Creed - A Bunch of Scumbags.

[xxsjxx1]

The people running Creed are a bunch of scumbags.

For anyone who does not know... The retail prices of Creed in France are 1/2 to 1/3 of what they are here in the states. A 4 oz bottle can be had for around $130, and a 500ML flacon retails for around $350 in France.

Recently Creed has been forcing retailers in France to remove their products from websites, and forbidding them to sell to the USA. This is nasty behavior, geographical discrimination.

My only advice to all of you would be to stop buying Creed from US retailers, and the US Creed boutiques. If you do purchase a Creed product at retail in the USA... you are basically bending over and saying ''please steal my money''. This is a perfect example of greed and a company taking advantage of Americans. We are not good enough to purchase your product for a fair price?

 

[VGuillaume]

This is true but here in France no one knows Creed so they can't charge that much.
Not many people here care for this brand.

 

[Sheffield Steel]

The people running Creed are a bunch of scumbags.

For anyone who does not know... The retail prices of Creed in France are 1/2 to 1/3 of what they are here in the states. A 4 oz bottle can be had for around $130, and a 500ML flacon retails for around $350 in France.

Recently Creed has been forcing retailers in France to remove their products from websites, and forbidding them to sell to the USA. This is nasty behavior, geographical discrimination.

This is standard third degree price discrimination and many companies do it in many markets. US consumers will often end up paying higher prices because the US is rich and sellers want to sell something at a higher price in the country where there is a higher willingness to pay.

The flip side of this behaviour is that if Creeds really are available more cheaply in other countries then there will be opportunities on the grey market to undercut the US retailers and sell cheaper Creeds to US consumers. I guess the issue is people are often a bit wary about using the grey market for Creed.

 

[freewheelingvagabond]

This is standard third degree price discrimination and many companies do it in many markets.

And charge three times the price???

 

[yarn]

My Dad lives in France and has yet to find Creed at the sort of prices suggested by the OP

 

[Ken_Russell]

Thanks for the info, meanwhile will watch out and observe whether the same Creed price evolution/pressure is also pushed and replicated in the rest of continental Europe

 

[xxsjxx1]

My Dad lives in France and has yet to find Creed at the sort of prices suggested by the OP

I won't name any retailers because I don't want any more getting shut down, BUT myself and many others buy flacons from France for $320-350 each.

Exact retail on 500ml is $388 euros minus 20% vat savings.

 

[Mountainbikesandwatches]

The people running Creed are a bunch of scumbags.

For anyone who does not know... The retail prices of Creed in France are 1/2 to 1/3 of what they are here in the states. A 4 oz bottle can be had for around $130, and a 500ML flacon retails for around $350 in France.

Recently Creed has been forcing retailers in France to remove their products from websites, and forbidding them to sell to the USA. This is nasty behavior, geographical discrimination.

My only advice to all of you would be to stop buying Creed from US retailers, and the US Creed boutiques. If you do purchase a Creed product at retail in the USA... you are basically bending over and saying ''please steal my money''. This is a perfect example of greed and a company taking advantage of Americans. We are not good enough to purchase your product for a fair price?

I have been saying this for a bit. I would not buy any Creed from the US myself, it isn't worth even a fraction of the price they ask. Their biggest problem is not splitters, it is the thousands of grey market bottles they let flow to the US. Fragrancenet and others and the hundreds of smaller sellers are the problem. Apparently, any asshole can just go over to France and bring back a pallet of Creed. Their prices are fair in France. If they don't want their prices skimmed France selling to the US isn't the problem, it's US unauthorized sellers discounting their product more than 50%.

 

[yarn]

I won't name any retailers because I don't want any more getting shut down, BUT myself and many others buy flacons from France for $320-350 each.

Exact retail on 500ml is $388 euros minus 20% vat savings.

Ok, I thought that the suggestion was that official Creed retailers are selling at this level of discount but if you are suggesting grey/non authorised retailers then I would agree

 

[Bigsly]

"First World problems" at Christmas time - what would Tiny Tim think? LOL.

 

[xxsjxx1]

Ok, I thought that the suggestion was that official Creed retailers are selling at this level of discount but if you are suggesting grey/non authorised retailers then I would agree

These are official retailers. Creed threatened to stop supplying them if they keep selling to the USA.

