Rolex sales associate how much time on the job

[daysky1]

I've been dealing with sales associates at Rolex for just a few years now and I have seen a lot of turnover from the manager of the store to sales associates moving on to other jobs. I just wonder how long a sales associate stays at a Rolex authorized dealer? Usually when I call a Rolex dealer I asked for the sales associate that's been selling Rolex watches the longest. Along with this question goes the other question does your sales associate at the Rolex authorized dealer actually know about what a Rolex watch is made of or the history of it. There was one sales associate that told me that the hands and hour markers of the Rolex watch are stainless steel. how confident are you that the sales associate you're dealing with actually knows the product Rolex? I would venture a guess that most of the people who are Rolex enthusiasts know more than the people that sell the watches at the authorized dealers my advice to a sales associate would be at the very least to read the current issue of the Rolex catalog and then go on the Rolex website and follow the pages in their depths to learn as much as you can learn about the Rolex watch but then that would make you an enthusiast which wouldn't be so bad being is that you're selling Rolex watches.

[rolexnerd]

You don’t need to know much to sell Rolex watches

[cdmorenot]

The vast majority of Rolex buyers aren’t enthusiasts or watch nerds. The sales associate is at the level of that vast majority. I have met SA’s that know nothing and I’ve met some that know as much as any of us that hang around these parts do.

A few from Radcliffe and WOS that I’ve spoken to have been on the job for months. While SA at smaller AD have been there for decades. My former SA was at the AD for 3 decades before retiring.

[omar-rye]

When the product sells itself, Rolex sales associates aren’t incentivized to engage in business sales.

[KatGirl]

I first walked into my current AD in August, 2022. As far as I can tell, my original SA was transferred to another store in the chain (also a Rolex AD), and maybe a new staff member added, but everyone else is still there. I switched to a new SA, and have bought a watch from both. I have gotten very friendly with the Manager, as well. The folks at my store seem well informed and knowledgeable about Rolex watches. Having said that, I ‘ve always thought I know more about watches, in general, than any sales person in any watch retailer I’ve visited. I imagine this is a common thought among passionate enthusiasts here and on other watch forums

Kat.


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[stark1]

From my experience, stores strongly prefer people with sales background without need of watch knowledge (they can learn as they go). It's frustrating to buy a luxury item when the SA knows little about the product, and the limited knowledge they do share can be laughable. Turnover seems high at chain stores, where the most knowledgeable and caring sales reps are at independently owned stores.

[inadeje]

In general, when management knows a product sells itself, they tend to pay the sales staff a pretty low commission. I’m not sure exactly what SA’s (sales associates) are making or what kind of commission they get, but I’d guess it’s not much. Probably in the 1-2% range, or maybe even less. Just my 2 cents.

[ArtNouveau]

I bought my first watch from my current SA in ‘97, an Oris. He has moved around a few times over the years but always as a watch specialist and I’ve followed him. He is definitely a watch guy. He knows Rolex but also the competition and horology in general.
It actually really chaps me when some people here demean watch sales professionals as I know them. He has earned a good living through his knowledge and good service.

[MovieGuy]

I was the Rolex sales specialist for nearly 20 years at the AD where I used to work. Not to brag but it was pretty rare that a customer knew more than I did about anything Rolex related. I guess I was one of the rare WIS SAs!

[Tocker]

A recent trip to my AD and I was surprised that my SA and their manager were talking to me about their recent experiences whilst at a Rolex facility. There were some bits of info that I was unaware of - trivial stuff about specific pieces but it was interesting to listen to, all the same.

The fact that they shared this with me helps me think that they acknowledge my enthusiasm for the brand, and watches in general. Hopefully, this may lead to consideration when it's allocation time.

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[joli160]

In my experience (big chain AD) they know next to nothing.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

I was the Rolex sales specialist for nearly 20 years at the AD where I used to work. Not to brag but it was pretty rare that a customer knew more than I did about anything Rolex related. I guess I was one of the rare WIS SAs!

How much commission do SA’s make on a Rolex?

[petay993]

Shop assistants have a high churn rate.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by daysky1

I've been dealing with sales associates at Rolex for just a few years now and I have seen a lot of turnover from the manager of the store to sales associates moving on to other jobs. I just wonder how long a sales associate stays at a Rolex authorized dealer? Usually when I call a Rolex dealer I asked for the sales associate that's been selling Rolex watches the longest. Along with this question goes the other question does your sales associate at the Rolex authorized dealer actually know about what a Rolex watch is made of or the history of it. There was one sales associate that told me that the hands and hour markers of the Rolex watch are stainless steel. how confident are you that the sales associate you're dealing with actually knows the product Rolex? I would venture a guess that most of the people who are Rolex enthusiasts know more than the people that sell the watches at the authorized dealers my advice to a sales associate would be at the very least to read the current issue of the Rolex catalog and then go on the Rolex website and follow the pages in their depths to learn as much as you can learn about the Rolex watch but then that would make you an enthusiast which wouldn't be so bad being is that you're selling Rolex watches.

