Advice needed about AP boutique SA behavior

[lllouisv1126]

Hi all. Seeking advice from all experienced people here.

Background: I’m at new to AP, and currently own just an offshore bought from grey dealer. Early this year, my wife and I have some milestone event to celebrate and we went to Singapore AP boutique looking for a pair of watches. Met a SA who seemed nice and showed us different pieces. After a few visits, we are inclined towards a steel model for me and a PM model for wife and SA confirmed that he can get us a ladies watch and a 15500 blue. He cannot guarantee delivery time for the 15500 but verbally mention that it should be end of the year or early next year. We bought the ladies piece and put a 50% deposit for the 15500.

Fast forward to today, I texted the SA on the expected delivery time of my 15500. His answer is he is not able to confirm, not even any rough timeline, nothing. I asked for more details but he stopped replying my message. I went down to the boutique and every time he is either engaged or busy.

Now, I do understand it is hard to confirm any delivery time in current market. Is it normal for AP to put client on the wait indefinitely even after collecting deposit? I also just found out that bundling is a common sales technique after buying my watches and browsing through this forum. We genuinely wanted to a pair of watches for celebration so we would not want this experience to end up as a bad one. All conversations are polite, just the SA being not responsive.

Any advice what I can do from here? I am ok to wait but I also need to know how long and I am expecting, and the fact that I am actually progressing in the waitlist and not the other way. Thanks.

[Superburrito]

For the AP boutique that I dealt with, they would not take a deposit unless you are actually on the list and getting a watch. The deposit is a good sign.

[V25V]

You say earlier this year, how long ago are we talking about when the deposit was actually placed?

[locutus49]

Ask to speak with the manager. Don't badmouth the SA, say he was very helpful but is now busy and you don't want to bother him but you would like an update, and ask for HIS advice. I have used this technique before. As long as you keep it upbeat and positive (praise the SA), it should work.

[thekman]

Speaking from my experience with the NYC boutique, if you placed a deposit you are guaranteed a watch. No need to sweat it. Although I agree he should be more responsive and given an ETA.

[Gravity]

In the future I'd just go grey for everything. Why deal with this nonsense unless your time wasted waiting and dealing with this is worth the $ saved. Totally a personal preference.

[Andy0331]

Just curious, which boutique was it; MBS or Orchard? While I haven't been to Singapore in a few years, I found the SA's on Orchard to be far more attentive & engaging, where MBS (like many casino based stores) were less concerned most likely due to the "churn" of people.

[lllouisv1126]

Update:
SA finally called me back. Telling me that there is a delay in delivery for 15500 blue and now the estimated wait time is 2-3 years. Again he cannot confirm anything. He also cannot say how many there are ahead of me in the queue or how many allocation they get a year. Just tell me to wait and will keep me updated once in a while. Dunno is it a good or bad news:)

[GB-man]

Very unusual is this an AP owned location? Whenever I have laid a deposit I have my watch in 1-3 months. I would take Johns advice and go in and ask for the manager but without being an ass. You deserve answers.

[blacke90]

Originally Posted by thekman

Speaking from my experience with the NYC boutique, if you placed a deposit you are guaranteed a watch. No need to sweat it. Although I agree he should be more responsive and given an ETA.

Agree. Would not sweat it at all if they took your deposit. It’s normal to wait it out for the piece. If you want it immediately, then grey is the way to go. Totally understand the urgency to get the piece to celebrate it with your wife. You’ll get it soon! Awesome that they took your deposit for the blue 15500.

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by Superburrito

For the AP boutique that I dealt with, they would not take a deposit unless you are actually on the list and getting a watch. The deposit is a good sign.

Thanks for the assuring reply. I also read somewhere that AP boutique will not take your deposit unless they are sure that they can deliver the watch in a reasonable time frame? Since they know their allocation every year. Now I was told it’s 2-3 years wait without any guarantee.

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by V25V

You say earlier this year, how long ago are we talking about when the deposit was actually placed?

March

[HK Islandboy]

I don’t know about the practice in Singapore, but I have not been asked for a deposit by the HK boutique for any pieces I have requested

[Keithfsy]

Hi may I know which ap boutique of singapore you went to?

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by blacke90

Agree. Would not sweat it at all if they took your deposit. It’s normal to wait it out for the piece. If you want it immediately, then grey is the way to go. Totally understand the urgency to get the piece to celebrate it with your wife. You’ll get it soon! Awesome that they took your deposit for the blue 15500.

Thanks and fingers crossed!

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by Andy0331

Just curious, which boutique was it; MBS or Orchard? While I haven't been to Singapore in a few years, I found the SA's on Orchard to be far more attentive & engaging, where MBS (like many casino based stores) were less concerned most likely due to the "churn" of people.

It’s orchard. Ya they are generally nice. Just a bit frustrated they can’t be open with me enough.

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by Keithfsy

Hi may I know which ap boutique of singapore you went to?

Orchard

[ROA]

Originally Posted by Andy0331

Just curious, which boutique was it; MBS or Orchard? While I haven't been to Singapore in a few years, I found the SA's on Orchard to be far more attentive & engaging, where MBS (like many casino based stores) were less concerned most likely due to the "churn" of people.

I agree with this. Also, the Orchard Manager has a way of making you feel valued regardless of your status. That to me is great customer service.

