2018 - 50th ANNIVERSARY of the ALHAMBRA

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#1,786
I have been disappointed in the 50th anniversary, not because of the pieces but because I feel like overnight VCA has become like Hermes. While I love my Hermes bags, I don't like the game playing. If anything the game playing makes me spend less not more at Hermes. Given that the Alhambra range is VCA's low end range, I just don't understand it. i am not a VIP but I expect a general level respect and common courtesy when I have purchased in excess of $100k from the brand. While SA's have not outright lied to me, they certainly have to other ladies in this thread, mine simply ignore me unless I am in store. It is very disheartening as I don't have another store I can shop at and I enjoyed the brand. I was so excited for this year, I had put off other purchases in anticipation and have now spent the grand sum of $0. I feel like this year has left a sour taste in my mouth. I don't even feel compelled to purchase wish list items at the moment.
 
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#1,788
this_is_rj said:
I have been disappointed in the 50th anniversary, not because of the pieces but because I feel like overnight VCA has become like Hermes. While I love my Hermes bags, I don't like the game playing. If anything the game playing makes me spend less not more at Hermes. Given that the Alhambra range is VCA's low end range, I just don't understand it. i am not a VIP but I expect a general level respect and common courtesy when I have purchased in excess of $100k from the brand. While SA's have not outright lied to me, they certainly have to other ladies in this thread, mine simply ignore me unless I am in store. It is very disheartening as I don't have another store I can shop at and I enjoyed the brand. I was so excited for this year, I had put off other purchases in anticipation and have now spent the grand sum of $0. I feel like this year has left a sour taste in my mouth. I don't even feel compelled to purchase wish list items at the moment.
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I know how you feel. I have a great SA so I don’t feel this is her fault, more corporate’s fault. I see them already going the route of restricted supply so you need to be “chosen” for certain pieces. So here I wait not knowing if I’ve been chosen until these extremely limited pieces come in.

Thankfully I haven’t been asked to buy other things in the boutique in order to buy the item I do want. If that happens, I will be really disappointed in VCA. But I feel it’s just a matter of time.
 
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#1,789
bunnyNwife said:
Got offered this sweet turquoise & lapis watch but I gave it a miss.
View attachment 4221149
View attachment 4221150

i also gave a miss to the 20 motif lapis since I don’t wear too dressy usually.

I have set my heart for blue agate bracelet. It’s not released yet here in my country. Gonna wait patiently....
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Both watches are beautiful but you are wise to wait for what you really want.
I had not noticed before that they incorporated both pave and non pave gold motifs on the watches. Interesting. Would have preferred to see one or the other.
 
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#1,790
MYH said:
I know how you feel. I have a great SA so I don’t feel this is her fault, more corporate’s fault. I see them already going the route of restricted supply so you need to be “chosen” for certain pieces. So here I wait not knowing if I’ve been chosen until these extremely limited pieces come in.

Thankfully I haven’t been asked to buy other things in the boutique in order to buy the item I do want. If that happens, I will be really disappointed in VCA. But I feel it’s just a matter of time.
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I have always found a degree of humor with the premise that a client has been “offered” a particular (coveted) item. It’s not a gift. The client still has to pay for the item. :biggrin:
At the end of the day, these luxury houses have a goal and its to sell merchandise.
 
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#1,791
texasgirliegirl said:
I have always found a degree of humor with the premise that a client has been “offered” a particular (coveted) item. It’s not a gift. The client still has to pay for the item. :biggrin:
At the end of the day, these luxury houses have a goal and its to sell merchandise.
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I know !! And some may even pressured into buying it for not wanting to upset the SA in order to keep up with the relationship & get into the “offer list” , a common game played by the H in many countries. I know what I want and I stick by it. As you rightly pointed out, it’s not Offering as in A gift or FOC. I don’t have a cash printer too.
 
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#1,792
bunnyNwife said:
I know !! And some may even pressured into buying it for not waiting to upset the SA in order to keep up with the relationship & get into the “offer list” , a common game played by the H in many countries. I know what I want and I stick by it. As you rightly pointed out, it’s not Offering as in A gift or FOC. I don’t have a cash printer too.
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I absolutely adore my SA’s (both H and VCA) and have thankfully never felt pressured to purchase anything that wasn’t right for me.
These “offer lists” appear to be so random anyway.
 
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#1,793
I had been told by a SA that VCA intends to push out the blue agate slowly (i.e. small quantities for each launch). They may be hoping to create a frenzy to drive sales up! I almost fell off my chair laughing when I heard it.

I was also told that there were fewer LE pendants this year compared to last year - maybe VCA read these threads and when the responses were lukewarm, they must be thinking - h*ll no, not again! And decided to limit production. Of course, once the response is good and sales are up, my friend now has to buy an item before she can purchase an LE pendant. Copycat marketing suggests a lack of imagination.
 
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#1,794
Stardust Andromeda said:
I had been told by a SA that VCA intends to push out the blue agate slowly (i.e. small quantities for each launch). They may be hoping to create a frenzy to drive sales up! I almost fell off my chair laughing when I heard it.

I was also told that there were fewer LE pendants this year compared to last year - maybe VCA read these threads and when the responses were lukewarm, they must be thinking - h*ll no, not again! And decided to limit production. Of course, once the response is good and sales are up, my friend now has to buy an item before she can purchase an LE pendant. Copycat marketing suggests a lack of imagination.
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Thankfully I did not want a LE holiday pendant but my SA did tell me the 30 necklaces they received were sold out the first week.
 
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#1,795
Stardust Andromeda said:
I had been told by a SA that VCA intends to push out the blue agate slowly (i.e. small quantities for each launch). They may be hoping to create a frenzy to drive sales up! I almost fell off my chair laughing when I heard it.

I was also told that there were fewer LE pendants this year compared to last year - maybe VCA read these threads and when the responses were lukewarm, they must be thinking - h*ll no, not again! And decided to limit production. Of course, once the response is good and sales are up, my friend now has to buy an item before she can purchase an LE pendant. Copycat marketing suggests a lack of imagination.
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What is her SA telling her she needs to buy before she can get the LE holiday pendant? I’m very upset to hear this. This is the first instance I’ve heard of the H method being directly applied to VCA. So disappointed to hear this.
 
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