? I don't know about you, but I've never told someone one of my watches was genuine, or let someone believe it was.

The 'obvious' part comes from the fact that your watch(s) says Rolex, or Panerai, when in fact it is neither. Seems pretty obvious to me, at least?

Sure, it felt good when a friend actually recognized the brand of a watch I was wearing, and said it was a nice watch, but I immediately told him it was a rep, and then showed him the site I'd bought it from.

Ahh, so do you wear a sign that points at your watch and says: 'Not real, but you too can own one of your own by visiting this website!'? And tell me, why would it feel good to be recognized for wearing a brand that your are principally opposed to owning?

So speak for yourself, but don't try labelling me as one of the wannabes who go around flashing their rep and telling people it's genuine and that they paid stupid money for it, because that's something I've never done, and never will.

Never said that you did, or do, go around telling people that you spent 'stupid' money on the watch you're wearing. You just allow them to think that you do. Clever!

As for why not buy a Seiko or non-branded company, for the simple reason that I like how specific watches look, so want something which is visually similar to that. Note I didn't say identical.

There are dozens of labels that make very close copies of ALL the major brands. Invicta, Seiko, Sandoz, etc, ALL make copies of the more popular styles. None of them say Rolex or Panerai on them though. There are also many dealers that sell unbranded versions of their replica's. If it's simply 'getting close', why not choose one of these options and demonstrate fully your high ideals of not supporting these 'overpriced' genuines? Why does it have to say Omega on the dial if not to fool someone into thinking it's the genuine article?

If someone wants to think my watches are genuine, that's their business.

And how convenient, too! I bet that wouldn't happen as often with an unbranded watch, or with a Invicta. Hmm...

Sure, there are some folks here who do buy watches to pass them off as genuine, but I'm not one of them, and given your comment appeared directed at me, I don't appreciate your implication that I am, especially when I have made my opinion on this subject very clear in the past (making the majority of my above post a repeat of what I've previously said)

I see little reason to own a replica if not to 'pass it off' as genuine, either to yourself, and/or to others, beyond simply not being capable of affording the genuine article. There are many reasons to own a replica, most all of which are just a valid as the next. Can't afford the real one. Appreciate the detail of the duplication. Whatever. But for someone to say that they won't own a genuine article, such as you, because of some high moral standards of commerce, but have no problem wearing a replica that will make people think that you do, smacks of contradiction. Personally, I think you're just a cheap SOB who tries to deflect that fact by taking an economic 'moral' high ground. Problem is, your moral high ground is dubious, at best. If you really were so much against these companies, and were truly put out by their business practices and prices, you would never wear a watch with their name on it, whether it was to fool someone or not. If you don't appreciate these comments, perhaps you should be more careful with how you express yourself in a public forum as eventually, someone is going to disagree with you.

SR

[TeeJay]

The 'obvious' part comes from the fact that your watch(s) says Rolex, or Panerai, when in fact it is neither. Seems pretty obvious to me, at least?

And so your opinion about what I personally feel or do is in any way valid how? You don't know me from Adam, I don't think we've ever spoken on these forums, so how dare you assume that you know my personal motivations better than I do.

Ahh, so do you wear a sign that points at your watch and says: 'Not real, but you too can own one of your own by visiting this website!'? And tell me, why would it feel good to be recognized for wearing a brand that your are principally opposed to owning?

Oh shut up, and quit being facetious. Given that not many of my friends are particularly into watches, it was nice when someone actually recognized it, rather than it simply being ignored as 'a watch'. (bearing in mind we were discussing what I'd spent some inheritance money on and had handed it to him to look at) It was nice that it was something we were able to talk about for the sake of conversation. You might feel the need to constantly impress your friends, but don't project your own habits onto me.

Never said that you did, or do, go around telling people that you spent 'stupid' money on the watch you're wearing. You just allow them to think that you do. Clever!

