andyhud
322
Boutique Experiences in NYC
WIS Community - I am new to the site and relatively new to watches over the last few years. I have a pretty basic question for the long-time watch gurus here.
As a general rule, how willing are watch boutiques to show you their collections and let you try stuff one? I live in NYC / Manhattan and have really shied away from going to some of the higher end boutiques as the experience always feels a little pushy, and I'm really only in the market to add a piece ~1x per year. But it also prevents me from seeing some really special stuff in the metal.
Are there any good suggestions for places to try stuff on (particularly some of the independents - MB&F, DB, etc) without an overbearing sales experience?
Thanks in advance from a newbie.
AH
Boutique Experiences in NYC
WIS Community - I am new to the site and relatively new to watches over the last few years. I have a pretty basic question for the long-time watch gurus here. As a general rule, how willing are watch boutiques to show you their collections and let you try...
I don't know about NYC
But when I was in LA last year I spent several hours visiting the boutiques on Rodeo Drive and found them all to be friendly and very accommodating. I visited the AP, Vacheron Constantin, IWC, Panerai, and Blancpain boutiques and they were all more than h...
Thanks for your perspective
I have had at least a handful of overly pushy experiences in both PP and VC sections of a few major watch retailers here. But it seems like it is worth trying directly at the brand boutiques and hopefully will get a better result.
I'm a watch newbie as well and I've only been to a few ADs and boutiques, not in NYC
My experiences have varied, and there was one in particular where the salesperson came off as very pushy and desperate to make a sale. But they were all happy to let me try on whatever I wanted to. As long as you're not taking up an excessive amount of th...
Andy, I sent you a PM.
One thing I didn't say in that PM is that you need to start going to the auction previews. You'll see stuff in the metal there that you'll never see at an AD or Boutique and you can have all the time in the world with the pieces. The drawback is sometimes...
Thanks Jay
I will definitely try a few spots over the next handful of weeks. I must say this is quite the encouraging community - thanks for all the friendly advice.
I had seen that advertised for
And I am planning to go see it in person if I can. I’m hoping it will be a real chance to check out the latest and greatest from SIHH and get inspired for a 2019 purchase
depends where
Usually in the states, boutiques are friendly without the arrogance/snob factor. In Europe and Asia, customer service experience is mainly based on appearances, unless the sales staff already know you. It's usually hit or miss, but NYC boutiques usually h...
Hi, there are a few NYC folks here.
I would suggest visiting boutiques for sure. At brand boutiques, you can go to learn, try things on, chat a bit. There's no pressure that I've found. AP, FPJ, VC, Breguet, etc. It's been good and I think you'll enjoy it. I like Jay's advice to check out p...
Multi-AD places can be hit or miss.
In Miami, a guy at such a place told me about how PP was connected to the illuminati. 🕴🕴🕴 Not sure if I'd call that a hit or a miss because it's weird but makes for an anecdote...
Guess it depends on how you feel about the Illuminati
I’m personally supportive of the Illuminati, so it’s a hit in my mind. They deserve first crack at the application pieces and you wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they’re behind the grey market 5711 prices too.
Personally, I believe cats rule the world.
I think it would be foolish to try to sell watches with this premise.
If you go in when it’s slow, you’re helping pass the day.
Monday afternoon, probably a perfect time. If the champagne’s already opened up from Saturday, it will go bad and go to waste. If it’s unopened, the boutique staff should enjoy the remnants of an opened bottle at the end of a hard day. It helps if you hav...
Never been to NY before and dont know if there are and good Boutiques for indies .
For me whenever i am near a shop (in EU)where they sell indies i need to enter and look and try a few pieces on the wrist. Never had a pushy experience here , allways very kind and willing to show the special pieces . Just tell them the truth ,, your just...
Visited a number of NYC boutiques
Oddly, the worst experience I had was at the boutique I wanted to visit most. Cellini has some lovely independent watches, but they were in a temporary location and I found the salespeople to be not helpful/ the judging type. I hope to visit them the next...
Cellini's new flagship store is really nice
Really good selection of Independents - MB&F, Urwerk, De Bethune, Greubel Forsey, Richard Mille etc. My experience with their sales staff is that, yes, they are most definitely in the business of selling watches and making money, but I think the vast majo...
Be polite and everything will turn out alright!
I think the boutiques know that watch buying is a process-- it's about the thrill of the hunt -- and that a potential buyer may need to visit a shop several times over a few months or perhaps a year before committing to buying a very expensive watch.