Another AD rant

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by 707soldier

This thread is getting very interesting..
Time for some popcorn.

Yeah...I said my piece.

I find these tattle tale on the AD threads ridiculous...

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Well, keep tire kicking at Tiffany's and that tune will change too..

It makes the salespeople look bad talking to the same guy over and over again and have them buy zippo..

Trust me, the sales dude won't be missing you for a second...they really dislike what they consider loiterers..

Well, to be honest, I've been to that AD exactly 4 times in the last 9 months. It had been 2 months since my last visit, and frankly I was surprised the salesman recognized me. If that constitutes overly "tire kicking" then I hate to think what the local Triumph dealer thinks of me -- I stop in there all the time (i.e., every couple of weeks). But (so far) he always treats me with respect. If I was hanging around every weekend I could see that the store would want me to go away. But that's not the case here.

-Dan

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

Well, to be honest, I've been to that AD exactly 4 times in the last 9 months. It had been 2 months since my last visit, and frankly I was surprised the salesman recognized me. If that constitutes overly "tire kicking" then I hate to think what the local Triumph dealer thinks of me -- I stop in there all the time (i.e., every couple of weeks). But (so far) he always treats me with respect. If I was hanging around every weekend I could see that the store would want me to go away. But that's not the case here.

-Dan

Do you ever actually BUY anything? Lol

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Do you ever actually BUY anything? Lol

[Jkysh]

Sounds like you need to find another AD.

Im twenty four, used to frequently go into my local (within 5 miles) AD and have them throw my seamaster in the ultrosonic and browse. Became friendly with a salesman, let me try on a 5711 in white, and a 5712 while my watch was being cleaned.

Ended up purchasing my SD4000 from the same AD, and tend to stop in every now and then to see what might be in the display cases since my last visit although I have zero intention of purchasing a watch from them again in the near future. Its nice to have that relationship going..

[Dr.Brian]

Come on. I'm not a big window shopper, and if I ask to see something, there's some hope for a sale, but if anyone broke out the charging for admission or not a museum line, I'd laugh in their face and leave. I don't care if they're "up" at a jewelry store or a car dealership. "What can we do to get you into this xxxx today?"
Nothing, I'm looking, like I said when I came in.
Just last week I was looking at cars for my wife and I got the, "you can't leave without talking with the manager". Of course I can, and I did.

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Do you ever actually BUY anything? Lol

Far too many things, alas. But as much as I enjoy buying, I enjoy the process. Most stores understand that, and the dynamics of it. It's called "selling" -- courting the customer -- and seems to be a lost art. I'm not going to apologize for window shopping. And I'm sorry, I'll never understand the attitude of a salesperson who shows me a $50,000 watch on my 4th visit in 9 months and gets pissy because I don't buy it on the spot.

-Dan

[Scott1907]

I use my $10,000 rolex purchases as a test for a jeweler/AD I'd like to work with ten next 40 years. I have two rolexes and I'm not married yet so I'll be buying a six figure ring and many more rolexes, thanks to you guys on the forum!! This is an addicting thing!! If I get bad service I won't be back! I don't get mad, I just won't be back so who looses?

[srvrf]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

I said that yes he had shown me some watches a few months ago, and I showed him my GMT and said I'm looking to add to my collection some time in the future.

I think this is getting misinterpreted. Where does this say than Dan was in this store multiple times trying on multiple watches? From what was presented in the original thread, it looks like he was in there three months ago and this second time more recently. [Edit--Okay I just saw the thread from a few minutes ago so 4 times in 9 months] It seems the salesperson (who of course is human and makes mistakes like the rest of us) did treat Dan in a manner in which no one here would want to be treated. I get the idea that there are people who have absolutely zero intention of buying at a store and try on a bunch of watches and take up a bunch of the salesperson's time and think that's wrong (like people who look at BestBuy and then buy online). But I can't find fault for going into a store to look at $8000+ watches and not buying after the second visit.

The bottom line is that salespeople don't know your intentions and of course can't please everyone. What makes me feel harassed (being followed from case to case when I say I'm just browsing and don't need to try anything on), may be expected behavior by others here. But they've got to know in sales that one bad experience and you can lose a potential customer for life (he did mention that he was planning on adding to his collection at some point--vague I know). But I am sure that the many people here who have great relationships with their ADs wouldn't have them today if their first experiences were like this.

