Chopard’s allocation process

[sinkholeninja]

Considering that I’m on a list for Chopard LUC 1860, I thought it’d be useful for others to know about Chopard’s allocation process.

Unlike other brands, especially PP, AP or Rolex, where allocation of hot references is an opaque process where bundling, “relationship” building and other ridiculous practices are required, Chopard simply asks for a 25% down payment and a guarantee of delivery within a year. Personally, I really appreciate the transparency and a straight forward nature of the transaction. If other brands did the same, we wouldn’t be in the same mess that we are in now.

[corky]

Originally Posted by sinkholeninja

Considering that I’m on a list for Chopard LUC 1860, I thought it’d be useful for others to know about Chopard’s allocation process.

Unlike other brands, especially PP, AP or Rolex, where allocation of hot references is an opaque process where bundling, “relationship” building and other ridiculous practices are required, Chopard simply asks for a 25% down payment and a guarantee of delivery within a year. Personally, I really appreciate the transparency and a straight forward nature of the transaction. If other brands did the same, we wouldn’t be in the same mess that we are in now.

Agreed….as it should be.

Not sure I like the word allocation though, always seems like a brand is doing you a favour….

[1William]

Interesting way to handle things. I like the brand.

[sinkholeninja]

Originally Posted by 1William

Interesting way to handle things. I like the brand.

It’s a good way to filter out uncommitted customers who would otherwise clog up the waiting list.

[SoylentGreenChi]

Experienced this first hand last October in NYC. I like Chopard and the way they handle things.

[jamesbondOO7]

I know the owners of the company, very nice and straightforward people.

[RTG]

I used to do this with my Rolex AD. I would inquire, come to terms, pay a deposit, and weeks or months later had the watch. You should be rewarded for putting skin in the game.

Covid changed this. Easy free money saw everyone and their mother chasing these things. I think we are returning to 2019 behavior quickly however.

[Pw92676]

This is the way it should be done! Only downside is that it also assumes demand won’t exceed supply.

[JR16]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

This is the way it should be done! Only downside is that it also assumes demand won’t exceed supply.

Great point… let’s say demand triples or quadruples 6 months from now- will people still put down 25% for a guarantee in 3 or 4 years? Maybe… but then I suppose you may also start seeing some ADs get greedy and replicate what’s happened w some other brands.


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[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

This is the way it should be done! Only downside is that it also assumes demand won’t exceed supply.

Exactly, this brand is available because demand does not exceed supply and sales can be conducted in an orderly open manner. Patek simply doesn't have to the supply to sell watches this way.

[ansharma]

Thanks for this - beautiful watch by the way! Real stunner especially the detailed dial and flawless finishing. Look forward to the pictures when it lands!


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[sinkholeninja]

Originally Posted by ansharma

Thanks for this - beautiful watch by the way! Real stunner especially the detailed dial and flawless finishing. Look forward to the pictures when it lands!


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I’ll post back in December

[hangukman]

Originally Posted by sinkholeninja

I’ll post back in December

Such a beautiful piece. Is it still hard to get one of these?
Haven't seen one in the wild.

Read somewhere that they will be "pumping" up the numbers starting in 2024, with only handful in 2023.

Just curious as I would like to get one myself as well.

[Tachycardia]

Is the LUC 1860 salmon dial steel available only in boutiques or available at authorized dealers too? I have yet to see one in the metal but have been curious.

[sinkholeninja]

Originally Posted by Tachycardia

Is the LUC 1860 salmon dial steel available only in boutiques or available at authorized dealers too? I have yet to see one in the metal but have been curious.

It’s a boutique only reference.

[Emery]

Easy to do when you have 10 watches to sell but only 3 buyers.

[dauster]

Originally Posted by Emery

Easy to do when you have 10 watches to sell but only 3 buyers.

lol that’s what I thought reading thru this thread


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[ChetBaker]

Were it not for greed and opportunism, it would be equally easy to do when you have 10 watches to sell and 25 buyers.

[rockysw]

even in cases where demand exceed supply, allocation could be done in some sort of transparent manner. The opaquness of the process is due to greed otherwise I dont think developing a transparent process is a problem.

[dchang81]

Should have to write an essay of why you are deserving....jk

[c0ll3ct0r]

Originally Posted by sinkholeninja

Chopard simply asks for a 25% down payment and a guarantee of delivery within a year.

It works the same with ALS (but the wait may be longer). I like brands that treats customers this way better than what Rolex and AP do.

[sinkholeninja]

As I mentioned above, asking for 25% upfront for a watch that will be delivered in 12 months will filter out a lot of buyers who are either too impatient, looking for a quick buy & flip etc. The same transparent approach can be implemented by other brands, irrespective of supply/demand dynamics. For example; the “hotter” the piece the bigger upfront payment (e.g. 50% instead of 25% for a 12-18 month wait).

[ts3]

Originally Posted by sinkholeninja

As I mentioned above, asking for 25% upfront for a watch that will be delivered in 12 months will filter out a lot of buyers who are either too impatient, looking for a quick buy & flip etc. The same transparent approach can be implemented by other brands, irrespective of supply/demand dynamics. For example; the “hotter” the piece the bigger upfront payment (e.g. 50% instead of 25% for a 12-18 month wait).

Chopard's transparency is appreciated and the LUC 1860 is drop dead gorgeous. Not a fan of the down payment though. Primarily it helps Chopard to manage the wait list and plan their production numbers according to demand. They could provide the same transparency w/o down payment. If there were some drop outs the real guys would only get the watch faster, so no harm done from a customer perspective. However, Chopard would run a higher risk of overproducing. I am happy to pay a down payment / in line with progress for a made to order watch from a small independent. But I find it a little aggressive for a company such as Chopard to ask their customers to provide financing (which is what they do) and adopt insolvency risk (a none issue until it is not, been there...) in order to help them with production planning and risk management.

So not a fan of the down payment but the LUC 1860 is to die for and I hope you'll get it sooner than later.

PS When I looked for a 5711 two ADs said no and one AD said around 3 years. No firm commitment but an understanding I could be hopeful. The issue of a deposit never came up. I kept in touch and after a little more than 2.5 years I got the watch. Full transparency all along which is how it should be.

[John Doyle]

This is not new, AP did that for a buddy of mine who paid the full amount upfront, was guaranteed delivery in 12 months, reached 14 months and still no trace of the watch. He cancelled his order and requested a refund.

And that's an AP boutique - they don't sell anything else.

[sinkholeninja]

Originally Posted by John Doyle

This is not new, AP did that for a buddy of mine who paid the full amount upfront, was guaranteed delivery in 12 months, reached 14 months and still no trace of the watch. He cancelled his order and requested a refund.

And that's an AP boutique - they don't sell anything else.

In that case, it’s a shitty practice by AP. I know two people so far who received the Chopard reference in question as agreed with the boutique, within 12 months of putting a deposit down.