AD’s attitudes

[IGY]

UK based watch enthusiast here. I am not really interested to write a long complaint about UK Rolex ADs but my impression is that the ones I've experienced (Laings, Watches of Switzerland and Bucherer) suck.

Three core symptoms of monopolistic distribution:

1) They are all playing the bundling game, even though it is wrapped up in language like "I would never want you to buy something you don't want. But buying this would just help me, help you".

2) They have all suffered from high staff turn over. Sales person wants to "build a relationship with me". Yet few of them last long in their jobs before moving to another dealership or leaving the industry. None of the ADs arrange new sales people to make introductory calls to clients from these dearly departed sales people. Very weird because healthy relationships are two way and yet the ADs only seem to want abusive relationships where one side puts in all the effort while they give nothing more than a sparkling water in return.

3) Watch knowledge from Rolex sales people is poor. Many are clueless about the watch movements. And sales patter that tries to tell me sales features about incorrect "facts" concerning the watches. Like "Rolex uses a proprietary grade of steel called 904 that is more scratch resistant than stainless steel used in other watches". I hope I don't need to explain to anyone on this forum why two of the assertions made in that sentence are factually incorrect.

In summary:

I don't like the experience that I've had from any of these Rolex ADs one bit. While I'm not happy, neither am I crying about it here or anywhere else. My reaction has been to simply continue to be civil with these Rolex ADs and if I get offered one of the watches that I am interested in, then fine... I will buy it. My point is instead that the ADs "value added" in this process will have been a net negative, not a positive. And they will not have earned their sales commission.

Instead I've spent money on other watch brands. I've deliberately shopped with single brand boutiques owned by the brands themselves wherever possible. None of them have tried to bundle sales for me to get what I want. In all but one case the sales people I've been dealing with are still in their positions and I'm speaking with the same person. And with one brand in particular the sales contact has a fantastic knowledge of the products that he is selling which I find genuinely interesting to speak with. And none of them have tried giving me false sales patter instead saying "unsure, but I'll find out for you" when I've asked them something unfamiliar.

Ahh that was longer than I expected. But this was not really intended as a rant. But the buying experience at Rolex ADs in the UK is poor and the poor service from the watch supermarkets has driven me away from the brand to other watch brands that I can access direct. That's my experience and my opinion.