Rick Marei has officially left Doxa

[toxicavenger]

The book guy for Doxa just posted this on WUS:
Just wanted to note here that today was the last day for Rick and his involvement with Doxa. Really sad for me in many ways. It was through the watches that I found a real friend and through him that was was able to write 3 books and meet a whole bunch of really great people through the forum and Searaiders. It also marks the end of my involvement with Doxa. Yes I will continue to own and buy and enjoy the vintage watches and those from the Marei era, but I'd rather eat my underpants than have anything to do with the new ones or the people who are now running the business.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f34/ladie ... 04379.html

[andrema]

Whoa...I want to see his underwear now

[aikiman44]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the new guys.

[toxicavenger]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the new guys.

The book guy said this also, which is not glowing at all:
Well here's my take on it. The new guy in charge and the owners are "watch people", they are "money men" not enthusiasts or passionate about Doxa the way Rick was. If I was the owners I would have already sacked the new guy. He has been involved in the "transition" (I use that word lightly because any other one I would want to use would be censored) for months, he knew what was going to happen and the ramifications. At the bare minimum he should have had a new webpage up and running from 1st August with announcement of a new release. Maybe the T-Graph that many here have said they would buy. Some marketing BS about the new team and wonderful future etc etc. But what do we get? Not a sausage. My other take on it is that their focus is not primarily the US market, probably not even Europe. Asia is where the watch money is made. Is it the place where the SUB would be successful? Hmmmmm, not so sure. I'm not sure how many books Clive Cussler sells in China or how much the Chinese know about Cousteau or the underwater world. Of course it depends on how you market it. Maybe the SUB will be the new trendy fashion watch for the discerning Shanghai barfly. Who knows.

In reality this forum and those who frequent it amount to a small subset of SUB buyers. Actually the forum isn't an official Doxa forum. It has no ties to Doxa at all and is just for us owners and fan boys. Maybe the new guy reads it but then maybe he doesn't even know it exists. Based on the transition performance, I don't think he is the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Also where else is there for the Doxa SUB to go? It is iconic because of the case, the bezel, the dial and the bracelet. I've said this to Rick before but I honestly think he took the brand and design to its limits. You can only add so many dial colours before people start point fingers at you. The Dirk Pitt watch is an orange dial SUB. The iconic Doxa dive watch is an orange dial SUB. Stan Waterman wore an orange 300T. Jacques Cousteu wore a Black Sharkhunter. Throw in a Gene Cernan 2 register T-Graph and you are covered. The Marei era brought out some interesting variations. For me some worked, some didn't. But that's the same with the vintage ones too. I was never a fan of the angular Aubry period SUBs. If I were the new guy and I had to release one watch. I know what it would be.......................... Lets see if he can redeem himself in my eyes

Captain Bo has said:
There is no new owner, the Jenny family is taking over the 'Sub Division' from Mr. Marei and his Team.

I wish them all the best of luck and look forward to the next chapter of the Doxa story.

[toxicavenger]

I personally do know what this means for current future owners of Doxa. The have never had great service imo. The way things are unfolding it seems like the whole US Team was basically a Doxa help desk trying to get shit done by the mothership. Maybe that is why they always sounded clueless? I do not know.

I wish Rick the best on his next adventure though.

[Graeme]

I had a feeling this was coming. Rick wasnt on the Doxa stand much at baselworld. He spent a lot of time in other parts of the show with other watch brands.

I wish him all the best in the future too. He was a big help to me starting out.

Regards Graeme

[toxicavenger]

Also, aren't the Doxa owners the same owners of Isofrane, Aquadive and the new Tropic strap?

I am pretty positive that is true. I guess in reality though Rick might have been renting the name Doxa and making a US version of divers? I thought years ago he came here to the forum and said that he bought the name in the late 90's. I have always said they had way to much smoke and mirrors for me.

Not to long ago I mentioned on a FB group that those brands all fell under the same umbrella and it was deleted. Then I was told via pm that it was "none of my business". The only reason why I brought it up is because the fb group was promoting them like they were individual sponsors of a give away.

