Following up with AD’s

[GrailTime]

Had my name down now for a month or so at 3 AD’s for a DJ41 fluted.

What do guys think is the best way of following up and keeping you in the sales persons mind?

[Calatrava r]

Drop by each of the stores and strike up a conversation about something. Thank them again at some point, for having your name down for the watch you want. If you come by regularly, but not overdo it, they will begin to know who you are. Might be helpful for an allocation. The people who buy other stuff there will always get first dibs, however.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Typical human behavior: make yourself known, be friendly and kind, have no expectations, show sincerity and a little humor, be consistent. Usual human interaction stuff.

[Dave O]

As others have stated, visit in person, strike up a conversation and be sincere. Until you become better equated with them, avoid text messages and emails. Your staying in touch should be done in person.

[KatGirl]

The guys are right. Stop in and talk about watches, show interest in your SA’s life. Normal stuff. Once a month is about right. I only did this with one of the 2 ADs, to whom I gave my name and number. The other was too far away. It worked for me. Good luck

Kat


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[painexpert]

All this is too much effort for me. If they have it, great. If not, I go gray.

[4reRlxGuy]

From my understanding datejusts are available?

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

From my understanding datejusts are available?

Not to order, anymore. As my SA told me, 2 days ago, “That window has closed!”

Kat


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[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by painexpert

All this is too much effort for me. If they have it, great. If not, I go gray.

I wish I could afford to go grey. Also, I enjoy the AD experience.

Kat


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[Halifax Daytona UK]

You should send them flowers every month and then on special occasions buy them chocolates and champagne. Obviously not forget to drop by on a daily basis with coffee and cake. You’ve got to maintain that relationship’

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Halifax Daytona UK

You should send them flowers every month and then on special occasions buy them chocolates and champagne. Obviously not forget to drop by on a daily basis with coffee and cake. You’ve got to maintain that relationship’

I probably should reciprocate, a little. My AD served me chocolates and 2 nice generous pours of a nice Pinot Noir, on Saturday. I’ve never even sent them so much, as a Christmas card, but did get one from them. Shame on me.

Kat


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[prushkovez]

forgedaboudid... i dont have temper to deal with ADs... i go grey...

[Halifax Daytona UK]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I probably should reciprocate, a little. My AD served me chocolates and 2 nice generous pours of a nice Pinot Noir, on Saturday. I’ve never even sent them so much, as a Christmas card, but did get one from them. Shame on me.

Kat


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The drinks and chocolates were included in with the price of your watch that he’d just made 35% on

[brandrea]

Just be yourself.

If you’re a bad person, pretend to be good

[1William]

Go in, talk watches, remind them of the watch you want.

[Burt Macklin]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

From my understanding datejusts are available?

I think that's more for DJ36s as I was able to put in an interest to buy when I got mine. I was told that DJ41s are still hard to come by depending on the configuration.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Halifax Daytona UK

The drinks and chocolates were included in with the price of your watch that he’d just made 35% on

A whole 35%! Whatever will they do with all that money?

[Gold Coast]

As the others have said, drop by periodically. My AD always offers a drink and a chat. Something no one has mentioned yet, but request to receive invitations to different AD in-store events. In my experience, events are typically used to showcase other brands or jewellery. However they are a good opportunities to mingle and further build your AD relationship.

[4reRlxGuy]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

A whole 35%! Whatever will they do with all that money?

The Mgr at a small rolex AD let me know the #s for their store where Rolex is the primary draw that leads to the sale of other brands and jewelry.

Mgr takes mid to high 100s depending on bonus, asst Mgr takes 80-90k, SA(s) make 50-60k plus benefits, rent 30k monthly, security 8-10k monthly, ...

Sales of Rolex don't count toward sales goals. Yes it's a tough biz when you don't have enough Rolex inventory to draw people in.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

The Mgr at a small rolex AD let me know the #s for their store where Rolex is the primary draw that leads to the sale of other brands and jewelry.

Mgr takes mid to high 100s depending on bonus, asst Mgr takes 80-90k, SA(s) make 50-60k plus benefits, rent 30k monthly, security 8-10k monthly, ...

Sales of Rolex don't count toward sales goals. Yes it's a tough biz when you don't have enough Rolex inventory to draw people in.

Hence my comment about the tiny margin on Rolex watches.

[GrailTime]

Originally Posted by 1William

Go in, talk watches, remind them of the watch you want.

After how long?

A week, a month?

It just feels weird. I mean, if i was doing my job, i would get annoyed if someone kept coming back to say, "is it ready yet?".

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by gaffs

After how long?

A week, a month?

It just feels weird. I mean, if i was doing my job, i would get annoyed if someone kept coming back to say, "is it ready yet?".

You’re the only one that knows what feels weird to you so pick an interval that doesn’t feel weird. And if all you do is keep going back to ask “is it ready yet?” then that is weird.

[jb335]

I tend to stop in every 4-6 weeks. Anything more often may make you look like a pest. I never email or text.

