Visit to Snobbish AD.....

[locutus49]

SO earlier today, based on another thread, the wife and I drove to one of the more upscale malls in the D.C. area (Tysons II Galleria) so I could buy a new wallet (ended up with solid Carbon Fiber Dunhill billfold from Neiman's, photos will follow eventually).

Anyway, on the way out we stopped by one of the more upscale ADs (Lindquist, I think) so my wife could see some watches on me. Now the wife was carrying a vintage Hermes Kelly bag and wearing her YM, although I was more casual in jeans and my Rolex was hidden by my seersucker sports jacket.

Nonetheless, the clerk was immediately snooty, looking us up and down and walking away. Being in no mood for nonsense, I asked in a loud voice if someone could show me a Platinum Daytona. The snob returned and said they don't carry that model. They had a huge selection of Rolexes, Pateks, Lange, etc., yet for ME, no Platona.

So I asked if they had an 116520 I could try, and he said, "what?". I said an SS Daytona, and he had to bring one from the back room, looked at the tag, and admitted I was correct on the reference. I took off my Hulk to try it on and showed the wife, I then tried on the RG model. My wife said it did not work with my pale skin. And they had no YG in stock. I commented on their 116613 LB and my wife later said his face showed shock that I apparently knew all the references by number.

Now his attitude changed. I showed an interest in Patek and he rushed us to the Calatrava counter and I said I prefer complications. I mentioned a couple of references and he could not do enough for us. My wife liked the Nautilus line, but I liked the dress complications, although I was surprised at how large the cases were. In my mind they were 36mm but I guess they were now 42 or 43. Too large for my slender wrist.

Anyway, when we left he pressed his card in my hand.

Bottom line: The wife prefers the Nautilus. They had the 5980 and 5990. But my heart is set on a Daytona, so we shall see.

[beshannon]

That AD is always like that, I rarely go in there any longer

[The Libertine]

Take your business elsewhere.

[tkerrmd]

John hope ya get what you want you really have been on a quest for your grail!!

[Andrew1]

Any man wearing seersucker is good in my books

[martinr]

They had the new 5990?

[Oyster Al]

Most AD experiences are relatively uncomfortable for me........but my advice , live and let live.....more important things to worry about than a sales snob.

[Kyu]

I don't wear a watch when I go in to see watches lol, I either take it off and out it in my pocket or leave it in the car.

Depending on how their attitude is from profiling me for not wearing a watch, I shop there or not.

And its always fun to see their reactions when they recommend me something and I continue to repeat "have that, have that, just flipped that, have that"

[locutus49]

Yep, the 5980 and 90. Both prominently displayed. I did not try them on as I had tried on Nautilus's before. Interestingly, they did not have 5711 or 5712. The clerk said they were very hard to get. They had a ton of dress complications, though.

It is funny, I have been in the finest stores in Paris, Monte Carlo (where my wife bought her Kelly bag, in honor of Grace), Hermes Paris (where she bought her Birkin), and every luxury store in every city in the US, and we had never been treated like that.

We even had the entire staff of the local Hermes store to our house for a party one year. The wife likes to shop there.

Maybe because I'm wearing my graying hair kinda long now, or something. Still, unacceptable behavior. Screw them.

Originally Posted by martinr

They had the new 5990?

[Rolex40mm]

I wouldn't buy any watch at the AD. I'm speaking from a price point of view.

[gabeyts]

I'm interning literally down the road from Tyson's II and want/need to try on a 116610 on to see if it fits on my wrist well, overall I feel intimidated in that place because of all the generally wealthy folk... I'm glad I read this as I am literally fearful/uneasy about going into an AD to ask to try it on without the intention of buying (I plan on using trusted TRF sellers). I wish I personally knew someone with a Sub. But thanks for the warning. I can't believe they would treat you like that even while you were wearing a Rolex.

[rmfnla]

That's pretty bad.

I drop by the Rolex store in the Century City mall once in a while and they are always super friendly, regardless of what I ask to see...

[Kyu]

Originally Posted by rmfnla

That's pretty bad.

I drop by the Rolex store in the Century City mall once in a while and they are always super friendly, regardless of what I ask to see...

