No Purchase History, First Boutique Visit

[cal14]

What is realistic to ask for in the RO and ROO lines that I will actually get offered within a year?

[Son Goku]

Most likely nothing for RO. Perhaps a ROO diver or a 43mm.

[cal14]

Thought as much

[daysky1]

Originally Posted by cal14

What is realistic to ask for in the RO and ROO lines that I will actually get offered within a year?

What I have found a good strategy to be is to put down a list of two maybe three except for me I put down a list of 12 that I'm interested in and then I went into my ad with my list and ask them if they could consider me for any of these. And they're in no particular order and however they decide to distribute their allotments I totally understand that's their choice and I would appreciate it if they might keep me in mind. Of course that's after I have convinced them I'm not a flipper I will buy and keep for the rest of my life and then pass on to my progeny. For me if I buy a watch that I Tire of I consider myself fortunate that I now have this watch in my collection and I go to a different one in my collection or perhaps I seek a new one to purchase. But one thing for me that I will not do is sell a watch I am a collector!

[In-N-Out]

anything is possible imo. prices continue to decline so I think it's worth asking for a RO as your first watch. next year is 150th anniversary so it might increase demand slightly, but I don't think it's enough to offset the global decline...so on the balance, this is "good" news for watch enthusiasts who want an RO. obviously bad for those who want to "invest" in a watch and hoping to make huge gains flipping or even holding a few years.

in terms of which RO, I assume you are not a woman so I won't mention the 34 or some of the more feminine 37 options with diamonds. but I think any non-blue/green dials in 37 or 41 is possible as a first watch. 41 ROC might be possible too, and maybe even 38 unless they discontinue that next year and replace with in-house movements next year.

as for ROO, I think pretty much all the models except certain "hot" pieces are obtainable (LE, ceramic beast, collabs) might be hard to get, but Divers, 43 chronos, and perhaps even the beast should be possible.

since you're in the bay, if you haven't made contact yet with any of the socal locations, I highly recommend the House since one of their main KPIs is attracting new clients..it's also a beautiful space to check out and well worth a trip from bay.

I would also like to say that it's ridiculous that there are 3 boutiques in socal and 2 in Vegas when there are 0 in Bay Area lol. valley fair or Stanford mall would be perfect for a boutique

[GW44]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

anything is possible imo. prices continue to decline

No offence but I fail to understand these kind of statements in relation to a brand like AP.

The secondary market movements are pretty much irrelevant to new AP watches, their demand and how the SA’s are able to allocate them.

AP could easily sell every watch they make 2,3 or 4 times over and unless the whole market crashed utterly so every watch was “worth” less than list not a lot is going to change with what’s realistic to be allocated as a new customer to the brand.

[In-N-Out]

Originally Posted by GW44

No offence but I fail to understand these kind of statements in relation to a brand like AP.

The secondary market movements are pretty much irrelevant to new AP watches, their demand and how the SA’s are able to allocate them.

AP could easily sell every watch they make 2,3 or 4 times over and unless the whole market crashed utterly so every watch was “worth” less than list not a lot is going to change with what’s realistic to be allocated as a new customer to the brand.

Please allow ChatGPT to offer an explanation:

Secondary watch resale values significantly impact how difficult it is to get an allocation from boutiques for brands like **Audemars Piguet (AP)** and **Patek Philippe**. Here's why:

1. **High Demand Due to Resale Premiums**: When watches from AP and Patek sell for significantly higher prices on the secondary market, demand increases among both collectors and speculators. Many people seek to buy directly from boutiques because they know they can flip the watch for a profit. This intensifies demand for allocations, making it harder to secure one.

2. **Boutiques Favor Long-Term Clients**: Because of the booming secondary market, AP and Patek boutiques often prioritize selling to loyal customers who have a history of purchasing multiple watches and are seen as long-term collectors rather than flippers. This means new buyers or those without an established relationship with the boutique have a harder time getting access to sought-after models.

3. **Boutique Vetting**: To combat the secondary market's impact, boutiques may vet potential buyers more rigorously. They might ask buyers about their collection and buying intentions to ensure they aren’t just trying to flip the watch. A high resale value raises the stakes for boutiques to carefully select who gets an allocation.