[jag32]

They should not take your deposit unless you have been allocated the piece. This is standard at least in the US. If you make a 50% deposit and are told 2-3 years then something is very wrong and you need to speak with the manager.

[David5807]

Originally Posted by lllouisv1126

Update:
SA finally called me back. Telling me that there is a delay in delivery for 15500 blue and now the estimated wait time is 2-3 years. Again he cannot confirm anything. He also cannot say how many there are ahead of me in the queue or how many allocation they get a year. Just tell me to wait and will keep me updated once in a while. Dunno is it a good or bad news:)

2 to 3 years, that is just absurd! I hope for your sake that the deposit is refundable.

[lllouisv1126]

Originally Posted by David5807

2 to 3 years, that is just absurd! I hope for your sake that the deposit is refundable.

In my case, I do not want to refund as we bought the pair of watches together as a celebration. Furthermore, now I realized that a main reason why they take my deposit for 15500 blue is because we also bought a less popular ladies’ piece. (Other reasons maybe SA is moved by our sincerity? Lol)

So refund will be the last option, if things turned sour which I would like to avoid.

[tp.]

Originally Posted by jag32

They should not take your deposit unless you have been allocated the piece. This is standard at least in the US. If you make a 50% deposit and are told 2-3 years then something is very wrong and you need to speak with the manager.

It’s the same for both orchard and MBS boutiques when I spoke to each respective boutique’s manager. They wouldn’t take a deposit if they cannot deliver the watch within the same year.

[blacke90]

Originally Posted by lllouisv1126

Update:
SA finally called me back. Telling me that there is a delay in delivery for 15500 blue and now the estimated wait time is 2-3 years. Again he cannot confirm anything. He also cannot say how many there are ahead of me in the queue or how many allocation they get a year. Just tell me to wait and will keep me updated once in a while. Dunno is it a good or bad news:)

Totally missed this by the way. This is very unusually timeline. Normally it’s about 2-6 months wait after deposit to get your piece. Would go in and ask the manager.

[SSCosmo]

My experience is the same as others - the boutiques will not take a deposit unless they have an allocation for you, which usually means you’ll get your watch at least within a year. There is something wrong if they took your deposit, but are now telling you the wait may be 2-3 years.

[grievor]

Originally Posted by lllouisv1126

Update:
SA finally called me back. Telling me that there is a delay in delivery for 15500 blue and now the estimated wait time is 2-3 years. Again he cannot confirm anything. He also cannot say how many there are ahead of me in the queue or how many allocation they get a year. Just tell me to wait and will keep me updated once in a while. Dunno is it a good or bad news:)

I was told that the waitlist or deposit list open for a short window every year and once they hit their quota they stop taking deposits altogether. So being able to place a deposit is a positive sign already. But then again the Blue 15500st is a hot piece and I think it's natural they don't receive that many a year compared to the other color variants. I myself tried to place a deposit for a blue in Singapore without a purchase history and was kindly turned down. I did got onto the 15500st black waitlist and have since placed my deposit with them and was given a 1 year estimate. I was told that if they do not deliver a watch within that 1 year time frame they will refund me the deposit should I wish. At any rate, just be patient they have a long list of clients who have purchased way more and are queueing up for it. Blue dials are reserved for those with purchase history. Hope you get yours soon!

[ROA]

Originally Posted by jag32

They should not take your deposit unless you have been allocated the piece. This is standard at least in the US. If you make a 50% deposit and are told 2-3 years then something is very wrong and you need to speak with the manager.

Exactly this. While it looks like AP seems to deliver usually before the promised timeline, 2-3 years is way too long (it almost seems like a joke) I hope OPs deposit is refundable although he seems to be ok regardless of the (long) wait, so good for him. But I would speak with the Manager in this case and knowing that it was a bundle purchase, I hope something can be done about it.

[AK797]

You were told end of the year and then he avoided you and now this has been made into 2-3 years. I'd get your deposit back, really not worth all of his, just save up and buy it grey if you really want the watch, self-respect and not being a mug is more important.

[P2725TMB]

Originally Posted by AK797

You were told end of the year and then he avoided you and now this has been made into 2-3 years. I'd get your deposit back, really not worth all of his, just save up and buy it grey if you really want the watch, self-respect and not being a mug is more important.

I agree with this, as it's unreasonable. However, I think initially I'd try to meet with the boutique manager to see if he can expedite things.

[gaoxing84]

Originally Posted by lllouisv1126

Update:
SA finally called me back. Telling me that there is a delay in delivery for 15500 blue and now the estimated wait time is 2-3 years. Again he cannot confirm anything. He also cannot say how many there are ahead of me in the queue or how many allocation they get a year. Just tell me to wait and will keep me updated once in a while. Dunno is it a good or bad news:)

take your deposit back. 2-3 years is a joke and 50% deposit means its around 14grand.

never believe in bundling unless they can produce a receipt with a timeline given. never believe what a SA says unless its written.

was lucky to get a 15400 blue dial back then because i bought a 15450.
just last year.

[lllouisv1126]

Appreciate all your advice. Glad to see many encouraging comments here. Also agree with those who find this situation absurd. That’s my feeling as well. I’m nowhere near those big spenders but still it’s 50 something grand and communications should be better. Having said all these, I still believe all is good since they accepted my deposit. They just need to manage their client expectations better.

I will have a chat with the boutique manager, through my SA or just walk in. As a alternate route, Can anyone who knows the contacts of orchard boutique manager or higher up please share or PM me?