Visiting Patek ADs post-COVID lockdown: by appt only or walk-in?

[jon_jon]

As different parts of the world open up, Patek ADs are opening up slowly.

Any news on the 3 Salons in Geneva, London and Paris? Are they all open? Are they by appt only or walk-ins welcome?

What about ADs in Asia, North America, Middle East and rest of Europe? What do you anticipate the AD experience will be like in the near future?

[qrc36]

ADs in Hong Kong have remained open every day - although some have closed earlier (e.g. at 7pm instead of 9pm). All of them are really empty and the staff are bored to death!

There's a 14-day compulsory home quarantine which has been in place since March 19th, and so there have been very few tourists arriving. My AD reports basically zero tourists from China in recent months.

There's no appointment system at ADs - just walk in and buy buy buy! Lots of unsold stock in the windows and display cabinets that are totally full. The same watches have been sitting in the displays for months now at my AD ...

[Calatrava r]

In the US it is really on a state by state basis and where each state is in its own plan of re-opening their economies. What the stores must do upon re-opening is also determined by each state.

[jon_jon]

With restrictions on travel and 14-day quarantine in place, I can see HK ADs being slow as they have a lot of international clients and they are not visiting.

I was watching a video interview of Danny Govberg and he mentioned how Govberg may be going appointment only in the near future. It make sense for brands like Patek as opposed to other watch brands at a lower price point where people may walk in and buy a watch on a whim.

[Calatrava r]

Appointments and spur of the moment impulse buyers do not mix well.

[scarlet knight]

Some of my most fun buys were on a whim! Not my Patek, which was a ten year process of trying it on and thinking about it.

[benlee]

In Singapore, they will take down your details before serving you.

[jon_jon]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Appointments and spur of the moment impulse buyers do not mix well.

I agree!

However there are a limited number of collectors who are serious about Patek watches and will make appointment to visit a Patek AD. A lot of tire kickers out there and the instagram crowd that will likely walk in to a Patek AD on a whim. There is no good way for a Patek AD to discern who is a genuine customer and who is just a tire kicker.

Most ADs probably can't function on appointments only (unless you are a Salon or a huge established AD) as it will make it difficult to attract new clients.

[SDDS]

Geneva salon are open but with limited staff

[dardeca]

I live in Texas, and Patek AD's have been doing "curbside" deliveries for several weeks now. You couldn't go into the stores, but dealers would ship the watches or bring them out to your car.

In the last week or so, they've begun to open up where you can go back in...still think it's on an appt. only basis, but at least you can go into the store. That said, Patek NY is still closed (hopefully opening up in early June)...so nothing has been coming to dealers since March.

[GreenLantern]

With COVID-19, I don't want to buy something that 10 people have tried on. :(

[AK797]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

With COVID-19, I don't want to buy something that 10 people have tried on. :(

You could always take some sanitizer with you and clean the watch up yourself, should do it with exposed door handles etc anyway, I used to usually do this with a cloth when I tried on a watch, almost always had smudge marks on them.

[Ichiran]

I read that 70% alcohol based sanitizers are damaging to the leather strap. Bracelets or rubber for now.

[VFA]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

I read that 70% alcohol based sanitizers are damaging to the leather strap. Bracelets or rubber for now.

This is true. Ruined some straps. Absolutely no alcohol on leather straps!