4. **Limited Supply & Exclusivity**: When watches are flipping for high values, brands like AP and Patek might further limit supply or adjust their allocation strategies to ensure exclusivity. This makes it even harder to get a watch directly from the boutique, as demand continually outstrips supply.

In short, high secondary resale values make allocations more competitive because they attract a wider pool of buyers, including those looking to capitalize on the watch's investment potential. This drives up both demand and boutique selectiveness.

[messikens]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

Please allow ChatGPT to offer an explanation:

Secondary watch resale values significantly impact how difficult it is to get an allocation from boutiques for brands like **Audemars Piguet (AP)** and **Patek Philippe**. Here's why:

1. **High Demand Due to Resale Premiums**: When watches from AP and Patek sell for significantly higher prices on the secondary market, demand increases among both collectors and speculators. Many people seek to buy directly from boutiques because they know they can flip the watch for a profit. This intensifies demand for allocations, making it harder to secure one.

2. **Boutiques Favor Long-Term Clients**: Because of the booming secondary market, AP and Patek boutiques often prioritize selling to loyal customers who have a history of purchasing multiple watches and are seen as long-term collectors rather than flippers. This means new buyers or those without an established relationship with the boutique have a harder time getting access to sought-after models.

3. **Boutique Vetting**: To combat the secondary market's impact, boutiques may vet potential buyers more rigorously. They might ask buyers about their collection and buying intentions to ensure they aren’t just trying to flip the watch. A high resale value raises the stakes for boutiques to carefully select who gets an allocation.

4. **Limited Supply & Exclusivity**: When watches are flipping for high values, brands like AP and Patek might further limit supply or adjust their allocation strategies to ensure exclusivity. This makes it even harder to get a watch directly from the boutique, as demand continually outstrips supply.

In short, high secondary resale values make allocations more competitive because they attract a wider pool of buyers, including those looking to capitalize on the watch's investment potential. This drives up both demand and boutique selectiveness.

Amazing how ChatGPT makes more sense than a select percentage of forum members... But is definitely less interesting to read


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GW44]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

Please allow ChatGPT to offer an explanation:

Secondary watch resale values significantly impact how difficult it is to get an allocation from boutiques for brands like **Audemars Piguet (AP)** and **Patek Philippe**. Here's why:

1. **High Demand Due to Resale Premiums**: When watches from AP and Patek sell for significantly higher prices on the secondary market, demand increases among both collectors and speculators. Many people seek to buy directly from boutiques because they know they can flip the watch for a profit. This intensifies demand for allocations, making it harder to secure one.

2. **Boutiques Favor Long-Term Clients**: Because of the booming secondary market, AP and Patek boutiques often prioritize selling to loyal customers who have a history of purchasing multiple watches and are seen as long-term collectors rather than flippers. This means new buyers or those without an established relationship with the boutique have a harder time getting access to sought-after models.

3. **Boutique Vetting**: To combat the secondary market's impact, boutiques may vet potential buyers more rigorously. They might ask buyers about their collection and buying intentions to ensure they aren’t just trying to flip the watch. A high resale value raises the stakes for boutiques to carefully select who gets an allocation.

4. **Limited Supply & Exclusivity**: When watches are flipping for high values, brands like AP and Patek might further limit supply or adjust their allocation strategies to ensure exclusivity. This makes it even harder to get a watch directly from the boutique, as demand continually outstrips supply.

In short, high secondary resale values make allocations more competitive because they attract a wider pool of buyers, including those looking to capitalize on the watch's investment potential. This drives up both demand and boutique selectiveness.

Thank you Mr ChatGPT.

My simple questions would be……Are watches consistently in strong demand watches (from AP or PP etc) much easier to be allocated now the market is somewhat different?

Do SA’s that are credible and effective in managing customer demand allocate hard to get watches more freely as the secondary market is not as strong?

The answer, in both cases, is “no”

Over to you Mr ChatGPT.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by GW44

Thank you Mr ChatGPT.

My simple questions would be……Are watches consistently in strong demand watches (from AP or PP etc) much easier to be allocated now the market is somewhat different?

Do SA’s that are credible and effective in managing customer demand allocate hard to get watches more freely as the secondary market is not as strong?

