Patek Philippe

I went to a store looking for a 5270J that was on display, I’m legitimately interested so I asked. They told me I have to build a history buying the brand (other purchases don’t count). I was told I need 5-7 watches before I can submit an application. As ... 

I know nothing on this practice but shouldn’t the response be “due to the sizeable interest we have to prioritise long term customers hence….” rather than the “please buy more” approach? Same outcome but very different and more understandable rationale. ... 

But this very 5270J has been sitting in the case for 8 months (sa told me and I confirmed that I have seen it there like 3 months ago). Pretty much waiting for people to buy. I get it if this is a regular practice, but I’m checking with you the experience... 

I bow to the expertise of others on the forum in this regard but I’m really supportive of your position…. if it’s there and not just for “exhibition” then I would strongly hope that they would sell to somebody enthusiastic about the watch. Interested to s... 

Funny you mention they had a Nautilus Perpetual with the “Reserved” sign… that I know to not even mention, they won’t sell a watch like that to a “small potato” like me 😂

These pieces are sold. They will give delivery to the original client once they get a new one.

Sad because I have bought a significant number of other watches sure maybe not Patek but nothing to scuff at

Usually events like this just drive me away from brands, but I do it in silence… which maybe is my mistake

Which doesn't approve of this behaviour. It might even help you secure one.

I just returned from Asia and visited three PP ADs there looking for a 5226G. Two opening suggest I looked into diamond watches for my wife while I wait. If PP doesn't already know what their ADs are doing. Then they have a even bigger issue 😅

is waiting for a customer and not sold.

It’s a problem for the brand because they literally might be dumping the watches on the secondary market

on buying things I do not like just because this might get me closer to my initial wanted watch.

It would take me quite a bit of money of time, by the time I get there probably we moved to another reference by then … Not even considering that the AD might not even exist in 3 years (with a very aggressive timeline)

I would have told him there are many on the secondary market that are brand new and less than retail. Then I would have given him the finger on the way out the door. 😁

And even if I were, I don’t know if I want to buy a bunch of others I don’t really care just to get to another one…

recently. They are far from flying from the shelf and I strongly doubt they are/were spoken for anybody.

But for sure is a silly practice, more knowing this is a large corporation type of dealer

For a second I even considered wow maybe these are the ones I would consider … What a joke… sigh I knew they were bluffing It’s ok they can keep it 🤪

Yeah, it's comical. A lot of these sales people are glorified order takers at this point and not actual salesman with skill. They got soft during 2020 - 2021

Treating customers with little dignity.

I will admire them from the distance

As a member pointed out, these sell for way less in pre-owned markets and some are very new conditions…makes my decision easier nowadays.

I’m not super familiar with the secondary market to be honest, I have some serious trust issues hahaha. But hell I’m looking at one from a dealer in USA that has some decent reviews and is charging way less for the P version … I might need to research mor... 

I would think that is a great way to initiate that "purchase history", as seems like it's not the most demanded watch in the collection...

Sky moon, etc… Even more shady like I mentioned the watch has been sitting there for about 8 months now… I don’t imagine maybe come randomly to ask to get a 5270J - it’s just not that popular based on what I see (price, no hype, more traditional looking) ... 

That’s exactly why I come to this forum: to try to find voice of reason 🙏 It’s easy to get caught up in the games if you are not careful, I try to buy what I really like

Check out some independents. Many offer beautiful dress watches if that is what you are into! You get about 2x the quality too

an hard pass to me!

Because they sure had a bunch of female watches for the wife and some time only watches (nothing wrong with them! But not what I was looking)

But which city/country

And make it even tougher for the next customer. Best to go elsewhere, without any regret.

They are going to ask you to write a letter (thank g-d for ChatGPT) in order to “qualify” for this watch. I would just buy on the grey market. It’s trading at or below retail.

When the sales lady started probing my interest level,I demurred. Then she told me the one I was trying on was just an “exhibition piece” and she couldn’t sell it anyway. Nothing in the case or anywhere said it had been sold and it had a complete working ... 

