ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

rmfnla · 21 June 2014, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Chan

I get the sales tatic from AD's on matters such as this. Even the one I frequent will keep items in the back, but will bring it out upon request. The most irritating part of this was the she was the one that I bought my 116231 and my brother-in-law's Omega Speedmaster from at the end of 2011 (at the same time). She even recognized me before I asked about the BLNR, so she is not new to the job.

Oh, then she's an idiot...

TheDraftsman · 21 June 2014, 08:47 AM

When walking into any AD there is a difference between "Do you have a ...." vs "I would like to buy....". That's why people get blank stares from the AD when the AD say yes they have it......mostly all of them have S/S Daytonas in the back and other hot models and I can't blame them for doing it either.

SMD · 21 June 2014, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDraftsman

When walking into any AD there is a difference between "Do you have a ...." vs "I would like to buy....". That's why people get blank stares from the AD when the AD say yes they have it......mostly all of them have S/S Daytonas in the back and other hot models and I can't blame them for doing it either.

Yes, because everyone buys a new watch sight unseen without even the opportunity to try the watch on! Funny, the PP and AP ADs have never acted that way, only Rolex. I get the no discount in NYC, but there is no excuse for being rude.

tkerrmd · 21 June 2014, 10:13 AM

Happens all the time, I wouldn't take it personally

codecow · 21 June 2014, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMD

Yes, because everyone buys a new watch sight unseen without even the opportunity to try the watch on! Funny, the PP and AP ADs have never acted that way, only Rolex. I get the no discount in NYC, but there is no excuse for being rude.

Only watch people know what those are. Everyone knows Rolex.

haynes07 · 21 June 2014, 11:48 AM

Maybe she changed the mind because he mentioned his birthday. Am a salesperson in a shop and for that watch which has maybe hit our company 12/14 times out of 10 stores since its been released I totally understand why to safe lock it no it wont be displayed and yes it will be with some one who has a familiar face. Truth be told though you say its your birthday and its like" what the hell" seems like a good person let me pull that out for him.

GradyPhilpott · 21 June 2014, 12:02 PM

I don't like salespeople lying to me, but I see nothing wrong with an AD putting some some pieces aside for their preferred customers, especially when those pieces are few and far between.

As for paying MSRP, I don't mind at all. I like my AD because I can go in there at any time and put on every watch in the store and they are eager to please me and it's not because I'm some superduper rich guy who dresses to the nines and drives a $100,000 vehicle.

They do it because they know that I love watches and that every now and again, I'll pop for a Rolex. They also like me because I tell them all the things I've learned about Rolex here.

So, how does one keep the local AD in business, so that you have someplace to go and try on watches? It's simple. You buy watches there and you don't feel like you're being discriminated against because you pay the sticker price.

No, I'm not against saving money, but a Rolex AD isn't a discount store, so I think it's reasonable to pay the price of the merchandise just as I do in virtually every store I shop in.

eco8gator · 21 June 2014, 01:19 PM

I think you should have called ahead of time if you were serious about buying one. From there they would have greeted you and had the watch prepped.

If you look at it from the flip side maybe she was holding it for someone and then said screw it and attempted to make the sale to you.

Remember...AD folks are not your friend! Their only purpose is to make as much money off of you as possible.

DJJon · 21 June 2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joli160

Stuff like this is making us use trusted sellers ....

X2

Who's to say Trusted Sellers don't hold back selling hot new models from first time inquirers? Maybe they have repeat customers they treat special, too?

Laszlo · 21 June 2014, 01:26 PM

I was recently at Tourneau here in San Francisco checking out Rolexes and the sales associate said if I bought the 116660 "today" she would be able to show/sell me a SS Daytona as a special VIP customer.

I did not throw my watch through the window...

XZACM102 · 21 June 2014, 02:55 PM

Haha, they pulled the same dirty trick on me at Shreve in SF couple years ago but in the end I bought my SS daytona from Tourneau SF last year after being on waiting list for about 3 months (no prior purchase there).

That being said I hate most of ADs in NorCal except probably Fourtane in Carmel. Should have spend my $ there...

Rolex should start opening their 100% owned boutiques and pull out business from these desperate retarded ADs who treat their customers like idiots.

Hairdude1 · 21 June 2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny83

Stuff like this is making us use trusted sellers ....

so true!

