ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
11 September 2021, 12:24 PM | #31 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Real Name: Mike
Location: Usa
Watch: All
Posts: 1,411
|
Quote:
|
|
11 September 2021, 02:21 PM | #32 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: HKG
Posts: 275
|
My Patek experience with WOS was in London - and a very surprising experience too. This was back in 2017 when things were a little less crazy than at present.
I had bought lots of WG/RG/YG models at the WOS Heathrow store. The prices at Heathrow were substantially cheaper than the retail price in Hong Kong. A rose gold Daytona (with rose gold bracelet) was around US$8000 cheaper at Heathrow compared to HK retail price and there was excellent availability. These precious metal sports watches were sitting in the display, unsold and unwanted. I bought some for myself (WG Pepsi, WG Smurf) and also lots of Daytonas for friends as well. I flew through Heathrow maybe 5-6 times a year and picked up 2-3 watches on each trip, and this went on for a few years. So one time I asked my friendly WOS Heathrow SA to see if I could waitlist for the 5712A at WOS in the city, and they got me in touch with someone. I thought it was just a friendly gesture and never expected to get anything. About a year later I got a WhatsApp message saying my 5712 arrived, and I was asked to wire over a deposit, and I went over to London a month or so afterwards to pick up from their store in the city. Everybody I talked to at WOS has been really nice - at Heathrow and also in the city, no complaints at all. |
11 September 2021, 03:03 PM | #33 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Asia & US
Posts: 1,550
|
This is precisely why I have gone grey long ago when it comes to Patek. Of course it won’t be like this for everyone, some have gotten a Nautilus while spending less, or have honest ADs, but I prefer just give up dealing with all this hassles.
|
11 September 2021, 05:49 PM | #34 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 1,256
|
Quote:
That was still the case in 2017 but the Patek market has moved fast since then, your friendly AD’s are having the power of who to choose as customers stripped away, the head office at most AD’s are now choosing and it’s the biggest hitters who have the hot models allocated. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Instagram @scurfawatches |
|
11 September 2021, 10:21 PM | #35 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 2,393
|
Quote:
In area with a lot of high spenders like NYC or Silicon Valley, the threshold for spending is indeed very high. |
|
11 September 2021, 10:30 PM | #36 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: USA
Posts: 2,393
|
Quote:
|
|
11 September 2021, 10:40 PM | #37 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Here and there...
Posts: 1,847
|
I haven't bought anything from them in London since they moved from Bond Street, but a few years ago (must have been early 2017) went into the giant then-new Regent Street store. Immense and intimidating, but the sales staff were great. We got talking about watches and they were both knowledgeable and friendly, and even brought out a rose gold 5711 which I now wish I'd bought.
I didn't end up buying from them as another London store gave me a better price on the watch I was looking at, but it was a good experience overall. |
12 September 2021, 02:04 AM | #38 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 435
|
Quote:
Veblen goods - status by restricted supply! Do they need to offer more “lower” market intro stuff as Burberry cleverly did by introducing scarves, shirts and hats for those that couldn’t afford the rain coats.. I think Nautilus was that play in stainless steel but it got out of hand and took over the PP status market so .. Aquanaut… Funny really. If PP lose the hand made image and status why not buy a Timex? And why not? Or quartz? Marketing hype is a wonderful thing. An on trend Hermes handbag - if you can get on the list to get one £7000 - a leather handbag £500. |
|
12 September 2021, 02:41 AM | #39 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Scotland
Posts: 435
|
|
12 September 2021, 03:26 AM | #40 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1,107
|
So far all the branches of WoS in London I have dealt with are great and no complaints at all,although I haven't allocated any hot models I ask for in 2021. But can't blame them as it is just my spending power is not strong enough, compared with those millionaires.
I agreed that all change since late 2018. I was told I would be the next one to get 5712 in early 2018 but after summer the AD told me that I needed to wait and since then he couldn't promise me anything and now I gave up already. |
12 September 2021, 07:45 AM | #41 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Home!
Posts: 3,307
|
Quote:
From the start you better buy any Patek you want paying grey price…. And don’t care from the rest… You spent 700000k and wait from 14 months….. sorry my friend that’s foolish…. |
|
12 September 2021, 09:52 AM | #42 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 454
|
Quote:
Something wrong here. |
|
13 September 2021, 11:19 AM | #43 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Tysons Corner, VA
Posts: 47
|
|
13 September 2021, 06:08 PM | #44 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: London
Posts: 75
|
I found the staff at WOS Regent Street in London to be rather disinterested. Fairly poor service tbh.
Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk |
13 September 2021, 08:50 PM | #45 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 288
|
I have used the WoS in Manchester, UK to purchase my 5146r and 5712/1A.
