Visiting AD in NW Arkansas, wish me luck

[amh]

I'm in NW Arkansas for the weekend, turns out they have an AD. Any advice? I've been tarred and feathered at all the central TX locations I've visited despite bringing by charming wife as a sidekick ;-)

Oh they've sold her a Rolex each time but then they've made the mistake of asking the question their manager said not to : "Is there anything you would like, sir?"

I've always replied with a rude comment : "A Rolex GMT Master II model 126710BLNR on Oyster." After this the conversation ends and any perceived "relationship" goes south.

This time I'm taking my 18yr old son. He's not into watches, thankfully. Perhaps his presence will be more helpful?

I don't want botch it! Help!

[Trailboss516]

Advice: be a nice person.

[ArtNouveau]

They will be nice to you but you will not find your BLNR. I moved here a year and a half ago, have stopped by there to chat twice, got my last Rolex from my old Houston dealer.
This is a smaller market but lots of wealth from the three Fortune 500 companies headquartered here and their associated vendors.

[fskywalker]

Good luck!


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[whiskyrolex]

My advice is don't waste your time.

[Watchsprings]

Can’t hurt to ask. It may be your lucky day!

[Shmoopy]

Originally Posted by whiskyrolex

My advice is don't waste your time.

Closed mouths don't get fed.

I'll spitball a few ideas here. Why are you in that area? Can you make a connection like work, vacation. I would be honest. Tell them about your string of bad luck with ADs closing down and SAs leaving and erasing purchase history, etc etc but not in a "Poor me, I have purchased 8 Rolexes and want more" type of way. Talk about visiting existing "local" ADs and not really connecting with anyone and feeling as though they are lacking transparency.

Be specific. Tell them you are interested in the BLRO. Don't say "I am interested in any stainless sub/gmt/skydweler."

If you are asking for a GMT, explain how the 2nd timezone would be helpful to you.

Have your son try on some Tudors or whatevers and explain differences in metals, complications, etc. Too bad he is not into watches, maybe it could be an opportunity to purchase him his first watch. (Of course, you should only buy something with the understanding that it was something he wanted, that you cannot get for substantially cheaper via gray, and that your spend may result in bupkis in the future. Unfortunately, spend does matter, and you likely are not going to be able to charm an out of town AD into selling you a GMT with no history on the first visit.)

Don't come off as desperate. Don't whine about other ADs telling you that you need to buy jewelry. At some point in the conversation remind them that you can (and do) buy jewelry and Tudors/Breiltings elsewhere, but you'd like to have an AD that you can rely on, and that comes to mind whenever you desire to make a jewelry purchase.

I am sure some people will pop in with some snide remarks about how sad it is that you have to have a game plan etc etc and that they should be grateful for you spending $10k with them. The reality is that you need to have a reason for the SA to request that they sell you that BLRO, other than the fact that you have the money to pay for it.

fwiw, I feel like I have had pretty good success getting my foot in the door with Rolex, VC and AP within the past 2 years.

Don't get discouraged! Being nice, charming and honest is not prostituting and debasing yourself lol There is a social component to all of this. Who knows, maybe you luck out and hit it off with the manager who happens to be on the sales floor.

Good luck! Oh, and if you are into motorsport and/or nice scenic roads, make sure to drive the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. One of the most beautiful roads in this great country!

[Aman08]

I did not have a great experience when visiting an AD in NW Arkansas and I frequent NW Arkansas for work. The best experience I had was with one in Independence, MO. They could not have been more helpful in helping me with what I was interested in.

[Cigars&Watches]

I wish you the best of luck but i think a BLNR is out of reach. You never know...

[Cleveland Rocks]

Originally Posted by amh

I'm in NW Arkansas for the weekend, turns out they have an AD. Any advice? I've been tarred and feathered at all the central TX locations I've visited despite bringing by charming wife as a sidekick ;-)

Oh they've sold her a Rolex each time but then they've made the mistake of asking the question their manager said not to : "Is there anything you would like, sir?"

I've always replied with a rude comment : "A Rolex GMT Master II model 126710BLNR on Oyster." After this the conversation ends and any perceived "relationship" goes south.

This time I'm taking my 18yr old son. He's not into watches, thankfully. Perhaps his presence will be more helpful?

I don't want botch it! Help!

For starters, I wouldn’t be rude. That will get you nowhere.

From a handful of your comments that I’ve seen around here, you sound a bit jaded and/or cynical about Rolex ADs…but not jaded enough to stop going to new ones. 😂 If you can…make an effort to assume the best of whoever you talk to at the AD, and if you don’t hear what you want to hear, smile and move on.