I don't, but I know that there are people on these forums who do. Personally, I let someone make up their own mind. If someone chooses to ask me about a watch I'm wearing, I'll tell them about it. If someone chooses not to speak to me, then that's their business. For example, about a week ago, I was sitting on a bus wearing a T-Shirt and a 111h. Someone sat next to me, and couldn't take their eyes off it. They didn't say anything to me, and I was more interested in looking out the window. Chances are they'd never even seen a watch like it so didn't know what it was, the issue of it being gen or rep probably never even occured to them. Perhaps where you come from it's common for people to strike up conversation with total strangers asking them about their clothing. Where I come from, it's not something people do.

There are dozens of labels that make very close copies of ALL the major brands. Invicta, Seiko, Sandoz, etc, ALL make copies of the more popular styles. None of them say Rolex or Panerai on them though.

Yes, clone watches. I've commented about those several times before, which is why I find it tedious to have to respond like this to someone who chose to try and start something about an issue they could simply have read previous comments on.

I don't like clone watches, because I feel the companies who make them are gaining the benefit from another company's experience, but passing it off as their own. Rep watches might also be copies, but they are at least still giving the credit to the original parent company.

There are also many dealers that sell unbranded versions of their replica's.

Name them and link to images from their sites where they do this.

I've never seen any of the forum dealers, or dealers on sales sites selling unbranded clones. The only one I can think of, I've forgotten the name of, but they still brand the watches as Marine Diver (Panerai) and such like, and even then, they apparently deal more as a wholesaler than individual orders.

If it's simply 'getting close', why not choose one of these options and demonstrate fully your high ideals of not supporting these 'overpriced' genuines? Why does it have to say Omega on the dial if not to fool someone into thinking it's the genuine article?

For the reason I gave above. I like how a specific watch looks, so do not want something which has a different brand name on it. As I've said before, I'm cheap. I want the watch, but am not prepared to pay the price tag as I don't think they are worth the price the company sells them for.

I see little reason to own a replica if not to 'pass it off' as genuine, either to yourself, and/or to others, beyond simply not being capable of affording the genuine article.

And you think your opinion is all that matters?

There are many reasons to own a replica, most all of which are just a valid as the next. Can't afford the real one. Appreciate the detail of the duplication. Whatever. But for someone to say that they won't own a genuine article, such as you, because of some high moral standards of commerce, but have no problem wearing a replica that will make people think that you do, smacks of contradiction.

Just because you don't agree with, or more likely, can't understand my opinion, that does not make it wrong.

Personally, I think you're just a cheap SOB who tries to deflect that fact by taking an economic 'moral' high ground.

Good for you. I couldn't really care less what someone who's been lurking on the site for 11 months thinks of me. And yes, I am cheap. I've said that before on several occasions and don't deny it. As for 'deflecting the fact', sorry, but that's just not correct. See my comments above about Pepsi or clothing. This is not a philosophy that I apply to expensive, high-end products, but every aspect of my life. Oh, and given you said you were also cheap, what gives you the right to try and assume a moral highground?

If you really were so much against these companies, and were truly put out by their business practices and prices, you would never wear a watch with their name on it, whether it was to fool someone or not.

Why? My issue is not with the product, but the companies, as mentioned previously.

If you don't appreciate these comments, perhaps you should be more careful with how you express yourself in a public forum as eventually, someone is going to disagree with you.

SR

I express my self very carefully on public forums, and have always been very clear about my opinions on such issues. Maybe you should take more care to read and comprehend what other people write rather than getting on your high horse. I have no problem with people disagreeing with me. I do have an issue with having to repeat myself because someone either did not read, or could not understand previous similar comments I made. You said that you were a cheap SOB, precicely how are you a cheap SOB, and how does your opinion on such things differ from mine, or are you just being hypocritical and acting like a troll to get a bite?

[SportsterRider]

Yes, clone watches. I've commented about those several times before, which is why I find it tedious to have to respond like this to someone who chose to try and start something about an issue they could simply have read previous comments on.

I don't like clone watches, because I feel the companies who make them are gaining the benefit from another company's experience, but passing it off as their own. Rep watches might also be copies, but they are at least still giving the credit to the original parent company.