The answer, in both cases, is “no”

Over to you Mr ChatGPT.

I think we all agree that supply isn’t changing much. With secondary prices coming down, it’s expected that demand will come down. Now does allocation make a difference when there’s 3:1 demand:supply, or if it’s 6:1 demand:supply?

I think In n Out (and ChatGPT) is saying yes. I agree. Bottom line, if there’s a smaller pool of people asking for it, there will be a higher chance to get an allocation. The only way this wouldn’t be the case, is if the demand is so high that they could sell 2-3x over with pre-existing collectors/customers, then arguably the new customer is never getting anything whether demand goes from 6:1 to 3:1.

But I don’t think existing collectors/customers are buying up all the SS ROs, unless they’re flipping them. Which AP doesn’t want either.

[abrosz]

Don’t waste your time. Per Natalie, the manager at the NYC flagship North America boutique, new clients will not be offered anything with a blue dial or green dial, they will not be offered anything in ceramic or open works, they will not be offered an ultra thin, and AP considers itself a steel company (implication being you can forget about anything in precious metals.). About the only RO she indicated MIGHT be a possibility would be a gray dial 41 mm. Additionally, purchasing a Code IS NOT a guarantee you’ll ever be offered what you want. Why spend $50k on a Code that sells for $30k secondary market if you may never be offered what you want. Go secondary market and get what you want, when you want without the sleazy and gross games.

[mickyd329]

Originally Posted by abrosz

Don’t waste your time. Per Natalie, the manager at the NYC flagship North America boutique, new clients will not be offered anything with a blue dial or green dial, they will not be offered anything in ceramic or open works, they will not be offered an ultra thin, and AP considers itself a steel company (implication being you can forget about anything in precious metals.). About the only RO she indicated MIGHT be a possibility would be a gray dial 41 mm. Additionally, purchasing a Code IS NOT a guarantee you’ll ever be offered what you want. Why spend $50k on a Code that sells for $30k secondary market if you may never be offered what you want. Go secondary market and get what you want, when you want without the sleazy and gross games.

Sorry, but I find this comical...you're pissed because they won't offer you an openwork, ceramic, ultra thin, or blue/green dial RO as your first piece?

[huncho]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

Sorry, but I find this comical...you're pissed because they won't offer you an openwork, ceramic, ultra thin, or blue/green dial RO as your first piece?

don't bother...that guy's a broken record lol

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

Sorry, but I find this comical...you're pissed because they won't offer you an openwork, ceramic, ultra thin, or blue/green dial RO as your first piece?

But, but, what if he really really wants one? Shouldn't that move him ahead of people who have been clients for many years?

For OP, I would go in and have a list of ROOs that I like and maybe one or the other RO/ROC as a stretch goal.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by abrosz

Don’t waste your time. Per Natalie, the manager at the NYC flagship North America boutique, new clients will not be offered anything with a blue dial or green dial, they will not be offered anything in ceramic or open works, they will not be offered an ultra thin, and AP considers itself a steel company (implication being you can forget about anything in precious metals.). About the only RO she indicated MIGHT be a possibility would be a gray dial 41 mm. Additionally, purchasing a Code IS NOT a guarantee you’ll ever be offered what you want. Why spend $50k on a Code that sells for $30k secondary market if you may never be offered what you want. Go secondary market and get what you want, when you want without the sleazy and gross games.

Why would they offer anything in ceramic or open works to a customer they don’t know? That wouldn’t make a lot of sense. AP considering themselves a SS company also very strange. I doubt you’re going to see anyone at AP write their company focus is mainly SS.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kaiserphoenix]

Originally Posted by abrosz

Don’t waste your time. Per Natalie, the manager at the NYC flagship North America boutique, new clients will not be offered anything with a blue dial or green dial, they will not be offered anything in ceramic or open works, they will not be offered an ultra thin, and AP considers itself a steel company (implication being you can forget about anything in precious metals.). About the only RO she indicated MIGHT be a possibility would be a gray dial 41 mm. Additionally, purchasing a Code IS NOT a guarantee you’ll ever be offered what you want. Why spend $50k on a Code that sells for $30k secondary market if you may never be offered what you want. Go secondary market and get what you want, when you want without the sleazy and gross games.

