AD vs Grey

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by HL65

Seems a lot of you guys are unhappy with Rolex why not instead of whining all the time just switch to another brand? It would cut down 50% of the recent threads and perhaps bring you some joy. Just a thought...For me I will continue to work with and buy from the same AD I have worked with for the last 15 years who gets me every watch I want and in quick timeframe. If you want to get the sought after watches you have to have a solid relationship no different than any other brand from Patek to AP. It's the way it is so rather than whining and moaning all the time figure it out and do what most of us do who have been doing it for years. Again it seems like half the threads these days here are people whining about supply, prices, stickers, thick cases, etc. Perhaps you should try to go buy a Patek 5711, 5164, or AP 15407, 15202 etc. but wait you can't get any of those without a super long wait either so forget it.

x2!!!

Yes, the eternal dilemma (not). Most people on this website want their Rolex to hold value and even appreciate. But the only way that happens is if demand is higher than supply. And the AD is in this to make a living. Period. End of story. So, the AD needs to recoup the cost of the distributorship. And one way to do this is to use SS sport models as a carrot. Cannot really blame the AD. Just my opinion.

Yes, building relationships is important. But, at least from my experience, buying multiple watches is not the only way to do that.

Except for my penchant for a nice watch, I am a simple person with simple inexpensive tastes. However, when I go to an AD, I show respect. I dress appropriately. And I am unfailingly polite. It is their store. Not mine.

I try to get to know the AD's staff. Ask about their family. See if we have any mutual acquaintances. Compliment the AD's staff. Show curtesy to their customers. Etc. Basically, show respect and act like I have some raising.

For example, when the AD is trying to close a sale to another customer for a piece of jewelry that costs more than I make in a year, I hang back and look at other items in the store. Again, I show respect and act like I have some raising.

I also try to learn before I go so I am able to have an intelligent conversation with the AD. Thanks to this forum, and spending time to educate myself, I have on occasion been able to add to an AD's knowledge. And, for many sales people, it is appreciated.

If I am thinking about buying a watch from an AD, I ask them for any "price assistance" they can offer. I also tell them how much I appreciate their time, particularly if I am not happy enough with the price to purchase the watch (which is usually the case).

Last, I have found that many AD's have at least one sales person that is a watch buff. So, if I have a vintage watch in good shape to wear at the time, I will wear it to the AD's store. Take it off and show it to the AD. If they are wearing a vintage watch, I will ask about it.

My mantra: (1) remember the AD is in the business to make money; (2) show respect; and (3) act like I have some raising.

This is just my approach. It does not always work. But it often does.