GradyPhilpott · 21 June 2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laszlo

I was recently at Tourneau here in San Francisco checking out Rolexes and the sales associate said if I bought the 116660 "today" she would be able to show/sell me a SS Daytona as a special VIP customer.

Now, that's what I'd consider an insult, not only to me, but to all consumers.

From everything I've heard about Tourneau, there's no way, I'd ever do business with them.

I'm quite pleased with my local AD.

Danny83 · 21 June 2014, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laszlo

I was recently at Tourneau here in San Francisco checking out Rolexes and the sales associate said if I bought the 116660 "today" she would be able to show/sell me a SS Daytona as a special VIP customer.

I did not throw my watch through the window...

Omg that Tourneau there will tell you everything under the sun

Laszlo · 21 June 2014, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Now, that's what I'd consider an insult, not only to me, but to all consumers.

From everything I've heard about Tourneau, there's no way, I'd ever do business with them.

I'm quite pleased with my local AD.

The funny thing is that the sales associate there has dealt with me before, but doesn't even remember me, and gives me the same old sales pitch every time... from the Rolex price increase any day now to the VIP treatment if you buy now. It is an insult but I just go along with it and nod my head. I would never buy a thing from them. Ever. But a good place to go for intelligence work.

Laszlo · 21 June 2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny83

Omg that Tourneau there will tell you everything under the sun

Totally... You know, you're from around here. It's hilarious.

RobW · 21 June 2014, 04:05 PM

I lived in the UK for several years and would stop by the AD in Newcastle almost weekly. They were happy to show me anything I wanted to see. They always sold their Rolexes for list price and never offered any discounts. So I never bought one, but that made no nevermind to them. I was always treated well. I also visit many ADs in the Middle East with the same attitude. In many Middle East shops you get an automatic 10 to 20 percent discount, and from there you can haggle a bit and end up with a nicely discounted new Rolex. So naturally that is where I buy my watches. In my experience, I never had that pleasure in the US.

DCgator · 21 June 2014, 04:12 PM

I especially hate when sales people judge you because of what you happen to be wearing when you walk into an AD. If that happened to me, I would buy the watch from another source and return to the AD and make sure the s/azz biatch who lied to me sees I have the watch on and hope she'd ask if I bought the watch from their store. She would regret asking the question....

Rusty888 · 21 June 2014, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCgator

I especially hate when sales people judge you because of what you happen to be wearing when you walk into an AD. If that happened to me, I would buy the watch from another source and return to the AD and make sure the s/azz biatch who lied to me sees I have the watch on and hope she'd ask if I bought the watch from their store. She would regret asking the question....

I think that happens in society thesedays and there is no escaping that. From a restuarant table not being open to mentioning an expensive bottle of wine and it opening up, to watches, to cars, to fountain pen shopping and almost any experience possible you will be judged.

My view, everyone has bad days and whilst I might be the reasonable person they probably had 10 before me that werent. However if you have two chances and you mess up on both, Ill move on.

Georg · 21 June 2014, 05:59 PM

I advocate honesty and openness in both cases.

From the AD side:
"We have a model in the safe, but it's on hold. If you're a serious buyer/watch nerd/whatever, I can bring it out. I just have to be careful, we have window shoppers coming all the time to try on watches, scratch them up, and never buy."

From the customer side:
"I'm a watch collector, and I know the difference between a hairspring and a mainspring. I like to browse watches and am always on the hunt for the newest addition to my collection. I do test drive before I buy though. If you don't have the watch to try on, I have no problem finding an AD where I can."

In regards to the lying salespeople:
"You just told me you didn't have any. Now you pull one from the safe? I'm not sure I feel comfortable buying a luxury time piece from someone who seems dishonest." (Bet they never pull that one again.)

ADs in NorCal

After rolex shrank their distribution model, most of these ADs have 3x or 4x their previous revenue. They feel very good about this, and many aren't ready for the growth (more volume, more serious customers who have to travel to be there). Rolex did a training in SF just a couple months ago though, so hopefully things will improve. I make sure to tell them, it took me an hour to get here.

As I wrote before, the whole exclusivity thing is ridiculous. We're not part of the karma shin clan getting ready for the red carpet. Rolex is mass produced, don't pretend it's hand-crafted when it's not. Some ADs have yet to learn that they need to keep more models in stock. I suspect this is part of why rolex downsized the network.

