Is it considered "rude" to ask an AD to remove links if you didn't buy from them?

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by peacocknation

Unfortunately I think these attitudes arise in most luxury items that are hard to get. Think Chanel, LV, Rolex, PP, etc.

When the products are hard to come by the usual supply demand curve we are used to gets reversed. Think about buying a Toyota when there isn’t a lot of demand because of a recession. Not only do prices come down but that dealer and their sales people go above and beyond typically to win your business and provide high quality service.

Now think about a time in your 20’s when you wanted to get into a popular club in Las Vegas. That was never fun...and we know they were artificially creating demand, but regardless lots of demand, bouncers and hostess treats you like shit unless you spend bigggg money to get into said club.

Ok so how does this relate to why we’re seeing so many posts talking shit about AD’s?

I believe the principals are exactly the same and is why folks are seeing less than preferred service from AD’s. The hard time they give you is because they can. It won’t have a real impact on their business. They’re in the driver seat.

So what of the poor service? Well when sales people are in that type of position, the bad and mediocre ones (and there are way more of those) rise to the occasion and act accordingly. Once the supply/demand tables are turned you’ll see their demeanor change. Crap professionalism is the issue here, nothing else.

Louise Vuitton ...we didnt get bad service there,we got no service we left ,never to return .

[Seafox0814]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

you offer to pay for the service and its usually fine. They pay a watchmaker to be there as a courtesy to their customers. If you are not a customer, you should absolutely pay for the service. Be clear about that up front.

My ad will size by bracelet every single day if i want them to, and for free. Some non customer comes in and i think its like $50. Totally fair IMO. They are nice and polite about it though.

would you let someone who pulled into your driveway you didn't know use your garage to change their oil? probably not. Your friend/neighbor? probably

Even though the Chicago AD said they did bracelet adjustments for free for non-customers, I didn't go into the SoCal AD with that expectation.

I was totally prepared to pay $50 or what have you. But I think when you walk in with a Rolex in hand, they should have at least been on their a-game in terms of proving good service.

"We'd be happy to size your Rolex for you sir, however, since you didn't buy here there will be a service charge of X." I would have been totally cool with that.

That's how they should do business.

[Seafox0814]

Originally Posted by LesserBlackDog

Nice of your Chicago AD to volunteer the SoCal AD to do free work for them.

Don’t know why anyone would bother bringing a watch in to have it sized, it is easy and painless to do it yourself with a precision screwdriver.

To be fair the Chicago AD only stated that was only their policy. They didn't say other ADs would do it for free.

I was prepared to pay a small fee to the SoCal AD but I wasn't going to offer that up front...it should be up to the AD to state their policy right away on doing work on outside purchases, in my opinion, if they want to be strict on how they handle non-customers.

Instead they decided to help me and then decided to link shame me throughout the whole experience. Not only that, they had the audacity to ask for my business next time.

Must have been some drugs in the wine and cheese they were giving out for Christmas.

[Harry-57]

My first question would be "how much do you charge to size a bracelet?"

My local AD would say "nothing Harry".

If it was a strange AD, at least I would have opened the discussion on an appropriate tack.

Not that I would ever excuse bad service. There's no excuse for being pissy with punters. They might have just lost their next $30K sale. Sounds like they don't care.

Because I have a small collection, mainly on metal bracelets, I have a loupe, a bright LED light and a few good quality tools. I like to do it myself. I find it therapeutic and satisfying.

Similar drill when my AD authenticated my grey Hulk for me. I started by asking how much they would charge me. They did it for nothing and made me a drink while I waited. But I felt it appropriate to at least offer to pay up front, even if I wasn't expecting to be charged. If they had wanted something, I would not have objected to paying. I don't work for nothing either.

[boatbasin]

"We'd be happy to size your Rolex for you sir, however, since you didn't buy here there will be a service charge of X." I would have been totally cool with that.

That's how they should do business.[/QUOTE]


They would have made more money your way, and if you paid without protest, they would know that you have the potential to be a decent, uncomplaining future customer.

