Panerai AD @ ion...bad experience...

[patrickmaniac]

In Hong Kong just act like PRC and they will swamp you.

wait till u try Hong Kong....was at 1881 IWC, first thing, they see my watch and when they realise it was also a IWC, then they started to entertain...

[invisibleman]

Oh oh... No pun intended!! My apology to her!! My intention was to say she's a really good SE!! T
(c: peace !!!

WAHHH! 1 X SABO!
Gone in a few times, in polo/ berms, and in longsleeves/ office attire, no issues at all.

[gto]

My experience with them is that they generally look at the watch that you are wearing before they decide whether or not to serve you.

Paanerai SE really look very free when i passed by 2 weeks ago.. Intimidating..

[adamteo]

wait till u try Hong Kong....was at 1881 IWC, first thing, they see my watch and when they realise it was also a IWC, then they started to entertain...

[Dfive]

Special Editions are not displayed openly and there are waiting queue for it.

Or the regular folks "waiting to afford it".

[leeye]

I read this thread and tried my luck at the ION ... no special editions available.
As usual just another new opening 'big shop' but nothing special avail for commoners like me.

Special Editions are not displayed openly and there are waiting queue for it.

[three1zero1]

I read this thread and tried my luck at the ION ... no special editions available.
As usual just another new opening 'big shop' but nothing special avail for commoners like me.

[Dude9985]

I prefer the SE not to bother with me until I intent to see any of the models or buying one.

1) I think they were just giving free space for you browsing the watches.

2) They weren't staring at you, just paying attention on you and appreciate your body language and to act proactively should you decided to..........

Hi guys just to share,

There are a few Pam mod that I am interested and wan to put it in my buy-list so I went to the AD at ion to check out more abt e watches and price...

I was there with my wife, when we were outside a shop looking at the display, we have a feelin tt someone is looking at us...
When we look into e shop, there was a couple served by a SE and guess what...the rest of the SE(ard 3-4)in the shop are staring at us...they are giving us the msg "don't come in unless u are buying"...

They are driving us away even before we step into e shop...wtf...I went to Rolex, omega, Cartier AD just to check on their watches and majority of the SE there are friendly and helpful but Panerai's SE??? No offense I like the brand but the ppl there are......if I were to buy a Pam, definitely I will not go back tt plc...

Cheers

[Oceanklassik]

I can't agree more..

It is only natural that a salesman of watches would look at customers' watch, just as a salesman of shoes would look at customers' shoe and so on.

Most SE in the big ADs are quite experienced, those in the boutique more so. They should be smart enough to know that many rich people don't wear luxury watches, and that a man walking into the shop with a g-shock present an opportunity to sell him a luxury watch (that is not to say one who owns a g-shock won't already have luxury watches but you get my point).

To me it is more about how you carry yourself rather than what you have on your wrist. Be confident and easy when you step into such atas shops, be firm but sincere in your conversation, and you should get the service you deserve. Of course there will always be a small bunch of SE who aren't very service oriented, that's when we can remind him customers are king (or just walk away, your choice).

My chinese teacher taught me: first you have to look yourself up, then people will look you up (pardon the poor translation).

I've spoken to a few members here over several meet-ups and with regards to this, some felt being 'despised' by the sales people in these shops when they made visits. I think we should be fair and not be too quick to judge/condemn. If we do that, how different are we from some of them? My advice is - just enjoy it and make the best of the service that you are provided with, reasonably.

[Dfive]

Also, one thing I notice (and sometimes it gets irritating) is that the first thing the SE looks at when they see you, is your watch. Once I walked in to the JLC boutique in Raffles Hotel, the SE gave a glance at my watch before even serving my requests. (Want to glance also dun so obvious ma!) lol!

I find it irritating sometimes because I am working in construction industry, and sometimes my work requires that I go to construction site. On those days I would not wear any 'decent' watches. Most prob I would be wearing my casio edifice. I'm sure if I would to wear a casio, they wouldn't even want to entertain me...... =(

Any similar experiences?

EXACTLY.... your soooo right... it's all about your "potential" to spend.... same reason every uncle in Asia 'wants' a gold Rolex on his wrist.... status and status only.

[patrickmaniac]

+1

It is only natural that a salesman of watches would look at customers' watch, just as a salesman of shoes would look at customers' shoe and so on.

Most SE in the big ADs are quite experienced, those in the boutique more so. They should be smart enough to know that many rich people don't wear luxury watches, and that a man walking into the shop with a g-shock present an opportunity to sell him a luxury watch (that is not to say one who owns a g-shock won't already have luxury watches but you get my point).

To me it is more about how you carry yourself rather than what you have on your wrist. Be confident and easy when you step into such atas shops, be firm but sincere in your conversation, and you should get the service you deserved. Of course there will always be a small bunch of SE who aren't very service oriented, that's when we can remind him customers are king (or just walk away, your choice).

My chinese teacher taught me: first you have to "look up" yourself, then people will "look up" you.

[pegasi]

It is only natural that a salesman of watches would look at customers' watch, just as a salesman of shoes would look at customers' shoe and so on.

Most SE in the big ADs are quite experienced, those in the boutique more so. They should be smart enough to know that many rich people don't wear luxury watches, and that a man walking into the shop with a g-shock present an opportunity to sell him a luxury watch (that is not to say one who owns a g-shock won't already have luxury watches but you get my point).

To me it is more about how you carry yourself rather than what you have on your wrist. Be confident and easy when you step into such atas shops, be firm but sincere in your conversation, and you should get the service you deserve. Of course there will always be a small bunch of SE who aren't very service oriented, that's when we can remind him customers are king (or just walk away, your choice).

My chinese teacher taught me: first you have to look yourself up, then people will look you up (pardon the poor translation).

[agong]

I think slippers and shorts is not a problem.. If i were to wear slippers and berms, but wearing a JLC or Rolex, I'm sure it's fine. Maybe one day I should wear a nice shirt with pants, but wears a digital casio watch.. What would their reaction be?

I can't fully blame them. Maybe in their experience they know the kind of attire that will or will not buy. And to watch retailers, watch is the factor that speaks the loudest volume.

[agong]

Just wondering. When SE nothing to do and they look outside the shop with hungry eyes on potential prey, its offending to the customers outside, what shld they do instead?

Chat amongst themselves -> interpreted as unfriendly to customers
Bow down their heads and look nowhere else until a customer walks in?
Look everywhere else just don look outside?
Faster run to the backroom till someone enters then can come out?

I have been brushed off by many boutiques before. But its only after i went inside and experienced the service (or lack of) that i comment on it tho.

They can continue to wipe the glass over and over again, pretend to be hardworking! =x
jkjk!!

[lthg25]

Also, one thing I notice (and sometimes it gets irritating) is that the first thing the SE looks at when they see you, is your watch. Once I walked in to the JLC boutique in Raffles Hotel, the SE gave a glance at my watch before even serving my requests. (Want to glance also dun so obvious ma!) lol!

I find it irritating sometimes because I am working in construction industry, and sometimes my work requires that I go to construction site. On those days I would not wear any 'decent' watches. Most prob I would be wearing my casio edifice. I'm sure if I would to wear a casio, they wouldn't even want to entertain me...... =(

Any similar experiences?

Yes I do agree they normally look at what watch you are wearing. How much it impacts the service quaility varies I guess....