No Purchase History, First Boutique Visit

[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.