kd6lor
3T WIS
| Joined: | Fri Aug 7th, 2009 |
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| Posts: | 28 |
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Today was to be a daughter/daddy watch day. All went well, but two Hamiltons got away!
Strapped on my new Tag and gave my daughter a small diver to wear and off we went. First stop on the watch round was to replace 3 batteries and one strap at a watch store in Huntington Beach. Waited around while the batteries were being replaced. This shop sells Hamilton, but had a very small stock and neither of the two watches I was interested in.
Next stop South Coast Plaza. For those not in Southern California, S.C.P. is a huge mall complex with a large number of high end shops and stores. First jeweler we visited stocks Tag, Rolex, Omega and others. Stock was very very low. The salesman said the economy forces stock reduction. This forced reduction looks like going out of business soon if you ask me. Second store in SCP was store known to have both Hamiltons I am interested in - A jazzmaster slim black face/black leather and a Ventura Quartz with black leather. They had them. After looking at both, I told the sales clerk that I would buy both if they could be had at a good price. After consulting with the manager on duty I was told that they could sell both at retail less 20 percent. Honestly, I was aiming for a little better than that and I asked if they could do a tiny bit better. I was told no. Bummed, I left the mall and we went for lunch. Called the boss ( wife to those not married ) and she told me to just go buy them. I pondered and thought that at a price higher than I knew I could get, I would just buy one of the two and wait for the other at a better price. This way, I rationalized, I could satisfy my watch fix and still get the other later at a better price. Lunch over... went back to the mall.
Back at the mall, my daughter was wondering what watch I would buy. It had to be the Jazzmaster Slim... Before working up the courage to return to the store with the Hamiltons, I entered the Rolex only store. I thought the store was a "Rolex" store, but it is a jeweler who ONLY sells Rolex and not a company store. I bet at least half the people in there didn't know that. In any case I browsed the entire store spoke with the manager, etc. Was offered a $300 discount and Wolf winder if I purchased today. On a $10K watch, that offer I could pass up. So, after a pleasant visit with the Rolex stock, I entered the Hammie store. Told the clerk that I would take the slim and was greeted with a happy smile, but the 20 percent changed to 10 percent now because I was only buying one watch. What the hell. No watch for me. No sale for them.
So, popped out the iPhone, searched for Hamilton watch and found a jeweler actually closer to my home. VERY nice owner of the store just closing down for the day. She showed me all the Hamiltons and didn't have either of the one's I sought. She said she could order for me and offered less 30 percent. No hassle or haggle. So, I am going to return on Monday with product stock numbers and buy. Maybe the Ventura too.
My daughter and I had fun today. She got a watch ( swatch store in SCP ) I didn't get one, but found a nice jeweler who will make a sale on Monday. I had a ball fondling Rolex watches galore. Too bad about the Hamilton dealer at the mall. Had the manager been a little more interested and dealt with me instead of letting the sales girl do the job my guess is that I would have bought both with just a little gimmie over their first offer.
So in the end I found a store that I am likely to return to again, but no watch fix today. I hope Monday will prove to be fruitful.
Paul
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