Maybe I'm crazy, but I made the lady mad at Mayors...

[RobTime]

I think paranoid is the wrong word. He was just being cautious... That's that.

[cyglee]

Please, everyone... some of these responses are not necessary.
Where is the comaraderie, friendship and dignity that makes TRF special?
Chill and enjoy.

[Rjwareagle]

Originally Posted by RobTime

I think paranoid is the wrong word. He was just being cautious... That's that.

Thanks. Finally realized my point!

[tonyteetime]

Originally Posted by RobTime

I think paranoid is the wrong word. He was just being cautious... That's that.

Good choice of word

[MJK737]

I think you guys drove him to the "I'm depressed I should look at my Rolex thread"

[azguy]

Wow, interesting thread. This is my take on what happened:

They hire a new girl and tell her if someone comes in with a Rolex, offer a free cleaning, nobody will refuse that It'll keep em in the store for 10-15 minutes WITHOUT a watch on. Then get the customer to try on a few watches and maybe you'll have a sale easy peasey.....

I think she was following instructions. I've been in sales for 25 years and if I was working in a watch store tomorrow this would be my selling strategy. I would have had a white Explorer II on your wrist in about 10 seconds flat, telling you how great it looked on you

My take at least-

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by cyglee

Please, everyone... some of these responses are not necessary.
Where is the comaraderie, friendship and diginity that makes TRF special?
Chill and enjoy.

I agree!

There seems to be a lot of these lynching as of late.

The OP had a concern and he chose to yield on the side of caution (perhaps unnecessary but it's his watch paid with his money). I've seen dumber posts that go unnoticed on this forum.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by azguy

Wow, interesting thread. This is my take on what happened:

They hire a new girl and tell her if someone comes in with a Rolex, offer a free cleaning, nobody will refuse that It'll keep em in the store for 10-15 minutes WITHOUT a watch on. Then get the customer to try on a few watches and maybe you'll have a sale easy peasey.....

I think she was following instructions. I've been in sales for 25 years and if I was working in a watch store tomorrow this would be my selling strategy. I would have had a white Explorer II on your wrist in about 10 seconds flat, telling you how great it looked on you

My take at least-

That's the way I see it.

[bodybump]

switching no...but to check if its counterfeit yes...they will not tell you this but they do check it i know somebody who works at mayors...

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

That's the way I see it.

This is also true..

[Omega 1120]

You did the right thing.

I would NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER let someone at a jewelry store clean my watch.

For one thing....it's already clean.

For two......they might have throw the entire watch in a dirty ultrasonic cleaner. Screwing up the seals, vibrating the internals apart and maybe even dumped it in with another watch so their crystals can "rub" up against each other at 200,000 vibrations a second creating a nice little mark that you wouldn't have noticed until you got back home.

The best she could have done for you was to clean it perfectly with mild soap and water and hand it back to you with some scratches on the ceramic bezel.

Anyone that lets a complete stranger handle their multi-thousand dollar watch deserves whatever scratches or damage that might follow.

[Paladin]

I believe my AD removes the bracelet and gives it a sonic cleaning and I'm not sure how they clean the watch head, they may steam it.

At issue with the OP is not that you refused hand over your watch for a cleaning, you have every right to for whatever reason. What you also did was basically accuse the AD of not being trustworthy without ANY evidence and then went so far as to say that you KNOW it's done (switiching fake for real watches) and again, without any evidence at all nor a single instance of it ever occurring anywhere. That is why the opinions voiced are what they are.

If you were traveling abroad in a second or third world country without the rule of law and where US $5000is a years income to the average citizen, then I would whole hartedly agree with your concern over a possible switch being valid.

[kkwn98]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

I agree!

There seems to be a lot of these lynching as of late.

The OP had a concern and he chose to yield on the side of caution (perhaps unnecessary but it's his watch paid with his money). I've seen dumber posts that go unnoticed on this forum.

Nobody said he had to go for the offer of a free cleaning. It's absolutely up to him to accept or decline such service. But to say it's because of some concerns that the watch might be switched (at a large AD, no less) or, even worse, that the saleswoman could be part of a scam or a random nobody posing as a saleswoman out to steal his watch is, well, not really normal.