[Matteo E]

Just do it yourself, it’s waaaay easier than dealing with that hassle.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by boatbasin

"We'd be happy to size your Rolex for you sir, however, since you didn't buy here there will be a service charge of X." I would have been totally cool with that.



That's how they should do business.

They would have made more money your way, and if you paid without protest, they would know that you have the potential to be a decent, uncomplaining future customer.[/QUOTE]



Yes exactly like that - it’s a simple thing for them to have done and I’m sure you wouldn’t have minded paying a small amount for their time in doing so.

[Jcy90]

I’ve had mine sized at AD’s I didn’t purchase them at. No problem. I always offer $$ but they always decline. Lots of AD’s catching attitudes during this scorching market. In a soft market that sales rep would’ve caught a smack from the manager. No big deal though. Moral of the story is that you have it sized and you’re happy! Happy holidays bud!

[Seafox0814]

Originally Posted by 037

You purchased this from an AD in Chicago and they retained your warranty card? Which AD was this, exactly?

I could be mistaken but don't believe we've seen a single account of a US AD retaining the card for a year, hence my curiosity.

Originally Posted by Jcy90

I’ve had mine sized at AD’s I didn’t purchase them at. No problem. I always offer $$ but they always decline. Lots of AD’s catching attitudes during this scorching market. In a soft market that sales rep would’ve caught a smack from the manager. No big deal though. Moral of the story is that you have it sized and you’re happy! Happy holidays bud!

Happy holidays to you as well! Loving this TT CHNR!!!!

[sgarrity]

Tourneau sized mine. Refused any payment and couldn’t have been nicer.

[ronricks]

I wouldn’t buy a watch from someone that was going to keep the warranty card for a year.

[Chilly Coconut]

Originally Posted by Jim Smyth

ADs are good at screwing up the screw heads. I would never let them work on my bracelet unless I knew they 100 % knew what they are doing. Certified Watchmakers, yes. Stupid new sales clerk.......... BIG NO.

AD salespeople deal with customers/shoppers who harbor these feelings about them on a daily basis, and yet we are amazed that some of them somehow develop an attitude over time....and don’t instantly bow down at our feet as soon as we walk into the store.

It works both ways. That’s why I always take all those negative AD stories with a big grain of salt. We’re only hearing one side.

[oldman2005]

I'd go to an independent watch maker and have it resize properly. AD is the last resource to be dealt with, they would rather spend the time with a potential customer looking at a high profit margin TT/DJ/PM than a non-customer trying to resize the bracelet from watch he bought somewhere else.

For additional kick, you could try to ask for a SS sport watch such as SS Daytona-C or SS pepsi from them and see their reaction....

[porschejeff]

I have taken watches to an independent watch maker. He charges me $10.

[vritra]

Should you insist on having the on-site watchmaker do the honors, or is it OK if any salesman willing to do it takes a shot at it?

[JodyHighroller]

Originally Posted by vritra

Should you insist on having the on-site watchmaker do the honors, or is it OK if any salesman willing to do it takes a shot at it?

From my previous experience years ago, I’d highly recommend having the on site watchmaker do it. In the event they do scratch a link, they are trained to polish/fix the scratch. Your sales rep is most certainly not. If the watchmaker isn’t there, simply go back another time. Learn from my mistake lol.

[BillA]

It is fair for a AD to charge you for resizing the bracelet if you did not buy it there. However it makes good business sense to do it for free, you leave with a good taste in your mouth for a future purchases. I guess I could argue it either way.

OP, look through some of the threads and pick up a screwdriver that fits the watch and do it yourself. It is so easy and as one poster said it is the thrill of buying a watch.

[Dr.Brian]

Can you get me this watch?
-No there are big waiting lists for VIP customers.

Shock and awe that you bought it somewhere else. Wacko.
When they started in with the doing you a big favor garbage I would have offered to pay and then said I’d be back to pick it up later. Lecture time ended a long time ago.

I’m sure they are #1. Because there’s an excess of independently wealthy people in the vicinity, not because of any service they provide.

