AD Etiquette Advice please.

[pokerhsu]

Hey all, I was wondering what is the proper etiquette for showing your appreciation to the sales rep at the AD? Let's say for example I got the call to pick up a watch I've been waiting for. My sales rep has been super nice and exceeded my expectations. Do I bring him or her a bottle of scotch/wine when I go in to pick up the new watch? Is something like that even allowed?

What, if anything have you guys done?

Thanks.

[chronical]

You pay them the money for the watch and you leave?

[Me4u2night]

You’re supposed to offer to name your next child after them…

[arcampado]

Welcome to the forum

[Gva1985]

A simple thank you, a bit of chitchat and a smile should be enough. I was able to get my BLNR, DaytonaC, OP turquoise etc using this simple recipe.

[pokerhsu]

Originally Posted by arcampado

Welcome to the forum

Thank you!

[pokerhsu]

Originally Posted by Gva1985

A simple thank you, a bit of chitchat and a smile should be enough. I was able to get my BLNR, DaytonaC, OP turquoise etc using this simple recipe.

Ok Thank you for your reply. I wasn't sure if most people "tipped" in some some form.

[pokerhsu]

Originally Posted by Me4u2night

You’re supposed to offer to name your next child after them…

Thank your for your reply. It was certainly helpful.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by pokerhsu

Ok Thank you for your reply. I wasn't sure if most people "tipped" in some some form.

I’ve send a gift card $250, twice, for two difft watches. Nothing for third but will


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[ikincooper]

Originally Posted by Gva1985

A simple thank you, a bit of chitchat and a smile should be enough. I was able to get my BLNR, DaytonaC, OP turquoise etc using this simple recipe.

Broadly speaking, I agree with the above. That said, I have on 2 occasions purchased some doughnuts and coffee vouchers as a thank you that extends beyond my SA and covers all the AD colleagues too. I’ve had similar purchasing success too: BLNR, DJ36, Explorer 1, YM37 Oysterflex and DaytonaC.

I think spending excessively or just for your SA, could be seen in a bad light. Just my opinion.


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[pokerhsu]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

I’ve send a gift card $250, twice, for two difft watches. Nothing for third but will


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Thank you! Would I be allowed to personally hand him a gift card or a bottle inside the AD or is that frowned upon?

[gnardex]

Originally Posted by pokerhsu

Thank you! Would I be allowed to personally hand him a gift card or a bottle inside the AD or is that frowned upon?

In Europe is not used at all to give any kind of present.
It would be considered "odd".
What I have heard, but only if you are in confidence,
is to bring something that you consume together with the staff
(e.g. a champagne bottle, that you open there and all together
you do a toast on your new watch).
No more than this,
no personal presents

welcome! if you are thinking to presents,
it means you have A LOT to celebrate!
congratulations!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by pokerhsu

Hey all, I was wondering what is the proper etiquette for showing your appreciation to the sales rep at the AD? Let's say for example I got the call to pick up a watch I've been waiting for. My sales rep has been super nice and exceeded my expectations. Do I bring him or her a bottle of scotch/wine when I go in to pick up the new watch? Is something like that even allowed?

What, if anything have you guys done?

Thanks.

They should be super nice to you for spending that amount of money in his watch store thats all thats needed a polite thank you as you leave the watch retail store. ADs are just retail stores like any other retail store and just treat them the same respect as say a lady on your supermarket checkout .

[MinMay]

If you want to bring wine then go for it, be creative, be yourself, be happy

[Hulkhunter]

I have done it but only at my favoured AD. They treat me very well with both the watches and the fact I get invited to most of the events/away days. I feel like a valued customer so show my appreciation.

It has to be appropriate to the relationship you have with the rep/store. Would be odd to gift something to someone who barely knows you.

[Rolexatlast]

Smile and shake hands. If they have been particularly accommodating, then maybe a nice email to the store manager

Anything further is creepy

Any kind of gift with monetary value is bribery.

[joli160]

Each country is different.

In general sales assistants in Europe do not rely on the number of sales to have a decent income.
In my place it is really frowned upon if you offer them gifts and they will look at you poorly thinking that you want to bribe them.
Show of disrespect.
Being a polite and nice customer is more than enough.