 

[Tmoran]

now thats a below the belt move. I noticed that a certain french authorized creed retailer removed its creed products from its US sales site. Not that i ever paid retail for creed in the first place but i think creed is constantly making the wrong calls. I cant say i am surprised. The funny thing is this and other fragrance forums are the only places that would clue creed into people buying from france. I think it would be wise to discuss deal spotting via pm only in regards to this brand.

 

[xxsjxx1]

now thats a below the belt move. I noticed that a certain french authorized creed retailer removed its creed products from its US sales site. Not that i ever paid retail for creed in the first place but i think creed is constantly making the wrong calls. I cant say i am surprised. The funny thing is this and other fragrance forums are the only places that would clue creed into people buying from france. I think it would be wise to discuss deal spotting via pm only in regards to this brand.

Yeah that's why I'm not naming any retailers, but I am definitely calling Creed out.

 

[slegris]

I think it would be wise to discuss deal spotting via pm only in regards to this brand.

Amen

 

[adam090273]

The people running Creed are a bunch of scumbags.

For anyone who does not know... The retail prices of Creed in France are 1/2 to 1/3 of what they are here in the states. A 4 oz bottle can be had for around $130, and a 500ML flacon retails for around $350 in France.

Recently Creed has been forcing retailers in France to remove their products from websites, and forbidding them to sell to the USA. This is nasty behavior, geographical discrimination.

My only advice to all of you would be to stop buying Creed from US retailers, and the US Creed boutiques. If you do purchase a Creed product at retail in the USA... you are basically bending over and saying ''please steal my money''. This is a perfect example of greed and a company taking advantage of Americans. We are not good enough to purchase your product for a fair price?

It's just business. Fragrance is a luxury item.
The problem with these flacon prices is that people buy them and split them to be sold on often at a profit. Why should someone else be able to profit from something and not the company making the product.

 

[hednic]

It's just business. Fragrance is a luxury item.
The problem with these flacon prices is that people buy them and split them to be sold on often at a profit. Why should someone else be able to profit from something and not the company making the product.

I can understand this reasoning.

 

[Titan]

It's just business. Fragrance is a luxury item.
The problem with these flacon prices is that people buy them and split them to be sold on often at a profit. Why should someone else be able to profit from something and not the company making the product.

They did when they sold the flacon. Now the individual who purchased with the intent to split the flacon and resell has their time, original investment cost, and the associated costs to split that they need to at least cover. It seems to me that this is still a more economical way for many to get in on niche products. So what if the person doing it earns a little profit along the way. Profit is their incentive to offer this service. It is what makes capitalism work.

 

[adam090273]

They did when they sold the flacon. Now the individual who purchased with the intent to split the flacon and resell has their time, original investment cost, and the associated costs to split that they need to at least cover. It seems to me that this is still a more economical way for many to get in on niche products. So what if the person doing it earns a little profit along the way. Profit is their incentive to offer this service. It is what makes capitalism work.

It's a Creed product so the opportunity to capitalise lies with Creed.
I don't have a problem with someone making a few dollars splitting fragrance. But I understand why Creed would have an issue.

 

[Frankiechocolate1]

help me to understand your reasoning xxsjxx1. Creed is making a vanity product. we don't need it to survive, we buy it because we like it-- or in my case not buy it because you simply don't care for the brand or that they charge a lot of money for their stuff. I may in the future try a decant of creed that i simply must have and decide to to pay their outrageous prices. You said they are price fixing, wanting to soak us here in the states and you're upset about it.

I think we all understand greed. If i want this much it's not greed it's a fair amount. the other guy says frankie's an idiot because he wants too much. it happened to me just this evening. some emergency work came up and i was in a position to do it myself or give it to someone i know.

now of course i want something for giving them the work. we disagreed over a 5% difference so will not give them the work and do it myself.

now this guy will probably say Frankie is a scumbag greedy jerk. that's his view point. mine is dude, without me there is no work so i want this much or you don't get to go to the dance.

Creed is not a charity. they are in business to make money as most of us are. right now their fragrances are hot and they realize they will be in vogue for a season then sales will cool off and their window of making a boat load of money will be gone. So they jack it to the moon.


if you are truly up set with their antics simply don't buy their stuff. they are charging what the market will bear. this is not illegal or immoral. they are in it make money. sure it would be nice if they gave their stuff away but they wouldn't be in business long if they did it.
this is just my opinion and you asked for it but i'm not really anyone who counts for much . Advice is worth what you pay for it except in my case it's worth less.


appreciate your passion dude.

peace out.

