Very true, who knows, it may just be more of a premium to go in person next.

Jul 11, 2020,10:01 AM
 

The so called, upscale experience.

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Zenith Launches New E-Commerce Website for USA and With It a New Boutique Edition of the Defy El Primero 21; A Discussion About E-Commerce

 
 By: patrick_y : July 10th, 2020-16:01
Zenith enjoys a lot of attention on the WatchProSite platform. WatchProSite even had a special edition historically inspired Zenith made for our members that was presented to the world by none other than Jean Claude Biver! WatchProSite’s Silicon Valley Mo...  

Great detailed write up.

 
 By: K-Lo : July 11th, 2020-04:27
Marketing it key these days in the so called internet world. You lay out some good points.

Absolutely! Thanks for commenting!

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-09:33
Some of the key points in here are a shortened version of a lecture I prepared that was cancelled due to COVID.

Yes and not too many people falling asleep! I'm sure those students will be falling asleep at my boring lecture!

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-11:18
These students always eat big dinners (it's kind of a buffet) and then they get sleepy during the lectures.

;) [nt]

 
 By: K-Lo : July 11th, 2020-11:21

I hear you, Patrick. I still have mixed feelings on the E Boutiques and E Commerce. You can also add the more frequent use of Webinar and Zoom for interactions between Clients and Brands...

 
 By: amanico : July 11th, 2020-09:50
It is mandatory to find alternatives in these uncertain times, in order to keep the contact between customers and brands. BUT it will never replace reality, real experiences, real meetings. If brands think that virtuality can replace reality, then it is t... 

I know! We will have to tip the salespeople in the future. Just like we have to tip the wait staff at a restaurant. But no tip if we do take-away!

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-11:09
Holy cow. I hope the tip isn't huge. We tip restaurant servers 15% or more in America. To tip even 10% on a watch is HUGE! YIKES!!!!

A friend of mine tips on how often the waiter comes to the table, completely ignoring the price of the meal

 
 By: cazalea : July 11th, 2020-11:35
deducting for any "oops, I'll get you another table setting, sorry we forgot"

oooh, Sire,

 
 By: K-Lo : July 11th, 2020-11:53
If we apply that concept to watches, $$$$$$

I'm okay with that method! Also, do you tip on wine?

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-12:05
Sometimes the wine bill is bigger than the meal bill. But the Sommelier didn't come out once to do the whole decanter performance with the cart, match, etc. So I'm not inclined to tip heavily on the wine. Since restaurants have a 4x markup on wine, I expe... 

;) ;) ;) [nt]

 
 By: K-Lo : July 11th, 2020-12:10

One day I'll be buying a Virtual luxury watch on "Second Life" which was a virtual video game people bought stuff with real money for their online avatars!

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-11:07
I think you'll be remembered in history for many of your phrases Amanico. One of them might be, "If brands think that virtuality can replace reality, then it is the beginning of the end." Excellent statement! Not to puff ourselves and to be self-important... 

You might suggest that some technical people at the manufacture be given a chance to read the website before it launches

 
 By: cazalea : July 11th, 2020-11:37
Then they might show us the back of the case, or tell us how thick the case is. Whereas I am sure it's some marketing person who decides whether you get a deployant buckle or 3 straps with the watch you are buying. Nicely done Patrick, thanks. Mike ...  

Excellent suggestion!

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-12:11
I was thinking of suggesting the same thing! Geniuses think alike! But I decided to cut all the suggestions as the post was getting very long. I think it's 2000 words. I was afraid nobody would read it since it was so long!

It's been too long for me...

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-13:38
It's been several years since I was part of a brand's advisory board... Hard to say if the brand really took what we advised to heart. It was a one way street, we gave them our opinions, they took notes or video recorded. But then they didn't tell us if t... 

Agreed! Remember that Montblanc Villeret that could measure 1/1000th of a second? I don't think they ever really sold any, and if they did it's probably a very small number.

 
 By: patrick_y : July 11th, 2020-13:02
Thank you for your generous comment again! And thanks for reading it. It's a long read! I cut a lot of the more critical parts out because I didn't want to upset whichever company made Zenith's website.

MSRP

 
 By: nacelle : July 11th, 2020-20:54
I'm not sure the majority of customers, repeat type customers that is, will be willing to pay MSRP to a watch manufacturer on an e-commerce site, I won't. There may be a rare special instance but it would not be the norm for me. The relationship built wit... 

Agreed. I see one positive about E-Commerce. Consistency.

 
 By: patrick_y : July 12th, 2020-00:33
But let's say this. Let's agree that most of the time the salespersons at the stores don't know a tremendous amount about the product. E Commerce if done well could educate everyone thoroughly about the product. I see more lackluster presentations at stor...