The Watch Buying Experience

[vixen1700]

Bought a watch from Goldsmiths in Newcastle last month and they offered us a glass of champagne. We politely declined saying it was a bit early for us.

True Story

[Muzzer79]

I bought an engagement ring from Tiffany once and all I was offered was a small bottle of water.

I expected them to at least offer to polish my ring

fnar, fnar

[Sporky]

I tried to buy from WoS once but the security guard stood right in the doorway glaring at me.

[loskie]

Muzzer79 said:

I bought an engagement ring from Tiffany once and all I was offered was a small bottle of water.

I expected them to at least offer to polish my ring

fnar, fnar

Oi! I nearly spat my tea out. The oldies are still the best!

[GilletteFan]

Last year, I swanned into a luxury watch boutique to try on some fancy Swiss watches. A rather gaudy Rolex model caught my eye, so I enquired about it and was told I could only try it on as it was a floor model only. I obliged and took a seat to try it on. I rolled up my sleeve to take off my Apple Watch and laid it on the soft felt lined tray. Instead of giving it a nice wipe over, the SA looked at me in disgust and told me waiting lists were closed indefinitely. I walked out none the wiser with my dusty Apple Watch on wrist.

[Flying machine]

GilletteFan said:

Last year, I swanned into a luxury watch boutique to try on some fancy Swiss watches. A rather gaudy Rolex model caught my eye, so I enquired about it and was told I could only try it on as it was a floor model only. I obliged and took a seat to try it on. I rolled up my sleeve to take off my Apple Watch and laid it on the soft felt lined tray. Instead of giving it a nice wipe over, the SA looked at me in disgust and told me waiting lists were closed indefinitely. I walked out none the wiser with my dusty Apple Watch on wrist.

Quite right too. If you insist on indulging in such a lack of taste then you really shouldn't draw attention to it! If i were the 'boutique' in question I'd have hurled dung at you as you left in disgrace.

[scoopdydoo]

GilletteFan said:

Last year, I swanned into a luxury watch boutique to try on some fancy Swiss watches. A rather gaudy Rolex model caught my eye, so I enquired about it and was told I could only try it on as it was a floor model only. I obliged and took a seat to try it on. I rolled up my sleeve to take off my Apple Watch and laid it on the soft felt lined tray. Instead of giving it a nice wipe over, the SA looked at me in disgust and told me waiting lists were closed indefinitely. I walked out none the wiser with my dusty Apple Watch on wrist.

That's a shame, I have worn an apple watch lots of times and never had a negative reaction. Are you sure it wasn't something else that put them off?

[bordseye]

scoopdydoo said:

The other day I was in a shopping centre walking past a Chisholm Hunter and noticed their Tudor display, so stopped for a little look through the window. I initially wasn't going to but headed in to try a few on anyway - GMT, Pelagos 39 and a Oris Kermit.

Maybe it's just me but it all felt very pushy, not at all like I'd experienced in the Omega, Rolex or Breitling Boutiques recently. And also when I take my watch off in those places they give it a wipe with the microfibre and tell you how nice it is. No such compliment or treatments for my Speedmaster in there. I love my watch and they should at least pretend to too.

Immediately started talking about 0% finance and then having a walk round the centre to think about it.

I've only generally bought from boutiques or smaller jewellers like James Porter & Son in Glasgow, who have all been great. This has just put me off going back for the Pelagos, which was my choice of the 3. Standard for the bigger names or just a bad sales rep?

What are you buying? The watch or the sales rep?

The later can often do no right. It annoys me in car showrooms to be approached by a rep at all - rarely do they know the tec details anyway.

[RD-1]

scoopdydoo said:

GilletteFan said:

Last year, I swanned into a luxury watch boutique to try on some fancy Swiss watches. A rather gaudy Rolex model caught my eye, so I enquired about it and was told I could only try it on as it was a floor model only. I obliged and took a seat to try it on. I rolled up my sleeve to take off my Apple Watch and laid it on the soft felt lined tray. Instead of giving it a nice wipe over, the SA looked at me in disgust and told me waiting lists were closed indefinitely. I walked out none the wiser with my dusty Apple Watch on wrist.

