Originally Posted by watchcollectornyc
I've been reluctant to talk about my time spent with the New York City boutique, but I believe it's worth sharing. My story began when I was living near the Madison Avenue boutique, prior to their relocation. Every so often, I'd pop in for a quick visit.
Summer 2020 marked a significant turning point. Just before the wave of that season's auctions that threw a spotlight on the brand, I decided it was the right moment to make my first purchase. My enthusiasm for the brand had been kindled over years of visiting their boutiques, making the purchase an especially exciting moment for me. I was fortunate enough to find the exact watch I had my eye on in stock, and so, I made my purchase.
Unlike the experiences shared by others, there were no gifts or tokens of appreciation (wine, whiskey, accessories, etc) . In any case, I shrugged this off as insignificant. Also, due to the COVID pandemic, all monthly events had been suspended. In the meantime, I maintained contact with my Sales Associate and visited the store every couple of months. We had already started discussing other watches on my wishlist (RQ, CO, etc.), and the boutique seemed optimistic about acquiring them over the next couple of years. I was asked several times about my wishlist with me having in writing them suggesting an RQ was a realistic watch to be delivered the next year.
In due time, in-person events were reinstated, and I eagerly attended any that I was invited to. These occasions allowed me to network with like-minded individuals, many of whom I am still in touch with today. About a year later, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to a Madison boutique event, where the man behind the brand, FP himself, was set to make an appearance.
However, upon my arrival, I discovered that there had been an exclusive event the previous evening. This had been the occasion to inaugurate their new Soho location, a groundbreaking celebration, attended by VIPs, esteemed clients, and other friends of the brand. The event I was attending, on the other hand, appeared to be more for those on the interest list - a fact that many in this thread have pointed out. Although puzzled, I decided to enjoy the evening without dwelling on it.
Then, the invitations abruptly stopped. Later, I discovered that my SA had left the boutique and, oddly, no one had taken over my account. After reaching out to the boutique manager, who I'd met on a few occasions, we had a pleasant phone conversation about an updated watch I was interested in. To my surprise, he told me it would take a few more years to get it, even though it had already been two years since my first purchase, and several of the watches I was queued for had yet to materialize. It was as though he was treating me as a new customer instead of an existing one, and my previous purchase was made directly with him. We agreed to keep in touch and ended the call.
A few months later, an invitation for the grand opening of the Soho boutique arrived in my inbox. I promptly RSVPed, only to receive a disappointing response two days later informing me that they were at capacity and could not accommodate me. A friend of mine received the same email, leaving us both somewhat annoyed.
Since then, I've come to the realization that they no longer value me as a customer. This prompted my shift towards Patek Philippe, where I have since amassed a collection I'm thrilled with and acquired all the watches I've ever desired. I'm still puzzled by the treatment I received from FPJ, especially considering that I was a local customer who had supported and bought from the brand prior to their rise in popularity. It's unfortunate that after my SA left, I felt excluded and sidelined. In the end, this situation pushed me towards PP - a journey that has proved incredibly rewarding.
As of now, I've stopped visiting FPJ boutiques. It's become clear that they are seeking a specific kind of collector or perhaps investor. I often wonder if others have had similar treatment from this boutique. I know the staff has been turned over quite extensively over the past year or two.
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