What a way to be treated!!

[springbar]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

My point is that they can't. Opening hours are often out of an ADs control. Why stay around any longer than you have to when it's a near certainty that no-one will make a purchase?

You stay until 6 because you said you would. That's why.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

Wow! The ADs over here are open until 8 pm and you can try watches on right up to 8 pm! I find it strange that you don't continue working once the doors are closed. I guess they have a different work ethic over here. Did you ever think that the reason no one comes into the shop after 5 pm is because you've put all the stock away? Just a thought.

Not at all - quite simply, the shopping centre becomes deserted. As I say, it's only in the final half an hour, and the Rolexes are the last to go away - we shut the doors 15 minutes before closing, it's an incredibly vulnerable time for any jeweller. Would you risk the safety of your staff and stock for the sake of keeping the doors open 15 minutes on the very slim chance of a late night customer? Just a thought

[EE33]

Originally Posted by sakuraba

FWIW DavidSW is open 24 hours.

I really enjoy looking through David's Ads, discription is good, photos are pure AND he's open 24 hrs
Will certainly buzz him when I'm ready for my next

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by springbar

You stay until 6 because you said you would. That's why.

Yes, and the AD will be there until closing time. What doesn't make sense is leaving hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stock easily accessible for thieves looking to take advantage of how quiet it goes shortly before closing. The risk outweighs the benefit

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

Not at all - quite simply, the shopping centre becomes deserted. As I say, it's only in the final half an hour, and the Rolexes are the last to go away - we shut the doors 15 minutes before closing, it's an incredibly vulnerable time for any jeweller. Would you risk the safety of your staff and stock for the sake of keeping the doors open 15 minutes on the very slim chance of a late night customer? Just a thought

So, you're saying that because of the remote chance of being robbed, it is best to remove the jewelry earlier. Hmmmm still doesn't really make any sense to me sorry. Six is six, it isn't five thirty or five forty five, it's six. Plain and simple.

Btw, how many times have you been robbed?

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

So, you're saying that because of the remote chance of being robbed, it is best to remove the jewelry earlier. Hmmmm still doesn't really make any sense to me sorry. Six is six, it isn't five thirty or five forty five, it's six. Plain and simple.

Btw, how many times have you been robbed?

If I'm honest, I'd prefer to close a little early than suffer a robbery, especially given how many have been going around recently. It's all about limiting the risk. We've had several robberies over the years, including a particularly nasty armed raid which resulted in the previous owner retiring early. We've not had a bad one where staff have been threatened for quite some time now, although we've had snatch and grabs and switch thefts in the past three or four years. Not to say that we shouldn't be vigilant or complacent - a major jewellers in a nearby town had a bad raid a couple of weeks ago, and there have been a spate of armed robberies and smash and grabs across the country in the past few months. There was particularly big one in London where an Omega boutique and a De Beers boutique was robbed - if big organisations with their extra high levels of security are being hit, surely we should be doing everything we can to minimise the risk.

I really don't want to sound like I don't care about customers here, because that's simply not the case - anyone who knows me or who has dealt with me on here knows how strongly I feel about the buying experience. But I do feel strongly when reputation is called into question over a dealership being prudent about its security. The watch will always be there tomorrow if it's in the safe - far better to put off a sale for 24 hours than end up losing stock, or having sales assistants being injured.

I hope you see where I'm coming from

Chris

[Givmeabrek]

Makes no sense at all. Sounds like the AD is ill-prepared to run a retail business. There is no excuse to operate that way. Since when do employee hours have to match customer hours?? No retail store operates that way.

The advertised hours are the hours when a customer can walk into a store, see and purchase the merchandise in a reasonable time period. There is no excuse. I would never return to this store.

[EchoBlueUK]

They should change there advertised opening hours if this is regular practice. As far as I'm concerned I should be able to look at all stock right up until closing. I would also expect them to stay open a little longer if I was still in the shop looking at a piece at closing time.

[EchoBlueUK]

Originally Posted by Givmeabrek

Makes no sense at all. Sounds like the AD is ill-prepared to run a retail business. There is no excuse to operate that way. Since when do employee hours have to match customer hours?? No retail store operates that way.

The advertised hours are the hours when a customer can walk into a store, see and purchase the merchandise in a reasonable time period. There is no excuse. I would never return to this store.

100% agree with that.

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

If I'm honest, I'd prefer to close a little early than suffer a robbery, especially given how many have been going around recently. It's all about limiting the risk. We've had several robberies over the years, including a particularly nasty armed raid which resulted in the previous owner retiring early. We've not had a bad one where staff have been threatened for quite some time now, although we've had snatch and grabs and switch thefts in the past three or four years. Not to say that we shouldn't be vigilant or complacent - a major jewellers in a nearby town had a bad raid a couple of weeks ago, and there have been a spate of armed robberies and smash and grabs across the country in the past few months. There was particularly big one in London where an Omega boutique and a De Beers boutique was robbed - if big organisations with their extra high levels of security are being hit, surely we should be doing everything we can to minimise the risk.

