I know we "bang" on salespeople at times, but...

[hooliganhooker]

I thought this one was comical. I won't say where this happened but suffice it to say that I was at shop in a mall of America and was looking at a Sub Date. I was "window shopping" while the kids were in the amusement park and was talking with a very knowledgeable salesperson. In retrospect, he may have been the manager.

It was extremely slow in there, so the wife and I tried on several Rolexes and killed 45-60 minutes, and had some real WIS fun. Thanked the guy, traded business cards, he gave me an invite to an upcoming Swiss watch event. All in all, a lovely time.

We headed out of the shop and it dawned on me that I forgot to find out the ageof the Sub I was looking at (I knew it was new enough to have the rehaute inscriptions). I went back in, the guy I had been talking to wasn't there but a courteous young woman asked to help saying dude went to dinner.

Told her I forgot to ask what serial the Sub was, and she launches in to a diatribe about security and serial numbers and fakes, blah blah blah. I said I just wanted to know the first letter. She says security, insurance blah blah blah.

I said "you do realize that number is inscribed right on the rehaute and if I didn't tell you that, but instead had just asked you to take it out of the case, I would have thwarted your Top Secret Cosmic Security protocol?". While she stood there dumbfounded looking between me and the watch in the display case, I shook my head, laid the invite and business card on the case and left to collect the kids.

[Mockingbird]

You left his business card and invite? I would have kept it because he seemed like a good guy, one saleswoman isn't representative of the whole place.

On the other hand she was really a ______.

[Pep04]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

You left his business card and invite? I would have kept it because he seemed like a good guy, one saleswoman isn't representative of the whole place.

On the other hand she was really a ______.

'


Very true. The manager seemed to have made a good impression on you.

I wouldn't let her ruin what could be a good relationship with the manager.

[chris russell]

Originally Posted by Mockingbird

On the other hand she was really a ______.

a consonant, since the previous article was 'a', not 'an'. I suspect you might have had a certain hate-word against women in mind, and that kind of attitude I will absolutely NOT stand for on this forum. And I hope nobody else will either. Among other things, there are women contributors to this forum.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by chris russell

a consonant, since the previous article was 'a', not 'an'. I suspect you might have had a certain hate-word against women in mind, and that kind of attitude I will absolutely NOT stand for on this forum. And I hope nobody else will either. Among other things, there are women contributors to this forum.

There are quite a few consonants in the alphabet. Which word was alluded to? I don't know. I took it to mean a bad word that wasn't fit to print....But sexist? No.

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by chris russell

a consonant, since the previous article was 'a', not 'an'. I suspect you might have had a certain hate-word against women in mind, and that kind of attitude I will absolutely NOT stand for on this forum. And I hope nobody else will either. Among other things, there are women contributors to this forum.

Hold your horses bro, let's have a look hmmmm

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

There are quite a few consonants in the alphabet. Which word was alluded to? I don't know. I took it to mean a bad word that wasn't fit to print....But sexist? No.

I agree. I simply took the omission as a sign that we could insert any noun we wanted. I chose to go with potato-head.

[chris russell]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

I simply took the omission as a sign that we could insert any noun we wanted. I chose to go with potato-head.

I'm not tryin' to start a fight here, I just don't want women to start being slagged as a group. Too much a that kinda $#!t goin' on already.

[hooliganhooker]

I was on vacation. Probably would never have gone there again anyways. Too far away from home, and I have a couple of AD's I'm VERY happy with right here at home.

[spuds]

Gotta agree with the others mate & I'd have kept the card 'just in case'....

& besides which I'm jealous as hell 'cos I want an invite to onea these "Swiss watch" events in the UK!!!

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by spuds

Gotta agree with the others mate & I'd have kept the card 'just in case'....

& besides which I'm jealous as hell 'cos I want an invite to onea these "Swiss watch" events in the UK!!!

