As mentioned here by @Archer the Natick MA OB is closing at the end of 2016
https://omegaforums.net/posts/609142/

I was in for a bracelet sizing and the saleswoman confirmed the rumor when I asked.
I can see why since it is a suburban mall vs. clueless tourists shopping at full price in Boston.

The staff there were always great and all the accessories I bought were surprisingly well priced. It's just that I prefer nice pre owned Omega or AD discounted watch prices.

 

Interesting.

The one in Sydney, just moved to new, larger premises. I've been in there 3 times over the last couple of months and its been deserted every time, despite being in the heart of watch territory in the CBD.

Their RRP pricing ( which is crazy expensive) and refusal to haggle could well be why.

Another sympton of the downturn in luxury goods sales?

 

Just the beginning. The number I have heard is that Omega will close 40% of their boutiques worldwide.

 

Here in Rio/Brazil, Omega have two boutiques in the top two luxury shopping malls...I can certainly see one of those two being shut down, there was never any real justification for two OBs. I am pretty sure my "local" OB in the Leblon/Ipanema region will stay open...they were doing good OK business before and during the Olympics...now they have implemented a price hike and have scared away their local customers + tourists don't see any advantage buying in Rio anymore due to the recent currency appreciation of the Brazilian Real versus the US$.

 

That's too bad. We have one in St. Louis. There are hardly ever any customers in the store. I fear it could be included in that lot. It would be a shame to lose it.

 

Am I sad that Omega is closing boutiques? Let's see if you can guess whether I am or not by the answer to this question: Are these the same boutiques that don't give discounts on their watches?

Actually, that's rhetorical because we all know that the boutiques stay at, or very close to, list price. Maybe this means Omega will go back to having more ADs, which means better discounts.

 

What makes you think the OB's exist to sell watches? The are marketing partially under written by the few watches they sell. I would bet solid money the OB's are funded through the marketing budget.

 

Where does the money for the marketing budget come from?

(watch sales)

 

<loop>

How are watches sold?

(Marketing)

</loop>

 

But in this case, the chicken (a sale) has to happen before the egg (everything else).

This brings up a pertinent anecdote from my decades in retail. One time, at band camp....... oh, wait....... wrong story.

Anyway, since I started in my industry as a delivery driver, I used to help the warehouse and delivery staff bring in and set up new product. I shot the breeze with them, and would listen to their gripes. Most complaints were about the salespeople. While I empathize with the drivers much more than any of the sales staff could possibly understand since I wore that hat for a couple years, I had to tell these guys that if it weren't for salespeople none of them would have jobs. No sales = no deliveries. And actually, no sales = no ANYTHING. No more warehouse, no more store, no benefits, no paycheck..... zero, zip, zilch.

In retail, nothing happens until something is sold.

 

Boutique,s do discounts. Ring them the day before the end of the financial year and have a chat.

( or go in , Closest one to me is over 3000km away. )

 

Seems like their distribution / price strategy is as erratic as their product strategy...

Pretending to be Rolex is not the same as being Rolex ...

 

Yeah, I hear the coffee there was really good...

 

They are funded by people who buy new Omegas ...

... which seem to be fewer than in the past

 

It did feel like the OB was primarily marketing.

I'll miss the ability to try on any of the current offerings - and their Basal release events.

But any price conscious buyer can see the discounts available online and at an AD.

 

Putting prices up and sticking to them, as the local OB does isn't a great way to combat online discounts from grey marketers.

And where do these grey online sellers source their stock?

From unsold dealer inventory of course!

The sooner that the manufacturers get out of retail, get some sustainable levels of production going at some realistic price points, the better for everybody involved

Unfortunately, I think that's going to mean some tough times ahead for all involved, as we've seen with the recent lay-offs and downturn in sales.

The Aussie dollar has been pretty much the same over the last couple of years against the swiss franc. But Omega's prices at their boutique have risen more than 20% on on models that I've been following over that time.

All this while the grey price has gone down considerably.

 

It may just be my rugged good looks combined with a winning smile but on my last visit to an OB I was actually offered a discount before we had reached the purchase phase, no figure mentioned but the door was open.
Wish I had been buying as the assistant was a really lovely lass

 

And avoid mirrors
My tag is obviously giving out the wrong location signal