what exactly does "visiting an AD" imply? visiting = spending?

[kevinkevinkevin]

I've recently become interested in purchasing my first Rolex and have been reading about it after visiting my local AD. One of the reoccurring pieces of advice is always something along the lines of "express interest in a specific watch and drop by/visit the AD every so often". It's interesting because it's not often stated what a "visit" actually entails.

Is "visiting" just a thinly veiled way of saying buy something from the AD every so often in order to build purchase history? Or is it quite literally visiting/chatting with the AD/sales person? Obviously everyone will have differing opinions on what it means but I'm curious on what you guys think

[IR201]

It means at minimum staying in contact and reaffirming interest. Even better is if you purchase other less desirable offerings as you do that.

[Harry-57]

You'll get a wide range of answers. I can only speak for myself. When we visit our AD it is to buy something, order something, get something serviced or repaired, or browse goods with a view to buying them. I've never just gone in for a chat. Being a polite and courteous business, they say things like "you're always welcome to drop in if you are passing" and maybe one day I'll take them up on it. But if I'm not actively looking, trying out or spending, I don't visit. I'm usually otherwise occupied.

We're usually in about 4-6 times a year, and that's frequent enough for us. My next visit will be to collect a repaired watch. I'll be asking how I'm doing on the BLRO waiting list while I'm there. I suppose we all do what feels natural and unforced to us. Maybe if I was walking past every day, or working nearby, I would drop in more frequently.

[Fleetlord]

1) Buy things that they have for sale. Other watch brands…jewelry…etc.

2) Treat the individual you’re dealing with as a human being.

3) Don’t be weird, neurotic, demanding, condescending..etc. You don’t want to be the guy who the staff cringes when he shows up. Seen it a bunch of times.

Often the better you are @ # 2 and # 3, the less you may need to spend on #1.

Now, if you feel incapable or disinterested in any of the above, simply skip all of that and purchase the Rolex you desire from the secondary market and move on with it.

[ThatOtherGuy7]

A visit could simply be swinging by to say hi when you’re in the area. My AD is inside a mall and recently I’ve been going there more often with my family so I stopped by to say hi. Never bought anything other than what I wanted. Gonna cut it out for a while though because we’ve been going to that mall more often for various reasons and I don’t want to make it a habit of stopping in every single time. Besides, it’s just weird.

[mulberry083]

I’ve done the same thing at the mall, stopping by to reaffirm interest and tell the SA how happy I am with my recent purchase of a Tudor. With the addition of the display watches with no movements, it’s a great reason to stop by to check the actual watch on for size etc. Did it today with a display Sub41, and it looked terrific. Will probably stop by again in late October when they open their expanded store.

[MrGoat]

Originally Posted by kevinkevinkevin

I've recently become interested in purchasing my first Rolex and have been reading about it after visiting my local AD. One of the reoccurring pieces of advice is always something along the lines of "express interest in a specific watch and drop by/visit the AD every so often". It's interesting because it's not often stated what a "visit" actually entails.

Is "visiting" just a thinly veiled way of saying buy something from the AD every so often in order to build purchase history? Or is it quite literally visiting/chatting with the AD/sales person? Obviously everyone will have differing opinions on what it means but I'm curious on what you guys think

You literally answered your own question in the first sentence of your post. Visiting the AD is whatever you did, when you visited your AD. It’s all subjective, a visit could be to make purchases in the spirit of relationship building or it could just be visiting to see if maybe you’re lucky enough to see something in a case and talk watches while expressing your continued interest on whatever watch you’re on a wait list for.


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[iTreelex]

It doesn't mean anything

[sportsfan0704]

Visiting does not mean spending, though you can spend when you visit. If you believe the AD who was on tiktok, visiting your AD just means stopping by every so often, expressing genuine interest in a watch, getting to know the staff at the store, etc. Essentially it means do enough to make the staff remember you so they call you when the watch you're seeking comes in, but don't do too much that makes them not want to call you.

[ks58]

I would aim to purchase something or plan to in the future.

[Master_Grogu]

I go and try PM models. I then complain about the color and ask if they have it in platinum. When they say they don’t, I ask what they have and they tell me Steel, and give me the option to buy them. Checkmate.

[Nav01L]

I’m told of people who drop in every week with breakfast and coffee, no joke. How pathetic is that. Honestly if you’re gonna waste that much of your life for it, you really deserve that watch you get to flip every now and then, don’t envy you at all. I’m pretty sure I’d have more easily earned the money to pay the premium in the time this approach would take me.

[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by Master_Grogu

I go and try PM models. I then complain about the color and ask if they have it in platinum. When they say they don’t, I ask what they have and they tell me Steel, and give me the option to buy them. Checkmate.

You dastardly little force wielder, but we can’t all recreate those mind tricks of yours.

[Oyster Perp]

I had the opportunity to visit an AD in Tysons Corner VA whilst working in the area a few years back just to make an enquiry and I must confess to receiving a welcome that I had NEVER had in a UK AD (even when purchasing).

[jaySL350]

:

Originally Posted by Master_Grogu

I go and try PM models. I then complain about the color and ask if they have it in platinum. When they say they don’t, I ask what they have and they tell me Steel, and give me the option to buy them. Checkmate.

