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The Thing

AD Etiquette 101

Reddit.

I love it. It's my favorite social media platform. It's totally underrated (IMO).

In the Rolex subreddit, I see many ridiculous posts about visiting authorized dealers (ADs). People seem to practically worship those who work there. It's like the fate of their watch collection is in the AD's hands.

Context

With the Rolex supply shortage, you can't just walk into a store and buy a watch. A person in the store puts your name on a list for a certain watch and if it ever comes in, calls you.

You're usually not the only person waiting for the watch. So people like to go above and beyond to make sure THEY get the call.

On Reddit, you'll see people post things like:

• I just did my weekly stop at my AD to chat and build rapport.

• I always text my AD to let him know that I'm still interested.

• I always dress up when I visit my AD.

My goodness. WTF are these people doing? Stop trying so hard. It's a damn watch.

This led me to make a post about proper etiquette when visiting your AD on Reddit.

Today, we’re reviewing some of the findings from that post.

TLDR- act like an adult and don't be weird.

No Slobbin

I don't dress up. One of the many things I love about Alaska is the term "Alaska Casual." The dress code for the whole state is chill and practical. That said, when I go into my AD (the only one in the state), I'm not wearing sweatpants with holes.

I'm not wearing a shirt with stains. I will shower before my visit. I usually wear jeans. Not expensive, designer jeans. Just jeans. I wear boots because it's the footwear for 8 months of the year here.

This means, I usually just go into the store in whatever I'm wearing. Because I'm an adult, I don't go out into the world looking like a bum. So it's good enough to go into a watch store.

Don't go rent a tuxedo or pick out your favorite collared shirt just to go to this store. If you're dressed up for some other reason, sure. But don't go out of your way to do it.

Dress like an adult and you'll be fine. Again, you'll notice a theme here...

Don't Be Weird

Just because you are looking at a luxury good, doesn't mean you need to act differently. Talk as you would normally talk. Don't inflate your vocabulary.

The AD sales rep is a normal person. Hell, he/she is probably younger than you and is just doing this for a job. They want to sell you a watch. Don't talk like you're some superior being to the 20-year-old sales rep.

Be polite. Please. Thank you. The same things I tell my kids. Be kind and considerate. Speak clearly and make eye contact. Say hello to other people around the store.

BE YOURSELF. If your normal-self is awkward, then maybe don't go into an AD...

Try on watches. The store WANTS you to do this, it's how they sell watches. That $12K Submariner the AD brings out? Try it on! It's so freaking cool!

One of the sales reps let me try on his personal GMT (Pepsi). He took it off his wrist and let me wear it around the store. I was terrified at first to try on anything. But it's cool...as long as you're not weird!

Again, be yourself and act like an adult and you'll be good!

Don’t Be an Asshole

No one wants to deal with an entitled prick- in any store. Don't be that person.

We all know there's a Rolex shortage right now. The guy (or gal) at the store cannot fix that. It's one person, trying to sell watches and other jewelry.

Don't take out your frustration on that person. He is the one putting your name on the waitlist.

As far as I know, there is no "official" way that an AD goes down a waitlist. You may be the first on the list for that Explorer II (I hope!), but if you're an asshole, you may get skipped. In today's world, assholes don't get new Rolexes.

When you're in the store, be a kind human. Ask questions about watches and even personal questions if it's relevant.

Note: see the previous section- Don't Be Weird.

And for good measure, act like an adult.

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Signing Off

That’s it for today! I scaled down this edition to try something new. What do you think?

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Ian

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