F.c.

 

[xxsjxx1]

help me to understand your reasoning xxsjxx1. Creed is making a vanity product. we don't need it to survive, we buy it because we like it-- or in my case not buy it because you simply don't care for the brand or that they charge a lot of money for their stuff. I may in the future try a decant of creed that i simply must have and decide to to pay their outrageous prices. You said they are price fixing, wanting to soak us here in the states and you're upset about it.

I think we all understand greed. If i want this much it's not greed it's a fair amount. the other guy says frankie's an idiot because he wants too much. it happened to me just this evening. some emergency work came up and i was in a position to do it myself or give it to someone i know.

now of course i want something for giving them the work. we disagreed over a 5% difference so will not give them the work and do it myself.

now this guy will probably say Frankie is a scumbag greedy jerk. that's his view point. mine is dude, without me there is no work so i want this much or you don't get to go to the dance.

Creed is not a charity. they are in business to make money as most of us are. right now their fragrances are hot and they realize they will be in vogue for a season then sales will cool off and their window of making a boat load of money will be gone. So they jack it to the moon.


if you are truly up set with their antics simply don't buy their stuff. they are charging what the market will bear. this is not illegal or immoral. they are in it make money. sure it would be nice if they gave their stuff away but they wouldn't be in business long if they did it.
this is just my opinion and you asked for it but i'm not really anyone who counts for much . Advice is worth what you pay for it except in my case it's worth less.


appreciate your passion dude.

peace out.

F.c.

No problem with Creed making a profit... You read my post but did not understand the point. It's about equality, and fairness. If one group can purchase something at a certain price, why should we, as Americans, get shafted? What I am saying is... Either sell it in the USA at the France price, or sell it in France at the USA price.

 

[Pacificblue]

Supply and demand......if you cannot stop yourselves from feeding the beast, then this is what happens with any commodity or service......hotel rooms, uber, drugs, hookers, Creed...etc etc etc.

 

[AnthonyG]

@OP, it's good to be able to vent. The other good news is that there are plenty of other (better and more reasonable, even) fragrances out there.

 

[xxsjxx1]

@OP, it's good to be able to vent. The other good news is that there are plenty of other (better and more reasonable, even) fragrances out there.

Creed is reasonable in France, the only place I'll purchase it from. It's the same price per ounce as designer.

 

[Mountainbikesandwatches]

Creed needs to keep things in perspective, most of the people I know myself included would never pay $400 for a bottle of Aventus. The only exception is perhaps if it was a vintage, say 2013. None of the 2015 fragrances warrant their US asking price, and it is clear they have little intention of pursuing that pricing anyway. I'm not privy to the details but I am confident you could say more Aventus is sold in the US through non authorized sellers than authorized like NM and Creed boutique. So for instance, a grey market online seller say Fragrancenet or PerAroma sells a 4oz bottle at $250, how much money does Creed make of that? The leather wrapped bottle, sprayer etc. Now take a very cheaply constructed flacon (they are no Guerlain or Tom Ford flacons), maybe as cheap as possible even letting some leakage be acceptable. Do they make 3-4 times as much selling that compared to a 4 oz bottle after all expenses? Put 4 leather wrapped sprayer bottles next to a Creed flacon, what does their cost of production look like?

I don't think they want anyone getting rich off of splitting flacons, and no one really could you would need a team of minimum wage decanters, and supplies would be too hard to keep coming. Now, people could get rich off of selling gray market bottles. Much less time consuming. So if they want to have price integrity this is where their concern should be.

 

[freewheelingvagabond]

It's just business. Fragrance is a luxury item.
The problem with these flacon prices is that people buy them and split them to be sold on often at a profit. Why should someone else be able to profit from something and not the company making the product.

It's a simple issue of individuals achieving efficiency in an otherwise inefficient market:

1. The flacon is sold so Creed/retailer/seller is happy.
2. The split portions are sold, so splitter is happy.
3. The buyers are able to buy small split portions at competitive/affordable rates, so the buyers are happy.

