Afraid of the AD...

I would go into the store and browse first. If I find the services suck. Then I’ll just leave.

Just walk in and browse at what you want. Be polite and if the staff is rude, just leave.

Me too…but I guess I‘ll just leave when their pretentious snobs, but also with recent AD encounters they’re mostly super friendly and ultra attentive that also is annoying to a point I ended up leaving cuz I don’t want to hear their life stories about their own watch…

I never felt anything like what the OP wrote about.  I cruise fairly frequently, and do stop by reputable ADs sometimes when in port.  The only pretentiousness I’ve ever felt at an AD is ***SHOCKINGLY*** at a Rolex dealer.  I like dropping into ADs while I’m out and about with one of my watches on the wrist.  I figure it never hurts to be seen, and if you have a luxury watch on the wrist already then the salesperson knows instantly that you are a potential serious customer.  You never know what might happen.  Perhaps the salesperson is close to a bonus and thus is eager to make a quick sale (Deal time!!).  My first luxury watch purchase was my Breitling when in port in the Bahamas.  They were offering 20% off US retail, which was better than what the nearest AD was offering (which was full retail or nothing).  So maybe I’m biased towards the possibility of buying from an AD while in port.

Aside from just hoping to get a deal, I would stop in an AD when in port just to browse and see if they happen to have a model that I’ve seen online but not in person yet.

I'm in this camp. I like to try stuff on when traveling, and have purchased 80% of my collection when away from my local AD. 

I rarely get that feeling I buy a lot of my watches on holidays and usually the service is incredible.

I’m pretty much underdressed and out of place everywhere I go, so I’m used to being looked down on by judgmental people. It wouldn’t stop me from going in and looking around until I’m asked to leave. 

An AD is in business. I assume the worst from AD'S because they have conditioned us to assume we will be poorly received. I'm on one side of the counter that is shopping . The AD is at work. I'd rather be in my position any day. Visit Las Vegas for a welcome change. There anybody could be buying at any moment.  Friendly faces and positive service. My AD actually hugs me. We have the same breed of dog and talk cars all the time. A great experience for sure.  Traveling I rarely look as it's either work all day, the family gets annoyed with me taking time to look. 

No, not afraid. 
 

I like to look at new watches in the flesh and have only good experiences from it. The problem start if you are looking for ”hard to get” models. Here I find the dividers between professionals. Most of them can explain in a polite and rational way why they are hard to get, just popping in in their boutique. From others you can tell by their body language and the tone in their voice that I’m an idiot even asking about it. Rolex ADs get a lot of heat but I have always been treated in a professional way by them.

Thanks for all your thoughts and considerations. I ended up trying the Grand Seiko... 🙃

I’m always welcomed at any Swatch and Casio Boutique ^^  

I was in an Omega boutique. I was ignored. 

That's just odd, isn't it? I really can't get my head around these people. I saw a video once of Nico Leonard being served in a Rolex AD whilst the employee was playing a video game... 🤯