Anyone ever tipped or gifted an AD?

[Tony64]

There's a lot of folks who want tips these days, but I'm happy to put her name on my wait list.

[rolexest]

I get my AD a bottle every time I get the call.

[Watchflair]

I would not give cash - I have given a really nice bottle wine or champagne as a sign of my appreciation.

I find a cash tip in this situation to be inappropriate.

[BillA]

Wow, you flew from CA to the Bahamas for a watch?

[WatchLurv]

Originally Posted by BillA

Wow, you flew from CA to the Bahamas for a watch?

I've flown across the world for a handful of hot steel watches too. Not uncommon.

[Setarip]

Originally Posted by 530ExplorerII

but when I was expressing my gratitude during our correspondence the salesperson sent the following message: “And just in case you were wondering i do accept monetary gifts....”
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That last line is a total turn off.

My AD provided me with a Sub on the spot for a special occasion gift. A few days later I dropped off 3 bottles of choice selection of Far Niente.

Him? Unexpected, but very much appreciated.

In past 16 yrs buying Rolex from AD, never had an SA even suggest something like this.

[Wimbledon]

Originally Posted by BillA

Wow, you flew from CA to the Bahamas for a watch?

Yeah...that's what I was thinking. It's a damn Rolex watch. My time is more valuable. People lose their minds over this stuff.

Don't get me wrong...watches are nice, but I couldn't see jumping on a plane to go get one. They aren't THAT important to me.

[Zoomerang]

I was very close to flying out to Punta Cana to get a watch too.. I was trying to justify it by using the tax you don't pay there for travel expenses (on the cheap!) and taking a 3 day vacation.

But time is valuable and hard to get away on a whim for a watch..

[mk2jag]

I always thank them afterwards with a nice e-mail. The written word is always appreciated.


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[blada4life]

Originally Posted by Wimbledon

Yeah...that's what I was thinking. It's a damn Rolex watch. My time is more valuable. People lose their minds over this stuff.



Don't get me wrong...watches are nice, but I couldn't see jumping on a plane to go get one. They aren't THAT important to me.

Well I had this exact situation at an out of country AD tied to a resort. My thought was I would pay for the watch and the AD advised it would sit in their vault as paid. They do this for many tourists. Then, in 2-3 months when we plan our spring vacation, we would go there for a week and I would grab the watch too. Guess op is just too excited or maybe has no other free time to do this. Maybe good timing for him. We don’t know. And that’s the point. Let’s not be critical of others.


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[6538]

Originally Posted by 530ExplorerII

I had my name on a waiting list for a 116610LV for about 8 months and the AD called me to let me know it was available. I’m from CA and the AD was in the Bahamas. I did a fair amount of due diligence and had the AD send me multiple pics with the date and my name handwritten on their business card. The service was great and I really appreciated them taking my long distance business but when I was expressing my gratitude during our correspondence the salesperson sent the following message: “And just in case you were wondering i do accept monetary gifts....”

She did help me out and was pleasant to work with, but I also had to drop everything, wire cash the same day and grab a flight from CA to Nassau the following week. My question is: should I tip? If so, how much? It wasn’t too long ago that ADs were giving me gifts (and discounts) to purchase. Has the dynamic shifted? Anyone gift or tip their AD?


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I have never been to the Bahamas, but perhaps that is customary there.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by 6538

I have never been to the Bahamas, but perhaps that is customary there.

It is. "Tip please" is heard often.

[Philadelphialawyer1]

Yes, AD took a scratch out of my Sub clasp but wouldn't charge me,
I gave him a bottle of Balvene.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Wimbledon

Yeah...that's what I was thinking. It's a damn Rolex watch. My time is more valuable. People lose their minds over this stuff.

Don't get me wrong...watches are nice, but I couldn't see jumping on a plane to go get one. They aren't THAT important to me.

Right? I check out watches everywhere I travel, but I don’t travel anywhere to check out watches.

[530ExplorerII]

Originally Posted by Tony64

There's a lot of folks who want tips these days, but I'm happy to put her name on my wait list.

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[530ExplorerII]

Originally Posted by blada4life

... Maybe good timing for him. We don’t know. And that’s the point. Let’s not be critical of others.

It was actually the only time it was going to work in the foreseeable future for me and definitely wasn’t going to do a vacation there again. Not sure why so many people feel the need to comment negatively about a situation they have virtually no insight into, but I do appreciate the kind words. Between work, family and other community commitments I don’t get too much time to do things for myself so this was a nice little adventure for me. The fact that involved something I’m really passionate about and a great deal on a watch I’ve been looking for for 3 years was a bonus.


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[AshCashEmAll]

[QUOTE=530ExplorerII;10391287]It was actually the only time it was going to work in the foreseeable future for me and definitely wasn’t going to do a vacation there again. Not sure why so many people feel the need to comment negatively about a situation they have virtually no insight into, but I do appreciate the kind words. Between work, family and other community commitments I don’t get too much time to do things for myself so this was a nice little adventure for me. The fact that involved something I’m really passionate about and a great deal on a watch I’ve been looking for for 3 years was a bonus.]


You were able to get a little vacation and a watch most ADs can not provide to their vip customers without waiting. You got it duty free which means you didn't pay the 9% sales tax which you can put towards the cost of the trip. I would say you are a winner and the people who have a comment to make haven't thought about the reality of obtaining that same watch at an AD in SoCal.

[EEpro]

Congrats, great adventure story behind your great watch.

[Driftwood]

The “tip” is buying the watch..

[Driftwood]

The “tip” is buying the watch

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by Driftwood

The “tip” is buying the watch

Whether or not one tips anybody (in any industry) for good service or access to rare opportunities/products is a personal decision and if the decision not to tip is made I fully respect that.

However...

The above type of statement is utter crap. That is exactly the same as saying you eating a meal in a restaurant is the server's tip, or the fact that you stay in the hotel is the porter who carries all your bags tip.

Purchasing goods or services is a transaction. A tip is a gift. One that should be received with enormous gratitude! (Something that some recipients seem to forget but that's a different rant).

For the avoidance of doubt I am not arguing the merits or demerits of tipping itself. It's ok not to tip. What's not ok is to conflate buying and tipping. They are not the same!

[Ragna]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Whether or not one tips anybody (in any industry) for good service or access to rare opportunities/products is a personal decision and if the decision not to tip is made I fully respect that.

However...

The above type of statement is utter crap. That is exactly the same as saying you eating a meal in a restaurant is the server's tip, or the fact that you stay in the hotel is the porter who carries all your bags tip.

Purchasing goods or services is a transaction. A tip is a gift. One that should be received with enormous gratitude! (Something that some recipients seem to forget but that's a different rant).

For the avoidance of doubt I am not arguing the merits or demerits of tipping itself. It's ok not to tip. What's not ok is to conflate buying and tipping. They are not the same!

Good point.