AD visiting etiquette?

[sfrolex]

Originally Posted by The_Scroop

Hello

I was just wondering, do AD's get annoyed with people coming in to look and try on a Rolex without any intention of buying?

I'm sure they get HEAPS of people doing this. What is proper "AD visiting" etiquette?

For example, if you were thinking of buying a new Rolex in a year or so, but wanted to check it out first...how would you approach the situation? Would you go in there, look at it, try it on, and tell the AD that you don't plan on buying for another year?

or another example, you saw the new Day Date on the Rolex website and wanted to see what it looked like on your wrist out of curiosity.
Do you let them know that you don't actually plan on buying that brand new DD your drooling over because you simply can't afford at $25k watch?

For me, I do most if not all my research and looking on the internet. When inquiring about stock I do that over the phone. When I go into an AD, most of the time it's when I'm actually buying a watch.

IMO it's OK to be upfront about your intentions, but beware that a good salesperson will compel you to buy sooner than you may think you want to. I was very pleasantly impressed with the patience I received from Shreve in San Francisco, which is a beautiful jewelry store. I probably tried on the Submariner for a year, ping-ponging between them and Torneau in SF Centre. I ended up buying at Shreve for this reason. Not that I received bad service at Torneau at all, but Shreve was better.

[johnswatch]

I've been looking at and trying on Subs since I was about 18.

Salespeople need to understand that it can be a long game.

I was recently looking round my local AD's and said that I was thinking about buying bit not immediately. One place was basically very rude and ignored me as soon as another customer came in the door.

The other handled me as if I was there best customer.

A couple of weeks later my bonus came thorugh and guess who got my business?

Now I'm looking for another watch and the snooty AD has the best stock of every luxury brand in town. They will however never see a penny of my money.

So, to answer the original question, there is no etiquette required other than being polite. You may well be their best customer only even you don't know it yet.

If they're snooty or difficult just imagine what it would be like if you had a problem with your new expensive timepiece.......

[Rolexitis]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I walk in wearing jeans and t shirt, tattoos showing, I am polite, if they cant be bothered with me I go elsewhere.

X2

[Travis]

Originally Posted by MACRAME QUEENS

You bought a car to spite a salesman? Why not just go to a different BMW dealer? The BMW is clearly superior in every way to the Toyota.

I was thinking the same thing. It would be a shame to buy a Lexus just to spite the BMW dealer; especially if the BMW is what the buyer really wanted anyway.

Lots of people buy from retailers that give them great customer service. However, for many people, price is the only thing that really matters when it comes to mass production items.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by Travis

I was thinking the same thing. It would be a shame to buy a Lexus just to spite the BMW dealer; especially if the BMW is what the buyer really wanted anyway.

Lots of people buy from retailers that give them great customer service. However, for many people, price is the only thing that really matters when it comes to mass production items.

Yeah, good point. Lexus RX330 is "family" car, so my lovely wife had strong opinion on what she wanted, and although spite is what pushed me out of BMW showroom into Lexus showrrom, value-for-money equation was too compelling to ignore.

Funny thing is, car is now 3 years old, so I have been looking at replacing...
1. Went out to Mercedes delear... they were friendly and very keen, tried to do a deal that would suit us...
2. Went to Audi dealer today, no hard sell, just happy to show me everything, patiently answered all my dumb questions, gave me all the brochures and even a lovely large hard cover coffee table book on Audi history, AND... drum roll..... said he could arrange a test drive of an R8 for me (even though I'm only looking at a A4 or A6)
3. Called BMW dealer... and copped damn attitude AGAIN!!! What is it with those guys. We definately did not "click"... I mentioned that I was keen to get a good deal, and conversation went downhill from there.

ANyway, thanks to you guys and your comments, I will rise above that crap, and YES, go to another dealer, get good service, and then make a rational decision.

Thanks again fella's, TRF helps yet again!

PS. feel free to tell me which car to buy... I'm a little star-struck by all the shiny chrome and smelly leather... what are these cars really like after 6 months and the shine has faded and smell has gone???

[Neuromancer]

A nice trick to exit a conversation with class is to ask the salesman for their card, makes them feel like they've made a future customer.

[zseriessub]

Only one AD here in my town, and since Central Kentucky is not really a big consumer of Rolexes, the AD stays kind of bored, so she is thrilled when I come in to look at and try them on, even when she knows that I have no intention of buying.

[argee1977]

AD etiquette, well there is no etiquette, i go into the shop to look, if i see something i like then i might purchase it. I go in wearing jeans and a t-shirt, it's not a special occasion, it's me spending my money.

There will be a lot of people who walk in who have no intention of buying, it's the same in every shop in town, but an AD should treat everyone as a potential customer and give them good service, whether they buy or not.

I think a problem here is a lot of people feel that ADs that sell expensive watches are within the upper echelons, when in reality they're staffed by people who don't really earn a fortune and owned by someone who probably makes as much profit in a year as many other stores in town.

[Leighton]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Remember..YOU have the money and THEY want it...end of story. Do what you'd like.

X2! Plus, in this economy they have plenty of time to help the people that are "just looking".