Tourneau stores

[JJL]

I purchased my Rolex from a trusted TRF source (thanks Invision) so don't get me wrong - I know where it's at!! but I've heard horror stories about Tourneau and to stay away from them.

What is it that gives tourneau a bad rap? Over priced, bad customer service?

I'm just curious because a friend of mine at work seems to swear by them and that's where he buys all his watches from.

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by JJL

I purchased my Rolex from a trusted TRF source (thanks Invision) so don't get me wrong - I know where it's at!! but I've heard horror stories about Tourneau and to stay away from them.

What is it that gives tourneau a bad rap? Over priced, bad customer service?

I'm just curious because a friend of mine at work seems to swear by them and that's where he buys all his watches from.

All of the above. Terrible service and way over priced. Their sales staff is extremely rude or at least that has been my experience here in NYC. I am sure others can chime in as well.

[MonBK]

x2

[SteKos]

Same with the Chicago stores. If you ask for any money off MSRP, you get major attitude.

I've even had them ask me if I intended to buy a watch today, before they'd pull something out of the case to show me.

[JJL]

Originally Posted by SteKos

Same with the Chicago stores. If you ask for any money off MSRP, you get major attitude.

I've even had them ask me if I intended to buy a watch today, before they'd pull something out of the case to show me.

Wow, that would bother me. I'd probably respond with "Not anymore. Not from here at least..."

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by SteKos

Same with the Chicago stores. If you ask for any money off MSRP, you get major attitude.

I've even had them ask me if I intended to buy a watch today, before they'd pull something out of the case to show me.

When I was looking to buy an Explorer II I was checking out a used Exp II at Tourneau. It was priced at 5200 used and this was before the price increase last year so the price seemed a little high. I mentioned that this seemed pretty high for used and the salesman literally grabbed the watch out of my hand and told me it was my perogative to shop somewhere else. I wasn't rude at all and was being quite nice. I was just inquiring about the price. It was one of the most surreal sales experiences I have ever experienced.

[slcbbrown]

I've been in one or two (Houston and, I think, Dallas) and thought they were nice places to look at pre-owned watches, as well as some new ones. I thought most of the prices were a bit high but not terrible. I saw an older GP chrono at a very nice price.

The sales people strike me as obviously on commission of some kind, and they were very eager to show me watches. They aren't necessarily WIS's or watch fans, and I wouldn't expect them to spend much time with me, if I wasn't going to buy in the near future.

Some of the Rolex prices at Tourneau that I see thrown around the Forum do seem quite high for new or close to new.

[B. Doggy]

They have never really turned me off completely. I was a little miffed when they told me you had to spend $100K in one year with them to get an SS Daytona though. I mean, WTF! They probably had 3 in the safe....but this was Vegas.

[Alan111]

Their service is atrocious, to say the least. Disrespectful, arrogant and lowly.... as if the salesmen themselves own Torneau. I will never in my entire life purchase anything from there. EVER.

[conrail]

Boston-area ones are garbage. Pushy salesmen and WAY overpriced. The watches are themselves, mostly fine. I did have a horrible experience with the Copley Plaza one and a broken Daytona, but in comparison I had a nice experience with the King of Prussia one (over the phone though, no in-store experience).

[beetlejelly]

If they service a watch, do they send it to rolex, or do they do it in house? If the latter, does Roles certify watch makers?

[Ray T]

wow didn't know tourneau was that bad, i actually bought a tag watch from them at king of prussia and the people there were pretty nice. this was 2-3 years ago

[snowbird]

On the other hand, they do carry quite a few watch brands so it's a good place if you want to look at more than one brand. Only store I've ever seen Bremont watches at, for example.

[www777]

good place to look. not to buy. very poor trade in values. no discounts. and you have no chance to get a difficult to find watch.

[conrail]

Originally Posted by beetlejelly

If they service a watch, do they send it to rolex, or do they do it in house? If the latter, does Roles certify watch makers?

They have an in-house service center they send it to, not a RSC. They claim their guys are Rolex-certified, which is probably true.

