Working at a dealership

[Chesterling]

Hello all

I have a question for whoever reads this thread and has some usable input in this, I am 20 something year old college student from Belgium obsessed with watches. Now I am in a transitioning year in college and have at least one day free per week (sometimes two).

It would almost be a dream to work at a (high end) watch store. I was wondering if anybody who has any experience in this field could pitch in, whether i'm being reasonable with this thought or not? Do you guys think it is possible or not?

I have no experience in retail what so ever but do know a thing or two about watches.

Any advice would be welcome

Thank in advance

[Etschell]

with no retail experience i doubt it. work at retail somewhere else first and prove you can sell.

[MonBK]

Visit the stores and present yourself, you never know until you've tried.

[AlpinweissM3]

You never know until you try. Might not make it into the retail aspect but maybe something else. All that matters is that you get your foot in the door.

[ChrisInCharlotte]

Visit a store in person, wear a suit & tie and ask. It all depends on the manager & if they'd want to spend the time training someone with no experience.

[Knappo 1307]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Visit the stores and present yourself, you never know until you've tried.

This^^ You have to start somewhere. Good Luck!!

[T. Ferguson]

Go in and apply for a job in a high end watch store. From what I've experienced, many of the sales people employed in them have zero experience, even after having worked there for awhile.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Great advice from the forum.

Remember..."the turtle only advances when he sticks his neck out!"

Good luck

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by Etschell

with no retail experience i doubt it. work at retail somewhere else first and prove you can sell.

I think experience in some cases is unnecessary. Information is key. So if you can convince them with your knowledge it's a lot easier. You just need to look the part, know it 'all' and be convincing.

[Lordofrolex]

One day a week sounds like not enough time for someone to give you a chance.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

I think experience in some cases is unnecessary. Information is key. So if you can convince them with your knowledge it's a lot easier. You just need to look the part, know it 'all' and be convincing.

i dont disagree, they have little downside in taking a chance.

[Formulansx]

I bet if you offered to work for pennies on the dollar, someone would take you in at some position or another. Just depends on how bad you want to work there. Even if it's just sweeping the floors. A foot in the door is better than nothing

[Investr]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Visit the stores and present yourself, you never know until you've tried.

And show up dressed well!!!

[droptopman]

As others have stated, dress nice and present yourself. Go for it. Knowing about watches will be a step up on many of the watch retailers I have communicated with...

Spend more time here doing "field research"

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Go in and apply for a job in a high end watch store. From what I've experienced, many of the sales people employed in them have zero experience, even after having worked there for awhile.

The best advice so far. If one is personable and somewhat convincing, you can sell just about anything. Just ask any female real estate agent.

[MonsterSS]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Visit the stores and present yourself, you never know until you've tried.

That's very true! If you don't ask, it's never going to happen.

[cajunron]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Visit the stores and present yourself, you never know until you've tried.

Great advice from a great source.

[ugazag]

Have references handy (ask your references if it is alright to list them). I'm sure their insurance carrier will require a background check.

[rouxeny]

They will care less about your knowledge about watches, or your interest in them. The former they can teach, the later is honestly meaningless.

They will care about your ability to quickly form a relationship and make a sale.

I have a friend who always says he could sell ice to Eskimos, and honestly, he's probably right. He just has that skill, could apply it to anything.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by rouxeny

They will care less about your knowledge about watches, or your interest in them. The former they can teach, the later is honestly meaningless.

They will care about your ability to quickly form a relationship and make a sale.

I have a friend who always says he could sell ice to Eskimos, and honestly, he's probably right. He just has that skill, could apply it to anything.

I agree, when I sold the Sahara Forest I knew nothing about trees.

[OmegaJJH]

From my latest experience of an AD in the UK they're not even sales people any more because they have nothing to sell they are simply customer service robots looking after an empty store.

They might as well save some money and just employ a guard dog and put up a sign.

Do you have this watch?
No, there's a 30 year wait and we've closed our list so you can't have one!

Do you have this watch?
No, there's a 6 month wait!

Do you have this watch?
No chance.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Err, we do have a platinum Daytona available.



It's not much fun being a Rolex customer at the moment

[yannis]

Originally Posted by OmegaJJH

From my latest experience of an AD in the UK they're not even sales people any more because they have nothing to sell they are simply customer service robots looking after an empty store.

They might as well save some money and just employ a guard dog and put up a sign.

Do you have this watch?
No, there's a 30 year wait and we've closed our list so you can't have one!

Do you have this watch?
No, there's a 6 month wait!

Do you have this watch?
No chance.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Do you have this watch?
Wait.

Err, we do have a platinum Daytona available.



It's not much fun being a Rolex customer at the moment

Hey James,
Rolex is revenging UK for BREXIT me thinks

[OmegaJJH]

Originally Posted by yannis7777

Hey James,

Rolex is revenging UK for BREXIT me thinks

You're probably right.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[explodingtaco]

Your love of watches is pretty irrelevant to most dealers.

Your ability to sell a watch is very relevant!

Yesterday I visited my local AD, my regular guy was out and I was stoping in to try on a couple of watches quickly to see if they "stay on the list" so this other guy helped me. He was a really good salesman particularly for luxury goods. Almost made me buy on the spot. But hey knew NOTHING about the watches I was looking at and didn't even pretend to.