AD - buying pressure

Your experience ought to be what you want it to be. As long as it’s not a much in demand model (almost any Rolex, AP, PP), you hold the cards and can walk away.

I suppose you need to feel comfortable in what it you are after and are able to make an unhurried decision. A key factor in some things that you regret can be being rushed.

What sort of thing are you after? Chrono? diver? Dress? GADA?

Just be nice and polite. Visit at a time when there's few people in the shop, so they have a bit of time. From my experience, ADs can see instantly who is there to leave a mft of dosh, who is a stooge, who is rich but just browsing, and who is a noob just getting his feet wet in the world of luxury stuff. Thus, they wouldn't want to spoil your first experiences. Of course you'll find some snooty ones too, but I was always treated nicely, and I'm not looking wealthy at all :)

I've had good luck with showing up right around opening.  Often not busy and shows interest in watches.  Confidence and familiarity with the basic youtube research of what you are going to be looking at helps.  For example, "Oh I love that watch, I thought about the `insert popular version they don't have` but don't think I could pull it off.  I really like that it is a true gmt though, etc".

I would say it's pretty common practice for folks to go into an AD to try on a watch and not buy on that visit, so don't feel pressured. It's a lot of money and you're allowed to take your time.

I go in and say something along the lines of "Good afternoon, I'm looking to try on 'X watch' to get a feel for what it's like on my wrist please."

Take your time, have a good look at it, ask any questions you have and ask to take some wrist shots.

If I'm not sure if I want it by that point I say "Thanks for taking the time to let me try it on. I'm going to have a coffee and a bit think about it".

Be polite and I personally wouldn't start haggling on price unless you're there to buy. 

Enjoy the process 👍

And welcome to the community 🥳

I’d say just have a conversation with the SA first before diving into the watches. Tell them your position, tell them what you’re kind of into or looking for. If they are good they will also recommend you some pieces you might not have considered as well. 
if they don’t want to converse with you initially then don’t waste your time with them. 
there are plenty of nice sales reps who will do their job happily and provide a good service. 

Don't be afraid of the experience. If they are rude, go elsewhere. 

Thanks for the feedback so far guys :)

Its a buyers market and some of the dealers didn't get the message to remove the stick they had stuck somewhere. Try on even cheap watches to decide on a style and size. That way it will narrow your choices. Buy the watch you love and not the liked expensive watch you find. Size and comfort is super important. You can get luxury elegant and understated or big and garish. 

Most of the folks have given all the suggestions I would give. 

Just remember you have the power, because you are the one the SA is trying to get to take out your wallet. That is unless the watch you put to try on did their job for em 😉.

Welcome to WatchCrunch, They will steer you to the one that will give them the best commission. The last AD I went to was in 1999.

I dunno... I have been to my "local" Rolex/Omega/IWC AD recently with a Tudor that I didn't buy there to have it looked at under warranty. They were nothing but helpful. I also got to try on the Black Bay Pro when I picked up my watch and again to show my wife when we passed by another day.

My wife got stressed out and said she felt judged and out of place. Thinking the staff seemed snooty 😅 While I felt they were very helpful and reserved in a way to not be pushy. Just showing me what I wanted and answering what I asked. I was just wearing regular joe clothes for the record.

But I would not walk in demanding to habe time with watches I'm not a potential buyer of. And I don't think they should have to spend a bunch of time on people that aren't potential customers. I didn't plan to get the BB Pro, but it's within my means to get one if I decided to go for it 😊

Unfortunately most people that work in the AD are not watch people so they are only there to make a sale. Since they are probably good at reading people they know who is just there window shopping and probably won’t want to waste their time. However, for most watches there are more than one AS around so if you are treated unfairly I would pass on that AD for sure.

My first visit to an AD also felt daunting, but I learned to relax. I've since been to multiple ADs multiple times (there are lots in the city), and my experience has has been almost uniformly pleasant. Salespeople are generally cordial and helpful, and I usually make clear that I'm not buying that day. I think they know full well that most people are not going to drop thousands of dollars on impulse, so they're trying to cultivate a longer term relationship, and entice you to come back. There's much handing out of business cards and "please contact me if I can help you in any way." 

Around here at least, they also seem to work on the assumption that you never know who's going to plunk down the cash, so act like they might. I once watched a salesperson show two guys around who looked like construction workers and spoke broken English. They get to the used Rolex case next to me, and one points at a Rolex chronograph. How much? $16k. He tries it on, and plunks down his card. Credit? Debit. On their way out they ask about Patek. Salesperson directs them to the other Tourneau around the corner. 

I don't have anything to add, these guys have pretty much nailed it.  Just wanted to say welcome to WC.

Enjoy the “hunting” experience! The ADs need you more than you need them. 

Disregard all of the previous advice.  Just walk in, announce that your looking to buy a watch that speaks to you today and that they should be ready to "kiss your ass" to get the commission.  The salesperson who needs the money will not leave your side and will open every case in the store. Take your time trying on everything you want to.  Ask tons of annoying questions including "how much do you make?" When you have seen enough just say, nice but it just isn't "the one" and walk away.

Thanks for all the advice and warm welcome guys 😊 

Hoping to pop in this week… will keep you updated 🤞🏽

I had a similar “awkward” feeling heading into an AD for the first time this last week (And I used to work in sales). I went on a weekday before noon and had a pleasant experience with all three. What I did:

They asked if they could show me something and I immediately introduced myself and shook their hand. This should open the conversation and introduce the idea that you are looking for a partnership in this process. 

Depending on the brands represented, I asked to look at a category of Watch (sport or diver or chronograph) And stuck to that genre even though I wanted to see more. 
 

I then asked to see the model I was interested in, then asked to see it on a strap. Next I asked to see a second similar model from a different brand. At that point they ALWAYS pointed out at least one additional watch that was similar. 
 

After I had tried them on I let them know that I was likely to be making a purchase after the first of the year, asked for their card, gave them by info, and asked if they would text me with any additional models that they thought I might be interested in. This should invest them in helping me making the decision at the time that is right for me. 

One other thing. IMO, this is not a place that you should show off your watch knowledge. You will likely know more about a piece you’ve been obsessing over, but let them sale you and show thankfulness for the info/suggestions they offer. For instance, she told me the new Speedmaster had a new movement that is more accurate. I didn’t interrupt her to tell her about the marvels of George Daniels Co-Axial escapement, but when she asked why I was interested, I told her I wanted to add a chronometer to my collection and was very impressed with the new movement. That gave her a sense of my knowledge and motives, but she hopefully still feels that she has something to offer me as a salesperson and not just a cashier I will eventually be haggling with. 
 

Just my 2 cents and limited experience.