The Watch Buying Experience
Discussion
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?
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?
Reading your post I think that it comes down to the location you are shopping in.
If you're in the Arglye Arcade you expect the staff to be knowledgeable about the watches they are selling and courteous to the watch you are wearing.
If you are in Silverburn or Braehead shopping centre you can expect high staff turnover and the kind of service that brings.
There will be people in both locations who are better or worse than the others but from my experience I would avoid large shopping centres for watch purchases.
If you're in the Arglye Arcade you expect the staff to be knowledgeable about the watches they are selling and courteous to the watch you are wearing.
If you are in Silverburn or Braehead shopping centre you can expect high staff turnover and the kind of service that brings.
There will be people in both locations who are better or worse than the others but from my experience I would avoid large shopping centres for watch purchases.
It’s always nice when you can have a chat about something you’ve got an interest in, so I get that - but if they didn’t notice my speedseaplorer or whatever I can’t say it would sour the experience for me. Frankly the less time chatting around the edges of whether I like the watch I’m looking at, the better.
I didn’t like an IWC I finally tried (was set on buying from the photos!) on but felt trapped into small talk as I’d been paraded upstairs to the special little desks and given a drink and the small talk.
Frankly the whole watch buying thing is a bit cringy anyway - whatever the brand.
I didn’t like an IWC I finally tried (was set on buying from the photos!) on but felt trapped into small talk as I’d been paraded upstairs to the special little desks and given a drink and the small talk.
Frankly the whole watch buying thing is a bit cringy anyway - whatever the brand.
scoopdydoo said:
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.
>Cringe<Do you want them to be like the Fast Show tailors?
"Oooh sir, what a nice Speedmaster sir"
"Yes sir, very nice sir, suits your wrist sir"
"Is it tight sir? does it feel tight on the wrist sir?"
Just cannot fathom why you think this should be part of the purchasing experience or why someone should be able to be a mind reader to think it would please you if it was.
Muzzer79 said:
>Cringe<
Do you want them to be like the Fast Show tailors?
"Oooh sir, what a nice Speedmaster sir"
"Yes sir, very nice sir, suits your wrist sir"
"Is it tight sir? does it feel tight on the wrist sir?"
Just cannot fathom why you think this should be part of the purchasing experience or why someone should be able to be a mind reader to think it would please you if it was.
Yes I want it exactly like the fantasy in your head here. The loving my watch too was tongue in cheek, difficult to catch I know Do you want them to be like the Fast Show tailors?
"Oooh sir, what a nice Speedmaster sir"
"Yes sir, very nice sir, suits your wrist sir"
"Is it tight sir? does it feel tight on the wrist sir?"
Just cannot fathom why you think this should be part of the purchasing experience or why someone should be able to be a mind reader to think it would please you if it was.
. Everywhere else I've been, has always given it a wipe with a cloth though.scoopdydoo said:
Maybe that's come off incorrectly. It's not about having any ego stroked, I would hate that. It's about being polite and showing an interest beyond trying to get your money.
I get your point.You wouldn’t know a good salesman was trying to sell you anything.
But they’ll have targets to meet etc.
Why should they pretend to like your watch? Why do you expect them to blow smoke up your exhaust for the sake of it?
Compliements that are not sincere are pointless. The sales people are there to sell watches but for all you know they might not even care about watches.
Agree about pushy sales people though.
Compliements that are not sincere are pointless. The sales people are there to sell watches but for all you know they might not even care about watches.
Agree about pushy sales people though.
McMoose said:
Why should they pretend to like your watch? Why do you expect them to blow smoke up your exhaust for the sake of it?
Compliements that are not sincere are pointless. The sales people are there to sell watches but for all you know they might not even care about watches.
Agree about pushy sales people though.
It's a brand thing I think. If a salesperson is going to sell you a £5k 'thing' they really should know all about the brand and specific product.Compliements that are not sincere are pointless. The sales people are there to sell watches but for all you know they might not even care about watches.
Agree about pushy sales people though.
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.
The whole thing puts me off, got an email inviting me to view the “waiting list” Tudors, a special consultation with free “champagne.”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.
Wtf is that about, “we think you are a functional alcoholic, you can’t shop without a drink” or is it supermarket at best champagne served too cold if lucky to warm if not will get into my wallet?
Let me see the thing I might buy and stop fawning.
scoopdydoo said:
Not at all. My ego is large enough without being stroked.
I was actually just more annoyed that it was like being read a script designed to get my wallet out rather than an actual human interaction.
Probably was, seems like the ingenuity of everyday life is slowly getting replaced with everybody working against Standard Operating Procedures I was actually just more annoyed that it was like being read a script designed to get my wallet out rather than an actual human interaction.
scoopdydoo said:
Yes I want it exactly like the fantasy in your head here. The loving my watch too was tongue in cheek, difficult to catch I know . Everywhere else I've been, has always given it a wipe with a cloth though.
I'm sure there are many people that think the opposite. That they DON'T want the salesperson to touch their watch and give it a wipe. It's a bit like when I take my car in for a service and get asked if I wanted it washed. No chance, I don't want someone with a dirty rag or sponge anywhere near my car thanks? . Everywhere else I've been, has always given it a wipe with a cloth though.Last week, they were working in John Lewis in the suit section. Next week they'll be working O2 selling phone contracts. Does that answer your question? If you want to have a discussion about watches with them, check their wrist. If they have an iWatch then you can pretty much assume they know f
k all about your watch and probably very little more about the watches they're selling.
If you ask them how often you need to change the battery on a Pelagos, their answer will probably be, "Every two years, I think."
Wonder if you can get a discount by shaking it and hearing the rotor spinning, then suggesting something's loose inside it.
k all about your watch and probably very little more about the watches they're selling.If you ask them how often you need to change the battery on a Pelagos, their answer will probably be, "Every two years, I think."
Wonder if you can get a discount by shaking it and hearing the rotor spinning, then suggesting something's loose inside it.
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