Is your AD in the tri state ny are by any chance?

In hills that are very short

Save yourself around 80 grand and buy one from a dealer, don’t fall for these AD games in my opinion. The G is very reasonable also.

But in the old days at least you could get a calatrava or a very expensive watch (like a perpetual). Now it’s impossible to get just about anything. The demand is insane. And most sales ppl (at least in US) are not on commission. But they don’t event cont... 

I have bought Pateks for more than 15 years from the same UK AD. I have therefore developed a relationship with the shop and the manager. I was shocked to hear when the disgruntled manager shared with me confidentially that she was at logger heads with he... 

Why is that even necessary if they insist everyone take a certain starter path towards the more desirable pieces. Either the customer buys (read: plays) or not. And the game goes on. I really miss my AD, but unfortunately they lost their PP status…althoug... 

due to Patek's policy of reducing its sales outlets. Saying that, there are other branches within my AD's group that I could buy my Pateks from but out of principle, I shall refrain from doing so. We the customer have never been more spoiled than we are n... 

It’s disgusting

I will always treasure the great memories and the many Patek events that I had been invited to including the factory visit, the train trip on a private train that Patek had booked, the minute repeater event where we could hear the chimes from different mi... 

One can hope to get to that level! But companies now are more impersonal, interested in revenue, and just delivering product. I was introduced to the hobby late I am afraid, but hey not everything is bad, it’s just some bad experiences

They provide a more personal service and you may be able to speak to the watchmaker himself. Do not worry about the history of the brand or its continuity as many of the more well known independents will stand the test of time. The fact that you were cons... 

Or at least in the past - I was able to secure 2 FP Journe before these were super popular. The brand treated me well but kind of changed as it got bigger (aka more attention). I love other independents: KV and Laurent Ferrier… the problem I get mentally ... 

can only be serviced by FP Journe due to the movement architecture (clever FP!). But any good watchmaker will be able to service a Voutilainen or Laurent Ferrier. Not so with a Gronefeld unfortunately And respectfully, watches are not like cars as they do... 

I’m glad people stand in judgment of us all 😂 How ridiculous. I live in the South East and trying to find any AD to sell me Rolex, Patek, AP or Journe is an impossibility unless I buy watches and dump them to improve my standing with the dealer… something... 

the brands you mentioned are hyped up brands. They are all very good please don't get me wrong but they also attract investors and speculators resulting in poor availability due to demand exceeding supply. For the same amount of money spent on any of thes... 

there is a class action suit going on in CA against Hermès for the very similar sales practice 😅

since I imagine some powerful and resourced people have not been happy about some allocation practices. However, I envision that the various brands have already developed their allocation strategies with legal department input to make sure they are defens... 

At the end of the day is a watch, I simply won’t play ball, they can keep it. There is a long list of others I need 😅

I’m going to search and read it for the laugh factor

Seriously, I can't comprehend how AD's expect to get away with this. There's not one watch in the world that I like enough to give way to what is essentially blackmail / extortion.

All here have encountered these "shxt situations" to some degree, so sad it is (was) how the business runs, all is about 'prestige' .For your case, all of us know that 5270j is selling under msrp, but still they wont suddenly put a sale on it, still a fla... 

Problem is the sales chain that is messed up. Honestly for this one the reasonable thing to do is go to the secondary market, pay less and just find a good seller (which is pretty much what I’m trying to find right now) This even helped to see that I coul... 

...two years ago in Hong Kong, i contacted the ad salesperson which i had purchased 5 watches (no pateks)from them, and said i want a 5270j, he honestly tell me i have to consider buying a calatrava or annual calendar first. (I end up got it from the grey... 

We are not talking about some super duper popular sports models like the Nautiluses and/or Aquanauts or some rare handcrafts/MRs that require PP's approval. We are talking about a PCC. I get it, production volume is low, and perhaps lower for the J (?) bu... 

Literally something sitting in inventory just not for me 😂

Or on their products.. For me, all this is a great turn off with a brand or a store, and a tailwind to go grey or with other brands. At these price levels, there are better watches, prettier watches and sexiest watches... and even economically, for my los... 