When I get the chance to organise one, you'll be top of the invite list Dan

As for the salesperson, well, clearly they should get some more training before being unleashed on paying customers. As a salesman who always strives to learn as much as possible, it frustrates me so much when others use mistruths to make up for their lack of product knowledge. It's not good enough, and a lot of ADs need to up their game with regards to thorough training of their sales representatives

[sandcrab]

Should the quote be 'Veni, vidi, vici'? Or perhaps a new spin?

[AndersB]

Originally Posted by sandcrab

Should the quote be 'Veni, vidi, vici'? Or perhaps a new spin?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veni,_vidi,_vici

Third pargraph from the end explains..

[scottjb411]

I can understand your frustration with that young lady. I've had a couple of experiences where salespeople tried to tell me something about a couple of watches, that I knew were not true. Fortunately the AD that I purchase my rolexes and breitling ( among other watches) is well informed. But I still ocasionally will have someone who is not educated on rolex try to feed me some crap that is false. The reason I sympathize though, is cause it bothers me that even though I've shown way more knowledge than them, and have submitted applications that they still let these people represent them. My passion for all timepieces runs far deeper than theirs ever will. I'm sure the watch event would have been nice, but sticking to your principals is also respectable.

[Kapture1]

Just about as bad as the saleswoman at my AD trying to sell me the SS GMT with "White Gold Center Links" (PCL)...............

[matt.wu]

Originally Posted by Kapture1

Just about as bad as the saleswoman at my AD trying to sell me the SS GMT with "White Gold Center Links" (PCL)...............

[Pep04]

Originally Posted by Kapture1

Just about as bad as the saleswoman at my AD trying to sell me the SS GMT with "White Gold Center Links" (PCL)...............

Was that debuted at Basel this year?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by hooliganhooker

Told her I forgot to ask what serial the Sub was, and she launches in to a diatribe about security and serial numbers and fakes, blah blah blah. I said I just wanted to know the first letter. She says security, insurance blah blah blah.

Just to play devil's advocate....

Maybe it wasn't her fault? Maybe her answers were dictated by the "nice guy" manager's strategy to discourage people from trying to get extra money off of a BNIB model just because the serial number of the case is a little out of date?

Not to excuse the strategy, and it probably doesn't make sense to use such a strategy when someone who knows enough to ask the question won't be fooled by that BS, but, still, maybe the salesperson was a junior associate just reciting the company line?

If so, here's another example where the new random serial number system will make everyone's lives a little easier...

[George Ab]

Training seems to be lacking, and yes most of us have our own similar stories. However, in this case her communication skills seemed to be lacking.

It is not everyday that we meet a another watch enthusiast vice just another salesperson at the watch stores. I’m usually in Minneapolis a couple times a year. In that same mall I recall a couple of watch stores and I remember meeting someone who “lit up” talking to someone who “get’s it”, and then another store where they might as well be selling used cars.

That said, I sure do appreciate the AD and that if it wasn’t for the brick and mortar places we’d be buying watches off of pictures which is often very different than the reality of the watch on our wrist.

Also in Minneapolis usually around the third weekend in October, there is really good watch show at Wixon’s where you can talk to the factory reps, handle the limited editions, etc.

[CoopJr]

You probably stunned her with the word "Rehaut".

[2th Dr]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

Hold your horses bro, let's have a look hmmmm



I agree. I simply took the omission as a sign that we could insert any noun we wanted. I chose to go with potato-head.

Originally Posted by CoopJr

You probably stunned her with the word "Rehaut".

[Slick]

I post on a few forums, some to a greater or lesser extent than others. In this "Age of Offense" someone will always be offended by something (or nothing, or an unsaid implication) as we have before us here.

I find I enjoy the forums where people have a bit of license to be themselves and <gasp> lightly offend (in the spirit of good natured horseplay) those with finer sensibilities.

I think the move line that goes: "Lighten up, Francis" would apply quite nicely to these situations.

