AD or Boutique?

[TheHobbit]

I am sure many of us have read or seen the articles in recent months on the views and plans by some of the watch companies with regards to the direction they intend to take in the distribution of their products, namely Panerai and Patek. Both these companies seems to be heading the opposite direction with Panerai focusing on opening more boutiques and closing some (if not more) of their AD. Patek is of the view that they should be focused on making watches and leaving the selling to the people who knows best.

The discussion here is not who is right or wrong, but which do you prefer? Do you rather go to a boutique, focused on a single brand, with 'strong' product knowledge or an AD, with multiple brands (offering multiple ways to relieve us of our money) and why?

As for me, I would rather go to an AD that I have built a strong relationship with. It is difficult to build a strong relationship with a boutique as and unless you only intend to collect the particular brand. With an AD, you have choice, with the boutique, it is a bit more difficult.

[Plankton-IkanBilis]

It is bad enough that more and more watch companies are being bought over by conglomarates...eventually, if these conglomarates decide to go on the path of boutiques, they will have full and absolute control from production to end buyer...personally, i am not too comfortable when anyone gets too powerful in this world.

[G.MAC]

I'd go to anywhere who can give me the best bang for my buck. But if just to go for a look, I'd prefer an AD. More things to see i suppose.

[Godzillaz]

I love to go to the boutique to try the watches but I may end up buying it from the AD or gray dealer who have the best discount.

However in the case of PP and PAM. My guess is PP already have the presence so opening a boutique won't do them much difference. PAM on the other hand still need to build their image. There are many ppl still don't accept pam as a watch brand. PAM need to work on that.

I have more negative feeling towards omega. They are opening boutique near the location of their AD. I wonder what's the true intention.


I seldom buy new watches nowadays so I guess I can't really comment on the true impact of this AD vs Boutique.

Regards
Tyler 

[JOS2012]

I suppose its how you approach buying a watch. I hardly browse at ADs looking for a watch to buy.
I usually idenitfy the watch I want to buy from surfing the net or reading Basel or SIHH reviews.
As I already have an idea of the models I'm interested in, I'd go to the respective boutique to check them out in the metal and on the wrist. Then I'd visit an AD to check the discount level offered. If the price differential is not too great I would still buy from the boutique as nowadays they are aware that ADs offer lower prices so boutiques will offer free servicing, goodies like extra straps, promotional items that only the boutiques would have. On top of that you get invited to all the new model releases every year at some high end restaurant.

Then again there are some boutique limited editions where only the boutiques have them, however these are normally not discounted even though the RRP is the same whereas the non-boutique versions have some minimal fixed discount. If the boutique version is much nicer, I would not mind paying a small premium but nothing ridiculous. I bought a JLC boutique version some years back as the difference was abt RM 1,500. Another time there was a boutique version of the watch I bought but even though the boutique version color scheme looked nicer than the normal version I passed as the price difference was RM 6K !!

[tonykpk]

I prefer the ad from my experience as customer. people  working for the ad are more friendly , whenever i wear something which they don't sell, they will also treat you with  great hospitality, you know like they want to have a look., n i always obliged them by taking off the watch to show them.

[IWCking]

AD simply because they always gives better discount. But trying out the watch is normally boutique cos thats part of their services. I will only buy from boutique if its bouqitue special edition.

[sm]

I have no hesitation to purchase from AD or boutique if it meets my requirements. I think with the presence of more boutiques, it will make the marketplace more vibrant and hopefully increase the level of deliverables.
Both point of sales have its own benefits as indicated by our forumers.

Sm

[Meor72]

For me its about who can give the brst discount. But from a watchmaker point of view, having a boutique selling your stuff would certainly translate into wider coverage for sales.

[timenut]

My priorities are in the following order :-
a) Price
b) Service
c) Freebies
d) Product Knowledge

Speaking from my recent experience with Omega... an AD will usually outdo boutiques in terms of pricing, and sometimes in terms of service and product knowledge as well. However, if you are looking for free premium items, then usually only boutiques can give you those stuff (this levels up the playing field I suppose) but most of time you have ask for them.

I would prefer that ADs continue to exist for my favourite brands. More distribution channels, better price competition. I don't see myself paying full RRP for watches (there are exceptions of course).

[erin8817]

IMHO, it's better to go for AD rather than Boutique.
1) Can get better discounts
2) Can browse at other watch brands as well.

[zameenzahari]

Boutique for me..maybe coz most of my pieces are of a single brand. Even before OP opened the SG boutique, i've had good relationship with their other boutiques like HK, Firenze and NY. The service and purchasing experience is unrivalled especially the product knowledge of the long time salesperson. Yes I dont get discounts but I do get pieces that are truly special and would usually get a strap and freebies thrown in as well.