The service has been straight forward and honest. They were very clear that if I wanted to be put on a list for a sports watch, I would need to buy something else from them. But they also made it clear that if I did buy the 5146r I would definitely get the sports watch - even if it meant waiting a few years. It wasn't a means to trick me into buying a less in demand watch. As luck would have it I was allocated the 5712/1A less than six months after purchasing the 5146r, which was a superb outcome. They held their side of the bargain. I am regularly contacted through whatsapp with general updates about the latest watches which I find interesting. I have also been invited to a Patek event in their store later this month. During the lockdown they put on a few virtual events showcasing the whole range and detailing the history of the brand. These were very entertaining. I trust them to do what they say they will do, which is all I really want from my AD. |
13 September 2021, 09:05 PM | #46 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Santa Fe
Posts: 1,856
|
Two things I've learned about the watch market since 2005:
1)Salespeople at ADs, Boutiques and even the watch experts at auction houses, have a very short job life expectancy. Building a relationship with them is pointless. 2)The days of getting "free money", in the form of watches that sell for huge premiums in the grey market, from ADs and Boutiques are over. One way or another, you are going to have to pay the going market price for your watch. People new to the watch game who think they can schmooze their way into a Nautilus, Aquanaut, Royal Oak, Odysseus or pretty much any Journe must believe that the watch world is filled with a bunch of kindergarteners. It's not the case, these folks are sharks, no matter what you've heard. You are going to have to pay FMP (full market price) for your watch. MSRP is reserved for Players, whoever they are. |
13 September 2021, 10:05 PM | #47 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 1,256
|
Quote:
I agree and it’s only going to get worse Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Instagram @scurfawatches |
|
13 September 2021, 10:34 PM | #48 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Australia
Posts: 65
|
Quote:
|
|
14 September 2021, 12:04 AM | #49 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1,107
|
Quote:
|
|
14 September 2021, 06:07 PM | #50 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: London
Posts: 115
|
WOS Royal Exchange London fobbed me off that they were pulling away from being an AD of PP a couple of years ago so I went ahead and established a connection with the actual PP boutique in New Bond St, 4 months later and after a couple of visits and a few emails I got a call to say a piece is here if still interested? I was there the next day and walked away with my 5164a very pleased!
I have worked in sales and got to say the service and reception I got from WOS first of all makes me never want to give them any business in the future, just because they didn't have what I was asking for, I have had clients who came to my office for a condo and ended up buying a house, the WOS in London now have zero in their windows to offer unless you want the new Bond watch! |
14 September 2021, 06:23 PM | #51 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1,107
|
Quote:
|
|
15 September 2021, 02:01 AM | #52 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,863
|
Quote:
|
|
15 September 2021, 03:50 AM | #53 | ||
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Real Name: Chris
Location: USA
Watch: ingMe,WatchingYou.
Posts: 1,462
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
15 September 2021, 04:09 AM | #54 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,863
|
Quote:
|
|
15 September 2021, 08:20 AM | #55 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Cleveland
Posts: 2,042
|
funny a salesperson told me 150k last year to get a nautilus. i laughed but that's a bargain these days.
|
16 September 2021, 03:04 AM | #56 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Real Name: Alexander
Location: Maryland, USA
Watch: Last one I bought
Posts: 201
|
I was told (basically without asking) if I bought two Vacheron’s that I was looking at that I could get a Batman in two months, a Pepsi or black date sub in 3-4 months, or a green sub in 4-6 months.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
25 September 2021, 12:03 AM | #57 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: UK
Posts: 538
|
Quote:
Yet in 2021 you can't get a single Patek from WOS. Quote:
|
||
25 September 2021, 12:11 AM | #58 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Nyc
Posts: 57
|
Quote:
Most serious collectors don't just have 1 AD in case you didn't know. I started with WOS because they made serious promises and wanted a consistency buyer who will be no only buying rolex and patek but everything else. And I did my part they on the other hand are nothing but a scam. Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk |
|
25 September 2021, 02:08 AM | #59 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Uk
Posts: 1,493
|
|
25 September 2021, 03:16 AM | #60 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 4,341
|
First I would say WoS in the UK are quite different from WoS in the US. The parent company is based in the UK IIRC, but have opened up several stores in the US and have purchased other retail watch/jewelry store chains outside the UK.
I believe most, if not all, of the WoS stores in the US have opened within the past 2-3 years. The Nautilus and Aquanaut craze started around 3-4 years ago. So US WoS customers will have a very different experience from UK WoS customers. In major financial hubs like NYC, London, there will always be bigger whales than what you see in an average city. If you spent $100k at an AD, there will be many who spent $300k-$400k. If you spent $1mil, there will be someone who spent several million at the AD. All of customers are not just local customers, but also they come from all over the world to NYC, London, etc for business and pleasure. I know of many who fly regularly to NYC or London for shopping sprees. We live in a very unusual time with the SS watch craze. Some people are in it purely for the profit and flipping opportunity and others are in it for IG posts and for other motivation. Even here on TRF, it is very hard to discern those who have registered new over the past 2-4 years if they are genuine watch people or are here for other reasons. I have had fairly good experience with WoS London and I remember when the Regent Store location first opened, I was given a personal tour of the building and invited to coffee in a private viewing room. I have visited that store location several times since, although I have noticed quite a turnover in staff, which is not uncommon in retail sales. |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|
*Banners
Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.