Do you prefer buying in-store or online?
Buying watches online is very convenient as you can see everything all at once as well as getting a delivery on your order without having to go out into the city.
However having recently visited London and looking around some of the watch shops, there is definitely a special feeling you get from seeing the product in real life and having that interaction with friendly salespeople who really know their stuff. Therefore although you may have to go quite out of the way to reach the store, it for sure adds to the whole experience.
I’d love to know what you prefer and why.
Avid watch enthusiast who’s been collecting since 2022. Five watches collected so far and hoping to expand in coming years. Especially interested in Omega, Rolex, Tudor and Grand Seiko. 😀
Because I live in one of the poorer states in Malaysia, I have to buy stuff online to get anything interesting. I mean the biggest brand name sold in the whole state is Rado (and most of it are Diastars. Gold or two tone Diastars. Blegh).
I operate in the lower end & microbrand spaces of the hobby, so online is frequently the best option for me.
However, if the watches I wanted were available from a local shop, I'd prefer that experience
Because I live in one of the poorer states in Malaysia, I have to buy stuff online to get anything interesting. I mean the biggest brand name sold in the whole state is Rado (and most of it are Diastars. Gold or two tone Diastars. Blegh).
Come to KL to buy nice watches - I'm sure your politicians do, don't they?!
But seriously: in store, always. I'd never buy a watch without trying it on
Come to KL to buy nice watches - I'm sure your politicians do, don't they?!
But seriously: in store, always. I'd never buy a watch without trying it on
I'm also lazy. So I'd rather be a potato on my comfy sofa rather then hoisting my big ass on a plane or a bus and tramping through KL. 😂
Wherever the watch is. More times than not, online.
Online, I find salesfolk in the big brand stores can be super patronising/disinterested when you walk in on your Hamilton rotation day rather than, say, your Breitling rotation day. Only place I ever have good experience is the TAG boutique in Manchester, even offered me a bottle of beer whilst they were shortening the bracelet on a watch I hadn't even bought from them.
I prefer to shop in person. When I ordered my first automatic watch, it came broke. +20 seconds a minute. I dont know if it was an issue of the delivery, but I would rather travel a hour to my nearest watch store then risk that again. (I might have to order again 😂)
Online.
The stores in my area, never have what I'm looking for.
i'd absolutely prefer in-store but most of the time online prices are unbeatable
i'd absolutely prefer in-store but most of the time online prices are unbeatable
🎯
I never bought a watch in person. I live in Hungary (2nd highest VAT in the world), so buying a watch here in a store is very expensive. So I never did, and I trust in my guts, because I never regretted a purchase I made online.
And also, sometimes a first impression on a watch doesn't really mean anything in the future, it can change.
My favorite AD is in another state. So, I voted online. But if they were within an hour drive I’d be in person.
Wherever i get a better price 🎯