Jacques Marie Mage - Wolves, Obnoxious Acetate and The American Dream

[MickeyPunch]

Thinking that all models and colors are limited (even the less limited is 650 units) models and colors are assigned to official JMM galleries and AD's around the world.
If you also consider that some models/colors are more limited (around 150-200 units) and there's more than 200 AD's for some colors it's impossible to order after they were released.
Of course some opticians here in Europe are bigger (or because they work a lot with e-commerce or because they have several stores) and the chances they have this color more limited is higher.

I can give you the example of Sandro in Lapis (150 units). I was struggling to find it online and I went to the only AD in my city, Barcelona, which is Optica Toscana (which has 4 different stores through Spain) and asked if they could order for me. They said they didn't receive any and it was impossible to order.

I just thought that if a model was still available at JMM they could order them, but I guess it’s not the case?

 

[thass_hot]

I just thought that if a model was still available at JMM they could order them, but I guess it’s not the case?

I don't think a single optician can order directly to JMM. I might be wrong, but I think there are regional distributors (one for North America, another for Europe, and so on...) who are supplied by JMM. I think an optician can order to distributors and in case the distributor has the specific color in stock it might be possible to get it.

 

[thass_hot]

.

 

[Pakman161]

I don't think a single optician can order directly to JMM. I might be wrong, but I think there are regional distributors (one for North America, another for Europe, and so on...) who are supplied by JMM. I think an optician can order to distributors and in case the distributor has the specific color in stock it might be possible to get it.

this is correct. stores are allotted a set amount based on requests. However, a store can ask for 10 zephirin in x colorway, but may end up only get 2-3, or nothing. Can also depend on your sales history and how the company will stock up on JMM. Basically, the more JMM you buy to inventory your store, the more the distributor will give you leeway on first pick so to speak.

 

[MickeyPunch]

Well that sucks, because I won’t be coming back unless there’s something I’m actually interested in buying, which I feel is a loss for JMM.

 

[Pakman161]

Well that sucks, because I won’t be coming back unless there’s something I’m actually interested in buying, which I feel is a loss for JMM.

It isn't a loss for JMM, it's a lost for the optical shop that carries JMM. JMM already offloads the frames they want through that allotment process. I assume that's intentional as they want you to purchase directly from them as it will be higher margins if you do not go through a third party. I will say that JMM have a decent return policy of 7 days in the U.S. At first, I was hesitant to just buy direct from JMM, but the return works seamlessly on frames I do not like and have not had any issues with returns.

Prior to opening more of their own brick and mortars, JMM had these relationships with AD's because there is no fixed cost associated with having a vendor carry their frames. This offloads inventory and keeps the cash rolling in to pay for their bills and future projects. A good strategy when you're a small company in order to keep the lights on. The profit margin for the optical shop is that they get the inventory at least 40-50% below the retail price you see on the JMM website. So, when the optical shops sell you a frame at full retail, or above retail, just realize they have at least made 40-50%. Most shops say they don't markdown JMM because "it's in their contract", but I personally think that is bologna. Alot of ecommerce sites sell a decent amount below retail, shops run sales at certain times of the season. I think JMM has again churned out so much, that they've had to start branching into neiman marcus, mr porter, bergdorfgoodman, mytheresa and on and on to keep the cash flowing in. The more fixed cost (JMM brick and mortars in Cali) you have, the more volume/sales you need to do so that you can have the adequate contribution margins. The only reason you go to an optical shop is to get high end prescriptions, or custom tinted lenses - that's the last step of any bespoke process. This is where having a relationship with your optician and buying from them makes sense. They do your annual checkups, and make sure you are comfortable with the prescriptions. Most optical shops I have stepped into will not do prescriptions for you if you did not purchase the frame directly from them. They will state that it's a liability, or just straight up wont waste their time if you don't buy from them. Why would they go through the trouble of submitting insurance claims for reimbursement, or deal with customer headaches with no warranties from the manufacturer if you did not buy from them? The few ones that will consider doing lenses for my personal frames are very far away from me and they will not accept my insurance on high end lens products, so you're going to pay cash out of pocket on the high index lenses or bifocals with tints.

