Paid for watch at A Lange Boutique after going there in person - watch not shipped

[GaryInDenver]

Hello all,

This is my first expensive watch buying experience, and it has not gone well.

I visited an A Lange boutique in person to look at some watches and agreed on buying one of the them. The person at the boutique said that once I got the payment to them ($60K), they would "release the piece" and ship it to me (I live a few hours away from the boutique). They said that they would email me the tracking info once that was done.

Since my credit card limit could not handle the purchase, they emailed me instructions for wiring the money to them instead, which I did the next day.

They then sent an email indicating that they were going to ship the watch to me overnight mail the next day, but due to the holiday coming up, I was not going to be home to receive the shipment, and so instead I arranged for the them to ship it to me the next week after the holiday.

Fast forward to the day that they were supposed ship the watch to me. I didn't hear from them, so I contacted them on the phone. They then changed their tune, and instead said they were waiting for the watch to be delivered to them at the boutique and would deliver it to me once they received it. They said they were supposed to receive the watch the next day.

So now I am out $60K with no watch.

I feel stupid and feel like I messed up for blindly trusting them. I figured all of it was "above board" because the purchase was directly from an A Lange boutique.

[77T]

It sounds like a verbal agreement in the boutique, rather than a sale, and perhaps a big communication failure.

Did they send you anything in email to do the wire?
Like a request for payment, or an invoice, with wire instructions.


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[DJH1977]

I have purchased from NY boutique with shipping after ordering a watch. When it came, I paid and they delivered overnight no problem. Since this is an actual boutique, I would consider contacting the manager or even corporate. Very unusual and frustrating indeed.

[77T]

If this is the new one in Aspen, it's a coop boutique. Owners in partnership with ALS.


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[1William]

You should be fine. Sounds like a miscommunication. Call them and get an update.

[Bazil]

Hopefully all will be good and you’re wearing your new watch …

[ZOOK]

Sorry to read about this. I hope you are able to get this resolved quickly.

[llngoc]

Was the piece already at the boutique or did he tell you that it was coming in soon?

If it is the latter case, it is probably just a mismatch of expectation due to minor miscommunication. I assume you already have an invoice?

[Hilly10]

If it was me I would have waited for them to tell me the watch was with them and then gone to the shop to pay and pick up the Watch, especially as it’s only 2 hour’s drive

[Apdl]

Originally Posted by Hilly10

If it was me I would have waited for them to tell me the watch was with them and then gone to the shop to pay and pick up the Watch, especially as it’s only 2 hour’s drive

I would be in the same boat

Any updates OP?

[Modiferous]

I am sure you will get the watch or a refund. At worst, wasted time.

[GaryInDenver]

Watch has been shipped after all.

Please delete thread.

My apologies.

[EEpro]

Avoid remote watch deals on holiday weekend.

[ZOOK]

Originally Posted by GaryInDenver

Watch has been shipped after all.

Please delete thread.

My apologies.

Good to hear. I hope you enjoy your watch when it arrives and you put the delay out of your mind.

[Bazil]

Glad it worked out well .. well, that’s if it has arrived ..

[Apdl]

Originally Posted by GaryInDenver

Watch has been shipped after all.

Please delete thread.

My apologies.

Very happy to hear that! No one needs that kind of stress in their life!

[GGGMT]

This is perhaps the most ridiculous premature jump the gun needless false alarm cry wolf thread I’ve seen in a long long time. OP you’re dealing with like the most reputable AD on the planet. Why not wait a few hours and see where this went? There’s no way to ‘delete’ a thread.


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[Andad]

A strange thread when a call to the boutique should have given you the information you wanted?

Your credit card couldn’t handle it and you change the delivery details?

[77T]

Originally Posted by GaryInDenver

Watch has been shipped after all.

Please delete thread.

My apologies.

Good to hear

Now the wait

Let us know

When it appears


- Burma Shave


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[APhound]

Very bizarre.


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[bay_area_kid]

People nowadays seem way too impatient and also somehow lack common sense.

Common sense says:

• If you trust a boutique enough to wire $60,000, then you should also trust them enough that they can sort out any shipping delays on your behalf.
• Supply chain delays happen all the time, even for luxury items. Most times, all you can do is wait.
• If you change transaction details at the last minute, expect the results to be best-effort only.

So before creating these kinds of threads, first go through the common sense items above and see if any applies to your situation.

[1William]

Glad your watch is on the way. Post some pictures when it arrives.

[S’portEye]

Yes, you way jumped the gun. Glad it all worked out.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by bay_area_kid

People nowadays seem way too impatient and also somehow lack common sense.

Common sense says:

• If you trust a boutique enough to wire $60,000, then you should also trust them enough that they can sort out any shipping delays on your behalf.
• Supply chain delays happen all the time, even for luxury items. Most times, all you can do is wait.
• If you change transaction details at the last minute, expect the results to be best-effort only.

So before creating these kinds of threads, first go through the common sense items above and see if any applies to your situation.

Agree 100%. Wish folks would fully explore action with the supplier/vender before running to the web.

[Sunny_Submariner]

If the watch is from an ALS boutique, you'll be fine 99.9% of the time. Glad it all worked out.