Comments:
I was at the AL&S boutique & was told that they have reduced the production numbers to half
The sales associate informed me that the manufacturer is now focusing on complications and this affecting the output which now stands around 2500 pcs . Lesser number of Saxonias and date models and more of complications . I thought they made a new facility to enhance production. Anyone has any Info ? And as usual bundle deal were being offered which was disappointing. Buy $80k worth of goods and we add you to the waitlist of steel bracelet Odysseus which is at 3 years as per them . Although Iam a VIP client in the profile but still . I just don’t get it . More I interact with them it burns me even more …
I hardly even think of Lange as a functioning manufacturer anymore
Like 4-digit Rolexes, the only place to buy Langes is the preowned market.
Same, except I will not buy ALS even in the preowned market for fear they will swindle me on servicing costs.
But you are absolutely right. When I buy a new watch I always ask about the servicing costs. As I do with cars. Just to be sure I can afford the extra costs...
Pre-loved makes relaxed watch wearing …
… and buying. I completely switched from new buying to ore-loved. I love Lange watches, but since my AD lost Lange and the Lange changed his selling behavior, I do not consider buying new from Lange. Btw, traveling long distance to speak to a sales person for “applying for a Lange watch” instead of seeing the watch at the wrist and then taking it - not my buying style. It’s only about watches …
As long as they come up with bundle deals, one can only
vote with one’s feet and walk away.
Thanks for the info
Lower production will probably help with value retention somewhat, but it seems like tough economic times to require that much bundling. I recall approx four years ago they did require one additional purchase, and I wanted a Lange1, so it wasn't a put off for me at the time. This was also a few price increases ago.
Their bundling behavior is a slap to the face of many customers
When I bought a brand new Zeitwerk in March of 2020, I did it because I liked that Lange didn't play stupid games like AP, Rolex and Patek.
Well, shortly after they started and now I am totally done with them and any other brand that plays games.
I don't mind long waits, but things should be very transparent. That is why I like the independents more and more. They might make you wait a few years, but at least they do not try to play dumb games.
It seems like all the big brands are burning their long time loyal customers with high lifetime values in exchange for a transient crowd 
isn't the issue more general demand?
isn't this driven more by demand >> supply than "stupid games" by the supplier. a la Japanese whiskey, French burgundy, etc.
I.e. back in the day only steel daytonas were difficult to acquire but you could walk in and buy a precious metal daytona (and likely leverage that to get allocated a steel). Now, the precious metal ones are hot too so you need to buy something else to have access to one; Back in the day panerai's were on allocation. now i'm pretty sure you can buy whichever one you want--i suspect this is not due to some change in business strategy.
my personal experience is that open-ended waitlists are a joke. i'm still on a waitlist at 10 places for a daytona going on 23 years now. I'd rather know the terms up front and if a store is going to sell something that is in high demand to the customer who spends more money, it sucks but I get it. And at least its going to someone who is supporting the brand vs. the customer whose wife is buying a ton of higher margin jewelry from the AD who gets allocated the one-off Handwerkskunst. What would be the alternative, random lottery? have you tried buying a hot sneaker on the Nike SNKRS app?
full disclosure: this is coming from someone who was never allocated anything dear by their AD, who satisfied all of their Lange needs well before the brand was en vogue and who, while not a seller, doesn't mind seeing fewer absurdly low secondary value marks for what they do own even if it does come at the cost of greater competition if i did want to buy something.
I.e. back in the day only steel daytonas were difficult to acquire but you could walk in and buy a precious metal daytona (and likely leverage that to get allocated a steel). Now, the precious metal ones are hot too so you need to buy something else to have access to one; Back in the day panerai's were on allocation. now i'm pretty sure you can buy whichever one you want--i suspect this is not due to some change in business strategy.
my personal experience is that open-ended waitlists are a joke. i'm still on a waitlist at 10 places for a daytona going on 23 years now. I'd rather know the terms up front and if a store is going to sell something that is in high demand to the customer who spends more money, it sucks but I get it. And at least its going to someone who is supporting the brand vs. the customer whose wife is buying a ton of higher margin jewelry from the AD who gets allocated the one-off Handwerkskunst. What would be the alternative, random lottery? have you tried buying a hot sneaker on the Nike SNKRS app?
full disclosure: this is coming from someone who was never allocated anything dear by their AD, who satisfied all of their Lange needs well before the brand was en vogue and who, while not a seller, doesn't mind seeing fewer absurdly low secondary value marks for what they do own even if it does come at the cost of greater competition if i did want to buy something.