To end, if you don't need custom prescriptions, then buying off JMM directly is just as good as going to an optician that carries JMM. If you need prescriptions, while JMM offers that service, you're still better off going to the JMM vendor optician who does your annual checkup and has the latest offerings of prescription lens materials. You may be able to negotiate that you can't find the JMM you want from them and that you had to buy direct from JMM in regard to prescriptions. They might wiggle in that instance.

 

[obecity]

Well that sucks, because I won’t be coming back unless there’s something I’m actually interested in buying, which I feel is a loss for JMM.

You must not be on one of the coasts. They’re the folx who get everything. We vast midwesterners are an afterthought.

 

[Sandman3769]

Will they be inspired by the design of the Porsche ones he wears in the movie?

If I had to guess, I would say its a good bet they were inspired by these glasses below....

 

[MickeyPunch]

BTW @thass_hot are you still looking for Sandro Lapis? I’ve seen them available (in the US though).

You must not be on one of the coasts. They’re the folx who get everything. We vast midwesterners are an afterthought.

I’m not even in the US!

 

[MickeyPunch]

It isn't a loss for JMM, it's a lost for the optical shop that carries JMM. JMM already offloads the frames they want through that allotment process. I assume that's intentional as they want you to purchase directly from them as it will be higher margins if you do not go through a third party. I will say that JMM have a decent return policy of 7 days in the U.S. At first, I was hesitant to just buy direct from JMM, but the return works seamlessly on frames I do not like and have not had any issues with returns.

Prior to opening more of their own brick and mortars, JMM had these relationships with AD's because there is no fixed cost associated with having a vendor carry their frames. This offloads inventory and keeps the cash rolling in to pay for their bills and future projects. A good strategy when you're a small company in order to keep the lights on. The profit margin for the optical shop is that they get the inventory at least 40-50% below the retail price you see on the JMM website. So, when the optical shops sell you a frame at full retail, or above retail, just realize they have at least made 40-50%. Most shops say they don't markdown JMM because "it's in their contract", but I personally think that is bologna. Alot of ecommerce sites sell a decent amount below retail, shops run sales at certain times of the season. I think JMM has again churned out so much, that they've had to start branching into neiman marcus, mr porter, bergdorfgoodman, mytheresa and on and on to keep the cash flowing in. The more fixed cost (JMM brick and mortars in Cali) you have, the more volume/sales you need to do so that you can have the adequate contribution margins. The only reason you go to an optical shop is to get high end prescriptions, or custom tinted lenses - that's the last step of any bespoke process. This is where having a relationship with your optician and buying from them makes sense. They do your annual checkups, and make sure you are comfortable with the prescriptions. Most optical shops I have stepped into will not do prescriptions for you if you did not purchase the frame directly from them. They will state that it's a liability, or just straight up wont waste their time if you don't buy from them. Why would they go through the trouble of submitting insurance claims for reimbursement, or deal with customer headaches with no warranties from the manufacturer if you did not buy from them? The few ones that will consider doing lenses for my personal frames are very far away from me and they will not accept my insurance on high end lens products, so you're going to pay cash out of pocket on the high index lenses or bifocals with tints.

To end, if you don't need custom prescriptions, then buying off JMM directly is just as good as going to an optician that carries JMM. If you need prescriptions, while JMM offers that service, you're still better off going to the JMM vendor optician who does your annual checkup and has the latest offerings of prescription lens materials. You may be able to negotiate that you can't find the JMM you want from them and that you had to buy direct from JMM in regard to prescriptions. They might wiggle in that instance.

I think it’s a loss for JMM because now I won’t go and try on a frame unless the store carries the colourway I want. I wouldn’t have bought the Enzo unless I had tried them on first as I thought it’d be too big on me, but now I won’t go and try other frames knowing what I know now.

And returns are not accepted by JMM outside the US.

So I’m stuck with ordering from EU stores with good return policies, which is a waste.