I really don't want to sound like I don't care about customers here, because that's simply not the case - anyone who knows me or who has dealt with me on here knows how strongly I feel about the buying experience. But I do feel strongly when reputation is called into question over a dealership being prudent about its security. The watch will always be there tomorrow if it's in the safe - far better to put off a sale for 24 hours than end up losing stock, or having sales assistants being injured.

I hope you see where I'm coming from

Chris

I guess I can see where you're coming from.

[Welshwatchman]

I can't bring myself to come down heavily on the dealer.

Perhaps they should amend closing time statement to take regard of the final 30 minutes being appointment only.

[ally]

Blimey thanks for all your reply's

I can see both sides of the coin being in retail myself, and understand the security issues.They were quite good about and did apoligise to me.
Probally in the UK we usally finish our shopping at around that time and there are less people around. I guess it was all a bit last miniute anyway :)

I have now decided to shop here at TRF anyway

[TheVTCGuy]

Glad you are taken care of Ally, and this sure had brought about a lot of discussion. I am sorry, but I have to side with the customer's right to be upset here. I know for a fact my AD (Ben Bridge) will show a watch right up to the advertised closing time. If that's 6, then you can walk in at 5:59 (which I have many times by the way) and be shown a watch. I feel the merchant should adjust schedules, security, store hours etc. to abide by what they advertise they will do; in this case, do business until 6:00. If Ally had walked in AFTER 6 (somehow) that's a totally different story, but since he was there 30 minutes prior to the scheduled and advertised closing time, he should have been accomidiated, even if that meant going in to the stupid safe and getting out the watch for him to try on.

P.S. Is "Blimey" a good thing?

[spuds]

To the OP......

If I'd been driving out of my way, especially at 5.30pm on a Friday evening I would've called just to let them know I was on my way.....

Hell.....

Even 'lowly shop staff' are entitled to a life off the shop-floor, right?!?!?

(incidentally how do you know that they don't have a 'Time Lock Safe'? ..... & may I ask why all your posts are typed in bold???? )




& to the posts directed at Chris & 'his' shop.......

Originally Posted by chris russell

Thanks for posting that, I'm sure it has let customers in the UK know to scratch your store off their list of places to shop too! ;-) .....

I object to that post in the strongest possible terms.

You have no right, nor reason to even suggest that forum members shop elsewhere.

I have met Chris & he is an honest, & very knowledgeable young man & it is without hesitation that I vouch for his integrity, service & dedication to customer satisfaction.




Meanwhile I'm still trying to work out what exactly gives you guys any right to tell Chris how to manage his business.....

Originally Posted by Wisconsin Proud

Maybe close a half hour earlier if you can only spend so much on labor.

Originally Posted by jclevoy

I agree. If they are going to have the watches put-away at 5:30pm, then they should close at that time. Poor form

It's 'his' shop & 'his' rules.

If you don't like it simply shop elsewhere, but don't simply jump on the 'Bash the AD' bandwagon 'cos it's the "done thing"....
especially when you're in The States & you have no local knowledge of the AD nor their specific circumstances nor locallity.





& this is even more sanctimonious ********.

Originally Posted by chris russell

...stores are there for the customer's convenience, not the owners or staff..

No mate, they're not there for your convenience.

They're there to make money.

Pure & simple.


How they make that money & how much they make is entirely up to them & their customers....
but if I owned that AD no amount of money would persuade me to tolerate a customer with that kind of self-righteous "you're a minion here to serve me" attitude.

[ally]

Well Spuds

The shop was not a million miles away, but Friday evening traffic into a town center was busy, but like I had said there website stated they were open until 6.00pm and I was there a full 1/2 before they were due to close, so didnt really envisage any problems.

I have never suggested that I thought they didnt have a time lock safe, Thats what I was told and at the end of the day didnt have any reason to disbelive them. I was polite to them and it really wasnt a major problem, just an inconvienince..
As for being bold, I have always been in bold on every forum I have posted in :)

My post was never having a go at any AD just stating my experience visiting this shop..And I would go there again by the way!!

[spuds]

Originally Posted by ally

Well Spuds

The shop was not a million miles away, but Friday evening traffic into a town center was busy, but like I had said there website stated they were open until 6.00pm and I was there a full 1/2 before they were due to close, so didnt really envisage any problems.

I have never suggested that I thought they didnt have a time lock safe, Thats what I was told and at the end of the day didnt have any reason to disbelive them. I was polite to them and it really wasnt a major problem, just an inconvienince..
As for being bold, I have always been in bold on every forum I have posted in :)

My post was never having a go at any AD just stating my experience visiting this shop..And I would go there again by the way!!

