Bad Experience At Authorized Dealers Thread

[galtinuk]

Was thinking about a bad experience I had at an authorized dealer here in London. Surely there are others that have had the same. Problem is, the dealers kind of get away with it because nobody tells the story. So here is mine, I hope you share yours and I hope these stories help others avoid similar problems.

So to start it off--here is mine:

In 2010 before the Sub-C came out, I went into Mappin and Webb here in London on Old Bond Street to look at a Patek 5167 they had in the window. I like the watch, but was a little reluctant due to the price in London (almost 20% VAT!). The salesman was obviously eager to make a sale so I proposed a deal. The deal was that in exchange for buying the watch, I get called first (or close to it) when the new Sub-C hits the ground. Also, the salesperson said that I could get back the VAT because I am a US citizen. Here is where the shop let me down:

1. I never got the call. Worse, when I called the manager of the store to explain the situation, she said she would check into it. After that, I never heard from her...Nice....

2. This is potentially equally as bad, I'll let you be the judge. I found out that US citizens living in London are not allowed to claim back the VAT when leaving the country. As such, I never attempted to go back to the store with my passport to fill out the appropriate form for the refund..I don't want to be seen trying to avoid the tax by breaking the rules. Had I of known I would have to pay the VAT, I could have avoided it simply by buying the watch in the US or Switzerland or some other place on my travels...

Needless to say, I bought my Sub-C somewhere else. Also, my last purchase certainly was not from them and my future purchases won't be unless they do something to correct the situation which is obviously highly unlikely!.

What do you think, do you have any stories like this...Would love to hear about them...

[R.G]

AD's in London... Where shall I start - I could go on forever. They don't care if you go elsewhere, it's just the way it is.

SLACK service.

[The GMT Master]

I'll be watching this with a keen eye

[R.G]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I'll be watching this with a keen eye

Ha ha ha... Notice I said 'London'.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by R.G

Ha ha ha... Notice I said 'London'.

Duly noted

[Cru Jones]

How's the Patek treating you?

[gqllc]

Hmmm....does offering to buy four sports models at one time and being told no discounts count? Or the other AD that I purchased 8 from in two weeks offered me only a 8% discount on an Explorer II??

[Tombrone]

I'm 20 years old, and in Belgium, at my age, every AD experience is a bad experience. No kidding.

[al_bongo]

There isn't an excuse for bad service. You do what you did and go else where.

Having said that dealers are in the business of selling watches, and since they will have no bother selling the Sub-C I wouldn't have held my breath waiting for their phone call. Realistically it's not something the manager is going to follow up. Your word against theirs that this is what was agreed.

As regards the VAT, I'd say your situation was a little different from the usual tourist and they probably didn't know you wouldn't be able to claim back the VAT. However it's you making the purchase and therefore up to you to check what the actual position on VAT refunds is, even more so when several hundred pounds is at stake.

Your experience wouldn't particularly put me off using Mappin and Webb again. In fact if they had bumped you up a waiting list for the sub C this would have been more likely to put me off using them.

[Erix]

I got the snobby treatment and the "there is a waiting list" story.
Luckily there are 3 ADs here in Nice not counting, the ones in Monaco (very close) , Cannes or in the Nice airport. I just walked 100m to the next AD and bought my sub there, no snobby thingy (very nice treatment) and no waiting list.

I suppose the first AD underestimated my buying capacity and my determination.

[galtinuk]

Al Bongo,

No offense, but just don't get your logic. AD makes a promise then goes back on their word. How does that make you want to use them? Is it not a bad quality to go back on your word? I am happy if they don't want to put me high on the list, but just don't tell me you are going to do it to make a sale with no intention of following through. That is outright dishonesty. It is not acceptable to me, is it acceptable to you? Please explain how that is ok?

On the tax thing, they knew my situation exactly as we discussed it. For me I don't care that much about the tax thing if I did as you suggested I would have spent a little more time verifying it.. but they certainly knew the rules....AD was just willing to say anything to make a sale. If that is something that attracts you..well different strokes for different folks I guess....

