Horrible trip to the AD.

[Laszlo]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Red carpet, Champagne, Caviar and the saleswoman bowing instead of nodding.

Exactly.

What's one's expectation?

You'll find this same use case anywhere - it's just reality.

In the scheme of things, who cares. Go somewhere else.

You'll find the same thing when purchasing a car.

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by SMD

Yup, no bad AD's or sales people. Just bad customers.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Yea, that's not true. A salesman tried to pull a fast one on me and sell me a quartz version of the watch that I wanted thinking that I wouldn't notice...

[Dyim]

Originally Posted by dba

Progman2000,

Doesn’t matter what the sales person is going through in life. They are at work and as such need to conduct themselves accordingly and offer to assist.

As far as saying you know where the hourly wage earner compares to you on the socio-economic ladder is about as arrogant a thing I’ve heard in my 59 years. I am one of those people who ended up on a list of California retirees whose pensions pay $100k a year but you’d never know it when I occasionally step in to help make sandwiches at a buddy’s deli.

I’d be careful comparing yourself to anyone in the working class, you never know who’s going to be there.

Well said.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Racerdj

Sorry for your experience. I have never been treated this way.

X3

[SMD]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

Yea, that's not true. A salesman tried to pull a fast one on me and sell me a quartz version of the watch that I wanted thinking that I wouldn't notice...

Sorry, my sarcasm did not translate well online.

[Scot_3]

Very interesting post indeed. I like to think of myself as a salesman, truth is at this point in my career I'm a merchant, and one of the things I do that most impacts sales is choosing training and watching over the people who are the face of my company to my customers. Over the last few years I've notice a giant shift in the way people treat each other. Anonymous communication is the culprit IMHO. Texting and emailing not only prevents people from seeing how their words effect others but also means how they present themselves is much less important to them. I have people selling six figure projects that have almost no face to face contact with their client. And that's the way the client and the salesman want to conduct business, I hate it. Scares the heck out of me.
Even when I get someone who dresses for success, getting them to show passion for what we do and be animated is almost impossible. When it comes to sales the attitude is " some will, some won't, oh well"
A persons realistic expectation becomes an unrealistic expectation when the salesman can't perceive a reason to want to help. I cheerlead and massage the egos of salespeople because it is only thing I can do. Obviously this is something I think about a lot. I always loved sales because it made me the center of attention, put me in the spotlight. If I really want great service from someone I make sure and shine the spotlight on them, at least until I get them to want to help.

[lapince]

Some Ad's are great some are awful, don't think it's possible to find an explanation on that, it's just life, my Rolex AD is great, even though I bought a few watches at them but never any Rolex they are always very helpful, just don't go there anymore, that's what I did after going 1 time to the official Panerai boutique in Paris, they seem to think of you as some kind of homeless, I don't dress in suits but have very expensive clothes and watches, so quite far from a guy who can't afford it...

[cht]

Originally Posted by otisc

I don't think we were profiled. I was wearing Tommy Bahama and a Corum watch, my wife is always dressed smart, and came in to reset a 2ct diamond and had on her Rolex.

The Rolex dealer and Ben Bridge was great. Whipped out the green pad and was taking out watches left and right - he wanted a sale. Offered me a drink. Couldn't have been nicer. The folks at RK couldn't be bothered to get off their phones or stop their intra-employee conversations to help us. And the woman who jockeyed the Rolex counter at RK had no interest in if we bought or left. I will go back one more day, because they had quite the impressive selection... will report back.

HAven't been to the new RK, really no desire as my previous visits have been awkward since I had a similar experience.

Haven't heard of Wilson's, I'll have to look the up. Where else do you like to go?


I think Ben Bridge at Barton Creek mall has been the nicest most consistently since I've been here in Austin for the past 3 years.

In general, when I look at luxury watches,
I always hope they are passionate about watches but almost never is the case. I guess my expectation is that they are passionate and like watches too, but, most don't care and are just lousy salespeople.

I wish they'd hire passionate people at these luxury places. Though I realize the bulk of luxury watch purchases are not WIS's, but I still think they could make more sales even to non-WIS"s who are on the fence.

I like to think, most of us here, would make AWESOME Rolex salespeople.

[codecow]

Your story is fascinating and very unique OP. Name and shame these ADs!