Ally it wasn't your particular post(s) that I found contentious & I apologise if it appeared so.

[ally]

No problem Spub...I did think that I had opened a can of worms or something :)

I have sensed a little bit of "them against us" in the thread..

But for me the AD is the first stop along the way into this world lol

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by spuds

To the OP......

If I'd been driving out of my way, especially at 5.30pm on a Friday evening I would've called just to let them know I was on my way.....

Hell.....

Even 'lowly shop staff' are entitled to a life off the shop-floor, right?!?!?

(incidentally how do you know that they don't have a 'Time Lock Safe'? ..... & may I ask why all your posts are typed in bold???? )




& to the posts directed at Chris & 'his' shop.......




I object to that post in the strongest possible terms.

You have no right, nor reason to even suggest that forum members shop elsewhere.

I have met Chris & he is an honest, & very knowledgeable young man & it is without hesitation that I vouch for his integrity, service & dedication to customer satisfaction.




Meanwhile I'm still trying to work out what exactly gives you guys any right to tell Chris how to manage his business.....






It's 'his' shop & 'his' rules.

If you don't like it simply shop elsewhere, but don't simply jump on the 'Bash the AD' bandwagon 'cos it's the "done thing"....
especially when you're in The States & you have no local knowledge of the AD nor their specific circumstances nor locallity.





& this is even more sanctimonious ********.





No mate, they're not there for your convenience.

They're there to make money.

Pure & simple.


How they make that money & how much they make is entirely up to them & their customers....
but if I owned that AD no amount of money would persuade me to tolerate a customer with that kind of self-righteous "you're a minion here to serve me" attitude.

Lighten up Francis...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrllCZw8jiM

[TempoKing]

The procedure is to pick the merchandise AFTER the store's advertised hours
of operations - you close the doors and start picking.

To pull the goods before 6pm it is a NO NO in my book.
But lets say that because some merchandise are time consuming to put away
the Explorer II should have been kept out and put away last...HELLO !

They have NO IDEA how to run a jewelry business properly and this is
the very reason why so many of them go bust...this industry is full of all chapters 7-11-13 etc

[spuds]

Originally Posted by ally

No problem Spub...I did think that I had opened a can of worms or something :)

I have sensed a little bit of "them against us" in the thread..

But for me the AD is the first stop along the way into this world lol

Ally.

Originally Posted by QueueCumber

Lighten up Francis...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrllCZw8jiM

Duly noted but with respect mate.

I very rarely throw my dummy outa the pram on here but I don't think Chris (GMT master) deserved the 'transatlantic bashing' he was given (IMO).


& I'm bigger than him .......

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by spuds

Duly noted but with respect mate.

I very rarely throw my dummy outa the pram on here but I don't think Chris (GMT master) deserved the 'transatlantic bashing' he was given (IMO).


& I'm bigger than him .......

I'm not on either side; I just love the excuse to use that clip from the movie Stripes.

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by chris russell

store off their list of places to shop too! ;-) Sorry, stores are there for the customer's convenience, not the owners or staff. You want the customer's money, you don't treat him/her like an intruder on your precious time.

__________________________________________________ _______________

I agree that the stores need the customer more than the customer needs the store, but respect and courtesy are two way streets.

Retail SUCKS sometimes... Imagine if very often you are trying to leave your office and someone comes in to sit down and ask you a bunch of questions - some of them not even related to your job. You have a kid that has a soccer game, a wife that needs you to pick something up from the market, a dry cleaner that closes at 6pm etc. You would be pissed also! Now imagine if all this happened very often, and most of the late commers never buy a $$$ of product from your store? Are you going to stay open all night while they try on watches, clothes, hats, etc... no, it may not be the friendliest deal in the world but the retailer needs to shut down too.
Everyone complains on here about retailers but then expects free service, 24 hour availability etc. Try running a business just one day!

When I was 16, I worked my first retail job - you know how much it sucks when your friends and the girl you have had a crush on for ten years all go to a movie and you miss it 'cause that one "customer" that comes in 3 minutes before you close and does the weekly shopping without the slightes bit of respect or appreciation for others time?!

Seriously, this site is so one sided it amazes me sometimes!
Also, I love the OP's comment, after being completely pissed off...he says "I may have bought a watch". It's not like he was 100% prepared to buy a Rolex at 6pm. How would that manager feel if he re-opened the safe, paid the extra $$ for his employees overtime, missed family dinner...oh, and the "customer" says -"I can save a few dollars from TRF grey dealer".

I really thought this was one "AD Sucks" threads I would not comment on but I couldn't fight the urge. :-)

-Pete

[Tools]

You know...I really get tired of the AD bashing threads..

Many of them seem like they could be legitimate, and others seem like a fantasy just to get as many members to jump on the bandwagon..

And sometimes they just degrade into finger pointing...............


In any event, this one has degraded and drifted far away from it's initial point.........