AP price increased

[edtu2000]

It seems several more price adjustments already planned by AP this year. Hopefully my wishlist AP watch can be allocated by AP BT before next price increase· My annual salary raise cannot keep up with AP’s quarterly adjustment ………

[GreenLantern]

The whole situation is one big joke at this point.

It's as if AP is trying to compete with Venezuela for inflation.

In 2016, Venezuela entered hyperinflation. The inflation rate reached 274% in 2016, 863% in 2017, 130,060% in 2018 and 9,586% in 2019. Since 2016, the overall inflation rate has increased to 53,798,500%.

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

So, in the past 18 months, US prices have increased a total of 6 times.

I stopped paying attention to all of the price increases but is this for real?
6 in 18 months?

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

The whole situation is one big joke at this point.

It's as if AP is trying to compete with Venezuela for inflation.

Jokes aside, I do feel like they are trying to match equity index gains to keep the bar of how wealthy a client is the same. Almost like any inflation driven investment windfall gains won’t help you and you already needed ti be wealthy enough.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by texasmade

I stopped paying attention to all of the price increases but is this for real?
6 in 18 months?

It's been almost quarterly.

I'll have to check my records to see if it was truly 6, but it's definitely more than 4.

They might have missed one quarter because of COVID lockdowns.

[NYG1121]

All i know is my 26315st was 23.8 less than 2 years ago and it is now 32.6. A bit insane without any changes to the actual watch

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

It's been almost quarterly.

I'll have to check my records to see if it was truly 6, but it's definitely more than 4.

They might have missed one quarter because of COVID lockdowns.

Whether 4 or 6, that's still quite a few bumps!

[VogelPhoenix]

Need to pay for museum, hotel and new workshops somehow. As long as MSRP presents a large discount vs market prices there isn't much AP can do wrong. If the tide ever turns it will be interesting to find the genuine demand at the new prices.

[huncho]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

We had one in September 2021.

ah missed that one. pretty crazy though, the 15450 got a 50% increase from 16k to 24k in 2 years

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

Need to pay for museum, hotel and new workshops somehow. As long as MSRP presents a large discount vs market prices there isn't much AP can do wrong. If the tide ever turns it will be interesting to find the genuine demand at the new prices.

It's nice to see that Patek and Rolex aren't being as dumb as AP when it comes to their price increases. They increase annually, makes sense, and it's usually (though not always for all references) modest to keep up with rising costs of manufacturing.

Porsche raises prices annually too. Again, generally makes sense.

[NYG1121]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

It's nice to see that Patek and Rolex aren't being as dumb as AP when it comes to their price increases. They increase annually, makes sense, and it's usually (though not always for all references) modest to keep up with rising costs of manufacturing.

Porsche raises prices annually too. Again, generally makes sense.

Totally agree. I have been ranting about this with each price increase. Its too much and not the right model for future value retention and demand

[huncho]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

It's nice to see that Patek and Rolex aren't being as dumb as AP when it comes to their price increases. They increase annually, makes sense, and it's usually (though not always for all references) modest to keep up with rising costs of manufacturing.

Porsche raises prices annually too. Again, generally makes sense.

i agree that AP is being a bit too aggressive and it could backfire, but a part of me feels like maybe they were too undervalued back in 2019. a 15400ST was 16.5k back then which in reality quickly started feeling undervalued when things got crazy. it was basically overlapping with a lot of the rolex customers and maybe they don't want that, whereas now anyone that wants to grab an entry level rolex can't even look at entry level APs

[RyanO]

Originally Posted by NYG1121

All i know is my 26315st was 23.8 less than 2 years ago and it is now 32.6. A bit insane without any changes to the actual watch

It is a bit insane. When the watch first caught my eye, it was 26.8. I just paid 31.3 in October and now it’s 32.6!

At this rate I won’t be able to afford any APs in 5 years!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by huncho

i agree that AP is being a bit too aggressive and it could backfire, but a part of me feels like maybe they were too undervalued back in 2019. a 15400ST was 16.5k back then which in reality quickly started feeling undervalued when things got crazy. it was basically overlapping with a lot of the rolex customers and maybe they don't want that, whereas now anyone that wants to grab an entry level rolex can't even look at entry level APs

I agree with this statement.

I used to consider them a bargain.

Then a couple price increases, I considered them "average."

And now? Now it's a big joke. It's like they're tracking the values of NFTs or something.

