fotoman Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 so i went to try on this Aqua Terra 42mm "big size" its really cool, they should rep it but the lady was like - let me tell you what they are doing with omega, they just cut down on the number of retail stores, so you will find them in less now - its more exclusive. I was like - so, what now only 74 million stores? Cmon lady Omega? Exclusive? Hello? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Or just look on ebay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subzero1 Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 They are indeed increasing prices and reducing supply. Combined with good advertising and good name recognition, it seems that Omega is poised to be the next Rolex (at least in the public's mind). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfreeman420 Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 They have been yanking small boutique dealers franchises for quite some time now. I read an article not too long ago about a guy who had been an Omega AD for 20 or so years and they stopped shipping to him. They said they want to improve their image by selling only in high volume mega stores who honor the retail price with no discount. It's just like what Rolex has done for years. Only recently did I start seeing Rolex AD's offering discounts. You would think this would hurt their sales. Isn't business about bottom line? Image isn't everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbie Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 That might explain why the duty free stores at the Puerto Rico airport didn't carry Omega. I was wondering how come they didn't have such a "common brand". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corgi Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 I have a strange rule of thumb... if a watch is sold in a store in my town of Ottawa, Canada; it is not rare. For instance; Omega is sold in 3 different locations in ottawa Therefore, Omega is not rare or exclusive. Vacheron Constantin dealer is 500Km away from Ottawa Therefore, VC is rare and exclusive. ...works every time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Seems as though Omega wants to start exclusively selling from Costco? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolfire Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Seems as though Omega wants to start exclusively selling from Costco? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkerouac Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Is Costco an official dealer? I know they sell Omegas (along with Breitlings, Tag, Cartier, and a few other comparable brands), but I don't think they are an official dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 No... I think they're somewhat of a grey market source... My comment was just tongue in cheek... I do suspect that the Costco 'issue' is one of the motivating factors for wanting to tighten up distribution... But I think Costco obtains their stock in a different manner than most other grey market dealers/sources do (i.e. not by buying excess inventory off of AD's selling out the back door). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoman Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 i'm not sure grey market is the right term but, we'll see - go for it omega, enjoy I'll stick with Ulysse Nardin, until they show up at costco (which is really walmart) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eunomians Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Costco seems to have lots of, uhh, interesting items for sale. I wonder how many times the watches were shipped to and from China before they're stocked into those locked glass cabinets at Costco! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub123 Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 I don't think omega is 'exclusive' at least not here in the UK. You regularly see them in sales at authorised dealers, at christmas I saw a 42mm orange PO at halfprice in an AD window. On top of that at least one AD regularly offers 3 years 0% finance on omegas (and a few other brands) so anyone who can afford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slai Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Vacheron Constantin dealer is 500Km away from Ottawa Therefore, VC is rare and exclusive. ...works every time.... Surely Montreal has a VC AD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slay Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 heathrow airport terminal 1, 2 hours flight delay and 2 or 3 stores that sold omegas... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted July 18, 2007 Report Share Posted July 18, 2007 Strange as it may seem, it is true, part of Omega's new global strategy... As been mentioned, the little guys have been dropped, and even amongst the large high-end chain ADs, they are consolidating distribution to only the flagship stores in an effort to increase the perception of exclusivity and create more of a demand. Hell, it works for Rolex so why not. As for discounts, I find that is a bit of a false indicator especially here in the EU....in my experience with ADs, whether buying a Mercedes or a Panerai or a Rolex (brands which proudly state "no discounts, don't ask"), the price in the window is the RRP and fixed. But then you have the chat, agree the spec, and then and only then when you've almost completed the transaction....you ask to be reminded about the price, almost as an afterthought, and then when told, say nothing.....pause........*tumbleweed rolling*....before the salesman having given a paranoid glance around, takes you aside and in a conspiratorial whisper, mentions that of course, there is some flexibility on price Works every time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 Ahhhh... The art of negotiation, eh doc? I love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoman Posted July 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 Strange as it may seem, it is true, part of Omega's new global strategy... As been mentioned, the little guys have been dropped, and even amongst the large high-end chain ADs, they are consolidating distribution to only the flagship stores in an effort to increase the perception of exclusivity and create more of a demand. Hell, it works for Rolex so why not. As for discounts, I find that is a bit of a false indicator especially here in the EU....in my experience with ADs, whether buying a Mercedes or a Panerai or a Rolex (brands which proudly state "no discounts, don't ask"), the price in the window is the RRP and fixed. But then you have the chat, agree the spec, and then and only then when you've almost completed the transaction....you ask to be reminded about the price, almost as an afterthought, and then when told, say nothing.....pause........*tumbleweed rolling*....before the salesman having given a paranoid glance around, takes you aside and in a conspiratorial whisper, mentions that of course, there is some flexibility on price Works every time nice move, i'll put that in the book of tricks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FasTTaP Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 but the lady was like - let me tell you what they are doing with omega, they just cut down on the number of retail stores, so you will find them in less now - its more exclusive. I was like - so, what now only 74 million stores? Cmon lady Omega? Exclusive? Hello? I just read an interview in 24/00 where Omega CEO said they were going after Rolex in terms of sales volume !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotoman Posted July 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 I just read an interview in 24/00 where Omega CEO said they were going after Rolex in terms of sales volume !!!! if i were going for volume, i wouldn't be cutting back stores Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docblackrock Posted July 19, 2007 Report Share Posted July 19, 2007 Ahhhh... The art of negotiation, eh doc? I love it! nice move, i'll put that in the book of tricks You know, it's almost become a perverse sadistic pleasure of mine....waiting until the salesman can almost taste the sale, the fine art of saying nothing, a sudden apathetic eyebrow, reconsidering perhaps.....you can almost see the bead of sweat on their brow. Did it with my Merc and five grand (sterling) came off in the blink of an eye....course it helped that the Audi dealership is literally next door. Must admit though, it depends how I'm treated.....high-end watch purveyors are either incredibly patronising/annoying/rude or respectful/pleasure to deal with. No grey areas it seems. Stupid perhaps, but I'd rather pass up a bigger discount and shop elsewhere for that service. My local AD (probably the best independent AD in the country outside Bond St) for instance, I don't ask or expect a discount.....but I'm always treated well even if I just go in for a browse and a chat....they're playing the long game of course, very smart, and I respect that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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