Ben Bridge Referral to UTC

[4reRlxGuy]

Hello all:

My local Ben Bridge in Cerritos closed last month and I received a call from a SA at the Ben Bridge UTC location in San Diego (Corp referred her to me).

It's 2 hours+ away so hesitant to start a new "relationship" but I do have a decent spend history with my old location (probably doesn't matter lol).

Does anyone have experience with this location. Seems like as they lose locations clients will funneled to remaining locations that carry Rolex. Assuming they already can't meet their existing demand

Was already asked if I would consider purchasing a Day Date with diamonds lol (not a good sign)

[ChronoZach]

If your SA called you and you are looking for a DD, I’m sure she will take care of you!
PM pieces don’t sell everyday. She would have not called otherwise.

Ask her, before you make the trip.

Cheers,

[BNA/LION]

I have not had any luck with BB in UTC Mall. They are nice enough but no call or watches for me.

[SS Oyster]

BB @ UTC has been a desert for me. San Diego is home for me, yet I have never purchased a watch from BB UTC. In the same period of time (say since 2019), I have purchased 8 watches from ADs ranging from 500-2,500 miles away. Not a good sign.

I don't really care for their vibe there at UTC either. Plus, they seem to always be closed of some reason or another. Call before you make a trip.

[4reRlxGuy]

Thanks for the info! Likely not worth pursuing.

[4reRlxGuy]

Originally Posted by ChronoZach

If your SA called you and you are looking for a DD, I’m sure she will take care of you!
PM pieces don’t sell everyday. She would have not called otherwise.

Ask her, before you make the trip.

Cheers,

A day date was not on my "list" (already have two). Likely offered it only because they have no takers and my previous history indicates I can afford one.

[Justso]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

A day date was not on my "list" (already have two). Likely offered it only because they have no takers and my previous history indicates I can afford one.

Yeah don't buy what you don't want.

However...you may have some leverage here that you are not aware of. Tell her that you had a great relationship with BB previously and if you're going to start up a relationship with a 2 hour drive away, it is going to have to be made worth your while to do so.

Tell her what you are interested in and what will get you into their store to start a relationship - and it's not going to be a precious metal day date with diamonds.

[fozzyf18]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

BB @ UTC has been a desert for me. San Diego is home for me, yet I have never purchased a watch from BB UTC. In the same period of time (say since 2019), I have purchased 8 watches from ADs ranging from 500-2,500 miles away. Not a good sign.

I don't really care for their vibe there at UTC either. Plus, they seem to always be closed of some reason or another. Call before you make a trip.

Concur on the vibe assessment. I used to live in Miramar right next door to UTC for a few years and it never felt "friendly" when I stopped by.

[Orangeface]

I stop in BB/UTC to visit the same SA once a month or so. Managed to get 2 Rolex pieces - an offered DD in ‘21 for my wife and a requested Sub No-Date in ‘22 after an 8 month wait. Nice SA. Have been asking for an OP my wife really wants for 2+ years (SA always “remembers” the request) and a blue Datejust 126334 for about 8 months. I have serious doubts about either. Not sure if it’s the AD or Rolex. Better “vibes” than the Fashion Valley AD but…

[Flipmarine2k]

I also was a customer at BB Cerritos and sad to see them close. This past Saturday, went to BB in Del Amo in Torrance with my wife since we were in the area. Inquired about a DJ Wimbledon steel fluted for my wife. We ended up getting the call the next day a couple hours before the Super Bowl. I would give Del Amo a try before driving two hours to UTC.

Btw, I’ve visited that store a couple times and don’t like the vibe there. If I were shopping SD I much prefer the boutique in Fashion Valley!

[4reRlxGuy]

Originally Posted by Flipmarine2k

I also was a customer at BB Cerritos and sad to see them close. This past Saturday, went to BB in Del Amo in Torrance with my wife since we were in the area. Inquired about a DJ Wimbledon steel fluted for my wife. We ended up getting the call the next day a couple hours before the Super Bowl. I would give Del Amo a try before driving two hours to UTC.

Btw, I’ve visited that store a couple times and don’t like the vibe there. If I were shopping SD I much prefer the boutique in Fashion Valley!

From the source that informed me of Cerritos closing, Del Amo will also be losing Rolex in the foreseeable future. It's looking like the smart $ will be focusing their resources, time, and energy at a local Bucherer or boutique.

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

Hello all:

My local Ben Bridge in Cerritos closed last month and I received a call from a SA at the Ben Bridge UTC location in San Diego (Corp referred her to me).

It's 2 hours+ away so hesitant to start a new "relationship" but I do have a decent spend history with my old location (probably doesn't matter lol).

Does anyone have experience with this location. Seems like as they lose locations clients will funneled to remaining locations that carry Rolex. Assuming they already can't meet their existing demand

Was already asked if I would consider purchasing a Day Date with diamonds lol (not a good sign)

I live close by and talked to a SA the last week they were opened. He told me he was being reassigned to a location more inland somewhere in the Inland empire Ben Bridge. I think I remember him mentioning Del amo was closing too. Try looking up this other location too. It was the slightly older Indian looking SA.
I would stick to BB though as you have a history. They seem to honor their long term customers. They told me they get them panda Daytonas and pink and turquoise OPs. It would take a while but they would fulfill the request

[SLWoodster]

Bucherer's Rolex boutique in South Coast is very difficult to get sports pieces at.

