Do dealers and greys like extremely knowledgable clients?

[rolexjackson]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I guess they're all different, and have their good days and bad days, though of course no-one likes a smart-ass.

Or a know it all!


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[rolex16]

They like stupid people with money.

[s7horton]

In my line of work, the less sophisticated the client is, the easier my job becomes. (Generally)

[fixinbones]

Originally Posted by johnwigan

It is a job for them, they are more than likely not interested in what you know or don't know. It is like going to the Doctor with a bad knee and telling him everything you know about knees. They just want the pertinent information to get the job done as quickly as possible and send you on your way.

Well you hit that nail right on the head. 😂

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by johnwigan

It is a job for them, they are more than likely not interested in what you know or don't know. It is like going to the Doctor with a bad knee and telling him everything you know about knees. They just want the pertinent information to get the job done as quickly as possible and send you on your way.

There's a real possibility you might get hoodwinked by dealers though. A doctor isn't going to pull one over you.

Given all the fakes, frankenwatches, aftermarket parts, and refinished dials on the market now it's a real risk.

[2loaded]

Originally Posted by pjaffe

Here was my AD interaction today. I walk in and see an "exhibition" Rootbeer.

Me: Hi, can i try on that CHNR?

SA: Oh that's funny, I've never heard it called that before. That's cause in Swiss those are the colors right?

Me: facepalm.

What ?! Nutz

[CFR]

Originally Posted by Incroyable12

Do dealers and greys like extremely knowledgeable clients?

Generally speaking, yes if they buy watches and no if they don't. I'm not being snarky. I think that's what it boils down to -- the return that the seller gets from their investment of time and energy.

[Driver8]

I find it depends on the knowledge/passion of the SA. You can tell pretty quickly if an SA is actually passionate and knowledgeable about watches, or if it's just a job to them. If they are genuinely into watches (and hence something of a WIS themselves) then I've always usually found them more than happy to "nerd-out" with me about the finer details.

On the other hand if the SA is clearly just regurgitating stuff from their last training session, then I tend to play dumb and just let them rattle on. As someone else said in this thread, no-one likes someone doing their job better than them.

[Fritzli]

The problem of most of the "extremly knowledgeable clients" is - they re not! In the opposite mostly this extremly knowledgeable clients just dont find anybody else the can show how "extremly knowledgeable" they are! In the end of the conversation they mostly ask for a Batgirl, or Sprite! ;-)

[dtwer]

It's unlikely to matter when it comes to Rolex these days. You are going to buy what's offered to you, knowledgeable or otherwise.

[Slimpee]

In my limited experience, there are sales associates who are true watch enthusiasts and those for which this is just a job. The former seem to appreciate the passion and knowledge while the latter are just trying to sell you a watch and are terribly interested in discussing my new details.

Of course I don’t have statistics to back this up, but I would imagine that the vast majority of Rolex customers are not watch geeks.

[-dustin]

nothing makes a salesperson more thrilled than a customer that has sat at home and studied every nuanced detail of a specific item within a 500-item catalog, only to go in and quiz that salesperson.

then buy the item elsewhere, because it was 2% cheaper.

i liked customers that knew their stuff, and could back-up with real world experience. they were nice to chat with, and i didn't feel like a nerd for using technical terms. i didn't like customers that "knew" their stuff and regurgitated forum "knowledge" in an attempt to outsmart me.

[waterking]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

They sell watches. They don't want to listen to a lecture.

This....it ain't rocket science no matter how hard you try to make it.

[nocaps]

i usually wear a vintage rolex when going to authorized dealers. if i'm lucky, i'll find a salesperson who's a watch nerd. they rather talk about watches than saying "no" to people
day in/day out. by doing this, i build rapport and show that i'm an enthusiast and not a flipper, which improves the likelihood of making a purchase. that's how i got my platona.

[CHRONOLEX]

IMO not if you want any chance of being able to buy something from them. Too much knowledge raises their dealer/flipper antennae and it shuts them down. You would be better off referring to stainless pieces as “silver” if you wanted to get somewhere and TT as “silver and gold.”

