Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A business video today — Just an honest conversation about pre-orders, why I've always avoided them, and why I'm changing my mind.
Why I never liked pre-orders:
I want merchandise in hand before I take your money. Same reason the store never did drop shipping. If I'm shipping it to you, I want to know it's here and it's going out the door.
What changed my mind:
Formex. They've been doing pre-order drops for years — stone dials, meteorite dials, special runs. They kept asking me to do it. I kept saying no. Then one day I tried it. Sold out fast, had the cash in hand before the merchandise arrived, and was able to put that money to work immediately. Hard to argue with that.
The business logic:
Pre-orders are essentially an interest-free loan from customers to the business
They lock in your wallet share before something else catches your eye
The "flash in the pan" problem is real — if you show someone a watch and tell them it's coming in two weeks, there's a good chance something else grabs their attention before those two weeks are up. The moment you capture the purchase, you've captured the commitment.
Once the money is spent, the sunk cost kicks in — you're excited, you're waiting, you're not shopping elsewhere
Pre-orders won't become a regular thing here. But for the right product with the right demand, it makes sense.
LongIslandWatch.com
A business video today — Just an honest conversation about pre-orders, why I've always avoided them, and why I'm changing my mind.
Why I never liked pre-orders:
I want merchandise in hand before I take your money. Same reason the store never did drop shipping. If I'm shipping it to you, I want to know it's here and it's going out the door.
What changed my mind:
Formex. They've been doing pre-order drops for years — stone dials, meteorite dials, special runs. They kept asking me to do it. I kept saying no. Then one day I tried it. Sold out fast, had the cash in hand before the merchandise arrived, and was able to put that money to work immediately. Hard to argue with that.
The business logic:
Pre-orders are essentially an interest-free loan from customers to the business
They lock in your wallet share before something else catches your eye
The "flash in the pan" problem is real — if you show someone a watch and tell them it's coming in two weeks, there's a good chance something else grabs their attention before those two weeks are up. The moment you capture the purchase, you've captured the commitment.
Once the money is spent, the sunk cost kicks in — you're excited, you're waiting, you're not shopping elsewhere
Pre-orders won't become a regular thing here. But for the right product with the right demand, it makes sense.
LongIslandWatch.com