Took me years to wrangle a submariner out of them.

SoCal simply needs more and larger stores.

Ben Bridge is legit if you are a regular, long term customer. One of the managers in Riverside explained it to me like 4 years ago. But you have to go in there and keep buying. Doesn't have to be $20,000 bracelets everytime. It has worked okay for me purchasing small gifts regularly there anywhere from $250-1500. I have some sports pieces from Ben Bridge.

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

From the source that informed me of Cerritos closing, Del Amo will also be losing Rolex in the foreseeable future. It's looking like the smart $ will be focusing their resources, time, and energy at a local Bucherer or boutique.

[Wngo]

Wow, I didn’t know they closed. I was a customer there and got 3 watches there up until my SA left 2-3 years ago. After that, it was crickets for me.

[Flipmarine2k]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

From the source that informed me of Cerritos closing, Del Amo will also be losing Rolex in the foreseeable future. It's looking like the smart $ will be focusing their resources, time, and energy at a local Bucherer or boutique.

I’m sad to hear that. They have been pretty straightforward both locations with no games. Other places I’ve dealt with required a wire beforehand, for not that hard to get pieces. With a purchase history

[dsquared24]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

Hello all:

My local Ben Bridge in Cerritos closed last month and I received a call from a SA at the Ben Bridge UTC location in San Diego (Corp referred her to me).

It's 2 hours+ away so hesitant to start a new "relationship" but I do have a decent spend history with my old location (probably doesn't matter lol).

Does anyone have experience with this location. Seems like as they lose locations clients will funneled to remaining locations that carry Rolex. Assuming they already can't meet their existing demand

Was already asked if I would consider purchasing a Day Date with diamonds lol (not a good sign)

When they referred you was that after you had followed up with them due to the closure or did they already set you up with an SA at UTC?

[stockae92]

I swinged by to Cerritos BB maybe at the end of last year. The mall doesn't have much traffic. And it doesn't look up "scale".

I am not surprised that they would close. I wonder if BB is closing retail location for down sizing? or is Rolex taking back retail location and growing their own boutique?

[Flipmarine2k]

Originally Posted by stockae92

I swinged by to Cerritos BB maybe at the end of last year. The mall doesn't have much traffic. And it doesn't look up "scale".

I am not surprised that they would close. I wonder if BB is closing retail location for down sizing? or is Rolex taking back retail location and growing their own boutique?

Additionally there was a robbery for a solid gold Rolex over the summer. And a shooting a month ago in front of the chipotle. So not surprised also. But the staff were all cool there

[4reRlxGuy]

Originally Posted by dsquared24

When they referred you was that after you had followed up with them due to the closure or did they already set you up with an SA at UTC?

They (customer service) followed up after I reached out right before the branch closed.

I had been assigned to another SA several months back but my new SA (whose relocating to Victoria Gardens) wasn't the best at communicating which was I reached out.

[ChronoZach]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

A day date was not on my "list" (already have two). Likely offered it only because they have no takers and my previous history indicates I can afford one.

I see, 2 DD is more than enough , I would follow up anyways , you never know? I’ve seen some crazy things happen in the hobby we love.

Best!

[TNT009]

No luck at BB, just the cordial chatter! Fashion Valley is my spot!

[dsquared24]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

They (customer service) followed up after I reached out right before the branch closed.

I had been assigned to another SA several months back but my new SA (whose relocating to Victoria Gardens) wasn't the best at communicating which was I reached out.

Got it thank you

[Goldmansockz]

I wonder if Ben Bridge Ala Moana (Hawaii) is losing their AD status as well. Terrible location but I sent them a message this week and got the following response:

Thank you for contacting me. I am no longer using this account. I'm available for text at 808-289-7781 or email at RolexAlaMoana@benbridge.com. Looking forward to connecting.

[Texex]

Originally Posted by stockae92

I swinged by to Cerritos BB maybe at the end of last year. The mall doesn't have much traffic. And it doesn't look up "scale".

I am not surprised that they would close. I wonder if BB is closing retail location for down sizing? or is Rolex taking back retail location and growing their own boutique?

I'm in the Seattle area and a Rolex boutique is going in 20 minutes away in Bellevue. The Ben Bridge there will be closing. Another Mom and Pop Alvin Goldfarb jewelers in the area (who carried Rolex for 70 years) lost Rolex. I think we well be seeing more Rolex boutiques with other current AD losing Rolex or closing all together.

[ChronoZach]

Bucherer is a waste of time and will treat you like garbage at most locations , there are some rare locations which are decent. YMMV. A Rolex boutique might be the best option.
they are WoS and it will take some time and some spend..but you will get watches from them. IMO

Cheers,

[mickyd329]

Originally Posted by Texex

I think we well be seeing more Rolex boutiques with other current AD losing Rolex or closing all together.

It's sad to see, but this seems to be the new direction. My main Rolex AD just lost their franchise after being a Rolex AD for over 60 years.