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mafoofan · 24 January 2021, 02:01 AM

Is it possible to buy a watch through a Patek AD but then have it sent to one of the salons (Geneva, for example) to take delivery there and get the full Salon experience?

ts3 · 24 January 2021, 03:14 AM

Why would you want to do that? Ask your AD or the Salon?

The Salon won't put you on their list for sth hot as a new non-local customer but they might well sell you a Calatrava or Complication. Even w/o buying there a visit is certainly worth while as they'll have you try on whatever you want and are willing to spend time with you regardless.

mafoofan · 24 January 2021, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts3

Why would you want to do that? Ask your AD or the Salon?

The Salon won't put you on their list for sth hot as a new non-local customer but they might well sell you a Calatrava or Complication. Even w/o buying there a visit is certainly worth while as they'll have you try on whatever you want and are willing to spend time with you regardless.

I’m not trying to get on the list for anything. I just want the experience of picking up the watch from the Salon, rather than the dealer.

IBDOC · 24 January 2021, 03:36 AM

Not possible. Patek sells the watch to the dealer. Why would their retail arm be interested in handling something that doesn’t belong to Patek anymore?

mafoofan · 24 January 2021, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBDOC

Not possible. Patek sells the watch to the dealer. Why would their retail arm be interested in handling something that doesn’t belong to Patek anymore?

Enhanced customer experience and building brand loyalty would be two good reasons. Similar to taking the European delivery option when you buy a Porsche from a US dealer.

ts3 · 24 January 2021, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Enhanced customer experience and building brand loyalty would be two good reasons. Similar to taking the European delivery option when you buy a Porsche from as US dealer.

Why wouldn't you want to buy at the Salon then? I think they'd be happy to sell you any non-hot piece.

mafoofan · 24 January 2021, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts3

Why wouldn't you want to buy at the Salon then? I think they'd be happy to sell you any non-hot piece.

The Salon doesn’t have this particular watch. It’s a 5170G, which was discontinued three years ago.

IBDOC · 24 January 2021, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

The Salon doesn’t have this particular watch. It’s a 5170G, which was discontinued three years ago.

Ever tried picking up a discontinued Porsche in Stuttgart?

mafoofan · 24 January 2021, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBDOC

Ever tried picking up a discontinued Porsche in Stuttgart?

Different story. This watch is new at an AD.

fsprow · 24 January 2021, 04:19 AM

The telephone is your friend. Just call them.

Dr.Teatime · 24 January 2021, 04:28 AM

I asked for this, my AD didn't accommodate.
They did hook me up with a trip to the Geneva Salon, tickets to the PP museum & a white glove experience in Geneva.

ts3 · 24 January 2021, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Different story. This watch is new at an AD.

Which makes it worse! Don't think the Porsche you'd pick up in Zuffenhausen would have been shipped to a US dealer and returned to Germany before.

In my expectation it is not even worth asking your AD and Geneva both of whom would have to play along. Being in the business they are in they must have received some odd requests in the past but I am not sure they had to deal with this one before. Personally I don't get the difference of going through all this vs just getting the watch from the AD and visiting the Salon on a separate occasion.

azizu · 24 January 2021, 05:58 AM

there is a good side for picking up your watch at the salon and espically Geneva Salon with all the history.
they have all the models for you to try (they won't sell you a waiting list piece but at least you can try it and see how it fit).
and you purchase any non waiting list non application piece on the spot in the salon.
The down side to that is that you can't aske for anything less that full retail price.
so its your call

CamSLC · 24 January 2021, 06:13 AM

In my opinion it seems like an unreasonable request to send a discontinued watch sitting at your local AD to another country just for an experience. They're both going to hand you a box and a glass of champagne. I'd just buy the watch and fly over for a Salon visit when it's convenient.

IBDOC · 24 January 2021, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Different story. This watch is new at an AD.

Let me rephrase. Ever bought a new but out of production Porsche sitting in the lot of a dealer in NYC and asked to have that same car delivered to you in Germany?