[novae500]

i went to lilquith and beckstead (spelling) in Tysons 2 Galleria yesteray. three customers w/3 SAs at the rolex section. Of course none bothered to acknowledge me at all. maybe cause i was wearing a backpack with baby stuff in it. But i did have my coke on. I know i wont be buying from them

[Dr.Brian]

This misunderstanding is all the OP's fault. He left us with a "fill in the blank" problem to contemplate and fill in as appropriate with our imagination. I thought "dunce". It is an uncommonly used word that almost everyone understands, is inoffensive and it conveys a graphic image of stupidity. It seemed to fit well here.
HOWEVER, I'm offended that someone filled in the blank with such a horrible, hate filled, despicable word that they felt the need to rant about the content of their own imagination!



Peace.
P.S. Some dunces here DO post some blatantly sexist things that could be quite offensive. You should track them down and post there. I read one just an hour ago. It left me

[hooliganhooker]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

This misunderstanding is all the OP's fault. He left us with a "fill in the blank" problem to contemplate and fill in as appropriate with our imagination.

Hey Doc, FWIW, I was the OP (original poster who started the thread) not the poster who made the comment you are referring to. Just didn't want people thinking you were referring to me.

That said, I'm ex-Navy too. Wish I had something cool to say like "Semper Fi" or "Hoo-ah". ;-)

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by hooliganhooker

Hey Doc, FWIW, I was the OP (original poster who started the thread) not the poster who made the comment you are referring to. Just didn't want people thinking you were referring to me.

That said, I'm ex-Navy too. Wish I had something cool to say like "Semper Fi" or "Hoo-ah". ;-)

I know, and it is all your fault! How could you let people's imagination run wild like that!!! Someone could get hurt.


WAIT ONE MINUTE... YOU'RE NOT THE GUY! Thank your lucky stars for that. Reading is overrated.
As an ex-Navy guy, you would have just called a spade a spade.
Does "fair winds and following seas" count? FTN was popular with the enlisted crowd.
Though, you posted this story, and it did contain a woman who was not very well informed... hmmm... perhaps you should have seen this coming...

[mtrunner]

Back to the regular programming. She sounds like a real dunce for telling you that she cannot tell you the serial number. Yet another example of the lack of training at a lot of ADs. Something Rolex really should consider fixing since it puts a real black eye on their reputation. ADs are supposed to be the face of their business.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

Back to the regular programming. She sounds like a real dunce for telling you that she cannot tell you the serial number. Yet another example of the lack of training at a lot of ADs. Something Rolex really should consider fixing since it put a real black eye on their reputation. ADs are supposed to be the face of their business.

Indeed. You might be shocked to know that Rolex themselves provide no training (at least in the UK), and there is a real dearth of information available to salespeople. Indeed, this lack of information was one of the reasons why I joined TRF in the first place

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

Indeed. You might be shocked to know that Rolex themselves provide no training (at least in the UK), and there is a real dearth of information available to salespeople. Indeed, this lack of information was one of the reasons why I joined TRF in the first place

One of the reasons I also joined TRF as well. I cannot believe Rolex does not provide some sort of training. Even one day of training would make a world of difference.

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by mtrunner

One of the reasons I also joined TRF as well. I cannot believe Rolex does not provide some sort of training. Even one day of training would make a world of difference.

They rely on the owner/manager to train the staff, and they don't. The staff have access to all the literature there at the store, and the internet as well I suspect. They just don't care and don't bother to read it. Facebook is calling afterall...
Stupid, lazy _(insert non-sexist derogatory term here)_s.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

They rely on the owner/manager to train the staff, and they don't. The staff have access to all the literature there at the store, and the internet as well I suspect. They just don't care and don't bother to read it. Facebook is calling afterall...
Stupid, lazy _(insert non-sexist derogatory term here)_s.

Take it from me, the literature available is exceptionally poor. No mention of calibre numbers, model history, unique selling points or how to set up the watches. Compare the Rolex master catalogue to the Omega master catalogue, and the Rolex one has only a tiny amount of information, nowhere near sufficient to even work up a basic knowledge outside of model recognition. It is a manager's responsibility to ensure a basic level of training, and there is a wealth of information on the internet if members of staff want to persue it, but I still firmly believe that Rolex should provide seminar sessions to bring sales representatives up to a decent standard. It reflects badly on both the brand and ADs in general