Which Bay Area AD to Start a Purchase History With?

[CedCraig]

I like D&L. A watch buddy and I went in there one time and had good fun chatting with the crew. On another visit my buddy bought a Tudor BB 925. Some months later I expressed interest in an Air-King and got it in about 6 months, with no prior spend. In talking with several staff in several visits over the last two years, to a person they’ve been knowledgeable, friendly, and not pushy.

[dg1111]

I haven’t purchased from either, but I have had pleasant experiences at both Hellers and Davidson & Licht. I have seen more watches for sale at Hellers than pretty much all other ADs combined over the last few years, including a stainless DJ41. I visit each of these stores a couple times per year when I visit for work, and I would say they are more friendly than most of the ADs I visit.

I have only been to Kerns once, and they were friendly. They told me that earlier that day, they even had a couple GMTs in their case for sale.

[PandaCansado]

A lot of folks speak Highly of Kern's but I don't totally agree. While they're nice and they put out the appearance of "no lists, we'll put stuff in display as it comes" that isn't true. They stagger what they put out for sale, and hot pieces they still hold for VIPs. What they have for sale for walk in is almost always a lady's or diamond/precious metal piece.

End of the day they aren't really different than other ADs, they'll still prioritize VIPs and since there isn't a list, it's hard to get the foot in the door. Gotta keep showing up and pray one of the few for sale is something you can stomach.

[Akacoke]

Originally Posted by pandacansado

a lot of folks speak highly of kern's but i don't totally agree. While they're nice and they put out the appearance of "no lists, we'll put stuff in display as it comes" that isn't true. They stagger what they put out for sale, and hot pieces they still hold for vips. What they have for sale for walk in is almost always a lady's or diamond/precious metal piece.

End of the day they aren't really different than other ads, they'll still prioritize vips and since there isn't a list, it's hard to get the foot in the door. Gotta keep showing up and pray one of the few for sale is something you can stomach.

x2.

[Lalo007]

Rolex boutique J. Licht & sons in Santa Clara is definitely the best place to buy a Rolex hands down. Stay away from Hellers, they have very bad service and they damaged my band new Daytona Oysterflex when adjusting the strap.

[RFA]

I also like the J. licht boutique. Weekday is when you want to go if you want to build up a relationship with an SA. Weekend is just shuffling people in and out.

[rob]

Davidson & Licht In Walnut Creek was a great experience, I bought the first SS ceramic GMT (2007) from Jon, the dad of Licht and Sons, the Rolex Boutique in San Jose. I have been to Licht and Sons multiple times and honestly, just not a fan of the appointment thing or waiting in line to get in.

Been to the Shrive Co, in Palo Alto. Terrible experience there when I took off my GMT to try on an Explorer II and the SA asked me how I would pay for it. I said…… well I need to make sure
I like it first right? He said… I guess… took it off and left.

CH seems nice like any other AD, nothing good or bad to say.

My suggestion, if you don’t mind the drive…. Is to head to Carmel, and visit Fourtane Jewlers, the first part of the post below is my experience with Fourtane. My experience was so memorable I have referred all my friends and family to Fourtane and they have provided over 20-30-Rolexes for my contacts and I with many more on the list to come.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=541749

Take a trip down, plenty of places to eat and shop not to mention a walk on beautiful Carmel Beach!!! Just enough to get away from the bay and refresh the batteries!!!!

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by rob

Davidson & Licht In Walnut Creek was a great experience, I bought the first SS ceramic GMT (2007) from Jon, the dad of Licht and Sons, the Rolex Boutique in San Jose. I have been to Licht and Sons multiple times and honestly, just not a fan of the appointment thing or waiting in line to get in.

Been to the Shrive Co, in Palo Alto. Terrible experience there when I took off my GMT to try on an Explorer II and the SA asked me how I would pay for it. I said…… well I need to make sure
I like it first right? He said… I guess… took it off and left.

CH seems nice like any other AD, nothing good or bad to say.

My suggestion, if you don’t mind the drive…. Is to head to Carmel, and visit Fourtane Jewlers, the first part of the post below is my experience with Fourtane. My experience was so memorable I have referred all my friends and family to Fourtane and they have provided over 20-30-Rolexes for my contacts and I with many more on the list to come.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=541749

Take a trip down, plenty of places to eat and shop not to mention a walk on beautiful Carmel Beach!!! Just enough to get away from the bay and refresh the batteries!!!!

