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How do you guys respond to compliments?

Tranman

Active Member
23/1/09
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So I work in a hospital setting and make a good income. Enough to afford a gen Rolex, so I think if people at work see me wearing one, it wouldn't be totally out of the question or out of place. Twice now I have received compliments on my Rollie LV rep. Both times it caught me off guard and I didn't feel it necessary to state, "it's a rep or fake!". I just said thanks....

First time...a doctor says excitedly, "oh man! You got the 50th anniversary! That's a beautiful watch!". I was a bit confused for half a second and then it clicked that he was talking to me. I looked at my wrist, grinned, and said thank you.

2nd time, another person wearing a gen Breitling, said can I see your watch? I was like excuse me? He said your watch, can I see it? Now let me say that while I'm at work I always wear long sleeves and it covers at least 50-70% of the watch so it's not like I'm showing it off to begin with. So I showed him, and he says, "it's new! I LIKE IT! When did you get it? I said a few months ago, which is not far from the truth. Thanked him for the compliment and then walked away.

So curious as to what you guys say when people compliment your reps. I don't want to lie about it being a rep, but with the situation didn't feel it was necessary to volunteer info. And no doubt in my mind that they thought it was the real deal. The first Doc, obviously had spent a bit of time looking at the 50th anniversary to know it as such and the 2nd person was definitely a watch guy with the gen Breitling. I'm not a Breitling guy, but it was gen for sure (I'm 90% positive).

TM
 

levelmanroger

Mythical Poster
Certified
1/10/08
9,767
76
48
Texas
I just say "Thanks".
After all, they compliment the looks of my watch. They don't say "Wow! That's a nice GEN Rolex you've got there!".
And when people ask how much it cost me - and they do ask on occasion - I always tell the truth, which is "I hope I got a good deal but I probably over-paid". They usually leave it at that. However, I wear gens 90% of the time, so it is rarely an issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Bonesey

Mythical Poster
Advisor
15/1/11
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I don't think I have every been directly complimented on any of my watches. Some folks i've worked with know im into watches, some know im into reps. A few have handled the ones i've been wearing but not that many. Guess I'll deal with it when it happens ;)
 

jstreit

Renowned Member
18/1/12
883
0
0
I usually wear my Franck Muller Long Island Crazy Hours(Black numerals and white dial) I get lots of compliments at work and at events. Usually by the end of a convo people ask how much I got the watch for, and I say they are quite pricey but I am not comfortable sharing that(normally people dont say a specific dollar amount because it is a rude question in itself, it is easyily obtained from google). People fall in love with the jumping around mechanism and I think since it looks very complicated they probably assume there are no reps of it and figure it to be a gen. We buy reps for two reasons, because we love the watch and because we cant afford to buy every gen that we would like to have. Im not going to flaunt that it is a gen but I am not going to say it is a rep.
 

Tranman

Active Member
23/1/09
311
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0
Good responses. Thanks. I guess I was a bit worried about how to reply if ppl were pressing on where I got it or how much I paid, etc.

But saying I probably overpaid or it wasn't cheap are good responses. That way, I won't have to outright lie about it. I have no issues telling someone it's a rep or homage but I don't want to go around advertising it either.
 

rooster133

Mythical Poster
Advisor
25/7/08
6,358
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0
If someone compliments me on a rep I usually just thank them and move along. If that leads us to talking more about watches etc I tell them I like watches of all sorts including reps, and this is one of them. I usually never lie about a rep or dodge the question. I really don't see it as something to be embarrassed about. It's just part of my appreciation for watch designs, modding, etc. I'd probably feel worse if I knew I actively misled someone.
 

jstreit

Renowned Member
18/1/12
883
0
0
When people ask where I got it I usually refer them to the sales associate at Nieman Marcus who has put up with me for years looking at watches lol. I figure I can help two people, one that is looking for my watch and the sales associate always loves referrals.

unfortunately neiman has stopped carrying franck muller products all together:(
 

P4GTR

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
9/9/07
3,460
3
0
I'm pretty happy when I get a compliment on my watch, so naturally I'll respond with an enthusiastic thank you. I usually let the other person steer the conversation, otherwise I tend to start acting like an excited puppy when the subject of watches comes up.

If the convo leads to specifics, I'll offer up that it is a rep. I don't try to beat around it.
 

ThinkBachs

Mythical Poster
DO NOT TRADE WITH ME
9/2/09
8,915
90
48
I'd handle it like a "dating opportunity" or ice breaker. When it comes right down to it, commenting on the watch is for the most part just a way for them to introduce themselves to you or have a reason to connect with you. If it's someone you already know, then still make it about them. :D How are you? The family? Yours is nice too! Stalkers often use this technique to get to know you so feel them out before getting too chatty. :p
 

ajs914

I'm Pretty Popular
26/11/07
1,320
0
36
I wore my gen Omega Seamaster GMT for 5 years straight and got one compliment on it from a stranger. He was a young guy in his 20s and he seemed thrilled to even see one up close in the wild!