[hdrazor251]

I would decline also but when she kept insisting I would just say I keep the dirt as a memento of my previous adventures

[joe100]

I feel I have a good relationship with my AD and my Rolex service tech is really great. I view my Rolex "mechanic" the same way I view my BMW ''mechanic". If they want to poke around under the hood so to speak, or just look things over, I'm definitely fine with it. There are a couple Omega dealers in town and I know them quite well too. I readily hand over my toys for them to see.

I wear stuff mostly Rolexers don't like anyway haha so I'm not worried about a swap or them hurting them. Your mileage may vary though. I like to have people in my circle I can trust fully.

[gwozhog]

Should have told her you have something else she can polish. Shoes that is.

[GradyPhilpott]

When I'm at my AD, I try to build relationships. That doesn't mean that I'll be pushed around or forced into decisions that are not in my best interest.

The sales staff at my AD can be quite persistent when I'm there, but then again, they know that I love the Rolex watches and I do have a track record.

My watchmaker has offered to do a bracelet cleaning for me free of charge, but I haven't taken him up on it yet, because I wash my watches quite frequently.

Personally, I would have been glad to take off my watch to let the sales clerk look at it and I would in turn ask to see one of the watches in the display case.

That would be reasonable.

Being in a strange store, I, too, may have balked at taking my watch to the back of the store.

Trust is a two-way street and has to be developed.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by Omega 1120

You did the right thing.

I would NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER let someone at a jewelry store clean my watch.

For one thing....it's already clean.

For two......they might have throw the entire watch in a dirty ultrasonic cleaner. Screwing up the seals, vibrating the internals apart and maybe even dumped it in with another watch so their crystals can "rub" up against each other at 200,000 vibrations a second creating a nice little mark that you wouldn't have noticed until you got back home.

The best she could have done for you was to clean it perfectly with mild soap and water and hand it back to you with some scratches on the ceramic bezel.

Anyone that lets a complete stranger handle their multi-thousand dollar watch deserves whatever scratches or damage that might follow.

The store basically wipes it off. They are one of the largest dealers in the country, not just some jewelry store.

Originally Posted by kkwn98

Nobody said he had to go for the offer of a free cleaning. It's absolutely up to him to accept or decline such service. But to say it's because of some concerns that the watch might be switched (at a large AD, no less) or, even worse, that the saleswoman could be part of a scam or a random nobody posing as a saleswoman out to steal his watch is, well, not really normal.

Very well said. Nothing wrong at all with declining a cleaning. I guess it bothers me that someone thinks an AD with a multi-million dollar inventory is going to steal a SS watch just cracks me up. Some rolex owners are paranoid as the doomsday prepper crowd.

[outtatime]

I was out shopping for Panerai straps a few weeks ago. The sales girl said the watchmaker needed to see my PAM in order to "verify the size straps it takes". Huh? I said I would not be handing over my watch to her for any reason, especially one as ridiculous as that. She got very upset, and assured me they weren't just "any jewelry store" and "nothing would happen to it". I told her it was not coming off my wrist. She tried 3-4 times but eventually gave up.

Sorry, no. Not handing a stranger my watch, even if it is in an AD. Once I did yell at someone who picked it up without my permission (another sales person at a different store). I wrote their management about it as well.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by outtatime

I was out shopping for Panerai straps a few weeks ago. The sales girl said the watchmaker needed to see my PAM in order to "verify the size straps it takes".

How is that ridiculous or unreasonable?

Lug widths can vary quite a bit. A millimeter or two can be hard to eyeball from a distance.

Of course, whoever is doing the sizing could come to the front of the store and do it there in your presence, I guess.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

How is that ridiculous or unreasonable?

Lug widths can vary quite a bit.

I agree. IMO some are way to over protective.

[DARK_KNIGHT]

Originally Posted by outtatime

Once I did yell at someone who picked it up without my permission (another sales person at a different store). I wrote their management about it as well.

Don't shoot! LOL.

[outtatime]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

How is that ridiculous or unreasonable?

Lug widths can vary quite a bit. A millimeter or two can be hard to eyeball from a distance.

Of course, whoever is doing the sizing could come to the front of the store and do it there in your presence, I guess.

Because I told her I needed 24mm. And she told me they "needed" to "make sure". Even if I was dumb (or mistaken), that would be very obvious as soon as they brought one out to show me. I am not allowing someone to take my watch just because they assume I am too stupid to know what size strap it takes. I don't think that's being overprotective.

If you needed new tires for your car...and you drove it to a tire store, went inside and said you needed a set of 235/40R17s, if they said "we'll need to take your car out for a test drive, and you can't come along", would you let them?

