Building a Relationship went South

[schoolboy]

Hello!!!

Just learned of something and wanted to share

A forum member gave me a "lead" on a watch (you know who you are, THANK YOU), not a Rolex, and I contacted the store about the watch. I was informed that there was a story to the watch, and the watch expert would call me back later.

So, she calls me. She explained that the watch was returned by a customer that never even used it.

I asked if she knew why he didn't use it...

She said, the young man that purchased the watch was trying to build a RELATIONSHIP with them so that he COULD BUY ANOTHER WATCH. So I asked "since he returned it, I'm assuming that purchase won't help him get the watch?"

(I asked this just out of curiosity to see how this whole "bundling" thing works)

She said something along the lines of "Oh. Let me explain. The young man wanted a watch that is really hard to get, so he bought several watches from us so that he could finally buy the hard to get watch. If you're into watches I'm sure you've heard of this practice."

I said "Yes I have, so why did he return the watch?"

"Well, as I said, he purchased several watches so that he could buy a hard to get watch, and unfortunately we lost the ___________ line before we could sell him the hard to get watch. He tried returning some watches but we could only accept the one that he had not worn because it had been purchased close to when we lost the ____________ line."

End of story.

Please don't ask me who the AD is/was or what brand it was or whatever. I am not trying to somehow "expose" this AD.

I simply inquired about a watch, and heard a horrible story about how a young man was building a relationship and the AD unfortunately couldn't accomplish what they promised.

The young man lost out BAD.

Just something to think about when you go out trying to build a relationship.

I am sure some relationships are amazing, but this story threw me off.

[ImSorryBut...]

Moral of the story... Buy only what you really want

[mgsooner]

It's officially Silly Season.

[singe89]

yep spend tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars with ADs only to have your relationship cut on the brands you want. Happened with AP years ago and now rolex.

[Zakalwe]

Was his name Mohammad Ron?

[cdbeaver66]

Building a relationship is not all about buying. When I recently moved I introduced myself to the local AD and had a lengthy discussion on what I own and like, I then got invited to the 2018 Baselworld event they held and put my name down for the Tudor GMT - I was already 7th on ‘the list’. I then popped in regularly just for a chat and for any updates, I then got a call to say he had brought my name towards the top of the list and I got the watch. When passing I poke my head in and say hello, no need to buy a PM piece every visit!!


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[dtwer]

I may sound like a broken record; I still cannot comprehend the fascination/infatuation with Rolex SS sports.

Based on my ownership experience, they are not all that more awesome than the DJ, YM, etc.

[airpeace]

you are obligated to tell us who the AD is.

[Soarer]

What does _________ line mean?

[Spartacus]

An AD Relationship never guarantees outcomes, it may raise the probability, but it would be foolish to assume it’s 1:1.

[PatronMTL]

This is hardly a story that would lead to think that building relationships is pointless in todays market.... had they not lost the brand, I'm sure he was well on his way to getting what he wanted, unless AD just strung him along

Funny though, he tried to return all the watches after wearing them lol. as if

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Soarer

What does _________ line mean?

I think he means product line like Patek, Rolex, etc.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by RTG

I think he means product line like Patek, Rolex, etc.

Exactly

[Sublovin]

Whatevs

[Defiancekofb]

Originally Posted by PatronMTL

This is hardly a story that would lead to think that building relationships is pointless in todays market.... had they not lost the brand, I'm sure he was well on his way to getting what he wanted, unless AD just strung him along

Funny though, he tried to return all the watches after wearing them lol. as if

Seriously, this seems like the AD strung him along, but business is business. The young man bought the watches knowing what his objective was and the AD's objective was to sell him as many items as his credit card would allow. Buyer wasn't be held hostage, he know fully well what he was doing.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Soarer

What does _________ line mean?

I meant to leave a blank space

Then “line” is regarding a product line

Like Rolex, AP, PP, Tag, like that

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Spartacus

An AD Relationship never guarantees outcomes, it may raise the probability, but it would be foolish to assume it’s 1:1.

This is true

But damn was I sad to hear that they lost the line before he got his watch

[zjd168]

wrong way to build the AD relationship from the beginning

[myporsche]

What a dumb way to buy a watch

[aaron1977]

Why in the world would people spend huge money on watches they dont want? Just go buy one from the grey market!!!

[timedate]

i struggle with this 'relationship with an AD' idea,

it sounds beyond belief in all frankness

[DasKptl]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

The young man lost out BAD.

This "young man" must be a TRF member here.

He may be reading this thread right now. I feel sorry for him.

[Pw92676]

That stinks. Feel bad for the guy. Thanks for sharing this story. Not that I have ever bought something I don’t want, but I do like sticking with same AD for purchase history. If one day they lose a line, it would stink to start over somewhere else.

[V25V]

Dude is a moron, he deserves it. And people like him are who will feed AD's to abuse this sort of sales technique. It is awful.

[teqp]

Originally Posted by ImSorryBut...

Moral of the story... Buy only what you really want

Totally agree.

he should've just bought from a grey dealer and pay the premium.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by Pw92676

That stinks. Feel bad for the guy. Thanks for sharing this story. Not that I have ever bought something I don’t want, but I do like sticking with same AD for purchase history. If one day they lose a line, it would stink to start over somewhere else.

Welcome

[rockdrock]

Buy from a trusted grey if you are going to spend all that cash anyway. Buy a watch you are going to truly want.


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by ImSorryBut...

Moral of the story... Buy only what you really want

Agree

Originally Posted by cdbeaver66

Building a relationship is not all about buying.

And also agree

[liu_watch]

Originally Posted by Soarer

What does _________ line mean?

It means “under”, I think... :-)

[77T]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

But damn was I sad to hear that they lost the line before he got his watch

Well it’s odd for sure...here’s the only question I missed...did you buy the watch?!!

Otherwise, I’m not sure where the lesson is - the guy trying to build a relationship, the guy’s choice of brand, the dealer trying to keep their franchise with ______________ , your friend giving you a heads up to get a watch no longer supported by that dealer, or us for reading one more example of a tactical fail.

Let me take a crack at the only part in which we ALL want to play a role: Dealer name, brand and location.

It’s like a new version of the old board game.




My guess: Colonel Mustard, in the library, with the wrench...

No, wait...
I mean Ben Bridge, in Barton Creek Square, with the Omega?

C’mon, ya know it’s all a game or you wouldn’t have told us this much already.


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