Anyone ever tipped or gifted an AD?

[Pim]

I gave my AD a good bottle of whiskey after he made my Sky-Dweller happen.
I talked to another AD for the same company and he told me that he hadn't seen a Sky-Dweller in six months, so I do have the feeling that the AD is looking after me. Then I take care of my AD

[grimps]

My AD has looked after me over the years so I've often brought them small gifts of Whiskey and chocolates ect back from overseas trips every time they've had my latest request arrive.
I usually bring chocolates for the backroom staff and have bought cigarettes (they're very expensive in the UK) for the salesman that always looks after me.
I always try and reward people that I deal with from tradesmen working at my house to the guy's in my local bar when I feel I've had great service.

These are small gifts of appreciation that couldn't ever be thought of as some kind of bribe

[Harry-57]

We took some posh sweeties in last week after our AD's Rolex buyer pulled an OP out of the safe for Helen. After initially enquiring on the phone we had gone in to be put on a wait list. It's about a year at our AD. Or not, apparently!

[seasubmariner]

Originally Posted by 530ExplorerII

I had my name on a waiting list for a 116610LV for about 8 months and the AD called me to let me know it was available. I’m from CA and the AD was in the Bahamas. I did a fair amount of due diligence and had the AD send me multiple pics with the date and my name handwritten on their business card. The service was great and I really appreciated them taking my long distance business but when I was expressing my gratitude during our correspondence the salesperson sent the following message: “And just in case you were wondering i do accept monetary gifts....”

She did help me out and was pleasant to work with, but I also had to drop everything, wire cash the same day and grab a flight from CA to Nassau the following week. My question is: should I tip? If so, how much? It wasn’t too long ago that ADs were giving me gifts (and discounts) to purchase. Has the dynamic shifted? Anyone gift or tip their AD?


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Excuse me ? What does ' we accept monetary gifts' mean? If they mean a meaningful present that s fine, otherwise its called requesting bribe!

Why would you tip for a rolex purchase? I am sorry but it has no sense.

If you bought the watch for MSRP it has a reason.

If you bought the watch under MSRP it also has a reason.

If you bought the watch in short time it even also has a reason.

If you have a cool relationship with the sales advisor at the AD, and if your flying from far place to the AD, then buy them a meaningful gift such as a magnet which represents your city or state. So that sales advisor will always remember you from travelling your certain location which makes more sense. Or try to visit the AD at a lunch time and take the sales advisor to a sushi restaurant...

Tipping after a business would just bring another tipping after the next business and it would become a common bulls..t at Rolex purchases where all customers will need to tip a certain amount and this will not work.

[seasubmariner]

Originally Posted by eco8gator

Don't feed the wild life...it will come back to bite you later on!!!!

Totally agree.

[FATO]

This SA is in the Bahamas. It’s a third world country. I am sure they get paid commission based on the cost of living of the country. They probably earn no where near as much as SA’s in the U.S. So what’s wrong with giving them a little tip for sourcing a great watch for you?


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[abozz]

Give her the monetary gift!!!! She want money, give her 300$ or 500$, she give you the oportunitty to win more than 5 thousand dollars the day you need to sell your watch (for buy another one in the future for example). Then she will remember you!

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[FATO]

Originally Posted by grimps

My AD has looked after me over the years so I've often brought them small gifts of Whiskey and chocolates ect back from overseas trips every time they've had my latest request arrive.

I usually bring chocolates for the backroom staff and have bought cigarettes (they're very expensive in the UK) for the salesman that always looks after me.

I always try and reward people that I deal with from tradesmen working at my house to the guy's in my local bar when I feel I've had great service.



These are small gifts of appreciation that couldn't ever be thought of as some kind of bribe

Judging from your collection, you are doing the right thing. I share the same belief. I don’t understand why some people find it so hard to give these days. It’s good to appreciate good services and It doesn’t have to be expensive gifts if one doesn’t have a lot of money or is saving up for their one and only Rolex. However if someone is spending thousands of dollars on multiple watches, especially the desirable models, then what’s a couple hundred dollars to him/her?




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[WatchLurv]

A 1000 EUR/USD gift goes a long way when you're getting such a hot commodity that off the bat of flipping you could be getting 3-5K USD (depending how quick you want that cash). If it means the gravytrain keeps moving (i.e. more steel watches) then by all means tip them; either cash in hand or buy a gift that's expensive enough).

If this is the last hot steel watch youll purchase from them, then don't.

[FATO]

Just out of curiosity....for those of you who don’t believe in tips or gifts of any kind and you have not spent thousands of dollars at an AD to establish a relationship, when was the last time you got a call for a desirable model since 2018?


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[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by FATO

Just out of curiosity....for those of you who don’t believe in tips or gifts of any kind and you have not spent thousands of dollars at an AD to establish a relationship, when was the last time you got a call for a desirable model since 2018?


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Never (or very rarely)

Same people that complain about flippers / grey dealers / the lack of hot steel models.