Agree with both of these. Always felt like I wasn't good enough for the SA's at Shreve. It was also my first Rolex experience and completely awful. Yeah, Maybe I hadn't done my research but newbies don't know that research is required when you are trying to give someone 10K for a stupid watch. Yeah, I/we know that is not necessarily a lot of money in the watch world but to the average person it is an insane amount of money to spend on a watch. Think they are still appointment only and had an actual velvet rope, lol, last visit. Like a hot club circa 1980.

Fourtane in Carmel is complete breath of fresh air in the AD world. Friendly, chatty, zero pressure. Great vintage section. They seem like people who love watches. If I'm not buying I'm careful not to take too much of their time. Love that place. Now Carmel is home to serious celebrity wealth so take that into account.

[codecow]

I like Shreve. They always treat me like a VIP!

[Yellowfury]

Forgot my only experience with Kerns was on the phone. I’m sure it’s different in person but I just got the tired spiel about starting a relationship when I was trying to buy an op34 for my wife so I decided it wasn’t worth the drive out to talk in person.

[RFA]

Yes was impressed with Fourtane as well. Russell Kelly runs that store now. He’s been with Hoodinke, Tudor… very nice experience with him. I didn’t want a watch but I felt like if I put my name on the list I’d be considered. That’s all you can hope for.

[MikeyV]

I'd like to put in a good word for Davidson and Licht in Walnut Creek. They're always very nice and have helped me with service and links and such.

I'm glad I bought my watch there.

[bob78h]

I think so much depends on the SA and how much they like you.

Been to Bucherer in SF and J Licht in Valley Fair many times over the last several years. Most of the time they have been friendly. I've heard the whole range of promises, from "we have a long list but be patient" to "follow up every month, I'll make it happen", but never heard back from any of them.

Just this year I met new SAs at both stores and both have gotten me a watch already.

Shreve on the other hand, are almost always rude and uninterested. There is one guy there that is awesome, loves watches, but I get the feeling that non-watch spend history matters a ton at Shreve because they sell so much jewelry.

Never been to Heller and visited Kerns once a few years ago, so can't really speak about them. I know someone who I think is a VIP at Kerns, but just never explored that route.

Did visit Fourtane once and as mentioned they were friendly and truly love watches, and an amazing vintage selection. But once again, never heard back from them and I don't go to Carmel frequently enough to follow up with them.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

Agree with both of these. Always felt like I wasn't good enough for the SA's at Shreve. It was also my first Rolex experience and completely awful. Yeah, Maybe I hadn't done my research but newbies don't know that research is required when you are trying to give someone 10K for a stupid watch. Yeah, I/we know that is not necessarily a lot of money in the watch world but to the average person it is an insane amount of money to spend on a watch. Think they are still appointment only and had an actual velvet rope, lol, last visit. Like a hot club circa 1980.

Fourtane in Carmel is complete breath of fresh air in the AD world. Friendly, chatty, zero pressure. Great vintage section. They seem like people who love watches. If I'm not buying I'm careful not to take too much of their time. Love that place. Now Carmel is home to serious celebrity wealth so take that into account.

Fourtane is almost a mini Rolex museum. Amazing vintage collection and so much fun to visit during our once a year trip to Carmel. And they're always welcoming.

[EazyE]

Originally Posted by anorphirith

-Kerns Jewlers AD in Burlingame :
They’ve had a BS policy for years that they tell anyone which is : “We get watches randomly throughout the week, and we just put them in the case, so you can make a reservation, walk in and see what we have”
Naturally they won’t tell you when they get deliveries for “security reasons”. So based on their business model, with some luck you should be able to walk in and buy a steel Daytona. which we all know it’s simply impossible. They also won’t take a wish list, or wait list.
Jay mostly sells Patek but sometimes shows Rolex when Chris isn’t available. He’s a very nice & poised person but he only pays attention to high profile individuals, which you can’t really blame him for doing since there’s an ample supply of in the region. Somehow they beat Shreve and got the contract to open the new Rolex AND Patek boutiques in SF union square next summer.
If you want to play the “purchase history” game, you probably should buy jewelry from them, that’ll give you a head start with their new Patek and Rolex store. but don’t forget there’s a TON of WHALES in the area that will always have priority.

You're being unfair to Kerns. Every AD is abusing the rolex/patek monopoly by bundling with jewelry. Kerns will at least leave some desirable pieces on the floor for those who are putting in effort to build a relationship: walk-ins. You can't ask for much more than that in this market.

Jay was also very kind to me before I bought any watches. He remembered my name, my work, my girlfriends name, and where I was living.