and took the opportunity to hit a lot of watch shops, both large and small (private). On a whim me and my wife went into the AP boutique in Manhattan (upper east side I think). Once past the understandable security it was an unpleasant experience. We were dressed for a day's walking around...jeans and pullovers/tennis shoes.
The staff couldn't have been more arrogant or dismissive. I've wanted to see the CODE perpetual in the metal and thought this was my best chance. Not only did they NOT have it in stock, they didn't have any CODE pieces in stock. To top it off, they didn't even have dummy pieces so I could at least judge the dial and case size/shape.
They had no explanation for this, just that 'it wasn't available.' They couldn't get rid of us fast enough. Granted, I don't look like much, but being born and raised in the SF Bay Area, I long ago learned that you can't judge a billionaire by his/her cover. Not that I'm in Bill Gates territory, but I guarantee my net worth is more than every employee in that store combined.
It didn't necessarily put me off AP watches, but it sure did put me off that 'boutique.'
Another (long) way of saying, some of us tried to see this CODE line in the metal, but AP's marketing/distribution was too incompetent to make them available for inspection.