CWIN · 21 June 2014, 06:13 PM

Although I've enjoyed many AD experiences...all the great sellers here on TRF have kept me from buying through an AD.

zama · 21 June 2014, 07:02 PM

May be as simple as how you phrased the comments. Had you said do you have a BLNR i wish to buy one for my birthday then it would have appeared straight away, particularly given they are going to be selling it at list. I don't often shop at AD's but did buy my Aquanaut at one. Walked in and asked specifically for the model, they had no issues with showing me and I had no history with them, purchased it the next day with wife's blessing. I am sort of OK with the not having a million people just go and have a look and clamber over it.

AK797 · 21 June 2014, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Chan

I get the sales tactic from AD's on matters such as this. Even the one I frequent will keep items in the back, but will bring it out upon request. The most irritating part of this is that she was the one that I bought my 116231 and my brother-in-law's Omega Speedmaster from at the end of 2011 (at the same time). She even recognized me before I asked about the BLNR, so she is not new to the job.

Wow, then no excuse for her terrible salesmanship, maybe you should report her to the manager as she shouldn't be working there.

AK797 · 21 June 2014, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

They also like me because I tell them all the things I've learned about Rolex here.

Informer!

And here we are supposed to be getting info from the ADs.

rmfnla · 27 June 2014, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georg

I advocate honesty and openness in both cases.

From the AD side:
"We have a model in the safe, but it's on hold. If you're a serious buyer/watch nerd/whatever, I can bring it out. I just have to be careful, we have window shoppers coming all the time to try on watches, scratch them up, and never buy."

From the customer side:
"I'm a watch collector, and I know the difference between a hairspring and a mainspring. I like to browse watches and am always on the hunt for the newest addition to my collection. I do test drive before I buy though. If you don't have the watch to try on, I have no problem finding an AD where I can."

In regards to the lying salespeople:
"You just told me you didn't have any. Now you pull one from the safe? I'm not sure I feel comfortable buying a luxury time piece from someone who seems dishonest." (Bet they never pull that one again.)

ADs in NorCal

After rolex shrank their distribution model, most of these ADs have 3x or 4x their previous revenue. They feel very good about this, and many aren't ready for the growth (more volume, more serious customers who have to travel to be there). Rolex did a training in SF just a couple months ago though, so hopefully things will improve. I make sure to tell them, it took me an hour to get here.

As I wrote before, the whole exclusivity thing is ridiculous. We're not part of the karma shin clan getting ready for the red carpet. Rolex is mass produced, don't pretend it's hand-crafted when it's not. Some ADs have yet to learn that they need to keep more models in stock. I suspect this is part of why rolex downsized the network.

Well said!

FWIW, I've occasionally dropped by Geary's in Beverly Hills and the Rolex store in Century City (also owned by Geary's) and they are always happy to show me anything I ask to see.

Needless to say, when I am ready to buy a new Rolex one of those shops will be the first place I go...

Wesley Crusher · 27 June 2014, 05:22 AM

Not all ADs are created equally. Know who you're dealing with. I have no problem dealing with an AD if they are straight shooters, but if they play games with me, they will never see a dollar from my wallet.

tedscott3 · 27 June 2014, 06:15 AM

Just about every time I go to an AD they are doing something I don't like. Holding watches in the back for "special" customers, constantly telling me prices are going up "any day now", telling me how you should never by a used watch, one time they told me my vintage day-date was fake, etc. I will never buy from an AD ever again. Too many games.

Urosfan · 27 June 2014, 06:34 AM

Not all AD are bad i agree some are not to friendly or the nicest but you have to find one you can trust and deal with.

Eric Chan · 28 June 2014, 05:52 AM

Thanks to all who replied with their opinions and experiences. Greatly appreciated. Personally, I just don't like being told one thing and then another moments later for whatever reason. It's either you have it, or you don't. It does not matter if the customer is 100% intending on purchasing the product or not, as an AD for Rolex or any other type of company, the sales associate should be truthful in their day-to-day practices. The key word is should, does not always happen though.

Explorador · 28 June 2014, 06:28 AM

I would have felt just like you. It's ugly when someone lies to you in your face and makes you understand through the context, that she did not consider you good enough to buy a rolex. It's denigrating.

Congratulations for your new great watch!!! Wear it in good health.