[conrail]

Originally Posted by ufokillerz

wow didn't know tourneau was that bad, i actually bought a tag watch from them at king of prussia and the people there were pretty nice. this was 2-3 years ago

My experience with the King of Prussia store was also very positive.

[CKLinLA]

I've always been treated well when at Tourneau, but I'd agree that
their staff (like those in many stores) are not knowledgeable at all
about watches. My only purchase from them was my Used Breitling
Chronomat Limited Edition (last year) and it was at a fair price, ... even
before they gave me an extra Breitling strap. The regular Breitling strap
it came with was too long for my puny hands, and they ordered a 'short'
strap and gave it to me 'gratis' when it arrived 3 months later.

Plus, like snowbird said, its they do carry a good selection of Bremonts.

[HL65]

Price--that is where it all comes to a complete halt for me!!!

[noche619]

I bought my first rolex at Tourneau many years ago. I don't really remember how they treated me. I was so young, I just bought the watch and didn't give it much thought.
Recently I've visited the Tourneau store in San Diego a couple of times. They have been helpful and it seems to me they are reasonably knowledgeable - at least two out of the three who helped me. But I'm not a watch expert so my expectations are probably not as high as some of yours.

[dddrees]

I enjoyed window shopping at the one in New York and in Las Vegas. But I never had any intent in actually buying a watch in either place. I was there to look around,and I knew I wouldn't be able to get a very good deal in either store.

[JUSTROLEXES]

Knowledge and attitude are 2 things that can not be labeled to a chain store that size... so Let's give them a break here
That should be a case by case
As to price, they don't offer the lowest prices so I agree with you here ...

[Speed]

Look but don't buy @ Turdneau.

[NYC6]

Bought my new Sub ND from them 2 years ago. They were respectful, attentive and got a good deal off of msrp. I'll go back there anytime.

[indeuce]

There's one guy at the San Francisco Tourneau/Rolex boutique that's next door that seems pretty knowledgeable and friendly. He saw that I wore a Sinn and I told him I had a GO, so he showed me a Breuget XXI that I might like. His customer service skills were good and he wasn't overbearing or condescending.

I think he might be the saving grace at the store.

[pmb600]

The big Time Machine in New York is very bad, the sales people just stare you down when you walk up to the second and third floors (where all the good stuff is). Finally if you ask, someone will reluctantly help you. I would never buy there, but it's nice to look since they have so much in one spot.

[Watch Professor]

Not all "T" stores are the same. I agree that the one in Vegas has a staff that is arrogant, but I've had good experiences with the two on Long Island. I bought my GMT IIC in one from a very knowledgable salesman with a decent discount, and an Omega Spedy pro from the other from a saleswoman who didn't know watches from shoes at an even better discount. The key to a good experience is know your product before entering the store and practice your negotiating skills. Of course, you can buy from one of our sellers for an even better experience.

[travisb]

Great place to look at watches and that's about it.
Overpriced, bad customer service, snobby (most of them), and worst of all - the vast majority of the sales staff does not know the product they are selling...
I stick with TRF sellers or my local ADs.

[mjclark32]

I've window shopped the one in Garden State Plaza in Paramus NJ, they were pretty nice even after I told them I had no intent to purchase at the moment.

[drtooth73]

I think that because they are mostly in the malls, they just hire off the street. And you guys come in and want to talk about watches, while all they want to do is a quick sale.
But in some stores, especially in SE Florida, I have seen some very knowledgable salespeople, who are watch collectors as well, and they are happy to talk timepieces.
Btw, a Tourneau manager in a local store after noticing what I had on my wrist, offered me a huge discount on purchase.

[conrail]

Originally Posted by pmb600

The big Time Machine in New York is very bad, the sales people just stare you down when you walk up to the second and third floors (where all the good stuff is). Finally if you ask, someone will reluctantly help you. I would never buy there, but it's nice to look since they have so much in one spot.

Hahaha, thats the exact reception I got there a few summers ago!