What it took to create a successful AD relationship

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

As I near the end of my twenties, one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is the value of relationships (not with ADs but in other things in life)

^^^ relationships matter

Good to read your story and I hope you land your GMT very soon

As a side note, there are ADs that cater to the enthusiast. I am by no means a big spender like Mr. Watch, but my AD has provided me with every reference I’ve ever inquired about.

Like Mr. Watch, I turned down the Daytona and I also declined the SkyDweller as well. Both just didn’t suit my eye and I think my AD respects that and he knows I’m just a watch lover.

[Jets_fan44]

Bravo Jesus, bravo.

[bp1000]

just be nice to people and good things generally happen.

Then as we are talking about AD's, good things happen quicker if you add money to the niceties.

[Pw92676]

Good write up. A story with good actors

[Posh Gentleman]

If you are a huge watch collector, and need to have a 10+ watch collection, yes you need to cultivate some serious purchase history and relationship with a couple of AD's.

For most, just getting one or two coveted Rolex models will do. Honestly, having two nice watches is more than enough for vast majority.

If you want to just get a Daytona and GMT without having to drop tens of thousands on other random watches you don't care for, going grey with trusted seller will save you money even if you pay big premiums on these 2 models.

[Vipes]

Nice story and thanks for sharing. This shows that a relationship is built over time. I recently met a collector when I was picking up a DJ at my AD. He has all of the popular professional models. He has spent a ton and has referred many friends who bought watches with this AD. So he is a true collector that has been loyal to this AD. The AD rewards him with first dibs for popular models.

[Tenebris Equum]

Lots of wine, flowers and a little bit of foreplay. The things we do to get on a list...

Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

[brucethemanlee]

Wanted, received call, and purchased....
BLNR - oyster
SD4K
Daytona white
Daytona black
BLRO

offerred and declined
Sub - LV (Hulk) - 3 times
SkyDweller - Blue
SkyDweller - Black - 2 times
SD43 - 2 times (Mk1 and Mk2 dials)
CHNR - Rootbeer
BLNR - jubilee
Explorer 1
Explorer 2
Daytona white gold oyster flex
Daytona white gold silver panda dial
plus many many others

[Talbel]

I can echo the OP's experience. I have been a pretty loyal customer of my AD for about 7 years. I am not a big spender by their standards, but have probably spent about $50K - $60K or so over the years (a lot by my standards). I started with a Breitling, bought my wife some earrings and maybe a necklace. Bought an Omega, a JLC, a Datejust and a GMT over that time period. Plus I am sure a couple that I am forgetting. When I am in the area I stop in and say hi because I like the guy and we talk watches etc.. I have never asked for any hard to get watch or to be put on any type of "list". I was offered a Daytona and declined (not my thing). Then right before Christmas on 2018 he offered me a BLRO which I bought. Since then he has offered me a CHNR, a BLNR and a back dial Daytona (all of which I declined) For me the key is that I have been a loyal customer, he knows I will come to him if he carries the brand I am interested in and I have never asked him for any special favors. We have a relationship and he treats me well and for that I remain loyal. There was no plan, nothing was contrived he just provides good service and that keeps me coming back. Just my 2 cents

[kearez]

Story makes sense. A watch collector and vip with the AD want to help you get a watch you want. He is a big spender, AD wants to keep one of their top clients happy, will allocate you a GMT.
We do this in business. We keep out top customers happy and will go the extra mile for them. Whilst someone who has maybe used your company once, not so much.

[vesnyder]

What worked for me was be nice, respectful, and present. This got me two GMT's!

[Benzsiam]

Thanks for sharing the nice true story, I hope you will get what you are looking for soon.

[ThatSubGuy]

In my city (small in EU) you don't need to build relationships, there's currently a blue sky-dweller for sale in the window (listprice)

[Mr DateJust]

I bought about 10 watches from my AD for myself and others. Mix of sports and DateJust. Smaller AD so probably easier to build a relationship. Nice people who owned it and I always went there. Was offered Daytona. Turned it down as I had already owned one in the past after being caught in the hype and they really aren’t for me.

Issue is the AD closed down so that’s all wiped out. I’ll never be able to build that again. Luckily I’m not looking for another watch until it’s time to get my DayDate down the road sometime. Something that can’t be helped but still I suppose could be viewed as “unfair”. I know I’m small potatoes compared so some but I still built up that relationship over a number of years and none of it matters now.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Mr DateJust

I bought about 10 watches from my AD for myself and others. Mix of sports and DateJust. Smaller AD so probably easier to build a relationship. Nice people who owned it and I always went there. Was offered Daytona. Turned it down as I had already owned one in the past after being caught in the hype and they really aren’t for me.

Issue is the AD closed down so that’s all wiped out. I’ll never be able to build that again. Luckily I’m not looking for another watch until it’s time to get my DayDate down the road sometime. Something that can’t be helped but still I suppose could be viewed as “unfair”. I know I’m small potatoes compared so some but I still built up that relationship over a number of years and none of it matters now.

Let me guess, ENS?
If so I used to buy from there too and loved that AD (my son loved their dogs too)

[Mr DateJust]

Originally Posted by Nairn1980

Let me guess, ENS?
If so I used to buy from there too and loved that AD (my son loved their dogs too)

Yes. That’s the one.

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by Mr DateJust

Yes. That’s the one.