21 June 2014, 12:02 PM	#37
GradyPhilpott 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Mexico Watch: Seiko #SRK047 Posts: 34,460	I don't like salespeople lying to me, but I see nothing wrong with an AD putting some some pieces aside for their preferred customers, especially when those pieces are few and far between. As for paying MSRP, I don't mind at all. I like my AD because I can go in there at any time and put on every watch in the store and they are eager to please me and it's not because I'm some superduper rich guy who dresses to the nines and drives a $100,000 vehicle. They do it because they know that I love watches and that every now and again, I'll pop for a Rolex. They also like me because I tell them all the things I've learned about Rolex here. So, how does one keep the local AD in business, so that you have someplace to go and try on watches? It's simple. You buy watches there and you don't feel like you're being discriminated against because you pay the sticker price. No, I'm not against saving money, but a Rolex AD isn't a discount store, so I think it's reasonable to pay the price of the merchandise just as I do in virtually every store I shop in. __________________ JJ Inaugural TRF $50 Watch Challenge Winner

21 June 2014, 01:26 PM	#40
Laszlo 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Watch: Date & No Date Posts: 10,868	I was recently at Tourneau here in San Francisco checking out Rolexes and the sales associate said if I bought the 116660 "today" she would be able to show/sell me a SS Daytona as a special VIP customer. I did not throw my watch through the window... __________________ "You might as well question why we breathe. If we stop breathing, we'll die. If we stop fighting our enemies, the world will die." Paul Henreid as Victor Laszlo in Casablanca

21 June 2014, 04:12 PM	#48
DCgator "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: PNW Watch: DS,BLNR,SubLV,DJ2 Posts: 8,123	Lying to a customer or even a potential customer is NEVER acceptable in my book. I especially hate when sales people judge you because of what you happen to be wearing when you walk into an AD. If that happened to me, I would buy the watch from another source and return to the AD and make sure the s/azz biatch who lied to me sees I have the watch on and hope she'd ask if I bought the watch from their store. She would regret asking the question....

21 June 2014, 07:02 PM	#52
zama "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Real Name: Craig Location: Sydney Watch: 4 Broken glass Posts: 5,808	May be as simple as how you phrased the comments. Had you said do you have a BLNR i wish to buy one for my birthday then it would have appeared straight away, particularly given they are going to be selling it at list. I don't often shop at AD's but did buy my Aquanaut at one. Walked in and asked specifically for the model, they had no issues with showing me and I had no history with them, purchased it the next day with wife's blessing. I am sort of OK with the not having a million people just go and have a look and clamber over it. __________________ Day Date 118206, Daytona 116509 & 116505, AP 25859ST Gone but not forgotten and genuinely missed..... Root Beer GMT, Sub, TT Daytona, YG DD Bark, Datejust(2 his & hers), AP RO, PP Aquanaut, Lange 1, Heuer Monza, Piaget Altiplano, GP Chrono, Seamaster, Tudor Sub, Tudor Chrono, Tudor Black Bay Bronze

21 June 2014, 08:47 AM	#32
TheDraftsman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Shoreline CT Watch: SD4000 Posts: 60	When walking into any AD there is a difference between "Do you have a ...." vs "I would like to buy....". That's why people get blank stares from the AD when the AD say yes they have it......mostly all of them have S/S Daytonas in the back and other hot models and I can't blame them for doing it either.

21 June 2014, 10:13 AM	#34
tkerrmd "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Tom Location: In a race car! Watch: ME RACE PORSCHES Posts: 24,123	Happens all the time, I wouldn't take it personally

21 June 2014, 11:48 AM	#36
haynes07 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: yonkers Posts: 3	Maybe she changed the mind because he mentioned his birthday. Am a salesperson in a shop and for that watch which has maybe hit our company 12/14 times out of 10 stores since its been released I totally understand why to safe lock it no it wont be displayed and yes it will be with some one who has a familiar face. Truth be told though you say its your birthday and its like" what the hell" seems like a good person let me pull that out for him.

21 June 2014, 01:19 PM	#38
eco8gator "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Florida Watch: 5060/a Posts: 1,119	I think you should have called ahead of time if you were serious about buying one. From there they would have greeted you and had the watch prepped. If you look at it from the flip side maybe she was holding it for someone and then said screw it and attempted to make the sale to you. Remember...AD folks are not your friend! Their only purpose is to make as much money off of you as possible.

