Local AD - Are you freakin' nuts?! 20% to look? Fuggittaboutit!!!

[Kippers]

Originally Posted by AK797

It's a popular watch so if an AD wants a deposit then fair enough, he knows someone else will pay it.

So why doesn't he get them in?

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[brandrea]

My local AD dies not request this, but they also move a lot of watches.

The Panerai AD requests a 20% deposit but it is refundable.

[The Joker]

You grassed the AD to Rolex, possibly jeopardising their business? Over something this trivial.

[xjeeunitx]

I don't see an issue with this. The salesman could have done a better job in explaining why a 20% deposit was needed. There are plenty of people that will mess with watches at the store... only to buy elsewhere or online. What do you expect from these people? They don't owe you anything here. Let's be real here.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

A couple of misconceptions:

The OP did not ask the AD to order anything. The AD said they already had it. The discussion as reported here was about shifting inventory between two locations of the same dealer.

The dealer in Houston has no expectation that a guy who puts himself second on a list is going to buy the watch. If that was the case then there would be no second on the list because the expectation would be that the first guy would buy it. All a list is is a request for a phone call.

Rolex can't drop a dealer "at the drop of a hat." They have a mutual agreement. Sales reps manage a territory and this particular dealer has been vetted by Rolex and chosen as the best option given the choices available. Rolex isn't going to abandon a territory or choose the second best option, and if Rolex had a habit of flipping dealers in a given territory "at the drop of a hat" then this forum would be full of discussion about it.

I have no specific Rolex dealer experience (other than as a client) but I'm 53 and all I have ever done is sales, both from the manufacturer and retail end. Rolex is a powerful brand but they are not omnipotent. And the primary edge that a brick and mortar store has, especially in the internet age, is service (or the illusion of it). By my lights the OP got crappy service. There are many creative ways to encourage a sale. The AD in question showed no creativity at all.

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by 77T

So if I get to the bottom line -
OP places name on list for a BLNR in Houston.
Then returns home to Austin.
OP visits an Austin AD and has a clueless salestron encounter.
Then calls Rolex USA, whereupon the manager of said AD will have the object of OP's desire in his shop by 10am CDT.

So I guess the Houston AD won't be getting the order?

Looking forward to tomorrow's wristshot

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF...

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

A couple of misconceptions:

The OP did not ask the AD to order anything. The AD said they already had it. The discussion as reported here was about shifting inventory between two locations of the same dealer.

The dealer in Houston has no expectation that a guy who puts himself second on a list is going to buy the watch. If that was the case then there would be no second on the list because the expectation would be that the first guy would buy it. All a list is is a request for a phone call.

Rolex can't drop a dealer "at the drop of a hat." They have a mutual agreement. Sales reps manage a territory and this particular dealer has been vetted by Rolex and chosen as the best option given the choices available. Rolex isn't going to abandon a territory or choose the second best option, and if Rolex had a habit of flipping dealers in a given territory "at the drop of a hat" then this forum would be full of discussion about it.

I have no specific Rolex dealer experience (other than as a client) but I'm 53 and all I have ever done is sales, both from the manufacturer and retail end. Rolex is a powerful brand but they are not omnipotent. And the primary edge that a brick and mortar store has, especially in the internet age, is service or the illusion of it. By my lights the OP got crappy service at best. There are many creative ways to encourage a sale. The AD in question showed no creativity at all.

By the way... we only heard HIS side of the story. And, we all know there are two sides.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by bdex75

I think it is an AD's right to have whatever policy they want. I don't have to do business with them if I don't like it. Especially if I have a good relationship with another ad where I have done lots of other business.

Several things that strike me as odd, on each side of this situation.
1. There is an AD in Houston that thinks it's next blnr is sold to a good customer who just went somewhere else.

2. If the BLNR is such a hot watch at that ad why insist the deposit is non refundable. Someone will buy it quickly. That seems a little odd to me if they just have to ship in from another store.

