So…about gifts to the AD

[MartC]

In the UK, this subject is often mentioned in jest. I didn’t realise it was actually a thing.

Don’t agree with it myself unless you were actually friends with SA.

[Bizcut1]

We play golf together fairly frequently...if I am feeling benevolent, I back off from beating his a** too badly...

[gmt1]

Originally Posted by omar10213245

A kiss on the cheek.

Omar10213245, just to let you know your account has been hacked, it’s sending out PMs with emails that contain phishing links. I can’t even PM you because it seems that was disabled.


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[AF_Rob]

I’ve sent a handwritten thank you to someone who took good care of me. Also, I sent him clients who were looking to buy. When I look to make moves in the collection, he gets the first call.


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[Frank Mucus]

You're doing it wrong if you aren't giving them gifts...

I tip every delivery person $20 since they are bringing me MY packages. It's just the convenience of it.

Same thing when I go buy a car. I never negotiated in my life and I would often give them gifts whether it be a designer tie if it was a guy, or I would give a $500 gift card to a woman to either her favorite restaurant or store.

Same thing with the ADs. You're doing them a favor by allowing them to get you the watch you want. If you really want that datejust then nothing wrong with giving a $500 bottle of liquor cause they could easily sell it to someone else other than you.

[canez16]

Another cringe post. Do they end?

[Jsol]

I find that if you know their hobbies, a simple yet relevant token goes a long way. My AD loves to cook, so I gifted my fave olive oil and balsamic. Didn't seem overly kiss ass but the personal touch made his day.


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[Schmidbc]

This has been fascinating. Whoever added the tags to the group My usual custom is to send a hand-written thank you note when I receive great service, which this certainly has been. I’m new to purchasing watches at this level and, for me, the goal is to develop a relationship not to place a bribe. Cheers to all for the advice and for the laughs….now off to find a blow up doll and a 25 year old Macallan.

[Booth9999]

No gift is needed in my opinion and it reeks of desperation.

[V25V]

This concept is absurd to me. They are selling you luxury watches and being paid to do so. Buying them a gift to sell you something makes no sense to me. Be kind, keep in touch, ask about their family, etc. Gifts? Nope.

[pinkpiano]

When the day comes that I "get the call" about my Datejust, I'll probably followup after the sale with a written thank you note but nothing more.

What an interesting world we live in right now that we consider giving gifts to salespeople who make commission on "letting us" purchase $XXXX to $XX,XXX watches, haha!

Although I do get it with the shortage out there right now.

[gerry100]

pathetic

[pilco9000]

There is no scenario on this planet where I'd give gifts or play golf with a retail staff member while hanging for a watch.

[Goupax]

Maybe it's different if your AD is a family owned jewellery store, but for big chains like WoS or Bucherer that are publicly owned, I would be shocked if they didn't have anti-bribery policies in place that strictly prohibit gifts like bottles of wine or gift cards. I know that in my industry, these items are big NO NO if a client would try to pull off something like that. Appearance of conflict of interest is almost as bad as conflict of interest itself and it's most likely that your box of chocolates got thrown in the bin after you leave the store with your purchase.

[burnthesehills]

Originally Posted by Frank Mucus

You're doing it wrong if you aren't giving them gifts...

I tip every delivery person $20 since they are bringing me MY packages. It's just the convenience of it.

Same thing when I go buy a car. I never negotiated in my life and I would often give them gifts whether it be a designer tie if it was a guy, or I would give a $500 gift card to a woman to either her favorite restaurant or store.

Same thing with the ADs. You're doing them a favor by allowing them to get you the watch you want. If you really want that datejust then nothing wrong with giving a $500 bottle of liquor cause they could easily sell it to someone else other than you.

At first I thought you were kidding, but then realized you may not be. Possibly you have disposable income so spend your money the way you want. But handing out cash left and right is not realistic for many. Do you actually tip UPS drivers?? Don’t negotiate when buying a new card AND tip the salesperson $500?? Yeah car dealers must love you.

[gamingdoctor]

Pretty sure he was joking.

And to OP, a smile and thank you should suffice.

[worldofoyster]

buy him a rolex

[Ravager135]

I've given my AD a gift once. I've purchased Rolex watches from them prior to the scarcity of the last several years. During that time, I focused on building an IWC collection (which they also sell). A year or so ago, when the steel GMT-Master II with Pepsi bezel and Oyster bracelet came out, I stopped by on a Tuesday asking to be put on a wait list. I expected I would be contacted in a year or less given that I had purchased 4-5 watches from them and had a good relationship with a particular salesman. They called me three days later. I know I shot to the top of the list given I never really asked them for much and had focused on another brand I had interest in. I gave my salesman a bottle of sake.

It's not something I would normally do, but I knew he had to tell a lot of other colleagues "no" who had customers on waitlists longer. I appreciated that.

[RogerOP]

Unless they’ve gone so far out of the way to get something, then it’s just a handshake and nothing else.

At most maybe a bottle or wine for £20 or a gift card for Marks and Spensers for a nice dinner.

[wcl884]

Things have changed so much. I used to get a bottle of champagne with a purchase, and years before that - Rolex wallet, pen, passport holder. Now we are talking about paying someone to curry favors, I mean express gratitude.

If you really appreciate SA securing the watch for you - then do what you feel is right.

[enjoythemusic]

Had quite a few years of Patek magazines taking up valuable shelf space here. Gave 'em all to my AD about a week ago so my MB&F and AHCI books are there now

[SixBells]

If the economy remains soft, the AD will back to handing out gifts soon as it should be.

[2loaded]

Pay the SA mortgage and you'll get "the call"

[nikola0406]

When I got the call for Tudor FXD 22, I got them bottle of wine and nice chocolate. Watch has special initials M.N. first letter of my wife's name and mine and 22 is a very special year for us as we are expecting a baby boy :) And while as was there at the AD they have presented me a very special gift, and as I have opened it I started to cry as a baby, very emotional and unexpected gift that was. I will never forget that day. All staff had come to congratulate me, that was super awesome. So yeah, bottle of wine and chocolate is more then enough. :)

[JacksonRain]

Easy easy easy....

This discussion has been help before. It is absolutely reasonable to provide a thank you gift as a token of you appreciation to the SA for allocating a timepiece for you!!

The people who say no way and never may be people who don't have much in the modern era of watch collecting and transactions

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[APWhale]

Originally Posted by SixBells

If the economy remains soft, the AD will back to handing out gifts soon as it should be.

The fact that you say "as it should be" referring to a soft economy means, in fact, that in the current/recent market it is understandable for the client to offer a thank you gift to the SA for a hard to get allocation. Thank you gifts are gestures of appreciation acknowledging the fact that someone else somehow offered you outsized value when there wasn't such an obvious need to be so. They are not bribes.

[Turbo Racer]

I think giving a gift to the ad is a sign of desperation.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by JacksonRain

Easy easy easy....

This discussion has been help before. It is absolutely reasonable to provide a thank you gift as a token of you appreciation to the SA for allocating a timepiece for you!!

The people who say no way and never may be people who don't have much in the modern era of watch collecting and transactions

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Bingo. No meteorite or gems for them

[TresCuervos]

If you do decide to give a gift, don't expect or allude to any expectation of special treatment in return.

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Gildo

buy your sales associate a Rolex..........its the right thing to do

Yea put them on your list