Amazon subsidiary sells Chinese watches at huge discounts
Not VIP: BuyVIP and the watches from Richtenburg
BuyVIP is a closed shopping portal for members only. In October 2010 it was taken over by Amazon. The portal lives from the recommendations of its members and advertises with large discounts for selected products from well-known brands and international trend labels. According to their own advertising, BuyVIP offers its customers “time-limited campaigns with top brands from fashion and lifestyle labels at attractive prices“. But which brands do they mean?
In the watch sector, Richtenburg watches were recently offered at discounts of up to 85%. As a reference for the value, the watch brand's own Swiss website included many non-binding recommended prices of over 1,000 euro.
Interesting: The Richtenburg brand was only registered in October 2010 by the Chronogroup GmbH, with its headquarters in Munich, in the Halleinerstrasse 18. Totally trendy and therefore fitting to the BuyVIP image! The address of the "watch manufacturer" is just as cheeky: In the Zug City Centre of course, in Switzerland. The only funny thing: That organisation was first opened in July 2011. And just as exciting: Amongst other things, hidden behind the Richtenburg watch brand is an old friend and Chinese watch professional: Christian G.!
The fact that BuyVIP is participating in the questionable business with Chinese watches points to the fact that, in reality, there are very few real top, luxury brands in the watch range that are subject to discounts to be had. To offer Chinese watches with discounts of 85% on extremely high recommended retail prices is nothing special! It is actually rather silly, and a little bit cheeky! Watches comparable to those on offer can be obtained for well under 100 euros, and that's the price for the end user!
BuyVIP are still considering their position. We will continue to keep you informed regarding this case!