Bond Street - Not what was expected
Discussion
Having been on the list for a Nautilus for 6 months, one popped up advertised as new, March 11, on a well known watch site, with a shop based in New Bond St. I rang and they took £500 deposit, and I visited yesterday. What I was met with was not quite what I expected.
Arrived and was shown a seat in a grim little office, where the owner showed me the watch. He sat there, offering no info on the watch whatsoever, totally silent. Then the coffee arrived for himself and his 3 assistants. Nothing, not even an offer in my direction. Then a row erupted because the security guard had forgotten to get stamps. I might as well not have existed. 2 more clients arrived, were ignored and walked out.
I asked to have the strap adjusted , where he disappeared for 40 minutes, only to return to state he could not do it and showed me some blisters on his fingers. Then he stated he needed to go out as his back was bad and had an appointment. Then on assistant suggested in a loud voice ' don't let 'im 'in, he looks like a right wasta time', about a smartly dressed client looking in the shop window.
I was stunned, seriously. I asked for the desposit back and in silence this was done.
I walked.
Now I'm a simple Welsh lad, didn't expect red carpet or fawning etc, but I could not believe this was how they treated a potential client.
How can businesses like this survive with that attitude ?. Beggars belief. So, back on list with AP, should arrive August.
Arrived and was shown a seat in a grim little office, where the owner showed me the watch. He sat there, offering no info on the watch whatsoever, totally silent. Then the coffee arrived for himself and his 3 assistants. Nothing, not even an offer in my direction. Then a row erupted because the security guard had forgotten to get stamps. I might as well not have existed. 2 more clients arrived, were ignored and walked out.
I asked to have the strap adjusted , where he disappeared for 40 minutes, only to return to state he could not do it and showed me some blisters on his fingers. Then he stated he needed to go out as his back was bad and had an appointment. Then on assistant suggested in a loud voice ' don't let 'im 'in, he looks like a right wasta time', about a smartly dressed client looking in the shop window.
I was stunned, seriously. I asked for the desposit back and in silence this was done.
I walked.
Now I'm a simple Welsh lad, didn't expect red carpet or fawning etc, but I could not believe this was how they treated a potential client.
How can businesses like this survive with that attitude ?. Beggars belief. So, back on list with AP, should arrive August.
Good man. The one thing i hate more than anything else is poor service. Theres just no need for it, and i often take as a personal insult; its usually down to terrible manners! You think i am foolish enough to part with my hard earned cash to benefit somebody who cant spare me the attention required as a potential customer!?
Ive lost track of the ammount of times ive walked away from a purchase lately due to rude or incompetant staff. Unfortunately it seems to becoming more and more frequent.
Ive lost track of the ammount of times ive walked away from a purchase lately due to rude or incompetant staff. Unfortunately it seems to becoming more and more frequent.
Sounds familiar. Went to WEMPE after, couldn't have been more different. Superb, but did not have a Nautilus in Steel. Patek direct have quoted 18 months, and WOS 4 months. Though there was one that I was wearing just up the road and I walked. Not cutting my nose off here, but I am damned for the £600 discount offered and the total embarrassment of the whole scenario, I was going to grant them the gratification of making a sale. I'm not interested if they were selling a Gshock or a Patek, the ignorance was unbelievable. There's hope for us all to make a living, if thats the state of the service in the retail sector.
Wurls said:
Robbo66 said:
Sounds familiar. Went to WEMPE after, couldn't have been more different. Superb, but did not have a Nautilus in Steel. Patek direct have quoted 18 months, and WOS 4 months. Though there was one that I was wearing just up the road and I walked. Not cutting my nose off here, but I am damned for the £600 discount offered and the total embarrassment of the whole scenario, I was going to grant them the gratification of making a sale. I'm not interested if they were selling a Gshock or a Patek, the ignorance was unbelievable. There's hope for us all to make a living, if thats the state of the service in the retail sector.
Everything you say about your expectation of service level is completely fair but can I humbly suggest that you are allowing emotions to overrule here. The fact is they have want you want and are prepared to give you a (small) discount. You have the opportunity to quickly get your hands on one of the two finest modern SS sports watches ever made (the other being the AP RO). They will take no gratification from a sale to you because they know full well that I will buy it if you don't. Life's too short. Buy it and enjoy it. The row in front of me when 'trigger' forgot the stamps....unbelievable.
