Pretending to be richer than you are!

I don't know if anyone else does this but me and my brother have both been to AP dealers just to see the hype and pretend to be in the market (not that we could ever afford it). Does anyone else do this? 

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No, but I'd be surprised if >25% of the people that walk into an AP dealer are legit in the market for a watch like that.

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When I lived in Boston, I walked into the Ferrari dealership all the time. They were happy to have me there as long as I didn’t have on jeans with rivets when I sat in the cars.

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I think this is more common than you'd expect. A little harmless LARPing. 😂

That said, my AD knows my general spending power but still literally calls me to come in and see amazing (and amazingly expensive) pieces even though they know that I won’t be buying them. I think for ADs who are really into watches and love the product they are selling they are happy to talk about them and see real enthusiasm for the watches even if you’re not buying. Not every interaction that doesn’t end in a sale is considered a waste of time. 

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I think ADs know the majority of people who walk in aren't buying. Even regular buyers walk in a lot just to browse but most ADs are happy to help you either way

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I work in the auto industry, and for over 15 years with a premium brand. 

There are many stories, but here's one we like:

A gentleman goes into the dealership and asks to see one of the top-end models. He explains he's a taxi driver, not in the market, but appreciates the beauty and technology of this very expensive vehicle. 

None of the sales representatives but one would speak with him as they are worried he'll waste their time. One fellow decides to be courteous and do his best to represent the brand and his dealership well, and he spends a while with the man. 

Some time passes, and the taxi driver comes in again and asks for the kind sales Rep he had met before. Turns out he had some luck with the lottery, and decided to buy two of these flagship cars for him and his wife. No negotiation, no hassles, paid in full (no financing or leasing). 

We may not be buying the $100k watches now, but who knows what will happen down the road. Be kind and courteous, treat people with respect, reap the rewards. 

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I do the same with other brands haha 

Of those 3 , my favorite is the first one, time only 👌

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I've never done this but I don't see anything wrong with it. I'd do it too but I don't have any high end watch ADs that I know of close to me

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BrianE

I work in the auto industry, and for over 15 years with a premium brand. 

There are many stories, but here's one we like:

A gentleman goes into the dealership and asks to see one of the top-end models. He explains he's a taxi driver, not in the market, but appreciates the beauty and technology of this very expensive vehicle. 

None of the sales representatives but one would speak with him as they are worried he'll waste their time. One fellow decides to be courteous and do his best to represent the brand and his dealership well, and he spends a while with the man. 

Some time passes, and the taxi driver comes in again and asks for the kind sales Rep he had met before. Turns out he had some luck with the lottery, and decided to buy two of these flagship cars for him and his wife. No negotiation, no hassles, paid in full (no financing or leasing). 

We may not be buying the $100k watches now, but who knows what will happen down the road. Be kind and courteous, treat people with respect, reap the rewards. 

Darn right.

Guy was in a Porsche dealership. Dressed for business. Sees guy waiting longer than him, dressed like a slob. Salesperson approaches man in suit. Man in suit asks why salesperson isn’t helping other customer first. Salesperson gives a disdainful look. Man in suit says, “That’s too bad, because that guy is Lenny Kravitz.”

You never know.

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BrianE

I work in the auto industry, and for over 15 years with a premium brand. 

There are many stories, but here's one we like:

A gentleman goes into the dealership and asks to see one of the top-end models. He explains he's a taxi driver, not in the market, but appreciates the beauty and technology of this very expensive vehicle. 

None of the sales representatives but one would speak with him as they are worried he'll waste their time. One fellow decides to be courteous and do his best to represent the brand and his dealership well, and he spends a while with the man. 

Some time passes, and the taxi driver comes in again and asks for the kind sales Rep he had met before. Turns out he had some luck with the lottery, and decided to buy two of these flagship cars for him and his wife. No negotiation, no hassles, paid in full (no financing or leasing). 

We may not be buying the $100k watches now, but who knows what will happen down the road. Be kind and courteous, treat people with respect, reap the rewards. 

I used to sell high line used cars, think everything from VWs to the occasional Ferrari.  An older guy pulled up in the lot in a kinda beat up Accord, dressed in sweat pants.  I went out and talked to him and he wanted to check out a Bentley Flying Spur we had on the lot.  I said, "go a head and look it over, and Ill grab the keys."  When I went in one of the other sales reps asked why I was bothering and I just said, "its slow, he seems nice, and maybe he would buy it."  My coworker called me an idiot.  Talked to the guy a bit more, he checked out the car and said, "its nice and Id like to drive it but I have to get  my daughters car to the tire shop, will you be here tomorrow?"  Gave him my card and told him to have a great day.  The next day he rolled up dressed to the nines in a year or two old s600.  Turns out he was a pretty big time doctor at Vandy.  He ended up buying several cars from me.  