So to me, it's a non-issue.

I've been sort of wondering if people might think I have more money than I have, I work at a non-profit school, if I show up to work every day with a different Rolex or Omega. In the end though, I don't think most people know anything about watches and even though I'm wearing a "Daytona" their first thought is not going to be "$15K watch".
 

cybee

Legendary Member
23/11/06
11,134
30
48
It all depends on the environment I'm in. In a hotel lobby if someone compliments me on the watch I'm wearing I just thank them for their kind remark, in a dark alley I simply turn tail and run like the wind.
 

MMA

Active Member
5/10/10
423
0
16
I'm always being told how handsome I am. So i always reply with a humble "i know, i know. It's a blessing and curse".

:p
 

paule11

Known Member
10/8/10
118
0
0
I say a real one costs $6000 and then have a bit of a discussion about watches.

I have complimented people on their watches and some have said I wish it was real and a few have told me where they got theirs from.
 
D

d4m.test

Guest
Like others have said, I just say "Thank You," and see what develops from there. I've had comliments on my rep Ploprof and Seamaster Chrono. The Thank You was enough, although the one gent showed me his Omega Seamaster, which I just assumed was gen. Never did the question of authenticity come up. If I were asked about it, I'd fess up, then watch their reactions.

dave
 

Tranman

Active Member
23/1/09
311
0
0
Wow, great responses all. Everyone's responses seem very tactful and appropriate.

About calling others out, I wouldn't do it even if I knew for sure. It's just not nice to corner a person like that. Several years ago, I met a young guy in his early 20's wearing a Rolex rep with a missing pearl. I said nice watch but your pearl is missing. He said, "I know, I have one on order...". He knew I knew but it just wasn't necessary for me to say more. What would that prove? That I'm a jerk?
 

ajs914

I'm Pretty Popular
26/11/07
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It's funny, now that I know about the rep world, I just assume that most people are wearing reps!

I saw a booth guy at a trade show wearing a bright and shiney TAG Heuer chronograph. My first thought was that he couldn't afford a $3K watch on his salary. Of course, most anyone can put a $3,000 watch on a credit card and pay it off over time. Still, my first thought was rep. Of course, he might have been the owner of the company too or the CIO. Often, those guys put in a little time on the floor of a trade show. Anyway, I almost commented on his watch but didn't.

I've been sporting a Sub LV for a month now and not a single person has taken notice!
 

phillycheez

Respected Member
6/6/09
3,063
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0
I just say thank you if anybody ever notices. I have yet to have a random person say anything though. Only family and friends.

Nobody usually notices and that's the way I like it. I guess I have lately been wearing all my watches on a NATO which keeps em on the down low.
 

JellyJoe

Respected Member
28/9/09
4,103
37
48
I always lie about gens in the first place, reps and everything in general including my age and penis size.
 

rooster133

Mythical Poster
Advisor
25/7/08
6,358
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0
A friend of mine (his name is BMECliq) had a problem with someone calling him out once. From then on, he took another member's advice (let's call him davebs) and addressed the issue hands on whenever approached by someone interested in his rep:

"Well I know Muai Tai, Brazillian Ju Jitzu, and a little thing I like to call "i nailed your mom". I'm so bad ass, there isn't one little kid in any of my karate classes that even wants to spar with me cause i UNLEASH THE FURY! Yeah I've got a small penis and nobody likes me, but I drive a porsche worth more than your LIFE so **** you! Like the other day, I was walking down the street and this little old lady told me she liked my watch, so I said, "What **** you! It's not fake!" So I went into karate mode and SCISSOR KICKED HER IN THE FACE! *WHAM BAM* Then I pulled her up by her hair but her wig came off, turns out she was bald! *GROSS* ******* old people. Then I picked her up by the ears and kneed her in the face muai tai style! *BLADOW* And I was like "That's what you get for walking so slow bitch! AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU COULD KNOW MY WATCH IS FAKE, CAUSE IT'S NOT, IT'S A MODDED MBW SUPER DUPER ULTIMATE SUB, AND IT'S REAL! REAL I SAY! IT USES THE SAME MOVEMENT MOST REAL WATCHES DO ANYWAY, IT'S SWISS ETA, IT'S A DIVISION OF SWATCH, PLUS I BOUGHT IT FOR A GOOD VALUE, NOT CAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A REAL ONE CAUSE I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON KARATE CLASSES, SO **** YOU! OH, AND I DRIVE A PORSCHE WORTH MORE THAN YOUR GRANDCHILDREN!" *KAZAAM* Yeah, I showed her what's what. That's the last time she'll be calling me out on my watch. But I gtg, I'm late for yoga class WHERE I PICK UP CHICKS LIKE YOUR MOM! AMERICA!!! **** YEAH!!!"