Omega has done a masterful job hyping and marketing the Snoopy and Ed White 321, and they have done well on the white and FOIS models, too. Better that way then flooding the market.
Following the "How to become Rolex manual" (though Rolex doesn't need to artificially lessen distribution).
However I must admit Omega is increasing deliveries these days.
I don't get the impression Swatch Group is trying to position Omega as Rolex, just the opposite actually:
Swatch is positioning Omega to be "accessible upmarket luxury" versus "premium" where they sit today; it's a unicorn thing if they can pull it off.
Said differently, there's really no Mercedes of watches. Mercedes inspires luxury thoughts in everyone yet 98% of their production are accessible models with the bulk being down-market models. Hell, Mercedes even makes work vans for construction & deliveries!
With Mercedes there are a few production-limited core models like the G-wagon & GT, but even so they're still quite available assuming you can afford them. Beyond that, Mercedes has specialty niche models in the AMG, with near-unobtanium models like their "R" line, "black series", etc.
This all would be opposed to, say, Porsche, which is luxury but has no down-market non-SUV models; possibly the 718, but they've successfully moved the new models upmarket, and maybe the Taycan.
Anyway, speaking with some Omega OB folks here in Switzerland (managers, no execs), they're definitely talking like they're trying to become the luxury product unicorn:
- Lots of down market entry-point products
- Lots of easily accessible upmarket luxury products
- Some low production halo products
- While Moving "Omega" into the top tier of luxury brands
In short, I wouldn't judge Omega as Rolex based on a few low production models.
In my own experience, I asked my Swiss OB to have a few of the more recent low supply models available to look at and it was no problem, but I did ask months ahead of time.
With all of that rambling, do they have a Snoopy for me? No. 😜
But they did tell me each OB is allocated only so many, I don't rate to get on that list with them 😟 though if I went to [X] OB, it would maybe take up to a year, but I could easily get one.
I wouldn't compare Omega to Mercedes, and I've been with that brand for 20 years. At least I hope Omega isn't going that direction, trying to be everything to everyone.
Omega has done a masterful job hyping and marketing the Snoopy and Ed White 321, and they have done well on the white and FOIS models, too. Better that way then flooding the market.
They learn from the master…..
(1.) Limited production special edition models (Snoopy) won't & don't translate into low stock high production models, so we probably shouldn't compare the two.
(2.) Omega seems well aware of #1 judging them by what they do; i.e., it's not their strategy
(3.) If low stock high production is Omega's strategy they're failing massively because any of us can go into any local OB/AD and find just about any steel sports model we want & purchase it today; except a very few limited edition low production models
(4.) Even Omega's limited production special edition models have real, actual wait lists, ie, normies will actually get a call, not lies
(5.) Omega has explicitly said their strategy is "everyone who wants one will get one, but they may have to wait" and judging by the number of "I got the call" posts they're not lying.
Every business has limited operations; is the expectation really "Omega should have instant, infinite production capacity for everything always"?
Because that doesn't sound realistic.
At my local AD the only white speedy they have seen yet is mine that I got at an OB in June. Haven't seen an FOIS yet because I haven't shown it to them yet. But I got the white one within a week of expressing interest, and the FOIS with in two. Just had to drive 200 miles each way.
Unlike my Rolex AD who now treats me like some kind of pariah, despite having purchased 4-watches in the past, my Omega Boutique is a breath of fresh air.
When first announced, I asked my local OB if I could be added to their 321EW wait list. They explained how long the wait will be, but if I'm patient, I should see the watch within 12-months.
Six months later I got the call.
I was so impressed with their honesty and professionalism, I've since purchased three additional watches from them.....including the Snoopy.
In addition, they reach out to me when a new model arrives and when customer appreciation events are scheduled.
Truly a class-act!
J Jim_My local OB opened in April of this year (Woodland Hills, California) and I put my name on the Snoopy waiting list the first week the store was open. I stopped by over the weekend to see if they had any idea about the likelihood and timing of my getting one. They said they receive about one a month, and they save those as "reward watches" for repeat customers. I understand there aren't enough available for everyone who wants one to buy one, but the whole exchange left me cold on the boutique. No need to go back.
I think all of you should come to Hong Kong - The Snoopy is definitely getting easier to get.
Pretty much my experience in the EU & Asia
At the Seoul OB, they more/less told me if I got on the list they could have one for me in 6 months. My EU OB told me I don't rate 😵💫 because their list is people buying 10+ watches / year, but if I took a 4-5 hour train ride, that OB would have one for me in a year or less.
I went preowned for a snoopy and it was fine. Ended up not being to my taste so I sold it with minimal loss. If I get a call for one from my boutique I might rebuy but otherwise I consider the white dial speedy that I own to be a superior watch all around.