Like, what do you think is gonna happen to make this possible? Even if we ignore the fact that the watch probably would have to change ownership between the AD and PP again, it would have to be exported to Switzerland and then back into the US by you again. Oh, and the US is currently on the Swiss mandatory entry quarantine list, so there’s that...

jfriedkin · 24 January 2021, 09:38 PM

Why not buy the watch from the AD here in the US. Then Ship the watch to Geneva Salon, buy an airplane ticket to Geneva and pick up the watch at the Salon.

Russell996 · 24 January 2021, 10:03 PM

I went with my AD for a collection from Geneva.

https://www.laingsuk.com/blog/2016/0...atek-philippe/

dauster · 25 January 2021, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell996

I went with my AD for a collection from Geneva.

https://www.laingsuk.com/blog/2016/0...atek-philippe/

Very cool and thanks for sharing so it’s possible despite all the naysayers here !!!!

mafoofan · 25 January 2021, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell996

I went with my AD for a collection from Geneva.

https://www.laingsuk.com/blog/2016/0...atek-philippe/

Wow looks awesome. But it sounds like you were purchasing something on a different level from what I’m looking at!

Also, I don’t need or want any special treatment. Just want to pick-up my watch there as part of a nice weekend trip to Geneva.

Russell996 · 25 January 2021, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Wow looks awesome. But it sounds like you were purchasing something on a different level from what I’m looking at!

Also, I don’t need or want any special treatment. Just want to pick-up my watch there as part of a nice weekend trip to Geneva.

Well I’m not sure of the logistics for a simple collection, my piece had to come to my UK AD first and then my AD carried it with him on the flight to Geneva and presented it to me at the salon. I think the best option is to enquire with your AD what is possible as he will need to receive the watch before anything else can happen.

Uros · 25 January 2021, 04:23 AM

Great story...just afraid as OP said its not comparable, on the other hand AD can make a call and ask it wont hurt...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

RollinMoses · 25 January 2021, 07:18 AM

Maybe your AD can just organise the manufacture visit, etc? You pick up your watch at home at the AD and they help set up an experience for you when in Switzerland?

While a quick trip to Switzerland might be logistically easier for a European based AD to set up as described in the link, I am sure the New York / US ADs also arrange those sorts of trips to visit the manufacture.

With picking up the watch I would imagine that there could be a fair bit of customs and other legal red tape to move the watch around - the watch is owned by your AD and presumably they need to sell it to you from their location. So who transports the watch, on what basis is it declared to customs? If the AD is part of an international group that has a legal entity in Switzerland, maybe they can get it over there, but if not it seems likely you would need to be the one bringing your purchase with you from the US to Switzerland.

azizu · 25 January 2021, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell996

I went with my AD for a collection from Geneva.

https://www.laingsuk.com/blog/2016/0...atek-philippe/

This guy bought a grand complication, so it could've been a minute repeater :)
and for that you are entitiled for the Geneva saloon experiance

Russell996 · 25 January 2021, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azizu

This guy bought a grand complication, so it could've been a minute repeater :)
and for that you are entitiled for the Geneva saloon experiance

Not sure why you are assuming it was a grand complication, I have posted extensively about my experience of the purchase on this forum. I ordered a 5131G and after an eight year wait I was lucky enough to get an allocation of a 5131R. It was my first Patek! Passion and persistence are rewarded by a great AD.

tom2517 · 25 January 2021, 02:31 PM

Don’t see it happening for the OP, unless his AD does what the UK AD did for Russell, hand carry it back to Geneva.

jon_jon · 25 January 2021, 11:59 PM

It is possible as others have said. But it would be for a special watch, whether it's an application piece or some special customer order. Most likely if you are a collector at that level, you probably already have been on a factory tour and Geneva knows you on a first name basis.

For the average watch collector, I don't see it happening.

24 January 2021, 02:01 AM	#1
mafoofan "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: New York City Posts: 160	Buy watch at AD but pickup at Salon? Is it possible to buy a watch through a Patek AD but then have it sent to one of the salons (Geneva, for example) to take delivery there and get the full Salon experience?