[Dr.Brian]

I actually did have someone once say something along the lines of "the average person has no intention of buying anything" when the DSSD came out several years ago and I asked if they had one that I could try on.
I said, "well, I'm not an average person." We had a laugh and they got it out of the safe, and that was that.
I've spent far too much there since. Good people, maybe having a bad day? But not the blatant disrespect shown above.

[jandr272]

Originally Posted by Brucie D

I have hopes that someday the old school sales mentality will eventually die out now that customers have access to all the information they could ever want over the Internet. It's now about having a positive experience at the store level...

Spot on. My first two jobs were for small businesses, and rudeness to a customer meant being fired for a first offense.

It is awfully pompous for somebody selling watches that cost as much as cars to get impatient with someone who comes over and over. I will continue to visit ADs and try on the watches I'm interested in to ensure I buy the right one. If I get good service I can certainly make an offer that fairly accounts for retail expenses on top of the going internet price, in exchange for the service, showroom to try on watches, etc.

I can't believe anyone on this forum has any sympathy for a salesman who would say something like that! I would've asked to speak to his manager. If he wanted a guaranteed sale from every customer, he can go sell hamburgers for McDonald's! His attitude would fit right in.

[RollieVerde]

Salespeople have always had to deal with people who oogle the merchandise and don't buy, and they all have their ways of dealing with it. Sometimes, they don't do a very good job. But these days, people in retail have to deal with "customers" that come in, look at the watches, try them on, and then go and buy from a web site/trusted seller/gray market/etc. They get touchy about this stuff, and sometimes they assume somebody that shows up all the time but buys nothing is just using their time and access and leave them high and dry. If you're one of these people that does this, and you're shopping for a watch that is a luxury item and you'll use the AD to help you decide so you can save a few bucks by ordering online, that's disrespectful at the least. It's especially nasty since we're not talking about something you need to buy to live and you're just barely getting by.

When a salesperson is rude that's uncalled for, and you should respond by not going to that establishment in the future. Whining about it is pathetic. You had visited this place without buying anything for months. Obviously, they ran out of patience and you're charm was clearly not sufficient to compensate for your lack of commerce.

[jandr272]

Originally Posted by RollieVerde

Salespeople have always had to deal with people who oogle the merchandise and don't buy, and they all have their ways of dealing with it. Sometimes, they don't do a very good job. But these days, people in retail have to deal with "customers" that come in, look at the watches, try them on, and then go and buy from a web site/trusted seller/gray market/etc. They get touchy about this stuff, and sometimes they assume somebody that shows up all the time but buys nothing is just using their time and access and leave them high and dry. If you're one of these people that does this, and you're shopping for a watch that is a luxury item and you'll use the AD to help you decide so you can save a few bucks by ordering online, that's disrespectful at the least. It's especially nasty since we're not talking about something you need to buy to live and you're just barely getting by.

When a salesperson is rude that's uncalled for, and you should respond by not going to that establishment in the future. Whining about it is pathetic. You had visited this place without buying anything for months. Obviously, they ran out of patience and you're charm was clearly not sufficient to compensate for your lack of commerce.

Why should anyone feel obligated to buy anything? If the business model is out of date, and dying because of newer, better, business models, I have no sympathy for the business or its employees. Evolve, or die.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Scott1907

I use my $10,000 rolex purchases as a test for a jeweler/AD I'd like to work with ten next 40 years. I have two rolexes and I'm not married yet so I'll be buying a six figure ring and many more rolexes, thanks to you guys on the forum!! This is an addicting thing!! If I get bad service I won't be back! I don't get mad, I just won't be back so who looses?

A 6 figure ring?

[Dr.Brian]

Originally Posted by superdog

A 6 figure ring?

Maybe it is just me, but the more I make and save, the less I want to spend.
Fortunately my wife seems to agree.

[Jd Swiper]

I think if the salesman was any good, the OP wouldn't want to purchase anywhere but this AD!!! You have to be that good.. Starting with Facts, proving you know your stuff., than letting the customer know why purchasing from you is going to be in there best interest, even if it cost a little more for some piece of mind! The Customer is always King before and after the sale!!!

