Boutique Awkwardness?

[Ikemi]

This is an odd one and perhaps I'm in the minority. In fact, perhaps it's some form of low level social anxiety? I'm unsure.

A bit of background ... I've bought the majority of my watches either online, or via Dom H. Again, the majority of these purchases have been unseen, in that I did not try the watch on first. I took the risk and if the piece wore well, I kept it. If not, I sold it on. It's soon to be my 30th Birthday and my parents have hinted at celebrating with a watch, seeing as I like them so much! As such, I'd like to try on as many as possible, and then give Dom H a call to source ...

However I've always found it rather awkward asking to try on a few pieces, especially when in the back of your mind, you know you won't be committing to a purchase. It feels as though I'm wasting the salesman's time. I understand it's their job and you 'win some and lose some', but still ...

I'm planning on visiting Harrods in the next coming weeks. Do you just continually ask to try different pieces on? The last time I was in the area, I did fancy popping into the JLC boutique. However as a fairly young looking bearded bloke, wearing jeans and a Fox t-shirt, with a well-dressed man and a well-dressed woman staring back at you through the shop window, I turned and walked away.

Anyone else similar? By the way, two possible contenders - Which would you choose? PanoInverse on the left, or PanoMaticLunar on the right?

[marcosgt]

The one on the right.

I have a hatred for the one on the left

If you want a dial that small, buy a vintage ladies watch...

And as to your awkwardness - Forget it, just go in - It's the salesman's job to SELL you something. If they can, fair play, if not, well, you can hardly waste someone's time doing the job they're paid for!

If they won't deal with you, their loss and don't EVER go back...

M.

Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 28th October 11:32

[mikeveal]

The one on the left is a gorgeous thing. Handled one in Dubai. The salesman was told I wasn't buying and was happy to show / chat anyway.

They won't care that you're in jeans and a T-Shirt although they may sneak a peak at your shoes. As Marcos says, their job to sell and you have every intention of buying.
If they offered a deal good enough for something that you want, why wouldn't you buy? Don't deny them the opportunity.

[CardShark]

The PanoMaticLunar would be my choice. I've never been a fan of open heart dials and I think that the PML will also age the better of the two, something you may well need to consider.

As for trying them on, just get stuck in! When I was looking for something for my 40th I must have tried maybe 15 different watches from a number of different ADs, ultimately I didn't buy from any of them and caught something pre-owned instead. I found that the assistant would often ask - as an ice breaker - if the watch was being bought for a special occasion, I would then explain that it was and that I was in the process of narrowing down the field before committing to a decision; if they haven't asked I've just been honest and told them. I've never been made to feel as though I was wasting any time, don't feel guilty for doing some research as I'm sure that most descisions of that financial magnitude for a watch aren't made on the spot. It's your 30th, your folks are buying it for you, it'll be a keeper and you want to make the right decision - simples.

You have some watch related knowledge so you won't come across as a complete fraudster, stick something decent on your wrist beforehand if it'll give you some confidence and get cracking. Enjoy it

Edit to add that when I was doing the rounds for my birthday the service I had from Wempe on Bond St. was exemplary, I'd be back there like a shot if I was on the market for a GO.

Edited by CardShark on Wednesday 28th October 12:36

[andy tims]

Pop into WoS on Regent Street to try on a few.

Of the 2 I'd probably go for the inverse just because its so unusual, but I'd be after the PanoReserve in yellow gold with a white dial.

[bobbybee]

Ikemi said:

I did fancy popping into the JLC boutique. However as a fairly young looking bearded bloke, wearing jeans and a Fox t-shirt, with a well-dressed man and a well-dressed woman staring back at you through the shop window, I turned and walked away

You big girl.
Simple thing to remember, they work there, you can afford to shop there, even if you decide to source your watch from elsewhere at a better price.
It is their job to try and sell you something. It is NOT your job to buy something

[PJ S]

PanoInverse
Don’t listen to marcosgt – his sense of aesthetics is up his bum.

[lostkiwi]

Get yourself down to Salon QP in November. You can see and try all manner of watches you wouldn't be able to afford (let alone those you can) and not one person has an expectation of selling to you (no sales on the day).

Last time I went we were looking at and trying on HYTs, Romaine Jeromes, JLCs and UhrWerks creations. Had a long drool over an RM as well. Some of the watches there are six figure sums.

[Johno]

Neither by the way .... But I'd love this to add to my other GO.

[chris56]

You will have no problems trying out watches in Harrods - I find them very helpful and more than willing to let you try on as many as you want.
Harrods are a Glasshutte AD too. The Panomatic Lunar is the one I have been looking at but it is quite thick. The other one on my radar is the Senator Perpetual Calendar.

[Variomatic]

I don't deal at anything like this level for sales but, even on £100 G shocks, I have no problem at all spending time with a potential customer despite the fact that they'll probably have a good look, see what they like, then either buy from thewatchshop.com or expect me to be able to match their prices (quite often less than trade - damn you Casio for your excessive bulk discounting!)

The way I see it is, if I make a good impression, then when they want something that needs face-to-face contact I'll probably get the gig. For a lot of people a £50 quartz chrono for someone's birthday is just as much of a financial decision (or even more) as a Patek might be for some on here, and if you don't appreciate that and actually enjoy helping them decide then you're probably better suited to an office job.

Incidentally, I'm with marcosgt on the watches, simply because the inverse has a little too much of the £15 Chinese Bling watch look about it - plus, even allowing for the quality, it's heading into Barbie Pink Rolls Royce territory with those exposed jewels on the dial.

[Lorne]

Ikemi said:

However as a fairly young looking bearded bloke, wearing jeans and a Fox t-shirt, with a well-dressed man and a well-dressed woman staring back at you through the shop window, I turned and walked away.

As long as you ditch the beard you'll be fine.

I say this because when I asked my daughter why so many young men seam to be sporting beards these days she said, 'oh they're hipsters, it's a sub-culture of men that are possibly a little insecure about their masculinity and therefore like to compensate by wearing beards. They're seen by the marketing professionals as very gullible to anything cool looking.' 'Oh' I replied, 'Didn't know there was such a thing as a marketing professional, but I guess it's the modern day version of George Michael and his 90's stubble'. to which, of course, she gave me a 'what are you going on about' look.

Edit: of the two watches, the one on the left if you wear your underpants with the top showing, the one on the right if your normal. :-)

Edited by Lorne on Wednesday 28th October 18:30