FabR[Senior Patek Moderator]
26166
Yep, to be frank I still would *not* be a big fan, but selling online would be a less significant/substantial change in direction (in fact, Patek did briefly allow it last year -- via its ADs -- as an exceptional measure at the start of the pandemic).
Feb 02, 2021,14:54 PM
But the main point for me is that the image of a high-end (watch or otherwise) brand has to go well beyond us buying, or them selling, a product. And the experience a brand provides to *any* customer is clearly a consequence of their image, and therefore it does affect the experience of *every* customer.
I'm sure you will actually agree to a certain extent: push your logic to an extreme, and I guess you also wouldn't want your favorite watch brand to sell *any* of their watches at (say) Walmart. Even if the material quality of the product doesn't change, and they had a boutique in case somebody wanted a nicer experience...still, I'm sure your favorite watch brand wouldn't sell *anything* at Walmart, just because it's inconsistent with their values. OK, to put it simply, Mr. Porter is not Walmart but the logic is similar: for me (and probably most Patek enthusiasts), "being Patek" is inconsistent with selling watches at a fashion designer's website ;-)
And let me add that not only do I love fashion, but I also love to do my (grocery) shopping at Walmart ;-))
Cheers.