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Well, keep tire kicking at Tiffany's and that tune will change too..

It makes the salespeople look bad talking to the same guy over and over again and have them buy zippo..

Trust me, the sales dude won't be missing you for a second...they really dislike what they consider loiterers..

Its attitudes like this that make salespeople look bad. But there are good and bad in every profession. There are those that make it big, and those that whine and complain.

Trust in these facts:

1. The most successful sales professionals feel that they are doing their customers, potential or long term, a service.

2. The most successful sales professional will nurture a relationship because so many things can come from it. An eventual sale, or better yet, a referral or two comes from networking and building relationships.

3. The most successful sales professional knows that a relationship is more important than a sale. A relationship builds a foundation.

Successful sales professionals have consistent sales because they get so many people, in so many different ways, for so many different reasons reaching out to them.

Because they, just like everyone is, are providing a service of some kind.

How you ever got the idea that they are deserved a sale is beyond me.

[Punishher7]

I have always had pleasant experiences at ADs even though I have never purchased from any of them. My last visit getting my new subc sized however was so good I'll likely give them a shot at my business for the wife's next watch. Customer service is very important to me.

[Rock]

An observation:
Whilst still at school I worked P/T in an upmarket Menswear store. I loved 'potential customers' as you can't do your job without them and without them you are only 'babysitting' a product.
I would spend as much (or little) time with a customer as they wanted and I never thought of it as anyone 'wasting' my time - that was what I was there for.
Every time a person didn't buy was an opportunity to build a relationship so they might the next time.
You DO get 'strange' customers at times and I would avoid spending too much time with them IF there was a better use for it.
I viewed everyone who stepped into the store as a potential buyer - sometime.
How often have you gone into a shop with no intention of buying and the salesperson has made a case you just couldn't refuse?

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by jandr272

Why should anyone feel obligated to buy anything? If the business model is out of date, and dying because of newer, better, business models, I have no sympathy for the business or its employees. Evolve, or die.

If they all die because no one buys from them where are we going to go to try on watches and fall in love with them?

I by no means am on the AD's side in this deal. The AD salesperson handled it wrong. But having spent 15 years in retail and the last 25 dealing with the public in sales I will tell you that the OP being in a Rolex AD, 4 times in the last year is enough for a good salesperson to recognize him. And if he is one of a very few Rolex salesperson there, know that the BLNR on his wrist did not come from their store.

That is where it went bad.

That is where he as a salesperson needed to start asking some tactful questions to figure out where the OP bought his watch and why it was not from his store. In an effort to overcome the objection and win over a customer.

I have a great relationship from my local AD. I have bought jewelry there for my wife and some other assorted pieces and watches for her. Never a Rolex. Whenever the wife is in there looking at diamonds their Rolex salesperson and I chat and try on stuff. He knows that I have an out of state AD friend that I met at a charity function that I do my Rolex biz with. And when local sales tax is 9% he is at a huge disadvantage. He just cannot out-discount the sales tax. He knows that I move a lot and that one day He may be the out of state guy and have the upper hand. As a matter of fact I have sent several of my out of state friends to him and they have purchased.

Selling high end timepieces is just like farming. Dow the seed and harvest at a later date.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

Maybe it is just me, but the more I make and save, the less I want to spend.
Fortunately my wife seems to agree.

dude, i hear you. i hear you loud and clear. starting to get to that place myself.

however, i just bought a ring. and it is sick!!!! my priority was as close to perfection as possible. and i got close. my priority was not size. i found what i wanted. it was perfect. and it looked too small.

i went up considerably in size as i still wanted it to look substantial. and it does. and it shines like a star. very tasteful. super simple. classy. perfect.

and it was not even close to in the realm of talking about the craziness of a 6 figure ring. (i say this respectfully)

i can't even comprehend what that looks like.

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by Jd Swiper

I think if the salesman was any good, the OP wouldn't want to purchase anywhere but this AD!!! You have to be that good.. Starting with Facts, proving you know your stuff., than letting the customer know why purchasing from you is going to be in there best interest, even if it cost a little more for some piece of mind! The Customer is always King before and after the sale!!!