Beyond that, be direct, but be kind and respectful, and remember that sales people are, well…people, like you and me. Use the golden rule and remain hopeful!

[Harry-57]

It never hurts to try. If you don't ask you don't get.

[Nico81]

Dont waste your time if you are out of town


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[H25B]

Used to live there, boy it’s changed a lot since 2003. I’m quite sure they’ve got all the customers they need locally.

[PepsiBezel]

Wear a lot of red and shout loudly “WOOOOO!!! PIG SOOIE!!!” As soon as you walk in.

[noshake]

Goodluck and let us know how it goes.

[BDII]

My money on this joker getting his BLNR. Go and get it :)

[amh]

Visited! Went as expected, perhaps a little better. But left empty handed of course.

Super friendly staff, they shoved a glass of prosecco in my hand immediately. Got to try on a DJ41 for the first time and then SA asked what I really wanted. They had BLNR and tried it on, got me "registered" for it.

We did talk about why we're visiting and how my son was accepted at university of AR. Also talked about my local AD, the SA knows the owner well as it turns out! (And I have met him too, goes to my church even.)

Far more friendly than some of the local stores but still a very long shot. The market may have cooled but there was nothing for sale in the case.

[amh]

(BTW when I said rude comment in the OP it was tongue-in-cheek. GMT just seems to be a dirty word at any Rolex AD... Ha ha)

[jjfesq]

When I was on vacation in New Orleans, the AD there told me I would have much better luck when I get home because the focus is to service local customers. The AD I deal with at home confirms this focus. By the way I picked up a blue sky jubilee from my local ad two weeks ago


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[brandrea]

Best of luck

[mountainjogger]

Good luck.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by amh

Visited! Went as expected, perhaps a little better. But left empty handed of course.

Super friendly staff, they shoved a glass of prosecco in my hand immediately. Got to try on a DJ41 for the first time and then SA asked what I really wanted. They had BLNR and tried it on, got me "registered" for it.

We did talk about why we're visiting and how my son was accepted at university of AR. Also talked about my local AD, the SA knows the owner well as it turns out! (And I have met him too, goes to my church even.)

Far more friendly than some of the local stores but still a very long shot. The market may have cooled but there was nothing for sale in the case.

That sounds positive. So much of it is just setting a good, positive first impression. Being someone they want to sell to is the goal.

Good luck. I hope they surprise you soon with a call bringing good news

[HogwldFLTR]

Keep visiting and get known; it'll help. Btw, any photos of the AD?

[Finslayer83]

Susan Robinson in Tyler is worth a stop by on the way home.

Sissy’s log cabin is where I got a no relationship walk-in buy of a 124060.

They have several in Arkansas.

[Trailboss516]

I still can't believe there is a place called Sissy's Log Cabin.

[arcampado]

Originally Posted by trailboss516

i still can't believe there is a place called sissy's log cabin.

+1 lol

[Oystersteel92]

Originally Posted by amh

Visited! Went as expected, perhaps a little better. But left empty handed of course.

Super friendly staff, they shoved a glass of prosecco in my hand immediately. Got to try on a DJ41 for the first time and then SA asked what I really wanted. They had BLNR and tried it on, got me "registered" for it.

We did talk about why we're visiting and how my son was accepted at university of AR. Also talked about my local AD, the SA knows the owner well as it turns out! (And I have met him too, goes to my church even.)

Far more friendly than some of the local stores but still a very long shot. The market may have cooled but there was nothing for sale in the case.

This is my AD and they are just great people so I expected you would be treated very well. They are certainly locally focused, but if the market continues to cool they very well might hook up the Dad of someone going to school in Fayetteville.

They're also fixing to do a complete remodel by taking over the former shoe store next door and do in-house Rolex service. Talk of picking up more watch brands too, and I'm pretty excited about all of that. You'll have reason to be there with some frequency over the next 4 years and it's the kind of place were a little spend history goes a long way, unlike some big city ADs with blatant high dollar amounts and bundling. My suggestion: buy a nice Tudor and see what happens with the BLNR.

[TheVTCGuy]

I usually walk in naked…. That gets their attention

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by Trailboss516

I still can't believe there is a place called Sissy's Log Cabin.

+2 How how how

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I usually walk in naked…. That gets their attention

So you are going to walk into Sissy's Log Cabin naked?

There isn't enough popcorn in the world for that.