24 January 2021, 05:58 AM	#13
azizu "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Saudi Arabia Watch: Patek 3700/11AJ Posts: 717	there is a good side for picking up your watch at the salon and espically Geneva Salon with all the history. they have all the models for you to try (they won't sell you a waiting list piece but at least you can try it and see how it fit). and you purchase any non waiting list non application piece on the spot in the salon. The down side to that is that you can't aske for anything less that full retail price. so its your call __________________ Current Collection: PP 3700/11AJ, PP 5170G, PP 5320G, PP 5712/1A, APRO 15500, Rolex 116234, Rolex GMT Master2 BLNR, Omega SMP, Baume & Mercier M0A10280

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24 January 2021, 03:14 AM	#2
ts3 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Europe Posts: 3,224	Why would you want to do that? Ask your AD or the Salon? The Salon won't put you on their list for sth hot as a new non-local customer but they might well sell you a Calatrava or Complication. Even w/o buying there a visit is certainly worth while as they'll have you try on whatever you want and are willing to spend time with you regardless.

24 January 2021, 03:36 AM	#4
IBDOC "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Switzerland Posts: 364	Not possible. Patek sells the watch to the dealer. Why would their retail arm be interested in handling something that doesn’t belong to Patek anymore?

24 January 2021, 04:19 AM	#10
fsprow "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Real Name: Frank Location: Dallas,NY,Colo. Watch: Patek 5168, 5170P Posts: 2,397	The telephone is your friend. Just call them.

24 January 2021, 04:28 AM	#11
Dr.Teatime "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: PGH Posts: 99	I asked for this, my AD didn't accommodate. They did hook me up with a trip to the Geneva Salon, tickets to the PP museum & a white glove experience in Geneva.

24 January 2021, 06:13 AM	#14
CamSLC "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: USA Watch: Rolex & Patek Posts: 1,436	In my opinion it seems like an unreasonable request to send a discontinued watch sitting at your local AD to another country just for an experience. They're both going to hand you a box and a glass of champagne. I'd just buy the watch and fly over for a Salon visit when it's convenient.

24 January 2021, 09:38 PM	#16
jfriedkin "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Real Name: James Location: chicago Watch: AP, PP Posts: 338	Why not buy the watch from the AD here in the US. Then Ship the watch to Geneva Salon, buy an airplane ticket to Geneva and pick up the watch at the Salon.

24 January 2021, 10:03 PM	#17
Russell996 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: UK Posts: 4,173	I went with my AD for a collection from Geneva. https://www.laingsuk.com/blog/2016/0...atek-philippe/

25 January 2021, 04:23 AM	#21
Uros "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Europe Posts: 391	Great story...just afraid as OP said its not comparable, on the other hand AD can make a call and ask it wont hurt... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

25 January 2021, 07:18 AM	#22
RollinMoses "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Europe Posts: 322	Maybe your AD can just organise the manufacture visit, etc? You pick up your watch at home at the AD and they help set up an experience for you when in Switzerland? While a quick trip to Switzerland might be logistically easier for a European based AD to set up as described in the link, I am sure the New York / US ADs also arrange those sorts of trips to visit the manufacture. With picking up the watch I would imagine that there could be a fair bit of customs and other legal red tape to move the watch around - the watch is owned by your AD and presumably they need to sell it to you from their location. So who transports the watch, on what basis is it declared to customs? If the AD is part of an international group that has a legal entity in Switzerland, maybe they can get it over there, but if not it seems likely you would need to be the one bringing your purchase with you from the US to Switzerland.

25 January 2021, 02:31 PM	#25
tom2517 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Asia & US Posts: 1,550	Don’t see it happening for the OP, unless his AD does what the UK AD did for Russell, hand carry it back to Geneva.

25 January 2021, 11:59 PM	#26
jon_jon "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 4,341	It is possible as others have said. But it would be for a special watch, whether it's an application piece or some special customer order. Most likely if you are a collector at that level, you probably already have been on a factory tour and Geneva knows you on a first name basis. For the average watch collector, I don't see it happening.

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