21 June 2014, 02:55 PM	#41
XZACM102 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Martin Location: CA Posts: 380	Haha, they pulled the same dirty trick on me at Shreve in SF couple years ago but in the end I bought my SS daytona from Tourneau SF last year after being on waiting list for about 3 months (no prior purchase there). That being said I hate most of ADs in NorCal except probably Fourtane in Carmel. Should have spend my $ there... Rolex should start opening their 100% owned boutiques and pull out business from these desperate retarded ADs who treat their customers like idiots.

21 June 2014, 04:05 PM	#47
RobW "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Real Name: Rob Location: Saudi Arabia Posts: 93	I lived in the UK for several years and would stop by the AD in Newcastle almost weekly. They were happy to show me anything I wanted to see. They always sold their Rolexes for list price and never offered any discounts. So I never bought one, but that made no nevermind to them. I was always treated well. I also visit many ADs in the Middle East with the same attitude. In many Middle East shops you get an automatic 10 to 20 percent discount, and from there you can haggle a bit and end up with a nicely discounted new Rolex. So naturally that is where I buy my watches. In my experience, I never had that pleasure in the US.

21 June 2014, 05:59 PM	#50
Georg "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Northern Calif Watch: Explorer II Posts: 93	I advocate honesty and openness in both cases. From the AD side: "We have a model in the safe, but it's on hold. If you're a serious buyer/watch nerd/whatever, I can bring it out. I just have to be careful, we have window shoppers coming all the time to try on watches, scratch them up, and never buy." From the customer side: "I'm a watch collector, and I know the difference between a hairspring and a mainspring. I like to browse watches and am always on the hunt for the newest addition to my collection. I do test drive before I buy though. If you don't have the watch to try on, I have no problem finding an AD where I can." In regards to the lying salespeople: "You just told me you didn't have any. Now you pull one from the safe? I'm not sure I feel comfortable buying a luxury time piece from someone who seems dishonest." (Bet they never pull that one again.) ADs in NorCal After rolex shrank their distribution model, most of these ADs have 3x or 4x their previous revenue. They feel very good about this, and many aren't ready for the growth (more volume, more serious customers who have to travel to be there). Rolex did a training in SF just a couple months ago though, so hopefully things will improve. I make sure to tell them, it took me an hour to get here. As I wrote before, the whole exclusivity thing is ridiculous. We're not part of the karma shin clan getting ready for the red carpet. Rolex is mass produced, don't pretend it's hand-crafted when it's not. Some ADs have yet to learn that they need to keep more models in stock. I suspect this is part of why rolex downsized the network.

21 June 2014, 06:13 PM	#51
CWIN "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Real Name: Chris Location: San Diego Watch: Patek, AP, Rolex Posts: 4,449	Although I've enjoyed many AD experiences...all the great sellers here on TRF have kept me from buying through an AD.

27 June 2014, 05:22 AM	#56
Wesley Crusher "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Wes Location: Holosuite Posts: 6,345	Not all ADs are created equally. Know who you're dealing with. I have no problem dealing with an AD if they are straight shooters, but if they play games with me, they will never see a dollar from my wallet.

27 June 2014, 06:15 AM	#57
tedscott3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego Watch: 116610LV Posts: 572	Just about every time I go to an AD they are doing something I don't like. Holding watches in the back for "special" customers, constantly telling me prices are going up "any day now", telling me how you should never by a used watch, one time they told me my vintage day-date was fake, etc. I will never buy from an AD ever again. Too many games.

27 June 2014, 06:34 AM	#58
Urosfan "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NYC Watch: Me now Posts: 19,372	Not all AD are bad i agree some are not to friendly or the nicest but you have to find one you can trust and deal with.

28 June 2014, 05:52 AM	#59
Eric Chan "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Eric Chan Location: Vancouver, BC CAN Watch: Day-Date 118238 Posts: 8,798	Thanks to all who replied with their opinions and experiences. Greatly appreciated. Personally, I just don't like being told one thing and then another moments later for whatever reason. It's either you have it, or you don't. It does not matter if the customer is 100% intending on purchasing the product or not, as an AD for Rolex or any other type of company, the sales associate should be truthful in their day-to-day practices. The key word is should, does not always happen though.

28 June 2014, 06:28 AM	#60
Explorador "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Switzerland Watch: 16710LN,PO 8900 Posts: 227	I would have felt just like you. It's ugly when someone lies to you in your face and makes you understand through the context, that she did not consider you good enough to buy a rolex. It's denigrating. Congratulations for your new great watch!!! Wear it in good health.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)