AD recommendation in DC area?

[Ceriano]

I’m looking to establish relationship with a new AD in DMV area. The current AD has offered a few pieces but not the exact pieces I’m after. My interaction with the SA hasn’t been very pleasant since I turned down a lefty so I’m thinking to start working with another AD. Any ADs you can suggest in the area?

[ExplorerI]

Tiny Jewel Box

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Ceriano

I’m looking to establish relationship with a new AD in DMV area. The current AD has offered a few pieces but not the exact pieces I’m after. My interaction with the SA hasn’t been very pleasant since I turned down a lefty so I’m thinking to start working with another AD. Any ADs you can suggest in the area?

An unpleasant AD experience in DC, surely you must have dealt with Liljenquest & Beckstead & Lenkersdorfer (or whatever they call themselves these days).

But either way, yes turning down the GMT lefty was a mistake. These days with AD’s you don’t ever turn down a watch. If you don’t want the watch, then you at least just buy it and sell it to Takuya.

[samson66]

There are three Liljenquist & Beckstead in the MD/VA DC area. I'd check all three and see who you like the best or get the best vibe from.

Every time I get a "good relationship" with an AD they either close or stop selling Rolex, so I don't bother anymore. I used to go to L & B in Annapolis Mall and they were great. Then they stopped selling Rolex. I just work with greys now.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by samson66

There are three Liljenquist & Beckstead in the MD/VA DC area. I'd check all three and see who you like the best or get the best vibe from.

Every time I get a "good relationship" with an AD they either close or stop selling Rolex, so I don't bother anymore. I used to go to L & B in Annapolis Mall and they were great. Then they stopped selling Rolex. I just work with greys now.

I dealt with Kings Jewelers in Alexandria. They also lost their Rolex AD. It’s truly not worth trying to establish any “relationship” unless you’re dealing with a stand-alone boutique where you know they aren’t going anywhere.


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[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I dealt with Kings Jewelers in Alexandria. They also lost their Rolex AD. It’s truly not worth trying to establish any “relationship” unless you’re dealing with a stand-alone boutique where you know they aren’t going anywhere.


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I’ve had success at TJB. The people are knowledgeable and it has the benefit of being the closet to me.

[espanol]

The Tourneau in Pentagon City recently lost an exceptional manager. During her tenure, I would've recommended her store unequivocally. Now, I'm not sure. Go check them out.

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by ExplorerI

Tiny Jewel Box

Second this. Plus, they've got a great selection of other brands, and such a nice and professional staff.

[miama]

You were offered a lefty and think you might have been treated wrong. Please I need my SAs to treat me this wrong XD

[Rrpdc]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I dealt with Kings Jewelers in Alexandria. They also lost their Rolex AD. It’s truly not worth trying to establish any “relationship” unless you’re dealing with a stand-alone boutique where you know they aren’t going anywhere.


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I do miss kings.

[Rrpdc]

Originally Posted by espanol

The Tourneau in Pentagon City recently lost an exceptional manager. During her tenure, I would've recommended her store unequivocally. Now, I'm not sure. Go check them out.

Robin? I loved her.

[Ceriano]

Originally Posted by miama

You were offered a lefty and think you might have been treated wrong. Please I need my SAs to treat me this wrong XD

I didn’t say that! I feel I hurt his feelings by turning down a lefty! Shame on me!

[Patekfinder]

There are no feelings here. This isn’t a real relationship.
Mehta actually happened was he got you a watch, he had a decent sized commission coming in selling it to you, you turned it down, and another SA sold the watch and got the commission. Now you won’t get offered another watch again from this AD, ever. Not a feelings matter.


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[Ceriano]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

Second this. Plus, they've got a great selection of other brands, and such a nice and professional staff.

Awesome I’ve never been to their store but I’ll check them out. Looks like they have a good selection. What kinda spend do you think would get me a blnr there? Ive seen posts people getting them without any spend history but I guess that’s highly unlikely in our neck of the wood!

[Zoomerang]

Third TJB! I was there for vacation during Thanksgiving week and walked by the store a couple of times before going in on the last day.

I was impressed by the brand selection and how professional the staff was. I still text the SA back and forth even though the knows I'm not local.

[Ceriano]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

There are no feelings here. This isn’t a real relationship.
Mehta actually happened was he got you a watch, he had a decent sized commission coming in selling it to you, you turned it down, and another SA sold the watch and got the commission. Now you won’t get offered another watch again from this AD, ever. Not a feelings matter.


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Their loss! :)

[Ceriano]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

An unpleasant AD experience in DC, surely you must have dealt with Liljenquest & Beckstead & Lenkersdorfer (or whatever they call themselves these days).

But either way, yes turning down the GMT lefty was a mistake. These days with AD’s you don’t ever turn down a watch. If you don’t want the watch, then you at least just buy it and sell it to Takuya.