Sorry what do you mean by “AP considers itself a Steel company??” I’ve never heard this and they have numerous precious metal offerings.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by kaiserphoenix

Sorry what do you mean by “AP considers itself a Steel company??” I’ve never heard this and they have numerous precious metal offerings.

Even in the RO collection, less then 30% of the models are steel. So,

[messikens]

Originally Posted by kaiserphoenix

Sorry what do you mean by “AP considers itself a Steel company??” I’ve never heard this and they have numerous precious metal offerings.

No sense in disputing it... Next time I'll just make up statements as well without any attributable sources.

#AlternativeFacts

[cal14]

Was thinking about requesting the diver with a green or blue dial, or the new rubber bezel time only

[Ichiran]

I waited for the blue ROC for 7 years and got it last October. Pure bliss when I received the watch.

[mickyd329]

Originally Posted by cal14

What is realistic to ask for in the RO and ROO lines that I will actually get offered within a year?

I think most from the ROO line will be very doable within the first year, possibly within 6 months even.

I don't think an RO is completely out of the question if you really hit it off with your SA. I wouldn't we discouraged by what you read. I've seen collectors get an RO as their first piece plenty of times.

If you are looking to collect multiple AP's over time including really difficult pieces, starting a relationship is worth while. If you are just looking to get that one RO, then going grey will be your best bet. Wishing you the best of luck and hope to see an incoming thread sooner than later!

[Narbeh]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

I think most from the ROO line will be very doable within the first year, possibly within 6 months even.

I don't think an RO is completely out of the question if you really hit it off with your SA. I wouldn't we discouraged by what you read. I've seen collectors get an RO as their first piece plenty of times.

If you are looking to collect multiple AP's over time including really difficult pieces, starting a relationship is worth while. If you are just looking to get that one RO, then going grey will be your best bet. Wishing you the best of luck and hope to see an incoming thread sooner than later!

To echo what mickyd329 said, it's all about your relationship and transparency. If you establish that you are a die hard AP fan and collector, the doors shall open. If you are in it for 1 piece or if they sense an opportunistic buyer, the doors shall remain closed. Good luck in your endeavor.

[IS2000]

Recently I’ve seen new female customers getting 37mm ROs as their first purchases at my local boutique. I had my name down on the same watch for 3 years with no updates.

[Vivalas]

Originally Posted by IS2000

Recently I’ve seen new female customers getting 37mm ROs as their first purchases at my local boutique. I had my name down on the same watch for 3 years with no updates.

What’s the watch you’ve been waiting for? Model, dial colour?

[IS2000]

Originally Posted by Vivalas

What’s the watch you’ve been waiting for? Model, dial colour?

Sorry for a late reply. I originally had my name down for a white dial 15450st. They discontinued the watch and updated my interest for a white dial 15550st. Now since the white dial is no longer being produced, I just changed to a grey dial 15550st.

[Vivalas]

No one can say for definite, but make an appointment, go in, introduce yourself, let them know what you’d realistically like and keep in touch. A ROO won’t be an issue and I’d be positive about a RO being possible within a year.

[cal14]

Thank you all for the amazing feedback and context. I'm going to take a shot at the new blue rubber bezel ROO. I genuinely love everything about it! Would also be happy with a green or blue dial ROO diver. I intend to buy multiple pieces over time and am not planning on ever selling anything, so these seem like good watches to start with. Love how distinct they are. They will definitely add something new and different to my overall collection.

[Akacoke]

Originally Posted by cal14

Thank you all for the amazing feedback and context. I'm going to take a shot at the new blue rubber bezel ROO. I genuinely love everything about it! Would also be happy with a green or blue dial ROO diver. I intend to buy multiple pieces over time and am not planning on ever selling anything, so these seem like good watches to start with. Love how distinct they are. They will definitely add something new and different to my overall collection.

Sounds like you are on a right track. Don't know if you plan on driving or flying. Both south coast and the house is amazing. LA House have their own private gated parking btw.

[cal14]

Is the taupe chronograph a realistic ask for a first piece?

[Vince_76]

Originally Posted by cal14

Is the taupe chronograph a realistic ask for a first piece?

Yep!