It’s certainly a shame as these AD practices really sap the joy out of the experience of watch collecting. Even though we could go market to purchase something, losing AD relationship then being told to start from scratch from other ADs when enquiring abo... 

The other one says let it go, karma will get it, I just don’t know if is worth it… plus i don’t b know who is really at fault here (company or the agent). Might think about it

I complained, Patek sorted it.

determines what you can and can't buy and how you can buy their product. Just an opinion.

It’s similar with those who have recently lost their AD as Patek has cut the relationship with them. You are back to square one and told to buy a bunch of watches if want chance of an application piece. There is no letter offering an alternate AD you can ... 

... I mean: you really want it. You worked for the money You are willing to invest it. What else should be the history? This is the humiliation of a customer. It is opposite to good style. A company as this doesn't deserve a client as you. That simple. Wh... 

Disclaimer: I'm not the target audience for this category of watches, I believe that the retail price is about twice what I make in a year (before taxes, BTW); so probably I don't understand what's really going on. With that said, I find this kind of prac... 

Imagine if I say you need to buy certain 5 random unwanted items at the supermarket before you get the ice cream you wanted lol Ridiculous… it wouldn’t fly, but it does here because people allow it

There are so many options today, no reason to ever spend a penny with the brands or retailers that treat you poorly. Sometimes you can chalk this up to an individual but if you've hit a few ADs and the experience is the same, time to move on. I haven't ha... 

Let me give it some thoughts and revert with my take and suggestions.

OK let me see if I got this right. You walked into a Patek AD and were genuinely interested in possibly buying a 5270J. There was one in the showcase but you were told it was not available for purchase. You had bought many watches (perhaps elsewhere) but ... 

Let me fill the blanks: I bought about 15 watches from this AD, many brands from VC to Rolex, to IWC, Omega, Cartier, and more… I always buy what I like, sometimes popular models sometimes things that nobody but me cares to buy… Worked with this AD almost... 

Yeah that’s really poor and definitely not the case as I was offered a 5270p salmon dial before discontinued from a different AD. They didn’t check previous purchase history with the other AD just informed it was available when enquired. Should not be an ... 

what they proposed to you - buy 5-7 Pateks which will take years and then maybe maybe get the opportunity to buy a watch that you can buy today for substantially under retail…. gee I wonder why you are passing on your AD’s proposition😊!

I had a long conversation with a rep from HSWA and he basically told me unless you are a super VIP they don't care if your AD shuts down and they can't do anything about it (in terms of making an intro). They could probably sell all 60-70k watches in thei... 

For $119k preowned 2021 or so a month ago. I think they have a 5370P for sub 200k right now and a first serial 5270G white dial for sub 120k. Just buy grey from a reputable dealer. I like EWC because they have a brick and mortar store in Boston.

Good plan. Nice to drop in and say I bought this grey and saved a small fortune! Thanks for not letting me buy it, dodged a bullet there lol. Their loss..

....going crazy right now, since the covid-boom in luxury has abated and sales have dropped (or at least the craze behind them). i think i have already mentioned it here that my PP AD has explicitly asked me to buy diamonds to be eligible for my next spor... 

my understanding from Asian ADs and how it might apply in your case. To combat previous situations with empty shelves containing no Patek watches during customers visits, since 2023 ADs in Singapore and Hong Kong must carry, say a minimum 15+ watches from... 

I know from another conversation that Patek requires them to keep certain number of watches on display to avoid having empty cases. That said - I was told that those 2 were on sale, but first you need to be approved for you to get them. Maybe I should hav... 

When you mentioned you need to be approved, the key is that the AD should have the ability to vouch for you given your impressive history with them with other brands.

kind comments 👍

A lady just sued Hermes in USA after she was told to build a profile before getting a BKC…

You think they’ll be sympathetic? This poor poor person is so upset bc she can’t walk into Hermes and purchase a 10k purse… the horror… 😜

in SNG.🤣 But nothing is more important than having a happy wife!