I'd agree with you if it were a 18 month wait, but for only 4 months, prefer to pay the full RRP with a 2 year warranty from an official AP.
Wurls said:
Everything you say about your expectation of service level is completely fair but can I humbly suggest that you are allowing emotions to overrule here. The fact is they have want you want and are prepared to give you a (small) discount. You have the opportunity to quickly get your hands on one of the two finest modern SS sports watches ever made (the other being the AP RO). They will take no gratification from a sale to you because they know full well that I will buy it if you don't. Life's too short. Buy it and enjoy it.
I completely agree with the OPs comments on your post, so won't bother reiterating. For me, the fact they I probably wouldn't trust such a place to deal with any possible problems in the future would put me off hugely.
TheRealCarlL said:
Good man. The one thing i hate more than anything else is poor service. Theres just no need for it, and i often take as a personal insult; its usually down to terrible manners! You think i am foolish enough to part with my hard earned cash to benefit somebody who cant spare me the attention required as a potential customer!?
Ive lost track of the ammount of times ive walked away from a purchase lately due to rude or incompetant staff. Unfortunately it seems to becoming more and more frequent.
Vote with your feet. It's the only way. There are businesses that I now simply will not deal with due to their poor service / attitude. The trouble is that these days, few people really care about their customers or their products. Ive lost track of the ammount of times ive walked away from a purchase lately due to rude or incompetant staff. Unfortunately it seems to becoming more and more frequent.
Alas, as enthusiasts, I think we want our buying experiences to be with those who are as enthusiastic as we are and it is rarely the case. Of course, there are a few exceptions, like Neil at Chronomaster and our very own Dom H.
Nothing excuses that level of service IMO. I agree that they could sell the watch to the next 'banker' who came by, but in reality the banker would probably prefer to purchase from WEMPE or Patek directly. I cannot see 'old money' lowering themselves to save the £600 offered.
On reflection, I believe that they just havent a clue. Simple. You could sit there and try and explain and it would simply wash over them.
The set up was incredible. 'Trigger' had a pin stripe suit on, with scuffed trainers, and wandered about the shop, whilst the owner just seemed totally disinterested. How ?. I was not a 'time waster' had paid £500 deposit, and driven from Cardiff at midday.
I now beleive that the watch was on SOR, as he stated that the owner had part exchanged the Nautilus for the £70,000 piece that was 'reserved'. They had to sell the Nautilus to sell the other watch. Even more reason to be civil.
Staggering.
On reflection, I believe that they just havent a clue. Simple. You could sit there and try and explain and it would simply wash over them.
The set up was incredible. 'Trigger' had a pin stripe suit on, with scuffed trainers, and wandered about the shop, whilst the owner just seemed totally disinterested. How ?. I was not a 'time waster' had paid £500 deposit, and driven from Cardiff at midday.
I now beleive that the watch was on SOR, as he stated that the owner had part exchanged the Nautilus for the £70,000 piece that was 'reserved'. They had to sell the Nautilus to sell the other watch. Even more reason to be civil.
Staggering.
I know exactly which place you're talking about. I've been in the dingy office and not been offered tea. Lol
In their defense, they are usually quite good. They're a damn site better than other shops further up the road towards Piccadilly and on par with some of the burlington arcade guys.
If I understand this correctly, you are making a £600 saving? I would advise waiting at an authorised dealer if the saving is only £600.
In their defense, they are usually quite good. They're a damn site better than other shops further up the road towards Piccadilly and on par with some of the burlington arcade guys.
If I understand this correctly, you are making a £600 saving? I would advise waiting at an authorised dealer if the saving is only £600.
Robbo66 said:
I asked to have the strap adjusted , where he disappeared for 40 minutes, only to return to state he could not do it and showed me some blisters on his fingers.
This is a particular joke when I can walk in to a high street Ernest Jones and, even as I reach into my wallet for some money, have them tell me they'll happily adjust my watch bracelet for free. I didn't even buy the watch from them!
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