Closure of stores

[Submaster1675]

Since the beginning of 2022, Audemars Piguet has recovered all sales only in its stores. More resellers and even boutiques exclusively Audemars Piguet belonging to other companies.
In France, there is therefore only one store left.
As a result, they are overwhelmed with phone calls and emails, impossible to reach them and no email response. And the worst part is that even when you go there, you can't go back... if you haven't made an appointment by email.

It's a shame.
Before it was difficult to have a watch, now you can even ask for one.

[brandrea]

You’re lucky, we don’t even have a boutique in Canada

[Submaster1675]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You’re lucky, we don’t even have a boutique in Canada

Ah yes, indeed, it is even worse

[youthagainsttt]

Originally Posted by brandrea

You’re lucky, we don’t even have a boutique in Canada

That's absolutely crazy imo. Here in HK we have a number of boutiques & 2 AP Houses but if it was up to me & logically speaking why not only have 1 AP House in HK and for a country like Canada have 1-2 boutiques. There are a lot of rich people in HK but undoubtedly in Canada too. I think we used to have 7 boutiques too, from memory & some closed

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by youthagainsttt

That's absolutely crazy imo. Here in HK we have a number of boutiques & 2 AP Houses but if it was up to me & logically speaking why not only have 1 AP House in HK and for a country like Canada have 1-2 boutiques. There are a lot of rich people in HK but undoubtedly in Canada too. I think we used to have 7 boutiques too, from memory & some closed

Agreed



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[thekman]

Strange how I keep hearing this feedback about many AP boutiques. I had the same experience myself in NYC. Strangely, my local boutqiue doesn't have this probably. Usually just walk in anytime I want to talk watches or do a strap change. Obviously there aren't any watches on display like everywhere else.

[macrowatch]

Who is walking out in about in the Boston winter?

Except the college kids. Lol.

[TimepieceRPP]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

Who is walking out in about in the Boston winter?

Except the college kids. Lol.

[TunaTuna]

Originally Posted by Submaster1675

Since the beginning of 2022, Audemars Piguet has recovered all sales only in its stores. More resellers and even boutiques exclusively Audemars Piguet belonging to other companies.
In France, there is therefore only one store left.
As a result, they are overwhelmed with phone calls and emails, impossible to reach them and no email response. And the worst part is that even when you go there, you can't go back... if you haven't made an appointment by email.

It's a shame.
Before it was difficult to have a watch, now you can even ask for one.

That's why the huge increases in Royal Oaks are here to stay. Everyone wants them and they are impossible to get for newbies, and still hard to get for current customers.

I have to increase my insurance by over 50% if I want to wear my two Royal Oaks. Poor me, I know...

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by thekman

Strange how I keep hearing this feedback about many AP boutiques. I had the same experience myself in NYC. Strangely, my local boutqiue doesn't have this probably. Usually just walk in anytime I want to talk watches or do a strap change. Obviously there aren't any watches on display like everywhere else.

That the Boston boutique hasn't had a single watch on display since the fall may have something to do with accessibility. Once some exhibition 50th anniversary exhibition models arrive and word gets around, watch out...

[thekman]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

That the Boston boutique hasn't had a single watch on display since the fall may have something to do with accessibility. Once some exhibition 50th anniversary exhibition models arrive and word gets around, watch out...

Hoping they start coming soon. Hoping to snag one of them

[noshake]

So as a non local, you have no shot? The closest boutiques to me ar Florida or NY.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by noshake

So as a non local, you have no shot? The closest boutiques to me ar Florida or NY.

Depends on how persistent and/or charming you are: https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=834052

[thekman]

Originally Posted by noshake

So as a non local, you have no shot? The closest boutiques to me ar Florida or NY.

There is an active thread where a Canadian member got his offshore from NYC. However you won't get lucky over the phone. Drop in, establish a relationship and you will get lucky as long as you have a reasonable target as a first watch. Unfortunately now with most manufacturers cutting small ADs, a lot of travel and planning has to go into acquiring a watch.

[AEV]

APs are closing downs ADs and moving to boutique only.
For a brand that makes 50k pieces it makes sense, they have around 75 boutiques/houses. The experience is so much better, these are actually employees of the company.
But at the same time, it takes time to open up own retail store.