[subprimeking]

I think that ''visiting'' is usually referred to as shopping and usually when I go shopping I end up somehow buying something.

[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

1) Buy things that they have for sale. Other watch brands…jewelry…etc.

2) Treat the individual you’re dealing with as a human being.

3) Don’t be weird, neurotic, demanding, condescending..etc. You don’t want to be the guy who the staff cringes when he shows up. Seen it a bunch of times.

Often the better you are @ # 2 and # 3, the less you may need to spend on #1.

Now, if you feel incapable or disinterested in any of the above, simply skip all of that and purchase the Rolex you desire from the secondary market and move on with it.

Agree with this 100%

[TomLou]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Treat the individual you’re dealing with as a human being.

Don’t be weird, neurotic, demanding, condescending..etc.

I thought for a second there, you were giving advise to the Rolex sales people.

[TomLou]

Do you know which Rolex you want ?
The reason I am asking is that some hot Rolex “Tool” steel watches will be impossible to buy at retail.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

1) Buy things that they have for sale. Other watch brands…jewelry…etc.

2) Treat the individual you’re dealing with as a human being.

3) Don’t be weird, neurotic, demanding, condescending..etc. You don’t want to be the guy who the staff cringes when he shows up. Seen it a bunch of times.

Often the better you are @ # 2 and # 3, the less you may need to spend on #1.

Now, if you feel incapable or disinterested in any of the above, simply skip all of that and purchase the Rolex you desire from the secondary market and move on with it.

Spot on.

[2001jesper]

Go in and try a watch and talk about how you go into watches - Its much easier to established a dialogue, when you have something to talk about.

[TheVision]

NONE of the AD's will sell u anything without seeing u in person first (forget phone conversations). AD's only get a small collection of watches in the 1st place and most have 100s of buyers already lined up and some of such buyers are their VIP clients who buy mutiple Rolexes (his and her) while also spend another $20k+ on jewelley at the same store.

So if AD gets 10 watches in one shipment, they will SCREEN who they'll sell the watches to. And this is where the so called "waitlist" comes into play. If it's a popular model, most likely, it will get allocated to VIP clients unless you happen to build a very special relatioshipo with the store mr and he decides to give you the call first. A rarity but I've read this does happen to 1st time customers.

I'm in the same boat...1st time buyer and drove 30 miles and popped my head in (twice now). Store mgr has taken my name down and said he'll text/call me if they get the models in stock .

I've signed up for the new Explorer 2 and AD said they've received 3 this year and he's positive that they'll receive a new shipment before x-mas. So I'm waiting it out.

[Roddypeepa]

Gaining entry to “my” AD is becoming next to impossible unless you are a footballer, known face or other celeb. They have an awful, unwelcoming barrier across the entrance, 4 or 5 staff who have nothing to do and who laugh if you turn up in sports wear. God knows how management thinks this is acceptable. And I shudder to think how this affects the brand, by association Rolex. I get that this is one of many but sadly I think this is the new norm. This is a family owned chain that has some branches in Scotland, Wales and one in southern England etc. 3 years ago they were great, now I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole. Sad really. So much so that I recently bought an omega new at the other store in the mall at £250 more than a barely used one on their window just because they are so obnoxious. Your mileage may vary.


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[beshannon]

[QUOTE=kevinkevinkevin;11687305what exactly does "visiting an AD" imply?[/QUOTE]



Entering the store and looking around

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by kevinkevinkevin

It's interesting because it's not often stated what a "visit" actually entails.

Stop by the store, say hi... then break out the bottle of Macallen 25 year aged you brought with you. The AD takes out some glasses, you generously pour. As you drink, the AD presents to you a nicely aged cigar. You both light up and shoot the sh't about sports, music, the kids/pets....

Before you leave the AD reaches deep into their safe and presents to you ____ for being such a wonderful friend.

Ahhh, the good life

Well, that's how it was decades ago. It was wonderful times, you could order whatever you wanted, if it wasn't already in stock of course. Brand new Daytonas for $5k, Patek complicated models for $13k. All brand new, waiting for you.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by kevinkevinkevin

I've recently become interested in purchasing my first Rolex and have been reading about it after visiting my local AD. One of the reoccurring pieces of advice is always something along the lines of "express interest in a specific watch and drop by/visit the AD every so often". It's interesting because it's not often stated what a "visit" actually entails.

Is "visiting" just a thinly veiled way of saying buy something from the AD every so often in order to build purchase history? Or is it quite literally visiting/chatting with the AD/sales person? Obviously everyone will have differing opinions on what it means but I'm curious on what you guys think

Get your wallet out

[BillA]

Spend money on things you do not need or will ever wear.
Be treated poorly by sales associates.
Be put on a waiting list and never called.
I am sure there are others.

[JonaG]

Well, it's Halloween next month, instead of a visit pay them a visitation and demand in a ghoulish voice to see what they have in the back.

[BroncoOne]

It’s a store. People stop in and look around and maybe have conversations. Sales people of all types generally have a job that requires conversation.

Don’t overcomplicate it.