I have such fond memories

[Napoleon]

Cool story. I’ve actually considered trying to find a whale with long AD history, and convince them to help me buy one of the hard to get pieces. It would be cool if some members on this forum teamed up to help each other out. In the end I went gray and paid a few more bucks but got what I wanted without the hassle.

Suggest you stay friends with that guy though.

[C0d]

Send them birthday and Christmas cards. Bake them cookies. Buy their kids ponies for their birthdays amongst other things.

Good luck.

[ZeGerman11]

In my former career, I had wealthy clients offer to “open doors” that otherwise wouldn’t have been available to me. I could never accept due to industry regulations, but it was a nice compliment when someone of that caliber would offer.

Very cool you get to take advantage of that, and very nice of him to offer a favor like this (which I’m sure he doesn’t do often).

Hope you get your watch soon.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by ratty

I’ve turned down new SS Daytonas.

In one day about three or four years ago I was offered a white dial watch, I already have one and didn’t want two, and a black dial watch. These were both 116520s and I thing the sub dials on the black dial version is a bit too bright for me. I was offered the watches at different ADs. I had bought a WG Daytona at one of these ADs previously, but nothing at the other. I think the new ceramic version had just come out and everyone wanted one of those.

It’s easy to say that I should have bought both and just sold them for a profit, but I didn’t want to do this for various reasons.

I would also say that I rang the AD who I bought the gold Daytona from at 10am on the day that the new ceramic Daytona was announced and asked to be put on the list for a black dial version. I think that was 2015 and I hold that I was second on the list. I’ve yet to hear from them!

As someone said on this thread, I suspect that someone has to be either famous or spends lots of money regularly to get any sort of favours at most ADs.

[B2 Stealth]

I have a great relationship with my AD and know many of the jewelers by name. I have purchased 5 watches in three years there (3 Rolex) and a new wedding ring for my bride of 38 years. Purchased a JC DeepSea Deep Blue in Feb and turned down a GMT II Rootbeer last week. Despite all that my AD says the list for the Pepsi is "daunting." Glad I have a Tudor GMT Pepsi to tide me over until I can finally purchase my grail watch!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by MillyS

Great story, thanks for sharing. I agree, actually being a watch guy and discussing it with the SA makes a huge difference.

When I initially enquired about the Sub this March the SA told me it is the only SS model he will be able to source for me as they don't like to offer multiple SS models to 1 customer (assuming this statement is to weed out flippers). A month later he allocated me the Sub for a post lockdown pick up.

We continued to have conversations over lockdown and discussed watches and collections. I told him the 2 other SS Rolex models and a couple of other non rolexwatches I was after, why and my timescales. SA has confirmed they will get allocated to me during my time frame. Whether it happens we shall see but he seemed very confident.

I think the AD/SA wants to understand you are trying to build a collection and not flip and are genuinely interested in watches. Having a realistic timeframe does help too.

I agree. The difference between someone who knows watches a bit and someone who walks in asking for the hottest new watch seems to be important.

And being realistic I’m sure helps as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by iTreelex

This +100. Thanks for sharing OP. It's easy, drop a ton of cash and of course they will cater to you. Unfortunately money talks in this kind of hobby but good for Mr. Watch and his salesperson that they actually like watches.

I’m pretty sure you’re right.

I just figure if there are other people dropping tons of cash at the same AD, maybe the other 4 factors come into play to separate you from the rest.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by horseShu

Thanks OP! It's a great and informative story.
I've made a couple of posts that there is an unfortunate coincidence between TRF "best practices" and "signs of a flipper".

These are the TRF recommendations:

1. get only steel professional models. No two-tone, no precious metals.
2. get only the most popular steel professional models, such as daytona, pepsi, hulk.
3. ask to keep the hang tag, all the stickers.
4. never, ever pay above MSRP.

if you're an AD, tell me if these doesn't raise red flags about a potential flipper.

You’re correct haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by RWH

Doesn't seem to work in New York. I have a decent relationship with my ADs and my SAs are nice but they really don't know the products and one of my SAs have been at the AD for 15 years. He is a good salesman not much of a watch guy ��*. All they care about is you spending the big bucks

I admit, after about 2 years of being into watches, this sales guy is the only one I’ve met that is into watches

Well him and a sales guy from Grand Seiko in California, but I don’t live in California.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Little machines

Nice story ! Thank you for sharing !

Welcome!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

^^^ relationships matter

Good to read your story and I hope you land your GMT very soon

As a side note, there are ADs that cater to the enthusiast. I am by no means a big spender like Mr. Watch, but my AD has provided me with every reference I’ve ever inquired about.

Like Mr. Watch, I turned down the Daytona and I also declined the SkyDweller as well. Both just didn’t suit my eye and I think my AD respects that and he knows I’m just a watch lover.

The “I’m just a watch lover” message has been hard for me to deliver as I am always met with sales people that don’t care for watches.

Good on you for turning down watches you don’t want, and thanks for the comment


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

Good write up. A story with good actors

Thanks for reading! I figured if one person out of the entire forum reads it, then I delivered my message.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Posh Gentleman

If you are a huge watch collector, and need to have a 10+ watch collection, yes you need to cultivate some serious purchase history and relationship with a couple of AD's.

For most, just getting one or two coveted Rolex models will do. Honestly, having two nice watches is more than enough for vast majority.

If you want to just get a Daytona and GMT without having to drop tens of thousands on other random watches you don't care for, going grey with trusted seller will save you money even if you pay big premiums on these 2 models.

I agree with this 100%

I was just trying to share what I learned about the “relationship” way of doing things.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk