Can Hodinkee Recover?

[@Nefville]

We kind of touched on the topic of journalistic integrity during the microbrand livestream and from what I can tell all the major watch publications with the exception of ABlogtoWatch are anathema to criticizing watches or watch brands. They absolutely will not do it and I think that's what you can expect when reviewers are handed the product they are supposed to be reviewing from the company that made it. They think if they say something negative the brands will never send them another watch to review. Compounding the issue further for Hodinkee, they have business relationships with the brands they are selling or collaborating with, and even further still, if the criticism is of a watch they themselves are selling, they'll be even more likely to paint an overly rosy picture of it. What you end up with is an 'article' that is nothing more than a fancy description of a watch in Hodinkee's store. IMO Hodinkee's entire model is flawed, they bought C&C VERY high but somehow those are not mistakes. Seems Ben Clymer is anathema to criticism of himself as well.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

I mean I avoided touching on the ego of making his own G-Shock collab around his name like he is a rock star (but I stuck that Easter Egg in the thumbnail). I mean he must feel like one he made millions off Hodinkee. I think he thinks he did it once he can do it again (and he has upped his involvement recently) but I think he will find repairing a brand is harder than starting one.

[@kojiattwood]

The writing, so to speak, was on the wall before the C&C acquisition when virtually all their reputable and wonderful writers left, as you rightly pointed out

[@WatcheswithDennis]

It is when I started only using them as an occasional source for news. But maybe they could wash the wall clean and start fresh. But I think they are going to try and find a new way to make selling watches work.

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

Aah……………………..losing trust and credibility in the watch community plus having an inventory of devalued watches-Hodinkee is dead 💀! They lost me with the $6000 travel clock.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

It seems the infamous travel clock ranks up there with Seiko misaligned bezels for damage to a brand's reputation!

[@Nicholas-V]

I completely agree about Jack although I think he was more of a canary in the coal mine. He didn’t like the direction things were going so he left. Then the quality dropped even more without him.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

I think this is the case. Especially since he was editor-in-chief. Though I do wonder if budget cuts hit the writing staff salary (maybe not him, but if anyone was in a position to offer him more it was probably 1916 which has experimented with bringing in popular watch commentators, with mixed results).

[@koolpep]

As long as LVMH Group is a shareholder - how can they be independent if they are partially owned by a group that owns Zenith, LV, Tiffany, Bulgari, TAG Heuer and Hublot?

[@WatcheswithDennis]

If LVMH is a minority shareholder the rest of Hodinkee could change direction even if LVMH objects. They also could sell their stake in the company (especially if they viewed their investment as a gamble that didn't pay off it might already be of low interest to them at this current stage). But yes, the suspicion of bias or influence will likely always exist so long as LVMH has a significant stake in Hodinkee.

[@koolpep]

@@WatcheswithDennis Yes, that's what I meant. They would always be suspected of bias. Which as a retailer they are anyways so it's all a bit tricky. However, 1916 Company (Watchbox) has created a good educational content that is due to it's neutral nature very respected.... but it's not really reviews but descriptions of the details.

[@Pixelpunch3]

I think you’re on point. The steps that you mentioned are pretty much the only way for Hodinkee to survive and hopefully get back to what they once used to be when they were respected, or at least more respected.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

I think they will be pushing on the watch sales no matter what. But we can always hope!

[@Pixelpunch3]

@@WatcheswithDennis yeah I guess we’ll see and you’re probably right. Up to them though if they don’t want to improve their business model lol

[@MrTheperro1]

They should offer a marketplace for used Hodinkee LEs

[@PocketWatchTime]

Similar to Hodinkee and selling watches they review… I don’t trust Teddy Baldassarre

[@WatcheswithDennis]

But his b-roll looks great!

[@peterwoodaman5936]

I’ve bought numerous watches from teddy he is legit and his customer service was amazing on the business side.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

@@peterwoodaman5936 I have only heard positive things about his business professionalism. It's the notion that his videos about the watches he sells being truly objective that I (and I believe others) question.

[@PocketWatchTime]

@@peterwoodaman5936 I absolutely do not doubt that. I’m sure his customer service is unmatched… It has to be. If a middleman has bad service… He won’t be the middleman for long. I have no issues with his business… I just have issues with the possibility of less truth regarding a watch secondary to his financial interest.

[@dr.kevinmoore8889]

​@WatcheswithDennis This is exactly it. He makes great informative videos but I do not feel that he is objective at all. I feel that he promotes the brands that he sells over other brands

[@ViolinistWilliam]

Fantastic video Dennis, I didn’t expect to watch the whole thing twice but did. You are right: they need to acquire credibility like Jack Forster, they need to get the hell out of selling watches, and they have to change their culture totally. It’s going to take leadership just like in all of our businesses. Am I optimistic? No.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

No, I think you are right. They want blood from this stone (and the stone is selling watches).

[@derosa1989]

In the watch space, being Rolex just gets better and better. The watch media is not an area i'd want to work or invest in, when a KZbinr or IG account can create a business that competes with Hodinkee for a fraction of their cost.

[@WatcheswithDennis]

I assume this is part of why they diversified so much. Ad revenue only goes so far. But I think it is very hard when you start selling what you are reviewing. Of course you can argue about segregated roles (like newspapers and their ad divisions) but when you see entities like Hodinkee softballing all the reviews I find it suspect to trust their credibility.

[@stevem863]

Great view point.

[@davidelliott948]

Good advice!😊

[@subtractivemusic]

Good video

[@nightstalker824]

Can't believe i watched this. Watch community can be toxic. Like high school girls taking sides and pointing fingers. Who cares? Just wear the damn watch..