[toxicavenger]

I had a feeling this was coming. Rick wasnt on the Doxa stand much at baselworld. He spent a lot of time in other parts of the show with other watch brands.

That sucks. I bet it was like a punch to the gut.

[Chocodove]

It’s too bad. I’ve been putting off buying another one for way too long and now I guess I’m SOL.

[toxicavenger]

It’s too bad. I’ve been putting off buying another one for way too long and now I guess I’m SOL.

Actually you might be better off.

[rockmastermike]

I was never a fan of the angular Aubry period SUBs.

Sacrilege

Edit - the way I quoted this makes it look like Terry doesn’t like those Aubrey Subs - when in fact it was the Book Guy.

Still Sacrilege however

[dnslater]

From what I heard Sherpa’s have sabotaged this operation also.

[Chocodove]

We all know who’s fault it really is.

[pbj204]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the new guys.

The book guy said this also, which is not glowing at all:
Well here's my take on it. The new guy in charge and the owners are "watch people", they are "money men" not enthusiasts or passionate about Doxa the way Rick was.

I guess we've seen the first money grab. $4,900 for the new chronograph.

[Axelay2003]

We don’t know the facts. Could be a disgruntled employee. Could be anything.

[toxicavenger]

We don’t know the facts. Could be a disgruntled employee. Could be anything.

What facts? Rick has left Doxa USA, and I believe everyone who worked on that Team is no longer a part of Doxa. Jenny (who ever it is) took Doxa over and it taking it a different direction.

[toxicavenger]

Update

[toxicavenger]

more info

[Axelay2003]

We don’t know the facts. Could be a disgruntled employee. Could be anything.

What facts? Rick has left Doxa USA, and I believe everyone who worked on that Team is no longer a part of Doxa. Jenny (who ever it is) took Doxa over and it taking it a different direction.

What I meant was this:

“The book guy said this also, which is not glowing at all:
Well here's my take on it. The new guy in charge and the owners are "watch people", they are "money men" not enthusiasts or passionate about Doxa the way Rick was. If I was the owners I would have already sacked the new guy. “

That’s his point of view.

You are always going to have pushback when making significant changes to a business model that has been unchanged for a long time. I’ve done it myself and had to make important decisions to stay viable in my business. The “old ways” just wasn’t cutting it. I had a new vision and mission for my company and if you didn’t believe in them, then that is okay. There are other offices/businesses that may cater to you. Nothing wrong with that.

[toxicavenger]

We don’t know the facts. Could be a disgruntled employee. Could be anything.

What facts? Rick has left Doxa USA, and I believe everyone who worked on that Team is no longer a part of Doxa. Jenny (who ever it is) took Doxa over and it taking it a different direction.

What I meant was this:

“The book guy said this also, which is not glowing at all:
Well here's my take on it. The new guy in charge and the owners are "watch people", they are "money men" not enthusiasts or passionate about Doxa the way Rick was. If I was the owners I would have already sacked the new guy. “

That’s his point of view.

You are always going to have pushback when making significant changes to a business model that has been unchanged for a long time. I’ve done it myself and had to make important decisions to stay viable in my business. The “old ways” just wasn’t cutting it. I had a new vision and mission for my company and if you didn’t believe in them, then that is okay. There are other offices/businesses that may cater to you. Nothing wrong with that.

Oh okay I totally agree with that. It seems like he pissed also because the new Doxa company owners took down the site selling then books and have also been unresponsive to shipping them. And that is in the middle of them being sold. I think that would not sit well with anyone.

[pbj204]

The website is back up and looks better than the old one. All new doxa 300 coming in November, in all colors, at the same price as before $1,890.

[Joeprez]

The website is back up and looks better than the old one. All new doxa 300 coming in November, in all colors, at the same price as before $1,890.

Well that sounds actually pretty nice.

[Chocodove]

Yep. I see a 300 in my future.

[hidden by leaves]

I feel like I'm missing something glaring, but I can't seem to see the difference between the 300 and 1200(?)

[pbj204]

I feel like I'm missing something glaring, but I can't seem to see the difference between the 300 and 1200(?)

One has a fish logo on the crown, one doesn't. But yeah, that's it.