This !
I stop by there every time I'm in the area so far every Saturday and even when I haven't bought a watch from them they're always friendly and never judged me

I'm pretty grungy on weekends lol !

[Sublover2166]

I have lived in northern VA long enough to know it is full of snooty snobs who think they are above God. An unfortunate fact.

[gabeyts]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

I have lived in northern VA long enough to know it is full of snooty snobs who think they are above God. An unfortunate fact.

Do you have any recommendations for friendly AD's in the DMV area?

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

I have lived in northern VA long enough to know it is full of snooty snobs who think they are above God. An unfortunate fact.

What's to be snooty about?

The sales rep may work in a Rolex shop but he's still just a store clerk...

(Not that there's anything wrong with any honest job, but still...)

[The Joker]

Not sure what the issue was, sounds like they were accommodating to me. I wouldn't expect them to know reference numbers.

[gabeyts]

Originally Posted by rmfnla

What's to be snooty about?

The sales rep may work in a Rolex shop but he's still just a store clerk...

(Not that there's anything wrong with any honest job, but still...)

I think he means the general population in the Tyson's/N. Va area.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by The Joker

Not sure what the issue was, sounds like they were accommodating to me. I wouldn't expect them to know reference numbers.

The clerk walked away from them as they entered the store; how is that accomodating..?

[locutus49]

My local AD is King Street Jewelers in Old Town Alexandria, and though they are small and have limited stock, they have Daytonas (in the back) and Subs and so forth in the case. And they are as nice as can be.

I only went to the Tysons store because of the huge selection, and I wanted the wife to see the various kinds of watches I'm contemplating. Hard to believe she likes a Nautilus over a Daytona, but there's a woman for you

To your point, I will most likely buy from a TRF seller, but I need to try watches on before buying. Because my wrists are small I need to see them in person.

Originally Posted by Rolex40mm

I wouldn't buy any watch at the AD. I'm speaking from a price point of view.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by gabeyts

I think he means the general population in the Tyson's/N. Va area.

I get it but what's the sales guy's excuse..?

[locutus49]

See my post above. Also, although I would not buy from them because of the lack of discounts, the Tourneau in Pentagon City mall was very accommodating and helpful. They get a lot of military customers buying Rolexes. So you don't have to be rich to get attention.

Originally Posted by gabeyts

Do you have any recommendations for friendly AD's in the DMV area?

[Speed]

.

[gabeyts]

Originally Posted by locutus49

See my post above. Also, although I would not buy from them because of the lack of discounts, the Tourneau in Pentagon City mall was very accommodating and helpful. They get a lot of military customers buying Rolexes. So you don't have to be rich to get attention.

Thanks I'll check them out

[autohorology]

I love going into an AD with shorts and flip flops on and watch them size you up, until they see what's on your wrist. Amazing how attentive they've become at that point.

[locutus49]

That was kinda my point, although I did not make it well. My seersucker jacket concealed my Rolex, so he ignored me. Once I took it off to try on a watch, his manner changed.

He was in his late 40's and not that well dressed. He obviously did not realized that especially in the summer, you can't tell a person's ability to buy a watch by their clothes.

Usually they key in on my wife's luxe assessories and fawn over us, but maybe he was new to retail. Rolex and Patek should have a training program for sales people at their ADs.

Originally Posted by autohorology

I love going into an AD with shorts and flip flops on and watch them size you up, until they see what's on your wrist. Amazing how attentive they've become at that point.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by autohorology

I love going into an AD with shorts and flip flops on and watch them size you up, until they see what's on your wrist. Amazing how attentive they've become at that point.

I never understood how this could be fun.

You can wear whatever you like when you browse the sales section here... Far less stressful than an AD with much better prices

[brandrea]

It's a pity that people are judged by their appearance.

[FlatlineEF9]

I hate snobby ADs. I usually go watch shopping in shorts and slippers...whoever gives me the time of day and is still nice to me gets my return business. Pretty common in Hawaii to dress like that though. With my most recent purchase...I actually waited for the sales lady to come back from a 2 week vacation so she could get my business...I guess Im loyal like that.

[breitlings]

I like liljenquist and beckstead at Montgomery Mall better than T2. Joesph Higgins is good.