Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

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Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by st-rider »

Not sure if this is right section as there is the Forum thread seems old. Please can admin move it there if I got it wrong.

Apology also if this has been asked and answered before, Just point me to the thread.

Anyhow, looking at the new CW website and see the 2015 Forum LE c5 is available for £520 (it's on the US site too).
So if made available outside the forum was it such a flop?
I would assume there would be enough interest / commitment from the forum to justify the production run.
Just curious why there wouldn't be the follow through to purchases.

Also if this is counted as a failure does it knock further Forum LE on the head?
Although I do note CW will still do limited production runs for groups/organisations on request.

For the record I'm not interested in the 2015 Forum LE as I don't need a pure dress watch. I have a few, all sentimental, that fill that role. This doesn't mean I will not be interested in any future offerings.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by ddav »

If I recall the C9 red 12 FLE was offered on the website come sale time. The C10 went on the website due to poor sales and so has this. Most people cancelled this/last years FLE due to the long lead time and changes in hands, or so it seemed.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

No; it wasn't a 'flop' IMHO. Just didn't sell out to Forum Members.

Combination of factors, mostly long time between expression of interest and delivery conspiring to affect sales.

Mind you the previous C10 - 2013 Forum LE did not sell out either and was offered on the open market as well.

Overall, most of your questions have been answered / discussed at length previously, see threads in the 2015 - Forum LE section of the forum, and I've not got the inclination to discuss further.

Guy

PS> ddav has covered my comments.

PPS> I'm surprised the C9 Red12 FLE went to 'open market' as well, as this is now regarded as desirable.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Kip »

Some discussion here.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Tyke »

I suspect the 2015 FLE failed to sell out for a couple of main reasons - the length of time it took to produce (not a criticism, there were several factors in play that caused that) but perhaps more importantly it was just too similar to other watches that CW produce so it looked like a standard production model rather than a 'special'.

Previous FLE's mostly had a USP - the C6FLE was slightly different to the stock CW and was auto not quartz, likewise the C2FLE had enough changes to make it stand out and again was an auto which like the C6 preceded the CW versions and sold before they could dilute the appeal.
The C10 FLE was a presented committee design that didn't have the same level of 'buy-in' to the design that others had so maybe that affected sales?
The 'Red12' was a complete departure and struggled slightly to sell but that was predominantly a pricing issue.
The C60 scooter & Jag versions again were before CW came out with those colour options on the C60 so they didn't have company competition whilst they were on sale.

It's not easy to make something that is both different enough from the mainstream models whilst maintaining a large enough following to sell out, which might explain the decreasing production numbers on later FLE's and as CW have expanded their range of colours and styles, the job has got even harder to the point where it might have to be so different that it doesn't sell at all.

just my personal view but I think we might have seem the last of the FLE's. I hope I'm wrong but they might just be deemed more trouble than they're worth to the company.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by st-rider »

Thanks all for the replies.
Have been reading the forum le threads.
:thumbup:
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by JonRB »

Anyone know why they have disappeared from the website?
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

For all the Angst associated with the voting, design and production, it remains rather a beautiful watch.

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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

JonRB wrote:Anyone know why they have disappeared from the website?
They've not.

I've just put 'fle' into the search and got this response;- https://www.christopherward.co.uk/catal ... ult/?q=fle

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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Kip »

JonRB wrote:Anyone know why they have disappeared from the website?
They are listed with the C5 Slimline under Dress watches.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by robert75 »

There have been other FLE watches that didn't sell out so I don't think it was a flop, personally I think it's a great look in watch and doesn't have that horrible slimline on the dial. I actually assumed they were all gone must take a look now on the CW website.
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by JonRB »

Thanks, I was searching 2015 Fle and then looking under Limited editions, which is where I thought I had seen them :oops:
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Helix Von Smelix »

Umm, because it wasn't yellow? :shock: :shock:
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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by Hicksmat »

Because of the logo.

Joking of course :) chr.ward is now a classic!


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Re: Was the 2015 Forum LE C5 such a flop?

Post by rcherryuk »

Helix Von Smelix wrote:Umm, because it wasn't yellow? :shock: :shock:
Or had Mini on the dial? :D
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