Cut in half??
That’s huge, demand dropped or they have resources issue?
They probably like to do less for more, selling $150-$400k watches to a few privileged than selling to mass “peasants” lol…
Unreal… Sounds like…
Rolex 😤 I never imagined ALS would get to this point, and it does ruffle my feathers a bit. I suppose we are now seeing the domino effect of what started as cutting AD’s a couple years ago for their boutique-only distribution model. Even though I only play in the basic 1815 model price range, this is disappointing to see for their more complicated / upmarket pieces.
Lange is no longer the brand that I used to know and appreciate a few years ago.
I do love my two Lange watches but I will for sure not add any other of their products to my collection.
Their selling stragegy (bundling),the boutique only distribution model and of course the insane price levels have driven me out of the market for the brand.
But that is pretty much the same for all Richemont brands!
...
Brands like ALS and Grand Seiko that got named ''bang for buck'' in their specific categories sure listened to their clients and took that feedback to heart and did a number on them.
Definitely sad
When a brand can take people who acquire and wear and enjoy watches and turn it into an allocation/hype game. No interest in ALS at this point, which is sad as a L1 MP or grande MP was something I was interested in🤷♂️
They had to get "permission" for me to buy a Lange 1....
So I am a customer of Lange, I bought a Lange 1 in blue back in 2020 from a boutique. I went to the same boutique in 2023 November and fancied a white gold Lange 1 with the lume as a daily watch as the blue sat in the safe. They told me because I had purchased a Lange 1 in the past, they had to get "permission" from HQ to see if they can sell me a Lange 1....Thought it was stupid in all honesty, I got the watch without any issues a day later but thought this whole shenanigan was so unecessary haha
Thank God, they have people falling for it.
It’s much easier to make less watches, and sell them for more $$$.
I wish them, and all other brands good luck!
I wish them, and all other brands good luck!
True, and I worry/wonder if this is the new high luxury strategy and direction.🤔
There are increasingly those who can afford it, and I imagine they would also appreciate exclusivity. So, paying for complicated pieces attainable by only a select few is not an unreasonable approach to establishing a brand whose product is only for those truly worthy to have it. So much has already changed, so I don’t see what is unreasonable about this business strategy.
In my humble opinion as it happened already in 2008…
When the economy turns south, not even the privileged buy luxury!
Remember the years pre-pandemic?
The watch market was at the bottom, so all is temporary.
I remember in 2010, at a AD’s in New York it was offered 35% off any Lange right from the start, and I believe we are heading back there very fast…
Just try to sell a Lange on the secondary market you’ll see it yourself.
So I think that the strategy in theory is good but it’s not timed right.
Remember the years pre-pandemic?
The watch market was at the bottom, so all is temporary.
I remember in 2010, at a AD’s in New York it was offered 35% off any Lange right from the start, and I believe we are heading back there very fast…
Just try to sell a Lange on the secondary market you’ll see it yourself.
So I think that the strategy in theory is good but it’s not timed right.
Yes, I can say that but also a realist!
I also think I mastered that quality called patience, where I don’t need to have everything tomorrow, and so far it works!
I would never buy two unwanted watches to get the one I want, even if money wouldn’t be an object!
This is a hobby not a must, I’m on countless “waiting lists”, if it happens great, if not great too, but markets usually shift every five to ten years so in bad times such as the upcoming year, I bet those calls will come in faster that ever…
I would never buy two unwanted watches to get the one I want, even if money wouldn’t be an object!
This is a hobby not a must, I’m on countless “waiting lists”, if it happens great, if not great too, but markets usually shift every five to ten years so in bad times such as the upcoming year, I bet those calls will come in faster that ever…
If they're lowering overall production to focus on complications
Doesn't that mean they're directly addressing the bundling issues? If they don't make as many base dress models but more complications which I assume everyone wants, there should be less need to force bundles...
that could happen
but i assume the concern is that this is less about making more of the pieces in demand and more about the minimum cost of the bundle moving up.
another stupidity of Lange is when I inquired for one piece,
Boutique in Japan does not recognize my purchase in Hongkong and vice versa.
Wow, really? Now that's really stupid. You are a Lange client, anywhere in the world. Period.
may i ask what the piece was? ZW lumen? steel odysseus?
it seems like those are the only ones that are part of experiences like this