All voluntary transactions, and a win-win for all.

If Creed has a problem with that, then Creed has a problem with selling its flacons in the first place.

 

[AnthonyG]

Creed is reasonable in France, the only place I'll purchase it from. It's the same price per ounce as designer.

Sorted then.

 

[naylor]

My only advice to all of you would be to stop buying Creed from US retailers, and the US Creed boutiques. If you do purchase a Creed product at retail in the USA... you are basically bending over and saying ''please steal my money''.

You do understand that this applies to almost nobody on these forums, right? Most everybody here is informed enough to either buy their Creeds from grey market retailers ... or second-hand in the marketplace ... or from any European country. I understand your point, but you're honestly not going to reach very many of the people who it actually applies to, unfortunately.

Also, while it's true that retail pricing often varies by region for any fragrance house (this is not exclusive to Creed), the real savings right now are due to the weak Euro. So in reality, Creed didn't choose to create such a steep price differential between the US and Europe ... they clearly intended some difference, but European economics have really widened that gap this past year.

 

[Titan]

It's a Creed product so the opportunity to capitalise lies with Creed.
I don't have a problem with someone making a few dollars splitting fragrance. But I understand why Creed would have an issue.

Creed can have an issue but if the service of splits is large (I don't how big or small it is) Creed will sell more flacons and that will increase their sales and if they have controlled their costs add to their bottom line. They will earn a larger profit. I think their beef goes beyond splitters earning money on the resale of their product. I also don't think what the splitters can earn is a whole helluva lot. I agree with you and believe that the splitters should earn a little something. The few splits I've participated in on this forum I was surprised that the cost of the flacon was split, the bottle and postage. Nothing additional for the persons time to put the order in, get supplies, fill bottles, pack and ship them out. I felt like a couple dollars should have been included as a thank you to buy them a beer or something. And if the splitters charge too much then the buyers of splits will look for other sources. Supply and demand is always at work for the sale of goods and services.

 

[Mountainbikesandwatches]

It's a simple issue of individuals achieving efficiency in an otherwise inefficient market:

1. The flacon is sold so Creed/retailer/seller is happy.
2. The split portions are sold, so splitter is happy.
3. The buyers are able to buy small split portions at competitive/affordable rates, so the buyers are happy.

All voluntary transactions, and a win-win for all.

If Creed has a problem with that, then Creed has a problem with selling its flacons in the first place.

Exactly. I am guessing they probably make as much selling a flacon to a French retailer right down the street as they do selling 3 or 4 retail bottles to a middle man who gets his cut, then to another non authorized retailer who gets his cut.

 

[adam090273]

It's a simple issue of individuals achieving efficiency in an otherwise inefficient market:

1. The flacon is sold so Creed/retailer/seller is happy.
2. The split portions are sold, so splitter is happy.
3. The buyers are able to buy small split portions at competitive/affordable rates, so the buyers are happy.

All voluntary transactions, and a win-win for all.

If Creed has a problem with that, then Creed has a problem with selling its flacons in the first place.

Part of Creeds branding is exclusivity. They don't want everyone wearing their fragrances. This is part of the reason for their high prices. If Creed frags become affordable for everyone then it loses part of its identity. I'm not saying I agree with it but I do understand it.
If everyone could afford a Ferrari then no one would want one. Go figure.

 

[Tmoran]

It's just business. Fragrance is a luxury item.
The problem with these flacon prices is that people buy them and split them to be sold on often at a profit. Why should someone else be able to profit from something and not the company making the product.

Free enterprise. No laws are being broken. I kinda feel they are overstepping. If those splitters are looking to make a profit they arent going to buy full retail to begin with. They would use beauty encounter or some other discounter. What they are doing now is actually hurting sales. The boutique is gonna sell the same amount they always sold as no one looking for a deal was buying from them. And it it will hurt overall sales for the company as a whole.

 

[Tmoran]

You do understand that this applies to almost nobody on these forums, right? Most everybody here is informed enough to either buy their Creeds from grey market retailers ... or second-hand in the marketplace ... or from any European country. I understand your point, but you're honestly not going to reach very many of the people who it actually applies to, unfortunately.

Also, while it's true that retail pricing often varies by region for any fragrance house (this is not exclusive to Creed), the real savings right now are due to the weak Euro. So in reality, Creed didn't choose to create such a steep price differential between the US and Europe ... they clearly intended some difference, but European economics have really widened that gap this past year.