[TheVTCGuy]

Maybe I will go against the grain of the incredibly helpful (yes, that is sarcasm, read in to it “Snarky”) suggestions from some members here on TRF, I encourage you to show your appreciation. While naming your next child would be extremely flattering, I suggest something simple but thoughtful. I have bought several watches from my AD over the last 15 years, and always show my appreciation by gifting the Sales Associate a box of candy, or a lunch from the place next door, or a gift card. I think it is always been in the range of $25 to $50, nothing extravagant. Why? Consider that the state of the market right now is a seller’s realm. You can NOT just walk in to an AD and pick from a case full of Stainless Steel Rolexes (substitute any model you desire). These Sales associates are not desperate for your business. We can (and have) debate for years the reasons, righteousness, causes, etc. But the fact remains that is the situation. Now, maybe your AD has some in the safe in the back, or maybe they seriously do not have the model you desire in the store, but I submit they would have at least a dozen (probably more) customers that they could call whom would immediately come in and buy that watch. For whatever reason, your good looks, charm, spending history, (we can and have debated that a million times) they choose YOU to sell the watch to. IMHO, that warrants a small thank-you token. You are thanking your sales associate for giving YOU the opportunity to make that purchase over a dozen or more other potential buyers, certainly you are not breaking any ethical boundaries by gifting them a box of bagels, or donuts, or candy, or whatever you feel appropriate.

I had ZERO purchase experience with my current AD back in 2008 when I walked in and talked to my Sales Associate about obtaining a stainless steel Daytona. After a few months, she called and said she had gotten me one. I knew from our conversations she liked Godiva chocolates, and when I went to pick it up the watch brought a box with me. Since then I have been fortunate to have been offered and bought several hard to get models, including a BLNR, a SkyDweller, a SS Submariner etc. It may sound like I spend a lot at that store but in reality this is over 15 years, and I know for a fact several customers have spent WAY more then myself, but still I am offered a hard to obtain piece. Surely, there is nothing wrong with, and certainly IMHO it is appropriate, gifting a $25 box of chocolates or bagels in appreciation. We have had this discussion before and the passion and intensity of opinion from some members who abhorrently object to any notion of a thank you gesture. Seriously, YOU (for whatever reason) were picked from a dozen or more potential customers, what is wrong with showing your appreciation? I’ll never understand those that state is it against principal, or inherently wrong for a business transaction. What is the big deal?

[Parapraxis]

If you want more watches moving forward, yes bring a gift

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by joli160

Each country is different.

In general sales assistants in Europe do not rely on the number of sales to have a decent income.
In my place it is really frowned upon if you offer them gifts and they will look at you poorly thinking that you want to bribe them.
Show of disrespect.
Being a polite and nice customer is more than enough.

I think you are right, culture has a lot to do with it. I have noticed that the opinion of Europeans is more trended towards the no-gift policy. Here in the US tipping is common, and gifting a sales associate maybe not expected, but certainly acceptable, regardless of the business. Heck, I gifted my attorney a small token for doing a good job on a legal matter, there is nothing wrong with that IMHO and no one was aghast when I did it. I am not suggesting either opinion is right or wrong, but it does seem to have basis in the culture of Americans compared to other parts of the world. I am sure you can find difference of opinions from anywhere, but it appears to be region and culture-based.

Before anyone accuses me of being an ugly American I am NOT suggesting either opinion is correct, but culture appears to have a great deal to do with general consensus. As in your post Joli, I certainly would not recommend doing it if it is viewed as an insult.

[Harry-57]

If you have to ask, the answer is no. If it doesn't feel like the natural thing to do you should not do it.

Obviously, there is no obligation. My wife and I do it. Nothing expensive and usually after the event, as you are contemplating. We'll usually drop in at Christmas and drop off something for the staff regardless. We do this with a number of local businesses, not just the Rolex AD. If it felt awkward we wouldn't do it, and in some cases we don't.

None of my clients are obligated to give me gratuities. If a situation arises where I have to choose which client to lean towards for a project, all other things being equal (which they seldom are) I will chose the client who has treated me with the most generosity and civility in the past. Apart from anything else, people who behave like this tend to be nicer to work with.

[Tylerlsu2008]

Pay for your watch and maybe send them a follow-up thank you email. They sold you a watch, that's their job. You paid for said watch, that's all you owe them.

[amh]

The ballers here on TRF host a Tequila tasting

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...hlight=tequila

[HogwldFLTR]

IMHO, listen to them for indication of what suits them. Mine asks me to come in and visit so I occasionally do that. Basically, treat them as you'd like to be treated.

[m3tek44]

Doesn’t hurt to give small gifts ( I.e gift card or bottle of wine/ whiskey) token of appreciation.