[Submaster1675]

Originally Posted by Sitaic

AP House opening in Paris in the next year or so

Where did you get this information ?

[psm11]

Originally Posted by thekman

There is an active thread where a Canadian member got his offshore from NYC. However you won't get lucky over the phone. Drop in, establish a relationship and you will get lucky as long as you have a reasonable target as a first watch. Unfortunately now with most manufacturers cutting small ADs, a lot of travel and planning has to go into acquiring a watch.

What do you think is a reasonable target as a first watch?

[Reign]

Originally Posted by psm11

What do you think is a reasonable target as a first watch?

Offshore or CODE


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[DanMiles]

Originally Posted by thekman

There is an active thread where a Canadian member got his offshore from NYC. However you won't get lucky over the phone. Drop in, establish a relationship and you will get lucky as long as you have a reasonable target as a first watch. Unfortunately now with most manufacturers cutting small ADs, a lot of travel and planning has to go into acquiring a watch.

It is possible. As a Canadian, I made a simple inquiry in January 2021 to AP via their website asking if there were any point of sales in Canada or plans to open a boutique any time in the foreseeable future. Much to my surprise, I was contacted from someone at AP via email, what I would describe to be quite a high level position, apologizing that there was no place to purchase in Canada.

He asked if he could give me a call sometime to ask about my preferences and what I was hoping to acquire. We had a short conversation, I explained I wanted a 15500 (surprise, surprise) and was hoping for a silver or slate dial. He said that the allocations had been mostly done but hoped within a year he could get me a piece. I was happy with that, I was in no rush. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I sent him an email wishing him a happy new year and checking in to see how things were going, knowing full well the demand was much higher than when I first inquired. I also asked him about the 15500 being discontinued, which he confirmed to be the case. To my astonishment, he said he could offer me a 15500 black dial sometime that month. What!? I politely told him I appreciated his generous offer but was happy to wait a bit longer for a silver dial (stupid me right?!). He said to check back in September and he'd see where things were at.

I am fully confident I will be offered a watch at some point again. So there you have it, it is possible for you to get a watch, with no purchase history, with a simple email and a friendly phone conversation. Granted I admit I was very lucky. I have a feeling they are sensitive to the plight of someone in a country that really had no opportunity to purchase. I live in a city that has Patek, Vacheron, Rolex, JLC , dealers. We used to have a AP AD but were closed down a number of years ago. I think AP is doing their best to help underserved markets. I was blown away by the customer service. Here's hoping I didn't blow it!

[thekman]

Originally Posted by DanMiles

It is possible. As a Canadian, I made a simple inquiry in January 2021 to AP via their website asking if there were any point of sales in Canada or plans to open a boutique any time in the foreseeable future. Much to my surprise, I was contacted from someone at AP via email, what I would describe to be quite a high level position, apologizing that there was no place to purchase in Canada.

He asked if he could give me a call sometime to ask about my preferences and what I was hoping to acquire. We had a short conversation, I explained I wanted a 15500 (surprise, surprise) and was hoping for a silver or slate dial. He said that the allocations had been mostly done but hoped within a year he could get me a piece. I was happy with that, I was in no rush. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I sent him an email wishing him a happy new year and checking in to see how things were going, knowing full well the demand was much higher than when I first inquired. I also asked him about the 15500 being discontinued, which he confirmed to be the case. To my astonishment, he said he could offer me a 15500 black dial sometime that month. What!? I politely told him I appreciated his generous offer but was happy to wait a bit longer for a silver dial (stupid me right?!). He said to check back in September and he'd see where things were at.

I am fully confident I will be offered a watch at some point again. So there you have it, it is possible for you to get a watch, with no purchase history, with a simple email and a friendly phone conversation. Granted I admit I was very lucky. I have a feeling they are sensitive to the plight of someone in a country that really had no opportunity to purchase. I live in a city that has Patek, Vacheron, Rolex, JLC , dealers. We used to have a AP AD but were closed down a number of years ago. I think AP is doing their best to help underserved markets. I was blown away by the customer service. Here's hoping I didn't blow it!

It's great that someone from AP treated you so well. It also must be frustrating from someone who has bought a code or offshore yet still keeps getting told by his SA that could not get a Royal Oak to come hear and see that someone with no relationship has been offered one. Really wish everyone's experience was positive as yours. But it really sucks that experiences can vary so much.