3. How hot is a watch that another forum member states the AD in the next town over has 2 on display? Drive there. Don't deal with this D-bag
Ad. That may be tough now that Rolex has called the manager.

4. I have never know Rolex to care about or respond to this stuff at all, let alone that quickly.

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I am not buying anything with a non refundable deposit. I have no issue with the deposit but it being non refundable is a deal breaker. Say the watch shows up with one of those 1x cyclops? You going to take delivery of the watch? I'm not.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

By the way... we only heard HIS side of the story. And, we all know there are two sides.

This isn't a court of law, it's a court of the internet. Lack of information and rampant speculation are permissible, and even encouraged.

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

This isn't a court of law, it's a court of the internet. Lack of information and rampant speculation are permissible, and even encouraged.

What?

[Robrob777]

Tiffany doesn't charge to move Diamonds between stores. Rolex AD is crazy, they should do a 500 non refundable deposit.

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by ronricks

I am not buying anything with a non refundable deposit. I have no issue with the deposit but it being non refundable is a deal breaker. Say the watch shows up with one of those 1x cyclops? You going to take delivery of the watch? I'm not.

No I would not buy that watch. I didn't say I would. I said it is their right to ask. It is my right to refuse and find another dealer.

I have done deposits on things before that were referred to as "non refundable" by a salesperson. First and foremost, my intention was to purchase the item when it arrived. But in most states the non refundable does not hold water in court and the retailer and their lawyers know it. I was a sales manager and GM in the car business for a long time. We special ordered some pretty odd duck cars for quirky people before and had them sign a buyers order that said that their $5000 deposit was non refundable blah, blah, blah. Bottom line, if they did not take delivery of said automobile, we would eventually have to refund the deposit.

Credit card companies will take the same stance and refund the customer if they never take delivery of the merchandise. Now there may be an investigation and the vendor may prove that it has a signed contract but this was a rouge salesperson that was out of line with their policies according to the manager.


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[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by GerardoG

Happened to me at T in Vegas. This is why I go back to my AD

gg

i would never charge you a deposit because i know you'd show up with booze and lunch!

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by bdex75

No I would not buy that watch. I didn't say I would. I said it is their right to ask. It is my right to refuse and find another dealer.

I have done deposits on things before that were referred to as "non refundable" by a salesperson. First and foremost, my intention was to purchase the item when it arrived. But in most states the non refundable does not hold water in court and the retailer and their lawyers know it. I was a sales manager and GM in the car business for a long time. We special ordered some pretty odd duck cars for quirky people before and had them sign a buyers order that said that their $5000 deposit was non refundable blah, blah, blah. Bottom line, if they did not take delivery of said automobile, we would eventually have to refund the deposit.

Credit card companies will take the same stance and refund the customer if they never take delivery of the merchandise. Now there may be an investigation and the vendor may prove that it has a signed contract but this was a rouge salesperson that was out of line with their policies according to the manager.


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Well said.

[Danny83]

So OP did you go back and buy the watch after calling Rolex USA?

[martinr]

Ridiculous. Here's how the Journe Boutique in LA handles this situation. I was interested in a platinum watch they did not have in stock so the boutique manager had a new one sent Fedex from New York so I could SEE IT. He called when it was in and I went to the boutique and we spent 45 minutes talking about it. I let him know I wasn't ready to buy and thanked him. That's how to treat a potential customer.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Danny83

So OP did you go back and buy the watch after calling Rolex USA?

AD said watch would be there at 10am. It's 10:03am in Austin now.

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by martinr

Ridiculous. Here's how the Journe Boutique in LA handles this situation. I was interested in a platinum watch they did not have in stock so the boutique manager had a new one sent Fedex from New York so I could SEE IT. He called when it was in and I went to the boutique and we spent 45 minutes talking about it. I let him know I wasn't ready to buy and thanked him. That's how to treat a potential customer.

