Amazingly poor service from miltonairs!

[Joe(UK)]

having sold a watch to make way for a rolex sub i recently asked for some places to go in the uk outside an AD! i was recommended Miltonairs, and subsequently i checked their stock to find a BNIB sea dweller however with no pic attached to the listing.

i felt that as i was so far away from any store and that the place wasnt an ad, seeing a picture of the actual watch for sale would be reasonable, however when i politely asked for a photo, i was greeted wit the response that if i didnt know what a sea dweller looked like then i should not be buying one and that i should go away and do some more research!

Running my own business i couldn't believe the tone of the email i had got back as someone interested in purchasing a not insignificant amount of watch! this has put me off from buying from anywhere that gives an issue with showing anything that it has for sale and that would even you not but from them than show you a photo of what they are trying to sell you!

i personally will NEVER buy from them which is a shame as i really wanted a BNIB sea dweller from them!

[Haywood_Milton]

We explained that we were not internet or mail order sellers and that requests for photographs were not entertained, as customers who see our on-line stock list must visit one of our four stores to see or buy any watch. Rather than put all our time into snazzy websites, we have proper shops and real people with actual watches which are what we say they are, and which you can come and handle. Many a slick website and photo service hides a watch business which over-describes its watches or simply doesn't have the knowledge to deal in them properly as we do.
A request for a photo of an unworn Sea-Dweller seemed pointless. Would it prove we had one, or just that we had a photo of one ?
Two minutes of research might have found out about us and the £150,000 of unworn watch heads we bought at auction in 2010.....perhaps a better way of checking us out and determining if we really had the watches we advertised, one might think.
While our 90 staff sell some 500+ Rolex every year now, they generate only about 5% of our companies' profits.
We continued trying to explain our policy and repeatedly wished you well in finding the watch you wanted. We hope you have now found one.
Perhaps email is a blunt tool and the tongue in cheek nature of a comment can cause offence, as we clearly did here. Our policy as regards supplying photos on demand, however, will not change.
You will note that those customers who DO buy a watch from us seem to find that they get a watch as least as good as we describe in every instance ( as it should be, but isn't with so many others ), and with a two year warranty. I see no complaints on that front, and if I did then I would immediately wish to sort it out.
Haywood Milton, M.A.(Hons), R.J.Dip.
Miltons (Liverpool) Ltd
M.S.Milton Ltd
S.S.Milton Ltd

[masterserg]

Not necessarily pointless...might want to check dial font as there are variations, might want to check whether the crown logo points up or not ... Different things are important or not to different people and might help in choosing between two samples of the same model. That does not mean the buyer is questioning the seller's credibility. I know I would ask for those specifics to make sure I am getting exactly the watch I want and would not buy otherwise. I don't understand why that would be an issue. Of course you can say "visit the store" and that is fair enough.

[Haywood_Milton]

Thankyou for your comments, Serg,
What different versions are there of a 2007 Sea-Dweller 16600T with a Zxxxxxx case number ? Do you know of different dial variants etc ? If there were variations I could accept that point.
As for a customer who is interested in whether the logo on the crown points up or not . . . I think I'll go on record and say that such customers are not welcome at most Rolex dealers, new or secondhand. Rolex themselves have no spec. that demands the crown logo points up and it is the lunatic extremes of internet WIS who get hung up with such-like. Important matters like Paul Newman dials and Mil sub case-backs I will spend hours on before I buy one, but crown logo orientation on a 2007 Sea-Dweller.......I don't want to know, and a customer from 200 miles away who asks the question is going to be very demanding indeed. All the watch dealers will agree with me.......but not all will say it publicly.
Again, though, thanks for trying to help us see the light here, Serg.
With kind regards,
Haywood Milton

[masterserg]

I guess that makes me unwelcome at most places. I can live with that. However I'd rather spend my money with whoever takes 3 minutes to humor my silliness. Anyway, not my business ... I am just throwing my unrequested 2 cents. Good luck.

