Strangest thing you heard a sales person say in the store...

[GoDuke1]

On a recent trip to the mall, I visited several watch dealers checking out different pieces. And it occurred to me that most people in jewelry stores don't have a clue on what they are trying to sell. Like "This watch is set with the atomic clock" (It didn't), or "this crystal is scratch proof" (they were referring to a mineral crystal).

Thought it would be a cool thread. What is the craziest thing you have been told or overheard a sales person say at a store?

[Nicko16]

Ok not what I heard but someone wrote this on a another forum.

Sales lady said no its an automatic! You dont need to wind it using the crown!

[Watchbreath]

When I go into a watch store, I just point out the watches that are upside down and leave it at that.

[alam]

Next time, ask a sales rep what is the meaning of some of the different icons that are used to define the different features of a watch - you will get a kick from some of the answers you may hear!

[omega564]

I heard a sales person explaining "how cool " this calander watch was ,. She went on to say , " every morning you just push these little buttons to until it shows the right day and date ."

The watch was a JLC perpetual calander .

On another occasion I heard ,

While being shown a Datejust , the customer said " I heard Rolexes aren't very good watches , people just buy them for the style ." The salesman says " I've heard that alot , I guess they're more of a fashion statement ."

[CometHunter]

This past Wednesday I was checking out TAGHeuer at my area's largest AD. I was told I was the very first person to ask about the cal.1887 watches! That struck me as being strange.

[Sumer]

I don't think this will count, but when I was looking for a watchmaker to get my Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic serviced, I called up a reputed guy. His reply "Sorry sir, we don't sell Hamilton, so we don't service them either, but we will change the battery if you want."
This was after telling him that it has an ETA 2824.

[ulackfocus]

This past Wednesday I was checking out TAGHeuer at my area's largest AD. I was told I was the very first person to ask about the cal.1887 watches! That struck me as being strange.

You just found out first-hand how few and far between WIS are in the wild. Normal people just buy a watch because they like it and the brand has a good reputation. A regular Joe would think a caliber 1887 had something to do with rifles of the late 19th century.

[Dave0013]

I couldn't make this up. Several years ago, I was hanging out with a buddy of mine (Jimmy) who owns a Rolex President Quartz from the late 80's. We go into a Rolex AD at the Galleria in Dallas and ask the saleslady to show us a few models. Upon removing his watch and setting it on the presentation pad, he asks her how much they would charge for a cleaning of his timepiece. The saleslady says "You do realize, of course, that your watch is not a genuine Rolex, right?" Siezing the moment, Jimmy says with feigned shock "Oh? It's not?" She goes onto to explain that a real Rolex second hand would never "tic". Jimmy put the watch back on his arm... and then recommended that she talk to her boss about the items she is representing.

[Clifford Moore]

It's funny this thread would come up right now, as this is exactly what Nick Hayek is talking about in this month's (June 2011) issue of Watch Time. I think his take on how watches are marketed through jewelry chains is spot on... it's extremely rare to find a knowledgeable watch sales person at any of the jewelry stores here in the US. I find that even at my local Tourneau doesn't seem to have well trained staff, all too often, I find myself correcting them on details of their products... and they're a WATCH DEALER!! They don't even need the diversity of knowledge to cover diamonds or settings! How can anyone expect to sell high end watches without knowing what makes them special, or at least what makes them "better" than a Casio, or Timex?