[locutus49]

This is a richly insightful post. I think you are on to something with the change in peoples' attitudes based on the internet. I also do well with most (not all) salespeople by building rapport with them and stroking their ego, etc.

Some people on this site put down these techniques, but they work. Maybe the younger generations just understand human interaction differently, although Wesley Crusher and a couple others are clear exceptions.

It will be interesting to see if sales training courses change based on the difference the internet has created in interactions.

Originally Posted by Scot_3

Very interesting post indeed. I like to think of myself as a salesman, truth is at this point in my career I'm a merchant, and one of the things I do that most impacts sales is choosing training and watching over the people who are the face of my company to my customers. Over the last few years I've notice a giant shift in the way people treat each other. Anonymous communication is the culprit IMHO. Texting and emailing not only prevents people from seeing how their words effect others but also means how they present themselves is much less important to them. I have people selling six figure projects that have almost no face to face contact with their client. And that's the way the client and the salesman want to conduct business, I hate it. Scares the heck out of me.
Even when I get someone who dresses for success, getting them to show passion for what we do and be animated is almost impossible. When it comes to sales the attitude is " some will, some won't, oh well"
A persons realistic expectation becomes an unrealistic expectation when the salesman can't perceive a reason to want to help. I cheerlead and massage the egos of salespeople because it is only thing I can do. Obviously this is something I think about a lot. I always loved sales because it made me the center of attention, put me in the spotlight. If I really want great service from someone I make sure and shine the spotlight on them, at least until I get them to want to help.

[bradj]

Originally Posted by cht

HAven't been to the new RK, really no desire as my previous visits have been awkward since I had a similar experience.

You should go check out the new RK.. even if the sales people are a-holes

They have a great display of rolex, tudor, breitling omega etc...

[otisc]

Originally Posted by cht

HAven't been to the new RK, really no desire as my previous visits have been awkward since I had a similar experience.

Haven't heard of Wilson's, I'll have to look the up. Where else do you like to go?

I think Ben Bridge at Barton Creek mall has been the nicest most consistently since I've been here in Austin for the past 3 years.

RK is worth a visit for the mere scope of the selection (and not just Rolex - very impressive inventory), just not the service apparently.

+1 for Ben Bridge at Barton Creek. There is at least one guy there who loves to talk watches and does the AD there proud with his knowledge and service. They are always friendly there.

Wilson's is directly across from RK. Never knew about it until I saw it on the way out. Small bench jeweler with some interesting used watches and a really nice family jeweler atmosphere.

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by otisc

Austin, TX has three ADs. Today after lunch, I went to one that I hadn't been before.

I went with my wife, who immediately inquired about resetting her 2ct diamond. They barely seemed interested in helping her. While they were showing her a few things, I mentioned how I had decided on a Submariner but couldn't decide between date and no-date. They just kinda nodded. So I went over to the counter and started perusing a very large selection of Rolex. No one came over to help me. When my wife finished up, she came over and started looking. Someone finally came over, but really just stood there and didn't say much. My wife had on her TT Rolex and was comparing it to others behind the glass, but none were taken out. Finally she asked for the price on one, the lady took it out, looked at the tag, read the price, and then put the watch back.

We left. Really disappointing. Not sure I want to say the place's name, because they are a big outfit and must be doing something right. But there were 4-5 sales people working and there was only one other couple in the store. No service.

We ended up walking across the street when we spotted a smaller family-owned jeweler (Wilson's - they had a very lighted used SeaDweller for $6500). There, my wife had a lot of help on re-setting her ring, and the watch guy and I talked about Rolex, the AD program, and watches. They were so nice. We have some cash to spend, now guess who is more likely to get it.

As someone posted before, sounds like you didn't even ask to try them on. I go to my AD several times after I bought my Sub and I ask to wear one. How are they going to know you're not just there to see what they have. I go in sometime just to do that and not try any on. This past Thursday I went in and all the associates were great as usual. I tried maybe 4 on, but I asked to do so.

I mean if you couldn't decide on the Subs, you have to try them on.

Originally Posted by SMD

Who takes a personal check when buying a car

Originally Posted by jwill051

I always pay for a new car with a personal check never been an issue

Me, too. I had more problems buying the Sub with a check than the car. haha