If you want to get ahead of the queue you pay your way. It's really that simple.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by blown5.0

Depends. I have a good relationship with my AD. I might bring him some coffee or something similar if im in the area. He actually returns the favor as well.

Same

[dejj]

I gave mine a signed Liverpool shirt, turns out the same year they won the champions league. I did get a SS dweller blue dial with no prior relationship a year prior though so not a bad trade.

[Jojoshop]

I do, either a nice bottle of whiskey, chocolate and sometimes a small gift from my trip overseas. Yes, they make commission, but again those watches don’t need much efforts to find a buyer. I’m not on any waiting list, but by now he knows what I like. Transaction is very smooth, a text and I reply with a simple yes or no. Will call him with my Credit Card number if I’m overseas and it is month end. Otherwise the watch is on hold until my return. I never cancelled which is also important.



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[Danny83]

It might of been cheaper to just pay over MSRP

[Watch This]

Giving a nice gift as a way of saying thank you for a hard to find watch is fine. Showing appreciation with a gift to an AD who takes good care of me over the years seems ok. May be the smart play these days. Giving cash seems strange to me.

The fact that she said what she said and dropped the "hint" would deter me from giving her anything.

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by FATO

This SA is in the Bahamas. It’s a third world country. I am sure they get paid commission based on the cost of living of the country. They probably earn no where near as much as SA’s in the U.S. So what’s wrong with giving them a little tip for sourcing a great watch for you?


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Then you should tip the sales person in the States more because the cost of living is much higher .

[Mwilsey103]

Unless you are a high roller, ADs treat you like... well you know. They make obscene margins on the watches and jewelry they sell. And we are even pondering tips ? I am amazed....

[jeffnnj]

Since I’m sure he’s selling you the watch at their cost and not making a dime in commission, definitely tip him. On another note, just sold my house, think I’ll tip my realtor.


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[DPE]

I would not be thinking of giving money to the salesperson that sold me a Rolex, if they especially are asking for it.
I have a rule.... " I want,... doesn't get". I would of wanted to speak to the Dealer Manager over this.

[Frank Mucus]

Smh if you don't tip everyone. I tip my mailman everyday as an appreciation for bringing my mail. He could easily put it in the wrong box but I feel like he made sure I got all my mail. I also tip my doctor each time I go in for a check up cause she makes sure to see me at my appointment so I also tip the receptionist for scheduling the appointment for me. When I bought my car I gave him a $1000 tip for taking $1000 off the msrp otherwise I would be paying so much for it.

[530ExplorerII]

Not flipping and not in the market for anything else for awhile so there’s not really a reason for me to establish any relationship here. The trip was basically free with airline miles and hotel points, but considering the evening I spent in the casino it probably would’ve been cheaper for me just to buy on the gray market. Been a fun short trip though. Cheers.



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[Overwound]

Originally Posted by pickettt

I let all of the SAs at my AD pick my brain for veterinary advice. Not random chit chat, but consults we normally charge for in the hospitals. Does that count?

I like this very much compared to the money that sales associate was suggesting.

[HTX1990]

I agree with the gentleman that provided a bottle of whisky. If the service was exceptional and the relationship evolved to more than just a transaction, a small gesture of appreciation is not out of line.

[hyperlight12]

I think it's a no brainer - if it's going to be a long time relationship and there's an opportunity for them to favor you over another customer, I'd treat them right - whether that means a bottle of wine, gift cards for dinner, cigars, or any other reasonable show of appreciation. It's hard enough to get the super exclusive watches, even if you're spending $100K-$200K on watches a year. Math says it's a no brainer to show appreciation and increase your chances to get what you want

[RHIII]

Since the senior manager and owner are long time family friends - we’ll share wine, etc. and every so often go out for a nice dinner/drinks (and I’ll treat).

We’re all friends and our families are friends.- more than just a relationship based on watch and jewelry purchases.

[Calatrava r]

I would never tip an AD. As stated above, its really more in the nature of a bribe which hopefully will not become mainstream in the industry. If you really want to help an AD, buy something else you really want such as a gift for your significant other or parent from the jeweler and not quibble over the price. Your valued business should be all they want. Buying up all the hard to get Rolex, which they can easily sell to anyone, does not make a person a valued customer to the store.

[Peterandwatches]

Yes, but not in watches. My wife has gifted her Chanel contact from time to time.

[chris242]

i’m trying to build a long term relationship with the AD’s closest to me.. when i picked up my sub i promised some seafood, i fulfilled my promise and will continue to send more! they were so happy.. can only be a good thing for the future..!


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[fed_fan]

This is not meant as an insult to you but if a sales associate said something like that I would laugh in their face (after I had the watch in my possession of course). You are literally handing them thousands of dollars of hard earned money while they sit back and benefit from an endless stream of demand. It takes no skill to sell a product that benefits from structural under-supply so why would a tip be up for consideration. I know these watches are hard to get but have some dignity ffs.