Quote:
Originally Posted by TorqueDog
Actually I will offer a rare counterpoint to this.
My first purchase from Brinkhaus ever was also my first new Rolex purchase, my stainless 114300 dark rhodium. I had been in a few times looking and had spoken to the same guy on every occasion (rep's name was Tom). He had been nice enough to show me whatever I wanted to see, IWCs, some Pateks that cost the same as my car (which in hindsight, I should have bought because now they're worth slightly more than double), but I really wanted to get a brand new Rolex and couldn't come to a decision on what I wanted.
When I saw the dark rhodium 114300 at Baselworld, that was it, I wanted that watch. So I went to see Tom and asked about the 114300, and we chatted about it for while, he showed me the red grape and Seahawks dial, and I loved the size at 39mm but I told him I really had my eye on the dark rhodium. He said he can take my information and let me know if he can get one in. I wasn't expecting to hear anything and put it out of mind.
A couple days later I get a call from Tom that they got a dark rhodium 114300 in, would I like to come see it? So I went in, watch is still in the foam shipping crate with the plastic on. I bought it immediately. So sometimes, sometimes you might luck out if you deal with the right people.
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Brinkhaus has always been great to me as well... Top notch place that - IMO - earns your business as a brick and mortar store vs the online shops (though I find the recent Chrono24 news fascinating).
I have a similar story to yours that ends in tragedy (for me) - My wife has a special affinity for little light blue boxes and their contents, so we've become quite close with the associate at the store. Over the course of several visits, she comes to recognize that I have a thing for watches (I guess that's part of her job, to size up the customers).
One day while we're in the store, the conversation turns to watches again and eventually "what do you like?" & "what's your favorite?", to which I replied "A Nautilus, specifically the 5980." To my surprise, she replies "well, have you seen the Tiffany edition Nautilus?"... I had no idea such a thing existed, but she went on to explain the longstanding collaboration, etc. By the end of it all, I was "on their list", which I thought was total bologna.
Wouldn't you know, I actually got the call! Which was partly amazing, but mostly tragic, as that watch was so far out of my league, I had no choice but to mumble a stunned "thanks, but no thanks"... Now that I've reminded myself of this, I need to go cry in a corner.
The moral of the story is, build relationships and never say no!