[B2 Stealth]

I enjoy dropping by my AD to chat and try on watches. I know by name over 15 folks there and it's fun to drop in. I occasionally bring in seasonal cookies and coffee. As a token of appreciation when I purchase a watch I will bring in a nice bottle of Scotch for my "watch chic" as she calls herself. She is a great friend of mine. She doesn't expect anything which makes it even nicer.

[Hulkhunter]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Maybe I will go against the grain of the incredibly helpful (yes, that is sarcasm, read in to it “Snarky”) suggestions from some members here on TRF, I encourage you to show your appreciation. While naming your next child would be extremely flattering, I suggest something simple but thoughtful. I have bought several watches from my AD over the last 15 years, and always show my appreciation by gifting the Sales Associate a box of candy, or a lunch from the place next door, or a gift card. I think it is always been in the range of $25 to $50, nothing extravagant. Why? Consider that the state of the market right now is a seller’s realm. You can NOT just walk in to an AD and pick from a case full of Stainless Steel Rolexes (substitute any model you desire). These Sales associates are not desperate for your business. We can (and have) debate for years the reasons, righteousness, causes, etc. But the fact remains that is the situation. Now, maybe your AD has some in the safe in the back, or maybe they seriously do not have the model you desire in the store, but I submit they would have at least a dozen (probably more) customers that they could call whom would immediately come in and buy that watch. For whatever reason, your good looks, charm, spending history, (we can and have debated that a million times) they choose YOU to sell the watch to. IMHO, that warrants a small thank-you token. You are thanking your sales associate for giving YOU the opportunity to make that purchase over a dozen or more other potential buyers, certainly you are not breaking any ethical boundaries by gifting them a box of bagels, or donuts, or candy, or whatever you feel appropriate.

I had ZERO purchase experience with my current AD back in 2008 when I walked in and talked to my Sales Associate about obtaining a stainless steel Daytona. After a few months, she called and said she had gotten me one. I knew from our conversations she liked Godiva chocolates, and when I went to pick it up the watch brought a box with me. Since then I have been fortunate to have been offered and bought several hard to get models, including a BLNR, a SkyDweller, a SS Submariner etc. It may sound like I spend a lot at that store but in reality this is over 15 years, and I know for a fact several customers have spent WAY more then myself, but still I am offered a hard to obtain piece. Surely, there is nothing wrong with, and certainly IMHO it is appropriate, gifting a $25 box of chocolates or bagels in appreciation. We have had this discussion before and the passion and intensity of opinion from some members who abhorrently object to any notion of a thank you gesture. Seriously, YOU (for whatever reason) were picked from a dozen or more potential customers, what is wrong with showing your appreciation? I’ll never understand those that state is it against principal, or inherently wrong for a business transaction. What is the big deal?

Agreed 👍.

I’m not advocating randomly walking in with a box of donuts and coffee to an AD where they don’t even know you by name. That seems to be what people think you need to do at ADs.

As you said, they aren’t desperate for your business. They could sell the watches to anyone. Same with event invites. If they chose you as a valued customer it doesn’t hurt to show appreciation with an appropriately sized gesture. I usually set the limit at £50ish. But can even be a £10 box of chocolates or something.

[Watchflair]

So there’s obviously a few schools of thought on this topic and it’s been discussed a number of times on TRF.

Here’s mine:

If I get a piece that’s not an easy piece to get I bring my contact a bottle or something similar. I want to stay on top of mind for my contact and show my appreciation that they thought or fought to get the piece allocated to me.

Anyone I do business with over the year for new pieces I get them a bottle around the holidays and personally deliver it to them.

I check in and stop in on a reasonable basis with my contacts even if it’s just a pop in to say hello.

Life is all about relationships. Sometimes it’s the little things that set you apart. It’s also about not making it purely transactional - again relationships - do you know about your contact life personal etc.

Just my two cents and it’s worked fairly well for me.

Happened to stop in and catch up with one of my contacts on Friday. Asked what was on my list. Saturday I got the call for this…




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[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by pokerhsu

Thank you! Would I be allowed to personally hand him a gift card or a bottle inside the AD or is that frowned upon?

"Allowed"...LOL

These how to conduct business posts are ridiculous. You can afford to buy an expensive watch but don't know how to execute a simple retail transaction. Just buy the watch and do hat feels right.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by pokerhsu

Hey all, I was wondering what is the proper etiquette for showing your appreciation to the sales rep at the AD? Let's say for example I got the call to pick up a watch I've been waiting for. My sales rep has been super nice and exceeded my expectations. Do I bring him or her a bottle of scotch/wine when I go in to pick up the new watch? Is something like that even allowed?

What, if anything have you guys done?

Thanks.

Do you do this with everyone you buy something from?