[jefstathiou]

The response of this retailer makes the case for doing business with the trusted sellers of TRF. I have asked many "silly questions" of DaveSW & Tony Geha and have always been treated with great respect and courtesy. It, unfortunately, seems clear that my potential business would not as welcomed by Mr. Milton, as it is by David & Tony.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by Joe(UK)

i was greeted wit the response that if i didnt know what a sea dweller looked like then i should not be buying one and that i should go away and do some more research!

I guess you were just very unfortunate to have dealt with an ignorant and seemingly arrogant individual.

As the proprietor mentioned, they have a large volume of staff and it is possible that this person did not exhibit this sort of customer destruction previously.

Good luck with your search. There are plenty of good sellers and good watches out there.

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

Thankyou for your comments, Serg,
What different versions are there of a 2007 Sea-Dweller 16600T with a Zxxxxxx case number ? Do you know of different dial variants etc ? If there were variations I could accept that point.
As for a customer who is interested in whether the logo on the crown points up or not . . . I think I'll go on record and say that such customers are not welcome at most Rolex dealers, new or secondhand. Rolex themselves have no spec. that demands the crown logo points up and it is the lunatic extremes of internet WIS who get hung up with such-like. Important matters like Paul Newman dials and Mil sub case-backs I will spend hours on before I buy one, but crown logo orientation on a 2007 Sea-Dweller.......I don't want to know, and a customer from 200 miles away who asks the question is going to be very demanding indeed. All the watch dealers will agree with me.......but not all will say it publicly.
Again, though, thanks for trying to help us see the light here, Serg.
With kind regards,
Haywood Milton

You must have more business than you need. Must be nice to not have to bother with potential customers, and not give a flip about the bad word of mouth your posts on here are going to get you.

-Eddie

[mboverst]

Wow! Is this a troll account? This could arguably be the poorest, most arrogant, and worst attempt at saving face I've ever seen from a legitimate business.

[meloncap78]

I think anyone with more money than most people are the most important and they should be able to talk to whomever, however.....................:l ol::l ol::l ol::l ol:......pardon me, I have had a few.

[Blazer]

I am the CEO of a service based Company. I have never heard of a business been so rude to a potential customer as this. All the man asked for was a photo or two. He was not questioning if you had the watch or not. He wanted to purchase it. Or don't you get that concept. I wish my company was able to turn people away like these people can, you must make many millions a year and can pick and choose your customers.

I have spent over $30.000 on buying Rolex watches on line for my own use. I live in a town 400 km away from my nearest AD. If not for the net and the sellers willing to send me photos I would not have purchased one.

Very sorry you had to deal with such rude and and unpleasant seller.

I am sure you will find your watch and be happy with the service you receive. I would say you had a lucky save here maybe.

[LordNinja]

Just....wow!

[dnagwhogas]

Clearly this vendor doesn't want or need your business. I'd take my money somewhere else.

[aussiewatchnut]

I understand their store policy, but how hard would it have been to send a pleasantly worded e-mail. Customer service??????
I'd put it down to experience and take my money elsewhere.

[Nairn1980]

as said, there is no place for poor service. It is a tough market, and retailers need to work hard to seperate themselves from the competition.

In my humble opinion, service is one of the most important elements, and if it is missing, I would not deal there.

Personally I stick to AD's but haggle until I get a deal I'm happy with...works perfectly for me.

Other option is trusted sellers on here.....but clearly the store in question do not need your business, or value your business, so I would certainly give your money elsewhere

[__ma]

Wow! Bad attitude!

[Andad]

Hi Joe,

I couldn't see the email that you received??

I only have your post to go on??

[EchoBlueUK]

Originally Posted by dnagwhogas

Clearly this vendor doesn't want or need your business. I'd take my money somewhere else.

+1. Customer service stinks!

