I feel bad...I keep going to the AD

[LuminousMaximus]

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF... I never buy from him, and now I would like to try on a SD4000, but I can't bring myself to go there to try it on.

What should I do? Wear out another AD...

[rolfiz]

Glue a mustache on and disguise your voice?

[zama]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF... I never buy from him, and now I would like to try on a SD4000, but I can't bring myself to go there to try it on.

What should I do? Wear out another AD...

If they give you good service then maybe you should try buying from them.

[Gasoil4ever]

Ive had the kind of same feeling with Rolex Paris, they gently polished for free a little ding I had done on my GMTII bought from TRF. I always remembered that so when service time came I sent it there.

At least I gave them a little business.

[Laszlo]

Go to a different AD. I played this game for a while and it got old. Toni had seen enough of me. LOL.

[Flex368]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF...

If I write what I´m thinking I´ll probably get banned.

[Abdullah71601]

Are you a distraction to other customers while you're there? Do you say nice things about their products in front of other customers?

They are locked up in there for the whole day, how is your presence going to be an expense they can't live with?

If you feel too guilty, buy a nice band or some other trinkets to ease your conscience.

[Fleetlord]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF... I never buy from him, and now I would like to try on a SD4000, but I can't bring myself to go there to try it on.

What should I do? Wear out another AD...

You should stop wasting their or any other AD's time.

It's a business, not a museum.

[NYCREBROKER]

I'm sure you would give them the business if they would match TRF Trusted Seller prices.

[kilyung]

I have a similar situation I buy all my pieces from out of town ADs (and a few from sellers) despite frequenting a local AD. I'd give them my business but they refuse to discount to where I need them to be. Still, the staff enjoys my visits because I share my watch knowledge with them and usually wear interesting pieces for them to look at.

[robbonds]

Let them compete on price. If they get very close give them the biz. If not, don't over pay just because of the guilt. It is a business and they need to be competitive or they should go out of business. At least, it used to work that way ( pre 08).

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

You should stop wasting their or any other AD's time.

It's a business, not a museum.

Yup, maybe if you bought from them and developed a relationship things may work out in your favor, you may be surprised !!

[Danny83]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF... I never buy from him, and now I would like to try on a SD4000, but I can't bring myself to go there to try it on.

What should I do? Wear out another AD...

I would look for a local trusted seller for a face to face.

[Gasoil4ever]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

You should stop wasting their or any other AD's time.



It's a business, not a museum.

And stock, staff, rent as to be paid for...

That's why I bought my SD4k at an AD after buying my 16710 GMT from TRF (but anyways none was available anymore from AD's...).

[SemperFi]

The AD still has to pay their overhead whether you walk in the door or not. If the store is busy with potential buyers then I can see your point. If not I wouldn't feel bad about it. The half dozens times I've been at the AD in the past few months, I've been the only one in the place each time. I usually see the same salesperson and he knows that I'm not buying but he always treats me as if I am.

[THC]

Zero difference between you shopping at an AD and someone trying on 15 pairs of shoes and not buying at another store.. go try on, look, and not think twice about it.

[ronin_ph]

I generally don't go to a place without specific purpose unless I generally know them well. I usually know them well because I've been a good customer in the past. This goes for my bike places, car places, etc. I don't feel bad going in just to see what 'may have come in'. In the case of the bill shop, I'm now a part owner and get my stuff at cost :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ronin_ph]

There was someone in the past who knew AD employees, or freaks or something he said others called them. Anyway, he mentioned they work in rotation, so you may be taking their turn in rotation and they could be losing a sale.

Just remembering that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ravager135]

I made a similar comment in a review I did a few weeks back. For some of us, not all, ADs cannot match the prices that some of our trusted sellers offer. Building a relationship with an AD certainly helps and can result in significant discounts in the future. Some of us have already built relationships with trusted sellers online similar to those we would with brick and mortar. Short of hoping on a plane, seeing pieces in person is the major disadvantage of dealing with a trusted seller.

My solution is to use good judgement. I wouldn't buy a piece online that I didn't have time to try on in person. I also see the point about not wasting an ADs time. I developed a relationship with an AD when I was in the Navy. I have since moved away and now deal primary with a trusted seller. When I go to an AD, I do my best not to waste their time. I tell them I am only looking and rarely, if ever, ask to try something on. I never do so at the expense of other customers waiting. At the end of the day, they do need to make sales. However, I do not believe not setting foot in an AD is realistic either. We all go into department stores to browse without purchasing. I know this circumstance is different which it was why I try to exercise a little grace. It's the same way I wouldn't go into random car dealerships and test drive cars I have no interest in purchasing.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by LuminousMaximus

and trying on watches, but I buy from TRF... I never buy from him, and now I would like to try on a SD4000, but I can't bring myself to go there to try it on.

What should I do? Wear out another AD...

