walidk
118
Agree 100%
Mar 17, 2021,18:53 PM
Dear CR,
Apologies for the delayed response - I also enjoy this discussion. I think the Hybrid buyer is a key component of the overall strategy and transparency is key. If I walk in and ask for an allocation of a special piece, my preference is to be either told sorry not possible or that I will get it by x date; but please don’t give me a place on a waitlist that will never materialize. These responses, I would hope, would be based on my relationship with the brand as a whole and not just how much I spend directly with Lange.
The problem is that however you cut it you are locking-out the passionate person or budding enthusiast who only wants that 1 watch from the brand, which in most cases leads that person down the proverbial rabbit hole - I know it did with me.
That is all to say its a tough balance that will have its supporters and detractors.
As for flippers, I get the exception and agree with it. Albeit I am one of those who don’t like the transactional side of this passion and would hope that the boutique/AD can take it back and resell it to another customer. Loosening the return policy can go a long way to helping with this: a good example is something I saw GS do where they would allow a customer to buy a piece to ‘test it out’ but have a chance to return it for a full refund in up to a couple of weeks if still not convinced (as long as its still in the same condition). Of course, this doesn’t address situations where there is a big delta between used and retail, but if the difference is small I (or at least the optimist in me) would bet that many enthusiasts would actually return it so that it can go to a good home.
All the best,
Walis