I wouldn't. But I guess I just have had too many bad experiences by negligent authorized dealers damaging my property. NO ONE is touching my watches other than me anymore.

[z0mghenry]

I think she was being nice, just a little too insistent by the sound of it. Mayors is a very reputable AD in Atlanta with several locations. Take a second and try to see where she is coming from. You could say an AD is an AD is an AD but what differentiates an okay AD to one that you would want to come back to is one that has good customer service. I intentionally choose an AD that has a smaller stock than one that has big stock because I have developed a good relationship with my AD (I think). That's not to say you are wrong for being cautious. I would be too, but you have nothing to worry about. I will say that if you are in an AD in a mall in Atlanta, then you are in pretty good hands. I think a simple "no thank you" will suffice and I hope your next visit will be better!

[aeon888]

Yeah... My apologies OP for previous comments but your experience can work both ways.

1. You were leery and uncomfortable to have your watch taken by the sales lady at the AD out of your sight to be cleaned because as you said, they might swap it with a fake one. In other words, You were suspicious of that mayors lady. Or...

2. That mayors lady must have a list of stolen Sea-dwellers with corresponding serial numbers and she wants to check your watch out if it was legit. In other words, she was suspicous of you too. LOL

So yeah, it works both ways. But in the end, it is your watch and you have every right to do whatever you want with it. Just like when a friend would ask to drive your newly bought sports car to take it for a spin, you can always have the right to deny him because he might wreck it or do something stupid with it.

[Rjwareagle]

I see that everyone mentions "their AD" I would not have a problem if I knew them. I just dropped in to look. Never met them before. I have no problem leaving my watch at "my watch guys" place. I know him! And he knows me! Again, I'm no accusing them of anything it's a what if scenario. My DSSD came from Mayors in Jacksonville! I still would decline there to. Never built a relationship their either. Im just careful. It's not a crime, at least last time I looked.

[77T]

Glad I found this - it explains the strangest Mayor's experience I had tonight. As I walked in a girl was sobbing uncontrollably in the corner and muttering, "what's wrong with me? I can't even give away free cleaning right..."

Over in another corner a customer had 2 new Rolex on - one on each wrist - and kept asking loudly, "where the heck is MY Rolex? It doesn't take 45 minutes to clean a watch!"

And in the back there was this guy making a movie and doing... well doing a prep for a cleaning I guess...



.
.
.

NOW I know how the whole store got turned upside down.

.
.
.

Sorry I couldn't resist - just wanted to bring something happy here.

To the OP - I've been to hundreds of stores - AD's, non-AD's and even Pawn Shops who've brushed up a watch or two dozen of them for me. There's always a reason for asking a customer a question - a free cleaning is one of them. Next time ask them if you can observe how they do it...you get a free cleaning and learn something new...and no worries about a switcheroo.

Unless Penn & Teller are the watchmakers!

[Silvio Mosiello]

Why would you ever ever decline that seriously. Mayors is an AD same as tourneau or any other ad you can think of. They would professionally clean your watch a 150+ cleaning for free. Theyre a multi billion dollar corparation with cameras everywhere. I would have said yes 24 7 365

[aeon888]

Originally Posted by 77T

Glad I found this - it explains the strangest Mayor's experience I had tonight. As I walked in a girl was sobbing uncontrollably in the corner and muttering, "what's wrong with me? I can't even give away free cleaning right..."

Over in another corner a customer had 2 new Rolex on - one on each wrist - and kept asking loudly, "where the heck is MY Rolex? It doesn't take 45 minutes to clean a watch!"

And in the back there was this guy making a movie and doing... well doing a prep for a cleaning I guess...

Bwahahahaha you cracked me up tonight! LOL Especially with the "Customer with two new ROLEX watches on each wrist impatiently looking for his own watch that was sent out the back for supposedly a "cleaning" LOL

What a conspiracy! LOL

[Lagunatic]

Stay away from Ben Bridge Jewelers. I once went into their South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, Ca store for a free steam cleaning. i came home with the watch and noticed a dent in the case and the crown was just about welded onto the case. i couldn't even open it. i complained to the Seattle, HQ and nobody would take responsibility. I had to send it to the Dallas Servicenter for a $700 overhaul. They did a beautiful job on the watch. I owned that Rolex Seadweller 4000 for over 16 years and never had a scratch on it. I think its best to clean your own watch