Boutque vs privately owned AD.

[aced75]

glad you didnt take the bait! I wouldnt have either!

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Danny83

So OP did you go back and buy the watch after calling Rolex USA?

He was here at 9.30 reading this thread so he probably is on his way to the store.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by TxHarleyGuy

Yeah, you're right. You were there, I wasn't. Don't know what I was thinking. Forgive me......

Nice to see this forum isn't unlike any other out there on the net.

Guess this happens to you a lot?

Starting frantic and overly dramatic threads about "non-situations" will lead to mostly backlash.

The BLNR is cool. Just go buy one. The End

[Javier2.0t]

Originally Posted by HoustonRoo

Think of it this way:

You're a shop owner. A customer that you've never seen before comes in and asks you to obtain a $9k watch for him so he can look at it.

You have to use your funds to get the watch and maybe even pay for overnight shipping since you've offered to get it overnight.

Do you do this for everyone that walks in and asks you to obtain inventory that you haven't got because they want to "look at it?"

Do you use your own funds to get something with zero commitment?

You'd go broke quickly doing business this way if you spent the shops funds buying things just so people can look at them.

Ummmmm yeah. You do. Especially for a BLNR. 20% is crazy even if he was asking for a harder to move PM piece. There's not justification, it was just a money grab on their end.

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by martinr

Ridiculous. Here's how the Journe Boutique in LA handles this situation. I was interested in a platinum watch they did not have in stock so the boutique manager had a new one sent Fedex from New York so I could SEE IT. He called when it was in and I went to the boutique and we spent 45 minutes talking about it. I let him know I wasn't ready to buy and thanked him. That's how to treat a potential customer.

That was probably the last time the manager did that!

[martinr]

The AD could have asked for a small deposit, refundable, just to insure the customer comes back and isn't wasting the AD's time. Then if the customer isn't interested give him his deposit back and say thanks maybe some other time. If the each is so easy to sell what's the problem.

[martinr]

Originally Posted by mtgjr

That was probably the last time the manager did that!

Not true, I've received emails from him asking if there is anything else I'd like to see.

[texex91]

Where's the OP??

Hope buying the watch and apologizing for his behavior to the AD.

Looking forward to the wrist shot, that would be best outcome of this entire thread.

[Nairn1980]

Yep, I'm expecting an "incoming" and a nice shiny BLNR :)

[superdog]

Originally Posted by ronricks

I am not buying anything with a non refundable deposit. I have no issue with the deposit but it being non refundable is a deal breaker. Say the watch shows up with one of those 1x cyclops? You going to take delivery of the watch? I'm not.

Obviously, if the watch shows up with a "defect" that even the manufacturer has acknowledged by replacing at no cost, a non refundable deposit would not be held.

Worst case scenario, not a credit card company in the world exists that would not back the buyer in that case.

I would guess the deposit is simply to ensure the buyer is serious and not just wasting time.

[trebor]

The "Salesman" needs SERIOUS RETRAINING. ( maybe a firing).

[TxHarleyGuy]

Originally Posted by texex91

Where's the OP??

Hope buying the watch and apologizing for his behavior to the AD.

Looking forward to the wrist shot, that would be best outcome of this entire thread.

Excuse me? Apologizing for what behavior to the AD? I did absolutely nothing to be apologetic for. I wasn't rude in any fashion. I simply found his approach and insistence upon getting a 20% non refundable deposit just so that I could 'see' the watch in his store to be ridiculous. I still do. Sorry to see so many of you don't see that. Slam me all you want, folks. I did nothing other than to stand up for what I felt to be one ridiculously stupid policy in place.

And for those who question what transpired (with Rolex), it was at THEIR suggestion that they contact the AD, not mine. Started off contacting someone in customer service and after hearing what transpired, they transferred me to someone in management/sales operations. Sorry I didn't get any badge or employee numbers for you folks to reference for verification purposes. Silly me.