New AD Opening in Orange County, CA

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

That's a pretty standard line for NYC 100% corporate boutique though. The question is if they show any love if you show up tomorrow morning in person though. Seriously.

Yeah, I think that was quite predictable.

[lucky210]

What is the proper procedure for registering interest with multiple boutiques. I am on the waitlist for a piece in NY, is it even worth making the drive down assuming they can see that?

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by lucky210

What is the proper procedure for registering interest with multiple boutiques. I am on the waitlist for a piece in NY, is it even worth making the drive down assuming they can see that?

Yes, especially if you are local. Likely the relationship will just re-locate if they can get it to you faster.

[RFX45]

anybody had any luck with the new boutique?

i called this morning to get an appointment but was told it was fully booked but they were taking walk ins

when i got there the line was pretty long and the AP employee upfront pretty much said they only have exhibition pieces and they had nothing for sale

after 45min wait and when they didnt let anyone in the walk-in line go in, i just left, the dude in front lf the line was there at least two hours but let those with appointments go first

[GreenLantern]

I still don't see the point in a new brick-and-mortar retail location.

They aren't going to have anything "for sale" for years to come.

And opening a new AD with walk-ins is idiotic. In the extremely rare event they even have a ladies watch available, it'll be like this: https://www.tiktok.com/@fldisneydad/...68366397639942

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by RFX45

anybody had any luck with the new boutique?

i called this morning to get an appointment but was told it was fully booked but they were taking walk ins

when i got there the line was pretty long and the AP employee upfront pretty much said they only have exhibition pieces and they had nothing for sale

after 45min wait and when they didnt let anyone in the walk-in line go in, i just left, the dude in front lf the line was there at least two hours but let those with appointments go first

That doesn't sound like a very high-end experience

[RFX45]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

That doesn't sound like a very high-end experience

definitely not

felt like i was back in high school when i would wait for a sneaker drop

[BatteryVoltas]

What a total waste of time. We all thought the underdog was going to win today. Finally no more AD games! It's a brand new store so they have to have inventory right?

WRONG.

Same stupid games and no watches.

I waited for hours and then one of the customers (not an employee) comes out and tells us poor souls that they aren't selling any Royal Oaks/ROO today and that they were only registering interest because they want to "start a relationship."

Sure, let's start a relationship by not selling any watches to those enthusiastic enough to line up early on opening day. Let's instead make everyone wait in line for hours. Let's not tell them we're not selling any of the watches they want either! Let's just push the Code heavily and pretend no one has done that before...

SHAME!

[Basic_Satisfaction]

We waited in line for about 7 hours to get in

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by Basic_Satisfaction

We waited in line for about 7 hours to get in

And then what happened?

Also super curious, what were the demographics like of those in line? Hype beasts or lots of serious collectors?

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

And then what happened?

Also super curious, what were the demographics like of those in line? Hype beasts or lots of serious collectors?

No disrespect to Basic_Satisfaction, but the average serious collector isn't going to wait 1-7 hours in line to get into a store that knowingly will have almost zero inventory.

[dauster]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

No disrespect to Basic_Satisfaction, but the average serious collector isn't going to wait 1-7 hours in line to get into a store that knowingly will have almost zero inventory.

Lol 7 hours hahahaha

[henrylee]

My friend waited in line and got into the store. They did not sell him any sport watch.

[GreenLantern]

If anyone here doesn't think this whole situation is just one big joke, I don't know what else to say, honestly.

[edo]

There is at least some logic for AP houses... they are inside the buildings, with no walk in option, you can throw some parties, keep big collectors together, get them drunk to buy some purple cockwatches and codes... but in todays world of ultra shortage that's going to last, opening a brick-and-mortar retail location with zero inventory for years to come is stupid on another level...

[Basic_Satisfaction]

I stood in line well aware that they wouldn’t sell me anything that same day. Just wanted to introduce myself and express interest In a couple pieces.

[RFX45]

Originally Posted by Basic_Satisfaction

I stood in line well aware that they wouldn’t sell me anything that same day. Just wanted to introduce myself and express interest In a couple pieces.

i wasnt expecting to buy anything either, just start that “relationship” but i wasnt going to stand for a couple of hours

im just going to make an appointment for another time

[CoveWatch]

I was there friday morning and saw some people lounging around the outside right before open. Hung out and spoke to a few of the guys there, everybody was really nice and upbeat, but left before they opened.

[myporsche]

What a joke , I wouldn't wait 2 min to go into a watch store, what a shameful event and pathetic look all around.

[daoster408]

I will echo the sentiment that some have expressed in this thread, and I have to say that this is my first experience with an AP AD (I don't like driving to LA to deal with the one there), and it left quite a bad taste in my mouth.

Not necessarily the fact that there was no inventory - that's something that I'm used to (as a Rolex fan, lol), but just the way they seem to jerk people around.

I was there on the opening morning, and not only did they "open" 20-25 minutes late (kind of ironic, for a watch store), but they didn't even really "open" to the general public that day!

Then stories of waiting 7 hours as a walk-in and how they were prioritizing clients from other AD who lived in the area...listen, I get it, you're a luxury brand, you want to seem "exclusive"...but if you're opening a new boutique, one would hope that you would be trying to find new customers to sell your Code watches too, instead of making them jump through hoops for the right to even talk to the Sales Associate.

[vh2k]

Originally Posted by Basic_Satisfaction

We waited in line for about 7 hours to get in

In 1993, I waited nine hours to have Howard Stern sign my copy of Private Parts in Pasadena.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by vh2k

In 1993, I waited nine hours to have Howard Stern sign my copy of Private Parts in Pasadena.

But you still got a signature, right?

These poor souls are walking out with zero watches.

[macrowatch]

Was the store literally empty or were there still Codes for sale?

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

Was the store literally empty or were there still Codes for sale?

These days, most stores are empty of CODES, too. And even ladies watches.

(At least, the Vegas Boutique is like that.)

[macrowatch]

Yeah, I'm aware of that. Which is what makes me curious if the store sold out of all the codes on public opening day one or not.

[dchang81]

codes being sold out the apocalypse is coming

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by dchang81

codes being sold out the apocalypse is coming

It already came. Months ago.

[yOyOYoo]

I’m glad I didn’t try to visit during the opening. Will see if I can schedule an appointment some time. Does anyone know if they had any exhibition pieces to try on in the boutique?

[RFX45]

i could see from the outside that the people inside had pieces to try on

they had a couple of watches on the window display, more specifically the 34mm two tone RO, they kept taking and putting back as the guests wanted to try it on

[maecenas]

I'm going to go in tomorrow. I know they have exhibition pieces, just not sure which ones, though I can report back. The other thing I heard is that they're not up to full staff yet- that will happen shortly as more people finish training. So that should also help the wait/experience a bit, though of course it can't make more watches appear!