What do you look for at AD?

ABS · What do you look for at AD?

When you walk into an AD, what's the thing you look for first, and what matters most?

Like; do you look at the interieur? Cleanliness of the display cases? Outfits of sales people? Or do you just walk straight over to the Rolex case, and you don't care about anything else but their selection?

Does it matter what the sales person wears, says, and how they act? Do you like older or younger, man or woman, suit or jeans?

Or does in the end only matter the discount that they offer you?
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Personally, I like the store to be inviting, otherwise I won't even step in.
I hate it when the glass cases have fingerprints all over them!
I prefer the sales person to be dressed nicely, in a suit and tie for men, and classy outfit for women. I do kinda prefer a male over female, because in my experience men know more about the technical stuff.
I also love it when they have a watchmaker on staff!
The service they provide, to me, is more important than a discount, but I like a combination of both!

So, what about you?

uncle aj

Welcome ABS

I like to go into a store that's well presented, has properly displayed watches and has an air of elegance. It also helps if the staff are knowledgeable about the products. For instance, when I went to the AD in my home town yesterday, Steven, who works there, knew how to setup and operate the new yacht master, which was more than a lot of AD staff would have. I also like my particular AD because the owners have taken over what is an historical building that was going to rack and ruin and transformed it to it's former glory. That's something I'll always to grateful for. I had visions of the building being turned into a bar which seems to have been the fate of a lot of buildings nearby.

Here's a link to my AD www.prestons-of-bolton.com

Tools

Good Question...

Before I enter an AD I recognise that the staff there will probably not be all knowledgable about all products.

I expect to be waited on, or at least acknowledged within a reasonable amount of time.. I have walked out when I felt that the sales staff was not as interested in helping customers as I thought they should be.

Cleanliness and an easy to see display are important and I don't care what the style of dress the sales staff wears so long as they have an air of professionalism about them...

I don't mind that the sales staff might tell mythh or legend as fact, I would never confront them or "play" with them to demonstrate my superior knowledge.

In the end, a discount is nice, but I believe that the price is going to be pretty close for most pieces that I would rather deal with the AD I felt met my "friendliness" or "professional" criteria rather than shop price..

Tardis

My AD is one of a chain of AD's throughout Australia and SE ASIA. The shop is as one would expect for a high end retailer of fine Swiss watches;

ROLEX; OMEGA; BREITLING; PATEK PHILLIPE; VACHERON CONSTANTIN; BREGUET and a few other exclusive brands. All the shops are staffed by Asians and I believe their main store is in either HK or Singapore.

The few times that I have been in the shop, I have been treated with the utmost politeness. The last time I was there was a very hot day and we had been street shopping. We we given a choice of tea or ice cold cokes. The manager there is very knowledgeable about his watches as is the case with many Asian run shops, their staff always have extensive product knowledge.

I like the open discussion about a selection of models and the fact that nobody seems to be in a hurry. The money aspect is only diplomatically introduced at an opportune time rather than as an immediate issue.

Flatlander

My AD is a high end jewelry store and has been in business for nearly 80 years. It's locally owned and the sales staff is well dressed and friendly. They are as knowledgeable as I would expect but one gentleman in particular is very well informed when it comes to the Rolex watches. You are offfered refreshments and there is no pressure when browsing the displays.

I am recognized as a repeat customer when I enter the store and until recently I had a high opinion of the establishment. I had a difference of opinion with the owner recently and his demeanor since has left me feeling that I'm not as valued a customer as I thought I was. I'm waiting t see if my observations are correct, however it has already cost him some of my business.

Oh well, no matter since there is another AD in town. :lol:

Flatlander

I forgot to mention that both AD's in my city are high end jewelry stores and have Rolex trained watchmakers on staff.

However, they are direct opposites when it comes to the store floor plan. One has twisting aisles that go in different directions and the other has straight lanes to the front door. Guess which one suffers from an occasional "snatch and grab"?

uncle aj

I also forgot to mention, when I bought my watch winder from my AD recently, I was given a half bottle of champagne. It was not bad either. :D

ABS

steve

guess i'm maybe blinkered but my 1st watch experience was through the one i still use today can't imagine really how they could improve. a small local independant with a" constant" family run staff , they know there product with a view to pure sales but also have an on site watchmaker who they are not embarrassed to consult should the question be more than what many of us here already know!!!. aftersales service was a revelation , as one example of many!!! the wife neded a jewelled bracelet shortening [ not purchased through them!]not just a boltcutter job :lol: as i had imagined as the stones need to be removed as can change colour with heat when resetting, not only did they shorten it but with the removed jewelled links produced a matching necklace , THEN INSISTED!!! they wouldn't dream of charging .i was going to mention stock levels being small, but on reflection i,ve gone into the BIG chains and they've had less , and ordering in a fresh ones no biggy for my approval [they may baulk at maybe a leopard daytona if i decided not to buy!] i even got my SS daytona within 6 weeks, would like another but been waiting over a year now, although i think there unwritten policy is you have one and many others would also love the opportunity which IS fair. And finally although not neccesarily the most important, priceing and taking into account all the afore mentioned the cherry on the cake they have always given what i believe to be one great deal!!! with discounts across the range

steve

Just my experience hope yours are the same :D

uncle aj