Hello Robert,

I came across your blog during one of my late-night readings and I was very ammused by the content of your blog. I find myself agreeing with you on a lot of topics in regards to timepieces.

I myself work at a retail store here in Canada as a watch sales/repairsman (although I do enjoy the repairs aspect more…) and one article that stayed in my mind was the one you had written on May 5th of this year titeled, “What Do You Expect From Sales Staff?” It has always annoyed me that so many places tend to give just plain wrong information to potential customers regarding products. After having worked in watch sales for over two years, I can safely say that decisions like that will always come back to haunt the seller.

Early on, I came to the conclusion that honesty is the best policy in this business. On many occasions I have told customers to not purchase a watch such as Tissot or even an Omega in favor of other brands such as Citizen. I try to meet the customer’s needs first and foremost in what they are trying to accomplish with a watch. Which never seems to be the case when I am shopping for watches myself. On so many occasions I find myself arguing with sales associates at other stores over technical data of certain brands that it bewilders me that people actually shop at certain stores… just last week I was shocked to find that a sales associate at another high-end jewellery/watch store could not find me the information on the new Breitling B01. So after waiting for him and his colleagues to flip through the Breitling technical catalogue for 15 minutes, I said “Hey, I’ll narrow it down for you, it is not an ETA calibre…” Ofcourse, the sales associate would not have it, he replied back with “No, Breitling uses ETA movements exclusively.” And that’s when I had it. Unfortunately for me, that store is the only one in my city who will be getting the new Breitling B01 which I am genuinely interested in.

But I digress, personally, the reason behind my logic is that I’d much rather have the customer leaving the store happy, even if I am not making as much from a sale. Simply because it will minimize problems further down the road. I do hate it when a customer comes back unhappy because something is not functioning as they had hoped. So I make sure that customers know what they are spending their hard-earned money on from the start! It is a sales technique that has maintained me in the number one position in total sales for the previous year and a half. I have even encountered situations where I have had to tell a customer to sleep on the decision for a day or two because they were so unsure yet they did not want to leave with a watch. My higher-ups sometimes look at me bewilderingly because I pass up on $3000+ sales. In fact, it has become a well known fact that I typically do not sell a watch when I speak to a customer for the first time, but in almost 90% of the cases, they return having made a well informed decision on their needs and wants.

Ofcourse, all these problems are further compounded by the fact that here in Canada, Swatch Group and all of its subsidiaries (Omega, Rado, Tissot etc.) have atrocious customer service. It is terrible to see brands such as Omega no longer carrying the prestige of its former self. Hence why I do not simply look at the price tag when assisting a customer with a major purchase such as a watch. It is also why I myself would never buy another watch made by a Swatch Group company, not even one that carries the ETA name.

I appologize for the long comment, but I would love to hear your thoughts on more subjects such as these! Great blog, I will be sure to recommend it to others. =)

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Hello! I love your site and would be interested in showing you a new forum I just launced call http://www.InvictaForums.com – the site is for Invicta lovers and any other type of watches people love and collect.
I would be interested in getting discussing cross promotion with you.
I look forward to hearing from you. You can email me anytime! Thank you
James

Hi Robert-Jan

My name is Stephen Murray I am the creator of a new watch retail website http://www.coolbrandwatches.co.uk i came acroos your blogg late at nite as i am a watch enthusiast myself hence the reason i started my website. I agrre with alot of things that you are saying and find it very interesting and i would like to possibly exchange links with your blog. if you are interested please email me thank you

Stephen Murray
Cool Brand Watches