Does anyone else feel like inventory is very low? Does anyone know what is going on?
Low inventory?
- Thread starter Nbeach
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VERY low. I’d say the price increase, plus holidays, plus France lock downs all combined.
Yes the inventory has been very very low in general. People were panic buying before the price increase which wiped out a lot of the inventory (my SA said a lot of the inventory in Canada was rerouted to the US to handle the demand from the price increase), and then France was/is in lockdown so the items aren't being manufactured.
What items are you looking at? For me, it seems like every item I've asked about so far has been in stock (very bad for my wallet/husband) 
What items are you looking at? For me, it seems like every item I've asked about so far has been in stock (very bad for my wallet/husband)
I've been looking at the 5 motif bracelets and only MOP and Onyx has been in stock (and Guilloche at some times) but not the other stones or hammered gold. My SA also said stock has been very low in general and even if items are available, there is only 1-2 available at a time so there isn't much selection to choose from. For example I was only able to choose between two pieces when I asked to choose my stone for my MOP vintage alhambra necklace.
My SA said they aren’t expecting the holiday pendant again for awhile and the US website seems to show a lot of items in “contact for availability” status, and very odd for a MOP piece.
I assumed that it was holiday and Covid/Paris shutdown related.
I assumed that it was holiday and Covid/Paris shutdown related.
Yes, there does appear to be a lack of inventory as of late, doesn't there? But I think it's subjective & definitely very dependent on what you are trying to get. I shop out of the Houston boutique and my SA has been able to immediately deliver on everything I've asked for recently, but idk. Even he had mentioned that inventory is down... 
Yes indeed. I've been waiting for a couple of necklaces to try on and compare but only one has arrived after a month...
btw, when did they increase prices? I just looked at the items I'm interested in but i didn't see any price changes since December or so?
btw, when did they increase prices? I just looked at the items I'm interested in but i didn't see any price changes since December or so?
The last known price increase for the regular jewelry line was the first week of October. There was recently another price increase but it was on high jewelry and specialty pieces. That said, I feel like Alhambra might take another increase this year because I believe HJ also took a price increase last year around August.
Like many members on this forum, I had hoped that the pandemic would lessen the possibility of price increases, but it seems to be doing the complete opposite! It's not just VCA but across all fashion brands.
Yup
they sell fewer pieces due to logistics/production issues so the lost revenue has to be compensated by higher prices.
(rolling eyes)
+1. But, I’m holding off on a pair of bouton d’or yg/ wg diamond earrings until later this year as a custom Verdura cuff comes first.What items are you looking at? For me, it seems like every item I've asked about so far has been in stock (very bad for my wallet/husband)
VCA prices don't seem follow fashion brands, though. VCA had a price decrease back in 2016, and prices stayed steady for over 4 years until the increase at the end of September 2020 which brought prices back up to slightly less than the pre-2016 prices. High jewelry has much higher gold and diamond/gemstone content, so I can see why those increases are generally different than (and separate from) the regular collections. I personally am not expecting another regular collection increase this soon considering they hadn't raised prices in 4 years since the decrease in 2016.
Question for the group: is Nieman Marcus able to tap into boutique inventory? I have a great SA at NM that I’m loyal to but he is having a hard time getting me some pieces. I live near the nyc store but not sure if I should continue to wait or try my luck at a boutique. I’m in no rush but if there’s another price increase while I’m waiting, that would be bad 
I also shop with a Neiman’s VCA DSA and the short answer to your question is NO. They now have to wait for pieces to arrive at their boutique, with no prior knowledge of what items are expected in.Question for the group: is Nieman Marcus able to tap into boutique inventory? I have a great SA at NM that I’m loyal to but he is having a hard time getting me some pieces. I live near the nyc store but not sure if I should continue to wait or try my luck at a boutique. I’m in no rush but if there’s another price increase while I’m waiting, that would be bad
If you need a piece, it has to be paid for in full for it to be brought in. I don’t believe in such a case it can be returned (I could be misinformed here).
As much as I love shopping with my NM DSA, if there is a special piece you really want and are scared of another price increase, I think you should explore the STAND-ALONE option.