Would expect many members on forum know more about Rolex watches and the history of the brand than most SA at Rolex retail shops.

[77T]

I agree with Peter about the product knowledge - the average WIS will know more than the average SA.

But the SA will know more about sorting out the sales process at the AD - most SA's sell other products.

WIS focus on Rolex differently than most consumers do for other products. Almost narcissistically, looking at those who aren't addicted as being beneath those who are addicted.

An example:
Most here drive cars - less than .01% know their cylinder head has an aluminium-silicon alloy, A356, containing 7% silicon, 0.3 – 0.6% magnesium, 0.25 – 0.4% iron and other traces elements in addition to the base aluminum metal. Even fewer know the post-consumer recycled aluminum percentage in the base. Capisci?
So should a dealer's car seller know all that?

Belief that an SA must be so enamored in one brand, and shouldn't be allowed to sell the product without that love, is the height of bias IMHO.


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[travisb]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

How much commission do SA’s make on a Rolex?

Some don't make any commission. I've worked with ADs that pay their SAs straight salary.
Most of the larger ADs do pay a commission on top of salary though.

[brandrea]

The boutique that I frequent have had staff there longer than I’ve been going which is moving on 15 years now.

As for product knowledge, I supposed it varies. I’d say that you can cherry pick almost any reference and if you’ve done your homework you will know as much or more. A good sales associate will know more about the broad range perhaps.

I think the same holds true for just about almost any product you research and are serious about buying IMHO

[1William]

Most SA's are just clerks and that is good enough for a lot of customers. To find an SA with extensive knowledge about a watch brand is somewhat rare in my experience.

[metallic]

True enthusiasts of any product essentially always know more than the salesperson. It really makes no difference. You shouldn’t get your product information from the salespeople anyway.

[Krash]

The SAs know more about Rolex and the watch industry than the average Joe on the street. But watch enthusiasts—like the people that subscribe to this forum—know even more, a lot more, and this shouldn’t be a surprise.

It’s no different than many car enthusiasts knowing more about the cars than the dealers. The dealers might know more than the average Joe on the street, but there are always guys out there that know more about the cars than the dealer.


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[Calatrava r]

I have been in numerous ADs over many years. I have never met a sales associate enthusiastic or knowable about the brand. Many have told over the years they do not know what all the fuss is about. As said above, most people know very little about watches, so selling the product just requires people skilled in salesmanship. One thing I do see in sales, no matter what is being sold, is people stay in these jobs forever with very little turnover.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by daysky1

I just wonder how long a sales associate stays at a Rolex authorized dealer?

How long is a piece of string?

[MovieGuy]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

How much commission do SA’s make on a Rolex?

I wouldn't know. We didn't work on commission.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by travisb

Some don't make any commission. I've worked with ADs that pay their SAs straight salary.
Most of the larger ADs do pay a commission on top of salary though.

Originally Posted by MovieGuy

I wouldn't know. We didn't work on commission.

Good to know. Thanks for the insight

[VictorGMT]

I've been away from retail for 30 years.

We were taught the product knowledge was the LEAST valuable predictor of sales associate success, and that it was typically inversely correlated with sales associate success.

As in, the more you know about the product, the less successful you would be selling it.

Don't shoot the messenger, but my observation is they were on to something.

[G&TMe]

Hope you aren't forced to reject too many timepieces due to dealing with someone who can't spout out every negligible fact.

[SS Oyster]

If a SA is selling only new watches, they don't need to know much, especially if Rolex. And looking in the mirror, us buyers should not be trying to show off our superior (to them) knowledge about watches lest we leave them looking for another buyer. If you focus on making the SA look good, they will focus on getting you more watches.

[Sublovin]

It's really not as deep as you would like it to be. It's a job. Like most every job, there's turnover. It's not extremely high paying, and most who do it are not particularly "passionate" so I wouldn't expect them to know much. When is the last time you thought a TV, or refrigerator or a house?

[SubDate]

I do know that of the SAs I have spoken to do not appreciate all of the nicknames for certain models. I have seen “Can I see that Pepsi?” be corrected to “this is the GMT Master II with red and blue bezel”.

[colonelpurple]

Big chains tend to be more automated for queuing and assessment, so it doesn't really matter who the sales person is. In some ways I prefer this anonymity. But then for me, its not about the buying experience, I care not a fig for, its the product I am getting that excites me.

The thing I worry about is the person who takes the links out of the bracelet - are the a real expert !!

Lastly I expect the sales person to be trained in caring for watches. If I ask to see two watches and the sales person puts them on a tray in contact with each other, so they bump when carried, I just walk out.