Actually there are quite a few who wont buy from anyone but the boutique because they believe that crap about all grey market creeds being fake or even better that its the only way to get "fresh" juice. And quite a few people have said this in my short time here.

Part of Creeds branding is exclusivity. They don't want everyone wearing their fragrances. This is part of the reason for their high prices. If Creed frags become affordable for everyone then it loses part of its identity. I'm not saying I agree with it but I do understand it.
If everyone could afford a Ferrari then no one would want one. Go figure.

Do you really think creed is doing anything about their availability? One thing you dont see alot of on the grey market is chanel. If they can can keep their product out of discounters hands then i would think creed and their super exclusive distribution channels could do the same. But way too much of their stuff is available to say they really care. Grey market off the books sales have been what made that company as big as it is. To me its their marketing and people take it hook line and sinker. Exclusivity..........for all. I think the boutiques constant participation in the street scents videos kinda proves they arent just catering to one image.

 

[Buzzlepuff]

Also, while it's true that retail pricing often varies by region for any fragrance house (this is not exclusive to Creed), the real savings right now are due to the weak Euro. So in reality, Creed didn't choose to create such a steep price differential between the US and Europe ... they clearly intended some difference, but European economics have really widened that gap this past year.

The valuation of the Euro to the dollar has made items 50% more costly in the U.S. Over the past 6 years and the dollar is quite strong now. This makes price differential very noticeable now. What causes this? The dollar was very weak against the Euro
Over past ten years but is recently strong. These things fluctuate back and forth and are not caused by Creed.

 

[freewheelingvagabond]

Part of Creeds branding is exclusivity. They don't want everyone wearing their fragrances. This is part of the reason for their high prices. If Creed frags become affordable for everyone then it loses part of its identity. I'm not saying I agree with it but I do understand it.
If everyone could afford a Ferrari then no one would want one. Go figure.

Yes, agreed, but don't you think it's Creed's problem?

Secondly, all this BS has nothing to do with Creed.

Everything to do with Creed's US distribution system or whoever owns the licenses.

And in any case, Creed is not a luxury brand, at least not in Europe.

It's hard to maintain a pseudo-lux image in one geographical market in this day and age of the internet and communications.

 

[Titan]

Part of Creeds branding is exclusivity. They don't want everyone wearing their fragrances. This is part of the reason for their high prices. If Creed frags become affordable for everyone then it loses part of its identity. I'm not saying I agree with it but I do understand it.
If everyone could afford a Ferrari then no one would want one. Go figure.

I agree with this. This is what I was eluding to as their beef. The exclusivity of their brand and products.

 

[Darjeeling]

Aww, cry me a river.
Try living in Australia with the Australia tax. Most companies charge more because they can.
even things that don't have the added transport cost of shipping them to the arse end of the world. Thanks Apple and every other company gouging profit thanks to digital distribution.

Ever compared US car prices with prices around the world? In most cases the US is on the winning end of these kinds of rorts.
TL;DR capitalists are scumbags for trying to make a profit.

 

[slegris]

Part of Creeds branding is exclusivity. They don't want everyone wearing their fragrances. This is part of the reason for their high prices. If Creed frags become affordable for everyone then it loses part of its identity. I'm not saying I agree with it but I do understand it.
If everyone could afford a Ferrari then no one would want one. Go figure.

You're right about that adam090273...however I think the frustration felt by American/Canadian customers is legitimate...

 

[adam090273]

You're right about that adam090273...however I think the frustration felt by American/Canadian customers is legitimate...

I understand the frustration. And as Darjeeling said prices here in Australia are even more inflated. If you want to feel better about it check out the prices we pay here.

 

[xxsjxx1]

I understand the frustration. And as Darjeeling said prices here in Australia are even more inflated. If you want to feel better about it check out the prices we pay here.

Funny story, I order clothing and accessories from surfstitch in Australia all the time, it's 1/2 the price
It is here in the states.

 

[CaliDude]

Their loss. I can't see myself ever paying US retail for their fragrances, especially since they keep increasing it literally every year by 40-50 bucks. If Euro sites don't ship to the US and the grey market prices are too high, I just won't buy. Will focus on other brands.