That's a shame, I have worn an apple watch lots of times and never had a negative reaction. Are you sure it wasn't something else that put them off?

Maybe his razor sharp wit

[iphonedyou]

Sometimes this sub-forum deserves every bit of the ridicule it's regularly subjected to elsewhere on PH.

[ntiz]

PH is letting itself down!

Where's the follow up about going back and slapping the bloke in the face with the six fig Patek you bought instead??


The sales person withering in embarrassment at mis treating you.

[loskie]

How does that work in Argos?

[r159]

loskie said:

How does that work in Argos?

We’ll depends if it’s one in a Sainsbury’s…

[the-norseman]

My experiences,

Omega Seamaster at Beaverbrooks - walked in,can I try that on, yes of course, sit down and have a cup of tea, I'll have it and left with it.
Tudor GMT - Goldsmiths, ordered the watch, it turned up, walked in tried it on, resized it and left.

Not expecting them to roll out a red carpet or anything at the end of the day your shopping.

[Tyrell Corp]

loskie said:

OP: sounds like you were miffed not to have your ego stroked. Maybe says a lot about something.

Maybe says more about the inept sales staff, not reading the customer and knowing the buttons to push - on what is a high end purchase. Some people really want that buying experience for something they might wear for daily for decades -or to mark an important occasion.

Buying signals, he knows what he wants, already has a decent watch ...like a car dealer's patter "what are you driving at the moment?"

Favourably commenting on, and a careful cloth wipe of what is undeniably a decent watch, is commending OP's good judgement and building rapport and reassurance towards his next purchase.

High pressure is for the double glazing types, top salesmen are really slick and smooth about it.

[Speed Badger]

I ordered a £2k Oris online as I can't stand the faff. I tried on an Omega Speedmaster as Beaverbrooks and it was quite normal, sat at a desk, tried on the watch etc, I'm not one for all the champagne malarkey, same as if you go to pick up a car. Nothing would embarrass me more into cringy-ness than having my car under a sheet with a big bow on top, that is then whisked off to reveal it. But then we are all different I suppose.

If I'm going to try on an expensive watch in an acutal store, I always wear one of my Seiko's. They are the VW Golf of the watch world. They don't know whether you've got a million in the bank, or if you've wandered in off the street, stolen some trainers from JD sports and had a wash in the disabled toilets.

[Barchettaman]

Speed Badger said:

….you've wandered in off the street, stolen some trainers from JD sports and had a wash in the disabled toilets.

Don’t knock that approach; it worked for GilletteFan.

[popeyewhite]

vixen1700 said:

Bought a watch from Goldsmiths in Newcastle last month and they offered us a glass of champagne. We politely declined saying it was a bit early for us.

True Story

Bought a watch from a Rolex dealer in Crewe. Was offered a beer at time of purchase. Was a bit surprised and slightly underwhelmed and turned it down. In fairness everything else about the experience was topnotch.

I'm still a bit mystified now.

[bordseye]

Speed Badger said:

Nothing would embarrass me more into cringy-ness than having my car under a sheet with a big bow on top, that is then whisked off to reveal it. But then we are all different I suppose.
.

True. It didnt embarrass me - they had the sense not to put a bow on it - but it was a bit pointless. How can buying something be an experience? All you want to do is to get in the car and drive it.

Mind you, if it was something that every second dentist has like a 911, it would be way over the top anyway. Wouldnt it?

[S600BSB]

RD-1 said:

You can’t please everyone.

Personally I hate the compliments and facade.

I don’t want to book an appointment for a “consultation”. I give you money, you give me shiny shiny, that’s all I want.

I’ve actually had an email from WoS about my “purchasing journey”. WTF is that about.

Same here.