Yes, this sums up what I'm trying to say. The art of salesmenship. If done right, it's fun for both the salesman and the customer and both parties benefit. Sometimes I buy used. Sometimes online. Sometimes from a store. If the value proposition is there (service, knowlege, convenience, security, warranty, whatever), I'll pay more to get it from a store. If not, I won't. But I like to be given the chance to get to that point without being dismissed. The salesperson needs to at least make his case before shooing me out the door as a tire kicker. Especially an empty store!

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

Maybe it is just me, but the more I make and save, the less I want to spend.
Fortunately my wife seems to agree.

I was like that (and still am to a certain extent). I found that the more I saved the more I appreciated how hard it was to save it in the first place. It was my FU money -- I would count how long I could live if I told The Man to F off. The longer it got the better and more liberated I felt.

Sorry for off topic post.

[Kevin.S]

Originally Posted by superdog

Its attitudes like this that make salespeople look bad. But there are good and bad in every profession. There are those that make it big, and those that whine and complain.

Trust in these facts:

1. The most successful sales professionals feel that they are doing their customers, potential or long term, a service.

2. The most successful sales professional will nurture a relationship because so many things can come from it. An eventual sale, or better yet, a referral or two comes from networking and building relationships.

3. The most successful sales professional knows that a relationship is more important than a sale. A relationship builds a foundation.

Successful sales professionals have consistent sales because they get so many people, in so many different ways, for so many different reasons reaching out to them.

Because they, just like everyone is, are providing a service of some kind.

How you ever got the idea that they are deserved a sale is beyond me.

Spot on

[Scott1907]

Originally Posted by superdog

A 6 figure ring?

So it's totally fine to buy a six figure Porsche for myself but it's absurd to buy a six figure ring?

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by RollieVerde

Salespeople have always had to deal with people who oogle the merchandise and don't buy, and they all have their ways of dealing with it. Sometimes, they don't do a very good job. But these days, people in retail have to deal with "customers" that come in, look at the watches, try them on, and then go and buy from a web site/trusted seller/gray market/etc. They get touchy about this stuff, and sometimes they assume somebody that shows up all the time but buys nothing is just using their time and access and leave them high and dry. If you're one of these people that does this, and you're shopping for a watch that is a luxury item and you'll use the AD to help you decide so you can save a few bucks by ordering online, that's disrespectful at the least. It's especially nasty since we're not talking about something you need to buy to live and you're just barely getting by.

When a salesperson is rude that's uncalled for, and you should respond by not going to that establishment in the future. Whining about it is pathetic. You had visited this place without buying anything for months. Obviously, they ran out of patience and you're charm was clearly not sufficient to compensate for your lack of commerce.

There really isn't anything else to say....

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Yeah...I said my piece.

I find these tattle tale on the AD threads ridiculous...

X 2

Some of the members here just like to rant about how bad AD experiences are while pretending there intentions are so pure and how they are model customers.

Easy fix....... Go browse at the home of the grey dealer you intend to buy from.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by drakulie

X 2

Some of the members here just like to rant about how bad AD experiences are while pretending there intentions are so pure and how they are model customers.

Easy fix....... Go browse at the home of the grey dealer you intend to buy from.

That analogy is just silly.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Scott1907

So it's totally fine to buy a six figure Porsche for myself but it's absurd to buy a six figure ring?

Yes. Absolutely. Without question. Everday. Everytime.

[DJJon]

I think the AD did just fine, but it's all how it gets interpreted. I mean he gave you the Reference number (I think that's what he gave you, though you said 8 digits) and left you on your own devices to linger and look without further hassle. He mentioned the in-store financing in case it resulted in a sale (isn't that why they are in business?) but didn't hound you and talk your ear off about how it's now-or-never nonsense sales guy BS.

Maybe you prefer to be left totally alone or maybe you felt slighted that he didn't pander to your every whim to try them all on, but you weren't buying so what's wrong with that?

TRF can be so full of anti-AD venom. I just don't get the sense of affront. I can't see where the guy was rude and the gesture to provide the reference number was a nice thing to do.