Don’t get me even started on Liljenquist! I had a hard time trying to buy a breitling from them let alone Rolex! :)
Lenkersdorfer used to offer zero financing to sell you a watch now they don’t take your cash! Different times but things will get better with demand cooling off.

[espanol]

Originally Posted by Rrpdc

Robin? I loved her.

Indeed. She was wonderful to work with.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Ceriano

Don’t get me even started on Liljenquist! I had a hard time trying to buy a breitling from them let alone Rolex! :)
Lenkersdorfer used to offer zero financing to sell you a watch now they don’t take your cash! Different times but things will get better with demand cooling off.

Liljenquest has a Patek 3940 perpetual calendar watch from 2007 still in their case, still for sale at a whopping msrp of mid 70,000s. It has literally been in their showcase, unsold, for going on 17 years and they won’t mark it down one dollar. They claim the watch would still be under a new factory warranty since the papers haven’t been issued to anyone yet. No one is willing to pay more than $80k with tax. Just insane. But anyone who does buy it surely will get a nautilus.


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[insoul8]

Originally Posted by espanol

Indeed. She was wonderful to work with.

I did like her but her store never came through for me on anything I wanted. They were always fun to chat with though. Do they still do the watches and whiskey thing on Thursdays?

[Fuselierpa]

I use Tourneau in Pentagon City. People don’t like Tourneau because it’s a chain, but I like it for exactly that reason. Anything you buy from them in any location is in your customer record.

[kopi-c]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

An unpleasant AD experience in DC, surely you must have dealt with Liljenquest & Beckstead & Lenkersdorfer (or whatever they call themselves these days).

But either way, yes turning down the GMT lefty was a mistake. These days with AD’s you don’t ever turn down a watch. If you don’t want the watch, then you at least just buy it and sell it to Takuya.

It is not a mistake if the OP never expressed any interest for a lefty GMT.

Buy to resale? This what is wrong with the watch industry as people want to make a quick buck here and there.

[tsekh]

TJB is nice. But them being the only Rolex and Patek AD in DC means that they have a lot of big spenders with relatively few watches to sell. It'd be hard to build a purchase history with them if you are only interested in Rolex and Patek. But they also sell IWC, Cartier, Tutor, JLC, and Grand Seiko, so it helps if you are also interested in those brands.

[bluestreak]

Originally Posted by tsekh

TJB is nice. But them being the only Rolex and Patek AD in DC means that they have a lot of big spenders with relatively few watches to sell. It'd be hard to build a purchase history with them if you are only interested in Rolex and Patek. But they also sell IWC, Cartier, Tutor, JLC, and Grand Seiko, so it helps if you are also interested in those brands.

I bought a Tudor and a NOMOS from them and my next two watches were a Polar Explorer 2 and an LV Sub. So I think that it’s pretty reasonable. Still have the Tudor, moved on from the NOMOS.

[Ceriano]

Originally Posted by tsekh

TJB is nice. But them being the only Rolex and Patek AD in DC means that they have a lot of big spenders with relatively few watches to sell. It'd be hard to build a purchase history with them if you are only interested in Rolex and Patek. But they also sell IWC, Cartier, Tutor, JLC, and Grand Seiko, so it helps if you are also interested in those brands.

Agreed next time I'm in the market for JLC or Cartier I'll stop by their store. Looks like everybody has been happy with their service, why not supporting their business.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Fuselierpa

I use Tourneau in Pentagon City. People don’t like Tourneau because it’s a chain, but I like it for exactly that reason. Anything you buy from them in any location is in your customer record.

How have allocations for you been with Rolex?


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[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by kopi-c

It is not a mistake if the OP never expressed any interest for a lefty GMT.

Buy to resale? This what is wrong with the watch industry as people want to make a quick buck here and there.

It’s not about making a quick buck. It is about buying WHATEVER you are offered to maintain purchase history and momentum with the AD to eventually get what you want. 90% of pieces you’re offered will result in you taking a loss. Common practice to do this for Patek in buying annual calendars no one wants, or worse with AP, being forced to buy not one but several Code 1159’s just to get a RO.


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[Patekfinder]

Can’t edit my post for some reason, so just adding:

This is not what is wrong with the watch community. This is what is wrong with ADs and their business practices. This is merely how you as a consumer play the game to eventually get the watch you DO want. If you don’t buy pieces you don’t want that you’re offered, you reduced your chances significantly of ever getting a call for what you want unless you already have a substantial purchase history.

If you have substantial purchase history: it’s okay to say no.

If you don’t have substantial purchase history: you can say no, but you’ll unlike ever get another call from that AD for anything.


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[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by insoul8

I did like her but her store never came through for me on anything I wanted. They were always fun to chat with though. Do they still do the watches and whiskey thing on Thursdays?

Did you have any purchase history with tourneau at all?


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