Also, I rarely even bring up the subject of the watches I am waiting for. Why ask “is my GMT in yet?” If it was, they would have told you!

Just stop in occasionally to say hi and talk watches and look at display models and be a friendly human.

I am lucky, while I don’t have delusions that my AD staff and I are actual friends, I do actually like chatting with them since they are pleasant and I believe it’s at least somewhat of a tolerable experience for them as well. Surely a better experience then the person that comes in always asking why there watch isn’t in and telling them “I can pay CASH right now!” As if that makes them special.


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[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by gaffs

After how long?

A week, a month?

It just feels weird. I mean, if i was doing my job, i would get annoyed if someone kept coming back to say, "is it ready yet?".

I visit monthly, as I did this past Saturday. If you read my incoming thread, you will see what happened. I had expressed interest in the TT Wimbledon, and I’m not even sure I was on the list. I tend to give them several options, when looking for a new watch. But, they knew I had tried the exact figuration on, more than once, recently, and that I expressed interest. When I go in, I never say, “Is it ready yet?”, or words to that affect. I go in to say hello, talk about watches, in general, ask the SA about family, talk about my own life, etc. I do like to look at the exhibition pieces, and try some on. After a pleasant visit, I leave. It’s about keeping yourself, and your face, in their mind, so they think of you, when an allocation arrives. My SA admitted to me, they sell to people they like, regardless of where they are on a list.

Kat


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[GrailTime]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

I visit monthly, as I did this past Saturday. If you read my incoming thread, you will see what happened. I had expressed interest in the TT Wimbledon, and I’m not even sure I was on the list. I tend to give them several options, when looking for a new watch. But, they knew I had tried the exact figuration on, more than once, recently, and that I expressed interest. When I go in, I never say, “Is it ready yet?”, or words to that affect. I go in to say hello, talk about watches, in general, ask the SA about family, talk about my own life, etc. I do like to look at the exhibition pieces, and try some on. After a pleasant visit, I leave. It’s about keeping yourself, and your face, in their mind, so they think of you, when an allocation arrives. My SA admitted to me, they sell to people they like, regardless of where they are on a list.

Kat


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Just looked back at that thread. Congrats. You got real lucky there and got what you wanted.

[RyanJ]

Originally Posted by gaffs

After how long?

A week, a month?

It just feels weird. I mean, if i was doing my job, i would get annoyed if someone kept coming back to say, "is it ready yet?".

Yes, it is weird. You either go secondary market or suck it up and play this stupid game. Rolex and their ADs will continue this game for as long as they can. Supply/Demand or Faked Supply/Demand... No one but the ADs know.

I moved to a new area and would like a new watch. I have been to the store 1 time (their grand opening) and called 1 time. I just cannot bring myself to be like everyone else who treats the Rolex AD like their favorite bar/pub. The SAs know exactly what you are doing. You don't have to ask them where your watch is as they totally know why people keep visiting.

When I was in there I could tell right away the people trying to schmooze. They were really forcing a convo with the SAs, trying way too hard and it was so obvious. Also, how many articles of Rolex swag is too much to wear/have at one time while in an AD? Wow was the experience cringe inducing..

Some funny behavior that I noticed:

1. People with their sleeves rolled up to make sure the watch can easily be seen on the wrist.
2. Looking at every other brand first pretending they don't just want to run to the Rolex counter.
3. Watching them then go to the Rolex section and not look at any popular models while pretending to browse the Day Dates and other precious metal models. I guess I could settle for a Submariner or a Daytona.
4. Asking the dumbest questions to pretend they are interested or making the silliest statements to prove they know something about the Rolex brand.
5. Wearing another brand and talking about how much you love that brand but thought you might try a Rolex for a change.

[APhound]

Bring flowers. Kiss their ass. Repeat.


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[~Ocho1~]

I swing by an AD I know about once every couple of months & text him about once every month & a half.

He's a cool kid & we talk cars, guns & of course watches. He's offered me two watches, a Tudor GMT & a DJ 41. Both of which I've turned down. The Tudor because once I tried it on it just seemed too thick & the DJ because I had just purchased the exact DJ via gray a few months before he called me.

If I get the call cool.....if I don't, well that's ok too. it's not like I have a NEED to spend $10k+ on a watch.

[Flypanam]

My closest AD is 5 minutes from my house on a road I often take home, so it's never a pain to stop in. Maybe every couple months I drop by, try some stuff on, talk about watches. I don't consider doing this as kissing ass. Some days I do this at the AD. Some days I stop by Cabela's or REI just to window shop. Just because window shopping at the AD is seen as possibly getting you "higher on the list" people assume that it's a degrading experience... but it's really not?

I've also seen the argument that my time is valuable, so I shouldn't stop in. Okay, and how much is it worth to pay over retail on the gray market? Do I compare this to my hourly rate based on my salary?

I've never bought a non-Rolex at the AD, nor any jewelry, nor any Rolex I didn't actually want.

[kopi-c]

Originally Posted by painexpert

All this is too much effort for me. If they have it, great. If not, I go gray.

You have deep pockets my friend.