 

[LuisedPicked]

 

[RegisDB9]

If I had to guess, I would say its a good bet they were inspired by these…

Real ballers buy the original…

 

[Sandman3769]

Real ballers buy the original…

View attachment 2229225

OK. But the point of my post was that the JMM Scarface sunglasses clearly were NOT inspired by these. They are not even aviators.

They look like they were inspired by the sunglasses worn by the hit man that killed Tony Montana at the end of the movie. The guy in the pic I attached at the bottom of the post.

Here is the pic of Scarface on the JMM website. Just so there's no confusion, the guy on the left is wearing the Scarface, and the woman is wearing the Ritz.

 

[thass_hot]

It isn't a loss for JMM, it's a lost for the optical shop that carries JMM. JMM already offloads the frames they want through that allotment process. I assume that's intentional as they want you to purchase directly from them as it will be higher margins if you do not go through a third party. I will say that JMM have a decent return policy of 7 days in the U.S. At first, I was hesitant to just buy direct from JMM, but the return works seamlessly on frames I do not like and have not had any issues with returns.

Prior to opening more of their own brick and mortars, JMM had these relationships with AD's because there is no fixed cost associated with having a vendor carry their frames. This offloads inventory and keeps the cash rolling in to pay for their bills and future projects. A good strategy when you're a small company in order to keep the lights on. The profit margin for the optical shop is that they get the inventory at least 40-50% below the retail price you see on the JMM website. So, when the optical shops sell you a frame at full retail, or above retail, just realize they have at least made 40-50%. Most shops say they don't markdown JMM because "it's in their contract", but I personally think that is bologna. Alot of ecommerce sites sell a decent amount below retail, shops run sales at certain times of the season. I think JMM has again churned out so much, that they've had to start branching into neiman marcus, mr porter, bergdorfgoodman, mytheresa and on and on to keep the cash flowing in. The more fixed cost (JMM brick and mortars in Cali) you have, the more volume/sales you need to do so that you can have the adequate contribution margins. The only reason you go to an optical shop is to get high end prescriptions, or custom tinted lenses - that's the last step of any bespoke process. This is where having a relationship with your optician and buying from them makes sense. They do your annual checkups, and make sure you are comfortable with the prescriptions. Most optical shops I have stepped into will not do prescriptions for you if you did not purchase the frame directly from them. They will state that it's a liability, or just straight up wont waste their time if you don't buy from them. Why would they go through the trouble of submitting insurance claims for reimbursement, or deal with customer headaches with no warranties from the manufacturer if you did not buy from them? The few ones that will consider doing lenses for my personal frames are very far away from me and they will not accept my insurance on high end lens products, so you're going to pay cash out of pocket on the high index lenses or bifocals with tints.

To end, if you don't need custom prescriptions, then buying off JMM directly is just as good as going to an optician that carries JMM. If you need prescriptions, while JMM offers that service, you're still better off going to the JMM vendor optician who does your annual checkup and has the latest offerings of prescription lens materials. You may be able to negotiate that you can't find the JMM you want from them and that you had to buy direct from JMM in regard to prescriptions. They might wiggle in that instance.

Good point.
About discounts/markdowns some shops don't markdown JMM because they know it's highly desired, but there's also a lot of brands that forbid them to do so (at least in a way that leaves traces).
I contacted once an optician that told me I could get a 15% discount on a pair of JMM sunglasses if I ordered by phone or going directly to the shop, but they couldn't discount if I purchased through the website (probably the website didn't enable discount codes).
Another way of doing markdowns unofficially is by discount codes that tend to be between 10 and 15% (and some shops don't offer these codes on JMM).

I only order JMM (and other high end brands) from European Union, as I don't want to have surprises on customs. Also I want to have a good return policy in case the frames don't fit me.

 

[thass_hot]

BTW @thass_hot are you still looking for Sandro Lapis? I’ve seen them available (in the US though).

I already purchased them, thank you! I actually found them in 2 different Italian retailers and I went to the one that offered me discount code (the other didn't offer any discount).