Lange Odysseus, what's the verdict?

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Swaye

Had a dealer at a HUGE secondary outlet (the biggest) tell me if they did not receive huge numbers of brand new models at wholesale pricing to move them end of year, they would stop taking in used ALS altogether because they are so difficult to move at profit.

If you are buying an ALS and never ever selling it, who cares. But if you are like the majority of the collectors I know who move in and out of watches over the years, ALS is rough. That is undeniable. I don't know if they should cut production (as that dealer suggested they should), or something else, but I am not sure trying to pump up sales of dress watches by tying them to the success of a sport watch is the best tactic.

They are moving to a Boutique sales model with discounts a thing of the past. Govberg/Watchbox will be out of luck.

Can’t comment on others purchases but if I wanted to step out of ALS I would be running a great profit on all the pieces - none of which were discounted although one was a discontinued used piece (paid over retail for this piece).

[Swaye]

Originally Posted by Russell996

They are moving to a Boutique sales model with discounts a thing of the past. Govberg/Watchbox will be out of luck.

Can’t comment on others purchases but if I wanted to step out of ALS I would be running a great profit on all the pieces - none of which were discounted although one was a discontinued used piece (paid over retail for this piece).

Wow that's great. I suppose they were all very hard to get or limited pieces? The ALS I am familiar with are all steeply discounted on the secondary.

ALS value depreciation is sort of a running joke with dealers and collectors, but I do not follow the brand closely. I always assumed there must be some pieces that held up really well. Zeitwerk? Datograph?

I am genuinely curious. Is this "ALS hold their value about as well as a used boat" I have always heard not accurate? It feels like as long as I have been collecting watches (almost 14 years) I have consistently heard two things wrt ALS. (1) They make some of the finest watches in the world bar none. (2) Good luck when you go to sell it.

Can you share some of the pieces that see strong demand? Appreciate it!

[Swaye]

Almost forgot. It will be super interesting to see how the Boutique model works for them. I know it has worked like gangbusters for FPJ. There was a time when Govberg could get lots of "Boutique only" pieces as an Espace, but those days are over. The Boutique model took a few years to really start working, but now they have transitioned most all of the premium models direct to Boutique only and the Boutiques were basically sold out of everything for 2020 by the end of August.

So yeah, it took awhile to get it going, but it has worked splendidly well for them after some initial teething. Be interesting to see if ALS follows the same trajectory.