You can't feel that bad or you would not do it!

[kneedeep]

Bottom line, if an AD gets to an all-in price I want to pay, I'm happy to buy from them.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I have a similar situation I buy all my pieces from out of town ADs (and a few from sellers) despite frequenting a local AD. I'd give them my business but they refuse to discount to where I need them to be. Still, the staff enjoys my visits because I share my watch knowledge with them and usually wear interesting pieces for them to look at.

Originally Posted by robbonds

Let them compete on price. If they get very close give them the biz. If not, don't over pay just because of the guilt. It is a business and they need to be competitive or they should go out of business. At least, it used to work that way ( pre 08).

+1 on both accounts.

I haven't been able to come to an agreement on price with my local AD but I do have a solid relationship with one about an hour away. I can see the rewards already, only two buys in, but I did not start it by buying a watch at retail.

[TempoKing]

..Usually I do not go to an AD (although I have many close friends that are AD's).
I know their profit margin, and I know their capabilities - they simply can't discount
a watch to a level that you & me will be able to find in the "wild"...(though sometimes possible)

Now about feeling bad...Let me ease your pain...buy a trinket any time you are there
for over 10 minutes...I buy something for all the women in my life - Nothing big
under 75..they will appreciate it and they will be happy to serve you (not the women the store) lol

[ratty]

Originally Posted by THC

Zero difference between you shopping at an AD and someone trying on 15 pairs of shoes and not buying at another store.. go try on, look, and not think twice about it.

I assume that you mean "and then buying at another store" ?

If so, I'm sure that the staff in the first shoe shop really appreciate people doing this as well!

[ratty]

I know that some will disagree with this but when you go to an AD you are looking at brand new watches. When you buy from TRF you are buying second hand watches.

I personally do not think it is fair on the AD to try on numerous watches you have no intention of buying from them. As I have said earlier, you can't feel too bad about doing it or you wouldn't do it.

[superdog]

Bite the bullet and buy one their.

Figure your paying a bit more for all the service they have always provided, and will again in the future.

[Desibaba]

Its not as "Harmless" as some of you who have never worked in sales think. Every time you see a customer in most sales jobs counts as an "Up". In a slower business you might be the only person that sales person might see for that entire work shift. Not only does it hurt their closing percentage (for which they get crap from the managers) but you probably took away any chance of them making any money that day if they are commission only because now the other sales people will take turns seeing other walk in customers. Just like you wouldnt spend all day at a car dealership only to buy a car from Craig's list after wasting the salesman's time.

[NoVaSubowner]

Originally Posted by Desibaba

Its not as "Harmless" as some of you who have never worked in sales think. Every time you see a customer in most sales jobs counts as an "Up". In a slower business you might be the only person that sales person might see for that entire work shift. Not only does it hurt their closing percentage (for which they get crap from the managers) but you probably took away any chance of them making any money that day if they are commission only because now the other sales people will take turns seeing other walk in customers. Just like you wouldnt spend all day at a car dealership only to buy a car from Craig's list after wasting the salesman's time.

Yep. Not fair to waste their time. Especially when the intent is to buy from someone online.

[Desibaba]

Originally Posted by NoVaSubowner

Yep. Not fair to waste their time. Especially when the intent is to buy from someone online.

I work in a Lexus dealership and sometimes you get to see one customer in an entire day. So when that customer comes in wanting to test drive a car or "Just Browse" when they have no intention of buying anything anytime soon they basically wasted your entire day and your chances of making a sale so basically you made someone work an entire day for free. I didnt understand this concept until I started working in commission based only sales myself but now I do all my "Research" online and when I walk in im pretty much ready to buy if they have what I want and are willing to give me the price that I want.

[T. Ferguson]

This is not unique to Rolex dealers. Especially since the internet many companies face this situation. There are a lot of look-e-loos that hit BEst Buy to check out TVs and play with the remote, then go to Amazon to buy it cheaper and have it shipped to them.

I saw an interview with the Best Buy CEO (I think it was) a few years ago on a TV show about this and he said they were still quite happy to have people come in their stores and give them a shot at the business. They feel they add value and service and customers will come to see that, but they won't if they never come into the store at all.

I know the feeling. They are very nice people in my local AD. I rarely try on watches, just come in to look around and discuss the new releases with them. It is they who always encourage me to try pieces on. Last time I was in the market I basically told them this is what I'm looking to get it for, I'm not pinching pennies and if they can come within a few hundred out the door I'd rather buy from them. On that deal they wouldn't come close so I bought it here. They've since seen me wearing the watch into their store so they know I was serious. Next time I'm in the market I'll give them another shot and maybe they'll sharpen their pencil. If not, oh well. But I'm friendly and don't commandeer everyone's time and attention. I certainly don't interrupt anyone who's with another customer. Frankly, if you're courteous and friendly most ADs probably appreciate the traffic in their store.