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A often peruse the Porsche web site because I'm a Porsche fan (not an owner). A few years ago I couldn't sleep one evening and I decided to check out the Ferrari web site. I wanted to price one out for fun. It turns out that you have to provide contact information to do so, so I did. A few months later I received an invitation in the mail to come down and test drive a Ferrari California. (The payment on the car would be about the same as my house payment.) I was about to throw it away but then my wife noticed that the weekend of the invitation fell on Father's Day. So I went down and did the test drive. It was a great experience - what a car. Unbeknownst to me, my wife to a bunch of pics and posted them on her Facebook page. She announced to our friends to congratulate me on my Father's Day gift. It took me a year to live that one down.

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No, its a waste of a rep's time ..

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I think this is a particular watch perversion that only a few pervs practice

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I would say, if a dealer is busy, or if there are other people in the store, you should go your way. However, if it is a cold winter morning in the middle of the week, you will probably be fine to do this. 
 

As a sales person, that rep should be making as many contacts as possible. More contacts equal more sales. The status of the client or rep can change at any time, and that’s when a sale occurs. 

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Ls9009

No, its a waste of a rep's time ..

Disagree, as long as you’re up front about it. I am a car fan, and love to go just to look. I always say so if I’m not there to buy, so as not to waste the time of someone who needs to make a living.

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Absolutely not.

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11SWM11

I don't do that because it's like a test drive of a car, if I can't buy it what's the point? It's a tease to me and I don't like being teased. Window shopping is a completely different thing in and of itself. The difference to me is that I'm up front with the sales rep. My 2cents. 

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Tbh I did it back in 2018. I was out in Mykonos on holidays and it was the first time I've ever seen an AP dealership. We don't have them in my home town and the big 3 have only recently opened up in the adjacent city. I went in because I was interested to see what these big brands were like in the flesh. 

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It's not always about selling the watch, it's also selling the experience.  You may not be a buyer today....but you might be one day.

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Okin89

I've never done this but I don't see anything wrong with it. I'd do it too but I don't have any high end watch ADs that I know of close to me

This first time I came across the a top 3 dealer was 4 hours by flight in another country. I just wanted to see what's all the hype about and appreciate them in person as it's different compared to all the Insta posts. 

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Faz2.0

It's not always about selling the watch, it's also selling the experience.  You may not be a buyer today....but you might be one day.

Wise words 

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Tinfoiled14

Influencers ( glorified salesperson) get their photos in front of cars, bikes , yachts, planes they don‘t own to look successful so hey , if it gets you what you want go for it … 

 Cynical but true! 👍

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I've never pretended to be rich, I just like to gawk. Jewelry store guys always seem happy to have a customer - a human being - to come break up their monotonous day of standing around. They know I can't afford a $40,000 watch, they let me try it on because it's something for both of us to do. And watches are cool. People with that job generally like showing off their goods, just for the sake of it.

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Surprised the hell out of the folks at the #seiko boutique store when I actually bought a piece after.... I dunno... A year of going in and trying things on and asking questions....😜

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hoffman010

 Cynical but true! 👍

Sadly it is …

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Ls9009

No, its a waste of a rep's time ..

The law of manifestation and positive vibes has fed me as a former salesman and allowed me to be retired at 57 ( 62 this year ) 

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Good for you..I did the same thing early retirement...Im 73 this year.. Have a great 2023!!

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Ls9009

Exactly...I have been a salesman all of my career and I leaned many many years ago to not judge by the way they look..

Amen, brother! I've had grungy appearing farmers pull out rolls of cash that would have choked one of their cattle.

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I have trouble picturing a world in which I would buy 7&8 figure necklaces, but a friend of mine who runs a jewelry store loves to show them to me.  As long as it doesn't cut into my watch peeking time...

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I did that at the blancpain store hahahaa … they saw right thru me 

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You shouldn't feel bad about walking into one of these stores. Just because you aren't a buyer today doesn't mean you won't be a buyer tomorrow. You have every right to browse and be treated respectfully.

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I do try to come off a bit of ocher than I am when I’m in the Rolex AD. I inquired about a watch then it took 1.5 years for them to call me but that’s good because it took about that long to set aside the cash. It’s no one’s business really once a car dealer was real rude to me acting like I couldn’t afford the car I was looking at so I spent along time looking at it, test drive it, then went to a competitor dealership and bought it without even test driving it because I already knew I liked it.