[galtinuk]

As far as the Patek, it really is a nice piece. What I love is how light it is to wear..very thin, the rubber strab is very comfortable...but I think it is definitely a polarizing watch...people seem to either love it or hate it...it took a while for me to warm up to it myself...but then the logic of it just clicked and I had to have one!

[esm]

just "bad luck" and "bad form of the AD" IMO.

most of my UK ADs are in London (only one outside London ATM), but i have had a couple of ADs i dont do deals with anymore.

the ADs are in the game to make max profit, so you will have to be able to play their game also.

when i dont get my way, i let the AD know and move onto another one

[moviefreak]

one AD entertained me in South America.. even made me laugh.... funny lady...
when she told me Daytona was 15kusd...
I laughed and told her it was too much...
anyway she gave me a beautiful Patek book...

[galtinuk]

The ADs make it very difficult to justify using them--here in London anyway. You can save a ton of money not using them. Deal with more reputable people who value their own reputation as without it they don't have the "AD" sign to stand behind....

[Joey_V]

My AD is solid... not the best discounts, but they always stand behind me.

[galtinuk]

I guess if you are going to be paying a premium, the least you can expect is that they stand behind what they say....I think many are willing to pay, but not so willing to put up with the BS....

[Watch Professor]

Originally Posted by galtinuk

As far as the Patek, it really is a nice piece. What I love is how light it is to wear..very thin, the rubber strab is very comfortable...but I think it is definitely a polarizing watch...people seem to either love it or hate it...it took a while for me to warm up to it myself...but then the logic of it just clicked and I had to have one!

Picture? Model name? There are some of us who have no idea what a watch looks like from a model number. Thanks.

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by gqllc

Hmmm....does offering to buy four sports models at one time and being told no discounts count? Or the other AD that I purchased 8 from in two weeks offered me only a 8% discount on an Explorer II??

Not in my book. While I certainly would be greatly disappointed to quote a line from a joke my Uncle Charle told me " its your watches and my money and if you don't meet my offer...Goodbye"

[vigna]

I had very good service from my AD in London when i visited him thrice before i paid the deposit for him to get my YG yachtmaster 11 and gave me a good discount and even offered to keep my watch for up to six months to collect from him in between my travels and was quite friendly and now i have recommended a couple of my friends to him. He has also promised to me a ss daytona within a year if i am not fussy about the dial.

[garyfromleeds]

I had a bad experience at my AD " BERRYS " on albion street leeds , because i went in there store not pressed and polished and not looking of money , they all look busy and dont have time for you.

Bought my seadweller from them 18 monthes earlier !!! and a recent yachtmaster service
THEY JUDGE PEOPLE ON LOOKS
WE NEED TO SPEND OUR CASH MORE WISELY AND AVOID THESE BAD ADs

[dethswatch]

Originally Posted by garyfromleeds

.. because i went in there store not pressed and polished and not looking of money...
THEY JUDGE PEOPLE ON LOOKS ...

Put my deposit down on a Deep Sea on Friday (pick it up in a couple weeks) in shorts and a t-shirt, sun glasses dangling from my neck.

Who wants to dress up to buy a watch, car, whatever?

Make me stand around for a few minutes without acknowledging my presence and I'm not buying anything and definitely won't be back.

[Lanfor]

Went to an AD in Leicester yesterday whilst on my travels. The guy that served me had poor knowledge he didn't know there was a new size explorer II and he didn't know what the omega liquid metal is... He also just let me stare at the watch and didn't say a word

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by garyfromleeds

I had a bad experience at my AD " BERRYS " on albion street leeds , because i went in there store not pressed and polished and not looking of money , they all look busy and dont have time for you.

Bought my seadweller from them 18 monthes earlier !!! and a recent yachtmaster service
THEY JUDGE PEOPLE ON LOOKS
WE NEED TO SPEND OUR CASH MORE WISELY AND AVOID THESE BAD ADs

Well, Gary, Berry's have had their dealer status pulled It'll be a massive loss for them in terms of income