Umm... Ya, I have no idea how to reply to this. Seiko is wrong, but a replica is 'giving credit'??? Just what color is the sky in your world, TJ?

Name them and link to images from their sites where they do this.

Much like you, I have no desire to retype what is readily available. Look it up.

For the reason I gave above. I like how a specific watch looks, so do not want something which has a different brand name on it. As I've said before, I'm cheap. I want the watch, but am not prepared to pay the price tag as I don't think they are worth the price the company sells them for.

Yep. Got that. The conversation, however, went into a hypothetical of whether or not you would buy a gen, assuming you had gobs of money to spend. I can't afford any of the Gens I want either. But if I could, I would in a heartbeat. You've been going off how no matter how much money you had, you would never buy one out of principal, but you're okay with a rep that makes folks think you bought one. Makes your 'principals' seem ambiguous, at best.

And you think your opinion is all that matters?

I don't recall ever saying that. Nice attempt at deflection, though.

Just because you don't agree with, or more likely, can't understand my opinion, that does not make it wrong.

Observing inconsistencies and saying your opinion is wrong are two different things, TJ. I posted the former, not that latter.

Good for you. I couldn't really care less what someone who's been lurking on the site for 11 months thinks of me.

Lurking? Oh, since I don't post 10 times a day, I'm a 'lurker'? Another nice attempt at deflection!

Why? My issue is not with the product, but the companies, as mentioned previously.

You ought to go into politics. You've got the fine art of BS'ing down quite well.

I express my self very carefully on public forums, and have always been very clear about my opinions on such issues. Maybe you should take more care to read and comprehend what other people write rather than getting on your high horse.

I comprehend you all too clearly, TJ.

I do have an issue with having to repeat myself because someone either did not read, or could not understand previous similar comments I made.

Oh I don't think it bothers you at all, TJ. In fact, I think you enjoy the opportunity to express your contradicting 'views' on topics like this.

You said that you were a cheap SOB, precicely how are you a cheap SOB, and how does your opinion on such things differ from mine, or are you just being hypocritical and acting like a troll to get a bite?

Again, this isn't about your 'opinion' as much as it's about your inconsistent stance. You have said that even if you had the money, you would never buy a genuine version of the watches you own, out of some kind of desire to stick to a 'principal' (not worth the money, right?). How you can't see that the product, AND the brand, are one and the same, is beyond me. You say you appreciate the product, want the product, but won't pay for one and never would. But you have no problem wearing a replica of that product, with that products name on it, that will clearly be interpreted by anyone looking that you DO own a genuine version of the product, and that you DO support the company. THIS is where you and I differ, and THIS is what I've been talking about. Not your opinion - you're entitled to have as many as you like! It's your BS double standards that I'm talking about.

Anyway, it's clear that you can't see that, and it's clear that I'm wasting my time here (and everyone else's), so I'll just leave it at that. If you feel you must continue this, feel free to PM me.

SR

[Victoria]

Well, that could be the difference then, eh? I don't socialize with rich folks on a daily basis, but the ones that I know and the times that I do illustrate a different mindset than 'cheap'. Perhaps it's an 'old' money versus 'new' mindset? Or maybe more accurately, old person versus young?

Good point. However, I am startled by how quickly the spendthrift scions of "Old Money" suddenly get the cheap bug. It rarely fails.

I can't speak to this as I'm not a Brit. Again, perhaps this is a cultural thing as I don't see much of this here in the US (certainly not in the circles I'm familiar with, anyway).

In the old New England families, the Saltonstalls, the Cabots, the Lodges, as well as the Southern plantation families, you see this attitude.

The matriarch of a very well-known Southern family once told me, "Dirt no. Patches yes", to describe how she allowed her son to go out dressed.

I think that attitude is laudable, and much better than the gaudy, flashy, disposable ways of many new millionaires (don't think just American, either. We have plenty of Eurotrash, believe you me...).

This is where I see a difference between 'cheap', and 'smart'. Patching up a 50 year old bed sheet set is cheap. Having your lunch partner, who is likely pretty well off as well, pay for your lunch? That's smart!