There was a jewelry store in Palm Springs that I did a good bit of business with ~15 years ago, always with the same guy, the owner. One day this dude copped some weird attitude when I returned something within their posted return period. He made a big deal like he was doing me some big favor and implying, not subtly, that I was wasting his time and not being genuine. What now? WTF is that horseshit? He had a lot of vintage interesting stuff and we were in there every couple months looking around and buying. I’m certain I wasn’t the biggest customer by a long shot, but we spent 15-20k there over ~2yrs. He knew who I was and that we were both professionals, etc. I was shocked. AND it was a holiday gift, unopened and still wrapped in their wrapping, that I wanted to trade in for something MORE expensive, maybe 2x the value.
As a physician and Naval Officer I wasn’t going to let this doofus give me some BS dressing down for something I didn’t do, when I was following their policy and a regular customer, so he got both barrels in my most condescending and sarcastic tone, we reviewed his policy, the dates involved, our purchase history, the fact it was my first ever exchange, and no more trade. I’ll take the cash, thanks. The nice place in Rancho Mirage got all of my business from then on. Something I pointed out when I was done. In retrospect I think he might have noticed a major ring that my wife had on the last time we went in there and was still bitter I made a big dollar purchase elsewhere.
Whatever, they were done. I don’t ask much, and I don’t demand any special treatment, maybe some basic respect, but at the end of the day, I’m the one making the big coin and they’re the ones trying to get me to spend it. You can’t be a disrespectful dunce when you’re not the only business in town.

[ekimneems]

Bought a used Explorer face-to-face in NYC on Friday and immediately went to Rolex boutique on Madison Ave. Not only did they not charge me but offered me chocolates. Pure class!

[rolexdream]

Never been charged for resizing, my speedy was bought on the grey and i took it to an official Omega boutique who not only resized free but offered me a drink!

Rolex ad are turning into low lifes

[JR16]

Originally Posted by rolexdream

Never been charged for resizing, my speedy was bought on the grey and i took it to an official Omega boutique who not only resized free but offered me a drink!

Rolex ad are turning into low lifes

Like any business, I think it’s hit or miss. Unfair to generalize that “all Rolex ADs are low lifes.”


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[10klakes]

Never been charged and they’ve even put an Everest on for me. This was a few years back and I do it myself now, however regardless, they have always offered to size bracelets and do minor bracelet work for free. That goes for all ADs I’ve frequented.


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[Fleetlord]

All of this is ridiculous..

Guess what I was doing while glancing through this thread?

Adding a link to a Rolex Oyster bracelet AND adjusting the EZ link! Even used a bit of Loctite. The right one at that...

That's right. i had a hollow ground screwdriver and pin tool. Took me less than 3 minuntes.

Just get the tools and do it yourself. It's not magic. It's not a feat of amazing mechanical skill.

As for the AD, some get pissy about it. They hate that $%^$.

Others are cool, but you should still do it yourself...

[Richard Carver]

Always offer to pay.

[erne75]

If I bought from them I would expect that they would resize it for free. It is part of the "retail experience". I dont buy from ADs though so I do my own resizing.

[Pongster]

I do it all the time. Even watches bought from competing ADs.

Ive only been refused if a special tool unique to the brand (like AP) is required and they dont have it.

[aczaja10]

Which Chicago AD did you buy from? Just curious. I live in the area.

[GB-man]

No but offer to pay for it up to 50 but should be free.

[Nairn1980]

I just wouldn’t take a watch I’d bought elsewhere (new) to a different AD do adjustments. (Plus I’d question how much care they would take over the adjustment)

It’s like buying a car from a competing dealership and taking it into the other one to be shown the controls.

It just doesn’t sit right with me, but that’s just personal choice.

People in sales should get it

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by Dr.Brian

.... I don’t ask much, and I don’t demand any special treatment, maybe some basic respect, but at the end of the day, I’m the one making the big coin and they’re the ones trying to get me to spend it. You can’t be a disrespectful dunce when you’re not the only business in town.