[Jimbo]

I think there is a fine balance. If you come off as knowing too much, you start to sound like a dealer yourself, or worse, a flipper that's in the business to flip.

If you are a total idiot, then I would guess you either become a target, not considered a serious buyer, or the AD is sick and tired of this after a long day not selling anything.

You have to show the right amount of interest and desire, as well as a willingness to "be sold" so to speak.

[CHRONOLEX]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I think there is a fine balance. If you come off as knowing too much, you start to sound like a dealer yourself, or worse, a flipper that's in the business to flip.

If you are a total idiot, then I would guess you either become a target, not considered a serious buyer, or the AD is sick and tired of this after a long day not selling anything.

You have to show the right amount of interest and desire, as well as a willingness to "be sold" so to speak.

Agree

[Incroyable12]

In my experience auction previews are where you go to geek out about watches with the various specialists. There's also no pressure to buy unlike with dealers--AD or vintage--who probably feel they're wasting their time shooting the breeze about arcane details.

[eonflux]

Some dealers are really into watches

Others are more into selling watches

Like anyone else who sells other things

[SLWoodster]

Most no-jewelry grey dealers start off as knowledgeable watch fans...

Originally Posted by Alpino

.

Extremely knowledgable clients won't deal with grey dealers ...

[MILGAUSS88]

I think they prefer indignant newbies that don't understand why they cannot buy a new watch, RIGHT NOW.

[QCCoinGuy]

I operate as a dealer in a similar market. For me, it depends on the individual and, often, whether the time investment is worth it or enjoyable. I have no problems talking with or getting schooled by a collector who knows more than me. If they’re pleasant, great. If they spend money, even better. If they are an ass, it could be worth my time but I won’t enjoy it. If they are insufferable, I won’t deal with them at all. Speaking with less knowledge collectors is similar. If they’re open to learning, great. If they buy, even better. If they buy but they don’t care to learn, I’ll try to get through the transaction as soon as possible.

So again, it very much depends.

[Incroyable12]

This thread reminded me of this for some reason.

I think there's a certain type of dealer--often a vintage dealer--who doesn't care to deal with sharp customers.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=453648

[Dannyv]

Originally Posted by KY..

When I talk to dealers about modern and vintage models they realize I know more than the average bear and the results have been mixed as to them appreciating it vocally or keeping quiet.
I think it can be intimidating to some dealers if you know more about their product than they do.

That has definitely been my experience. A little unfortunate as I'd love the chat.

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by Dannyv

That has definitely been my experience. A little unfortunate as I'd love the chat.

Vintage is such a shark tank that many dealers seem to prefer their customers to be fairly ignorant.

There was that big lawsuit that John Mayer filed against Bob Maron for selling fakes.

[RKunz]

If you talk about vintage to most ADs they may not know much about say what model & year was the first Rolex GMT. It just depends whether the AD is simply a sales person or an enthusiast. I was both. I owned all the Mondani books. I met Osvaldo Patrizzi back in the 80s-90s. I studied all the auction results. I learned how to spot a refinished dial from an original. So I could dialogue in both worlds. Most ADs only know bullet points on new models because Rolex makes sure they are trained in that. A lot of the ADs that knew both new and vintage they were the first ADs to be cut by Rolex.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by pjaffe

Here was my AD interaction today. I walk in and see an "exhibition" Rootbeer.

Me: Hi, can i try on that CHNR?

SA: Oh that's funny, I've never heard it called that before. That's cause in Swiss those are the colors right?

Me: facepalm.

Pre training for that guy…

[Bizcut1]

I've had so many pleasant and productive conversations about watches with David Williams over the years that they are uncountable...and invaluable...

[RolexSimon]

If you want to talk watches, go to an AD who loves watches. If you don't - go to a bog-standard AD who doesn't care so long as they get your money. There are plenty in each category.......

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

They sell watches. They don't want to listen to a lecture.

This


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