Hi all,
It's such a vast understatement to say I am frustrated with this launch. There is so much I don't understand; it's not like a mere customer is entitled to know the why's and how's of the internal decisions being made and what's up to contract agreements and whatnot, BUT. Me, I simply like to understand things, and it's driving me crazy trying to figure out how this makes sense to LV.
-I've spent six figures this year (yes, rolling count).
-I've been loyal to my CA.
-I've accepted all the event invites that have been offered to me (and NOT cancelled!) even though they involve travel. (The closest were three hours away; just went seven hours away for the most recent event.)
-Husband and I have a good texting relationship with the CA; we also invite her to dinner after these events, we go to nice steakhouses that expect your meal to progress leisurely, we all indulge in a super nice bottle of champagne, and I learn so much from our extended dinner conversations regarding the company.
SO:
It was explained to me that with the first Murakami launch, LV was taking the approach that tiered pre-orders and all were designed to convey to general public that Prestige level, etc were being rewarded for their patronage. "See, if you spent more, then maybe you could merit getting what you want in this highly desirable collection" etc.
And that's just common sense, rewarding loyalty, right? So I was v.content that this year was such a big spend for me.
But then here comes CB time, and . . .
-There's been NO INFO. Everything I've gleaned thus far I've had to ferret out of Instagram leaks; I've seen no lookbook, I still have no US pricing.
-Again, I'm not entitled to know anything from internal briefings, but basically CA is vastly apologetic when she updates me that she can't help at all here, saying that they've taken this launch out of the hands of the stores b/c the stores got so much of the first release compared to online. I assume it's logistical; we've heard that this is much smaller availability than MC, okay, fine, I can accept that logic for the sake of distribution.
But I keep coming back to THERE'S BEEN NO INFO. MattD on Insta posted full catalog images TWO WEEKS AGO, and there's no lookbook? There's no official heads-up email even TEASING the release?
Thank GOODNESS for the tidbits of info on this lovely forum, because basically it seems that LV didn't want us to know there WAS a CB collection OR even what DAY and TIME we could actually BUY IT.
And, you know, I read the MrCeral post about the hardsided and exotic Capucines nominations. And I'm not special to LV -- I'm not a celebrity. I'm not an "influencer". I'm not a super elite client. I am not even wondering why I didn't get offered nominations; that's how "not special" I am in the giant sphere of things. I fully realize this.
(As much as I'd love the Malle Coiffeuse and the Lozine trunk, honestly I don't see those happening . . . but the jewelry coffret and/or the camera box WERE definite possibilities.)
But I don't think it's asking too much to expect simple INFORMATION from them.
The last point I want to make, is that our dinner conversations with the CA have ALSO veered into LV's monitoring of client purchases in the resale market to discourage reselling. No specific details; she is appropriately discreet. But then we come home from this last dinner, await the unfurling of the rollout for CB, and every single instance of having to grasp at the most MINUTE of information coming from outside sources instead of official ones, PLUS what seems to be them setting us up for an All-Out Free-For-All a la HUNGER GAMES on release day for the entire country . . .
. . . it really makes me wonder why now it seems they are trying instead to drive me towards having to acquire their goods FROM A RESELLER, some lucky person who was able to place their stinking order LAST WEEK in another country, when I have been fully prepared and WILLING to hand them more of my money directly. And I have handed them SO MUCH MONEY already this rolling year.
I want these stinking happy cherry blossom faces. Yes. I still want them. But I'm experiencing some extreme resentment over this entire contradictory experience. It shouldn't be this stressful. It shouldn't be this difficult.
Thanks for letting me vent.
When they push out collection after collection, everyone will eventually have to rid themselves of older pieces in order to make room . . . 
