The 2012 - 2014 TAG Heuer Aquaracer

I was in the market for a new wrist watch and I looked at a number of options from Omega, Rado, Longines and Brietling as well as TAG Heuer. I finally decided on a 2015 TAG Heuer Aquaracer 41mm automatic movement with the ceramic bezel for a number of reasons. Firstly, I like the TAG Heuer branding, secondly I like their style and finally I wanted an automatic instead of a quartz watch.

I really think the Aquaracer is a pretty good looking timepiece and the Breitling watches I looked at just were not what I wanted. I was looking at the Omega Seamaster Diver 300 but retailers were not willing to budge on price so they lost a sale.

High on my list was price, I happened to be in the market during a 20% sale at Mazzuccuhelli's, a local Perth jeweller. Notwithstanding, as I was traveling overseas during the specified purchase period, I was also eligible for a further 10% tax exemption - winner. I had been scoping out the older Aquaracer model that a number of retailers still carried and I was hoping they were willing to dump an old model for a discount so they only carried the latest models.

I understand retailers generally purchase inventory on credit from suppliers, sure they want high profit margins but sometimes it is better to accept a lower offer to generate cash flow as inventory sitting in a showcase isn't earning them income instead actually incurring costs.

I like this brand but I won't make the purchase at any price, I spend months chatting to retailers trying to determine their best price and how much they are willing to discount a product. I had spoken to staff at a Changi Airport watch retailer and he told me off-the-record that the outdated 2012 - 2014 series had been sitting around for months as everyone was snapping up the new series.

I told him I was going to be coming through the airport again in six weeks time, my plan was to make a lower offer than what they were asking to give them the opportunity to clear old inventory. He was under the impression that the timepiece would still be there and the extra shelf time would work to my advantage. So much to my annoyance on my next trip through Changi Airport, I found the watch had already been purchased and I had just lost my bargaining leverage - so time to start again.