[Puffy]

Haywood Milton or miltonairs or whatever it's called does seem like something out of a bad movie, see here. "helps" or preys on people in need and certainly doesn't need repeat customers hence the rubbish and poor service you received on buying the rolex deep sea watch

Be keen to see the org email to see if it's in line with the somewhat arrogant and troll like posts made by Haywood Milton

Action can be taken after that, bad service must not be tolerated and people have to be warned about this Scouser and his lack of customer services skills or to accommodate requests made by potential buyers

[toph]

Haywood Milton: you would do well to remember that politeness costs nothing.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by Puffy

Haywood Milton or miltonairs or whatever it's called does seem like something out of a bad movie

Right out of Monty Python. I can even picture it.

[Ticking Away]

What a wonderful example of poor customer service and arrogance. For the effort it took to send the email / post here you could have just sent Joe his simple pic.

Joe, you're better off having found this out BEFORE you parted with your money.

[Swearengen]

Originally Posted by Puffy

Haywood Milton or miltonairs or whatever it's called does seem like something out of a bad movie, see here. "helps" or preys on people in need and certainly doesn't need repeat customers hence the rubbish and poor service you received on buying the rolex deep sea watch

Be keen to see the org email to see if it's in line with the somewhat arrogant and troll like posts made by Haywood Milton

Action can be taken after that, bad service must not be tolerated and people have to be warned about this Scouser and his lack of customer services skills or to accommodate requests made by potential buyers

I had a similar experience with these guys when I asked for some deatils of the 1680 Red they had. You would have thought I had asked to sleep with his teenage daughter by the reaction I got. To be fair and to give a balanced picture they did answer some of the questions and provide some photos once I dropped the name of someone not too far from them, who has quite a reasonable collection of Subs.

In the end the 1680 wasn't what I was looking for, however I won't be troubling them again. Not when there are people like Jed and Jacek and even Steve M out there.

[STEELINOX]

Haywood Milton, consider your biz, a full body belly flop in this neck of the net ~ !

[r s gibson]

Thanks for the post ,Miltons response is pathetic!!!

[watchf]

Wow even if the seller is using the reason that all DSSD looks the same that tone in their email to you would put anyone off. Don't buy from any arrogant business that lacks basic customer service, something as basic as wording email response appropriately without offending potential customer is common sense.

[masterserg]

Look for the Monty Phyton cheese shop on youtube ... hilarious and a classic!

[denzo]

Guys, Sorry for re-opening this thread ... I have had the pleasure of meeting and doing business with Haywood - face to face on at least 3 occassions / transactions without any issue or concern.

He is the Managing Director of Milton's and is a passionate Rolex collector and used Rolex retailer. What he doesn's know about Rolex is not worth knowing about.

He does have a website which lists his company's inventory but does NOT offer mail order service or specialised bespoke photography of individual pieces ... (I know, because I have tried and asked before!!!)

What he does offer is personal honest service with full authenticity guaranteed for all pieces - all pieces are either mint, RSC serviced, or carefully repolished by their dedicates watch makers (who have been described as - as good as RSC polishers, finishers).

I think you may have got the wrong end of the stick with him ....

I would not hesitate on calling him, or viewing his website when I am looking for my next Rolex - he has sold me a Rolex 16200 Datejust, 116234 Datejust and 16610 SS Submariner Date without issue or concern.

Give him a break ?

Dr DJ Robinson

[perpetualman88]

Poor business practice and most of all WHY BE RUDE? you are dealing with a customer who is probably overly excited to be buying a rolex why would you ever deflate some of that excitment and at the most complete piss off your customer.

WOW, haywood milton there are some sellers here on TRF that blow your sales of 500 rolexs out of the water and you need 90 people to do it thats pretty funny

This goes to show you that the absolute best place to buy the exact Rolex you want is right here with some of our trusted TRF sellers. I hope JOEUK finds the exact watch he wants from a seller who can match his products quality

[jefstathiou]

Perhaps it would be better if he were requesting " a break". Seems to me that the arrogance he manifested requires a bit more than one "client"pleading his case. I would not do business with such a rude individual.