It may be "smart", clever IOW, but it is also inconsiderate and therefore, at the very least, bad manners. At the very worst, a lack of empathy and balanced perspective on life.

I'm not saying I never allowed someone to treat me and vice-versa.

But when I notice someone is taking advantage of me, by always expecting me to fork out, forget it.

They are dropped quicker than Larry Craig at the Police Booster Club.

I also make sure I tip, but I tip relative to the service I get. I've been called 'cheap' for leaving little or no tip in the past, but I don't see it that way.. C'est la vie.

Ah. Well, rare RARE is the time I don't leave a tip. We have Cuban cafecito joints here in Miami. The cafecito costs about .50 cents. I pay with a dollar, in effect leaving a cafecito's worth of tip to the ladies.

Do they thank me? No. But that's okay. They're working girls, and heck, I wouldn't do what they do. God bless 'em.

My comment wasn't meant to be an endorcement of any kind of behavior, one way or the other. But I don't see the illustration between cheap and extravagant where buying an employee a coffee is concerned? That's not an obligation, 'nor is it an example of being cheap, IMO.

As I mentioned above, there seems to be a palpable difference between old money and new (and perhaps UK versus US?).

Possibly.

I can only go with what I've seen, but I think, with my hand on heart, that making your servants pay for such commodities as coffee or tea would be considered scandalous in another age. Maybe in the age where servants are paid a little better, no.

But I mean, crikey. Anyone who cleans my toilet deserves a nice cuppa on me.

Anyway, I only replied as I see topics like this come up, from time to time, on all my various message boards. Rich folks are dumb. Rich folks are cheap. People that buy BMW's (seen as rich folks, at least here in the US) are all stuck-up and stupid. Etc, etc, etc. I may not hang out with the Queen of England, but I do know my fair share of well off people and I find these generalizations to be inaccurate, at best.

SR

Well, there we are then. I thought our convo was rather fun, actually.

[mLuMaN83]

Aaaahhhh. The age old question. Gens. Because they arnt peices of crap.

[Pugwash]

No, it's not Puggers! The richest people are the cheapest people on earth. They will diddle you for 10p, if they can, and bargain you down for anything.

The richest people on earth are far from cheap. Take a look at the top five richest people on earth and find me someone who is cheap. Find me one person in the top ten that doesn't own a nice car or nice painting. Show me one person in the top twenty without an anecdote about them spending money.

Just because the rich you know are cheap doesn't mean they all are. All of my rich friends are generous and I know self-made millionaires.

Saying rich people are cheap is just myth perpetuation. If the rich are cheap, who buys luxury goods?

[Victoria]

Saying rich people are cheap is just myth perpetuation. If the rich are cheap, who buys luxury goods?

Middle-class people who want to ape the rich?

Pugwash, as I said, it's not about not spending money, it's about attitude and mind-set.

Coming from a background where I lived breathed and ate alongside these people, I know that their cheapness is a form of protection. It's all-pervasive the older the money, too.

Bottom line is, their cheapness stems from a gnawing feeling that they are being taken advantage of, because they are rich. And they HATE that.

Who doesn't, I hear you say. Sure. But they have a point. People try to take advantage of those they consider wealthier than they, almost as if they have a right to their money.

"They have money! Why shouldn't they give me more!"

BTW, this attitude is what has kept me away from modding so far. Someone like the modder we spoke of earlier in the week would just see $$$$ with a person like me, and that KILLS me.

[Pugwash]

Middle-class people who want to ape the rich?

They buy Yachts?

Old money doesn't actually have any money. The landed gentry send their kids out in hand-me-downs because it's either that or release some of their equity.

[Victoria]

They buy Yachts?

Old money doesn't actually have any money. The landed gentry send their kids out in hand-me-downs because it's either that or release some of their equity.

THAT, m'darling, is what they want you to think precisely because of this attitude.

Case in point:

One of the richest persons I have ever met is a German F

[SportsterRider]

Well, there we are then. I thought our convo was rather fun, actually.