[NYG1121]

Originally Posted by huncho

i agree that AP is being a bit too aggressive and it could backfire, but a part of me feels like maybe they were too undervalued back in 2019. a 15400ST was 16.5k back then which in reality quickly started feeling undervalued when things got crazy. it was basically overlapping with a lot of the rolex customers and maybe they don't want that, whereas now anyone that wants to grab an entry level rolex can't even look at entry level APs

Undervalued was true back then but the market speaks for itself. Gradual price increases shouldve followed to keep their customers happy while still meeting their internal revenue goals. Their secondary pricing would still be where it is today and it would’ve still protected the brand and maybe made it even more sought after.

Now its basically just catering to the celebrities and other folks purely into the hype of it all with infinite funds. It just frustrates me as a collector and admirer of the brand that the likelihood of me ever having a real chance to grow my collection diminishes with time. Maybe they dont really want to have “normal” folks associated with their brand anymore.

[GreenLantern]

The main frustration with quarterly (or more than one per year) increases it that some of us might be waiting for a particular reference for 2+ years now, and since then, the retail price has doubled.

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by NYG1121

Now its basically just catering to the celebrities and other folks purely into the hype of it all with infinite funds. It just frustrates me as a collector and admirer of the brand that the likelihood of me ever having a real chance to grow my collection diminishes with time. Maybe they dont really want to have “normal” folks associated with their brand anymore.

As much as I like AP and would like to add another RO or ROO, I've basically moved on from the brand. The price for a basic RO or ROO is out of reach for me and I know the odds of me ever getting my dream piece (gold Jumbo) are 0 now.

I mainly still follow the AP subforum to look at everyone else's watches and to keep up with AP news.

[911AP]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

The main frustration with quarterly (or more than one per year) increases it that some of us might be waiting for a particular reference for 2+ years now, and since then, the retail price has doubled.

Facts.....I think AP is getting out of hand with the price increases. They say they understand this is temporary and don't make decisions based on that. But here they are raising prices every 2 months practically.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by 911AP

Facts.....I think AP is getting out of hand with the price increases. They say they understand this is temporary and don't make decisions based on that. But here they are raising prices every 2 months practically.

[911AP]

Originally Posted by NYG1121

Undervalued was true back then but the market speaks for itself. Gradual price increases shouldve followed to keep their customers happy while still meeting their internal revenue goals. Their secondary pricing would still be where it is today and it would’ve still protected the brand and maybe made it even more sought after.

Now its basically just catering to the celebrities and other folks purely into the hype of it all with infinite funds. It just frustrates me as a collector and admirer of the brand that the likelihood of me ever having a real chance to grow my collection diminishes with time. Maybe they dont really want to have “normal” folks associated with their brand anymore.

I agree with this. I feel watch collecting is now for the super rich with the way things have become. True collectors and admirers get screwed by the dynamic of today's market.

Pretty soon it's going to be all hype beasts who are uber rich who will have these watches.

[GreenLantern]

Most uber rich don't care about collecting watches, honestly. Except those who are oil rich.

And those who are cryptocurrency rich.

And those who are fame rich.

Lately, anyway.

[DentistRodman]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

It's been almost quarterly.

I'll have to check my records to see if it was truly 6, but it's definitely more than 4.

They might have missed one quarter because of COVID lockdowns.

Not quite every quarter but definitely more often than any of us would like.

I believe the last few price increases were:
Jan 20
July 20
Jan 21
Sept 21
Jan 22

[GreenLantern]

Yup, close enough!

I believe there were a total of 3 increases in 2021, actually. But I'd have to review my records to be certain.

[squall1]

Not going to lie, it's a bit discouraging.

[911AP]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Yup, close enough!

I believe there were a total of 3 increases in 2021, actually. But I'd have to review my records to be certain.

I'm pretty sure last year had 3 increases as well. They used to increase their prices like what? Once every other year? If even that. The 15400 was 19k for such a long time I feel.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by 911AP

I'm pretty sure last year had 3 increases as well. They used to increase their prices like what? Once every other year? If even that. The 15400 was 19k for such a long time I feel.

Correct. And, honestly, I'd be fine if it was a modest percentage yearly. Patek and Rolex increase yearly. As do Porsche, Mercedes, BMW.

[PBJ1925]

Wow. Code 11.59 3 hander priced at $32,600 USD is simply insane ...

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by 911AP

I'm pretty sure last year had 3 increases as well. They used to increase their prices like what? Once every other year? If even that. The 15400 was 19k for such a long time I feel.

I think MSRP for my 15400 was $17,800 in late 2016/early 2017. I got a 21% discount off of MSRP at the time.

[edtu2000]

Originally Posted by texasmade

I think MSRP for my 15400 was $17,800 in late 2016/early 2017. I got a 21% discount off of MSRP at the time.

I got my 15202ST with 25% off MSRP in 2016, good old days⋯⋯

[peb35]

Originally Posted by edtu2000

I got my 15202ST with 25% off MSRP in 2016, good old days⋯⋯

Amazing