Indeed! It's just that my experiences seem to differ from popular opinion where rich folks are concerned, but I also allow that I'm not an expert, and as such, wanted to be sure that was understood as well.

I find your posts quite informative, actually. It's interesting to talk with someone that has such a different perspective on social issues like this.

SR

[Pugwash]

More? I can continue all day, Puggy. Trust me, the rich may spend, but they ARE CHEAP.

The rich you know are cheap? That may say more about you than about the rich in general.

Most of the rich people I know would be considered cheap only if you count what they spend as a percentage of their wealth. Cheap to me is spending considerably less than me when you have considerably more to spend, like avoiding paying for a round or their share of a bill. If you're hanging out with people like that, they'd better be your date and very, very hot.

[Victoria]

Here's a photo of that German lady I mentioned up top.

That's her daughter wearing a Bangkok special. Not bad for an MBW.

EDIT: I believe she is too, but it's hard to tell. Daughter is an acquaintance of mine. Check out the geeky German grinning like a chimp in the back.

[TeeJay]

it's clear that I'm wasting my time here (and everyone else's)

That pretty much sums it up, lurker. Deflection, inconsistency, call it what you want. What does any 'ambiguity' or 'inconsistency' on my part matter to you? At the end of the day, you're the one who's admited to being a cheap SOB and then started having a go at other people's opinions, so that makes you a hypocrite. You also said that many dealers sold unbranded versions of their watches, and when asked to provide links to such, you failed to deliver.

You're a lurker, a troll, and not worth any more attention.

Edit to add:

You've been going off how no matter how much money you had, you would never buy one out of principal, but you're okay with a rep that makes folks think you bought one. Makes your 'principals' seem ambiguous, at best.

I'm not responsible for what people think. As mentioned above, if someone chooses to think that a watch I am wearing is genuine, then that's down to them. If they cared enough to take a moment to ask me, I would tell them what it was. It is up to them to care enough to ask. Most people don't. Incase you hadn't noticed, I don't exactly buy Super Reps. Anyone with the slightest bit of product knowledge could point out the flaws on my Omegas and Panerai watches. I don't flash my watches about hoping someone will notice them and make a comment, as I've said before, I don't wear watches to impress others, I wear them because I like how they look. Also, brandname and product are two entirely different issues. A brandname can often be held to all kinds of standards which, in reality, the product itself simply does not live up to. Rolex Submariner as a case in point. A clasp made of thin, stamped stainless steel. Totally unacceptable for a watch of that price, and at the bottom of the table when compared to the manufacture of clasps by Omega, Panerai, Vacheron Constantin and others. Brandname says the watch is awesome, but the product itself falls short. Also, not that it's really any of your business or it really matters, but with the exception of the VCs and Panerais, I could have afforded to purchase all the other watches in my collection genuine had I wanted to do so. I chose not to do so, because at the end of the day, I don't think any watch is worth more than a few hundred dollars at most, and, just because I am not prepared to pay an artificially, corporate-set price tag, that is no reason why I should not have a similar, more reasonably priced product which I find aesthetically pleasing.

Edited October 19, 2007 by TeeJay

[Pugwash]

Here's a photo of that German lady I mentioned up top.

Here's a pic of one of the richest guys (left) I know:

As you can see, our rich friends move in different circles.

[Victoria]

As you can see, our rich friends move in different circles.

LOL! No airs and graces there. Or hair.

Good stuff, Pugwash. You should check out the Panerai clubs in the UK...frightening. I've seen less skinheads at Millwall matches!

P.S.: Remember, Pugs. Middle-class people get into debt to act like the rich. It's not the rich who make the world a playground for merchants, but the middle-classes.

[Pugwash]

LOL! No airs and graces there. Or hair.

Good stuff, Pugwash. You should check out the Panerai clubs in the UK...frightening. I've seen less skinheads at Millwall matches!

Being bald doesn't make you a Skinhead. :-)

ps. The man on the left owns six mansions, or so. Very rich and not at all cheap.