Wear replica to Panerai outlet.

[wittnauer]

Motionbroker had it right.

This year only I have visited our local Panerai dealer AD four times. I have 6 Pam reps and was in the market for a gen since it seemed having 6 reps concludes me 'liking' Panerai watches.
Each time I visited I was wearing a rep. Good reps. When you enter a fine watch retailer their job is to get one of their watches on your wrist ASAP, and have their velvet pillow and gloves ready to take off your own watch.
I was not going to pretend ever that my reps were genuine, but rather explained that having many reps brought me through their door, wanting to buy the real thing. Three salespeople have dealt with me during these visits and treated my reps with respect but also... Much curiosity. They were impressed with the detail and the weight in particular (243 ribber strap, 359 custom dbl hornback) and of course, they see the difference and each time they ushered other coworkers to view my rep with admiration, while at the same time were very courteous in helping me make a choice.
One sales lady told me she had returned from a vacation a few years ago and couldn't resist buying a rep that seemed so close to the real thing that they sold in their store.
further discussions revealed that, with discretion, many of their clients have both reps as well as genuine watches. Once your hooked to watches, they say they understand that there's so much beauty available and it would be nearly impossible to purchase everything you so desire from an AD-retailer as genuine watches. One guy said that, despite the illegality of the rep trade and it 'damageing' profits/income for luxury watch mfrs, the rep trade does tend to make 'regular' folks 'ready' for the real thing at some point.
Fascinating conversations each visit at an AD. Now when I walk in, they all want to see what I'm wearing today. Funny.

So you see, just be straight up with them you are a luxury watch enthusiast and that fake watch you are wearing doesn't mean you will not buy from them.

if a sales clerk wants to be an ass-hole about this I will treat him/her like suitable shit and will ask for another clerk or the owner and tell them how this clerk treats me as if I wasn't welcome here. Don't they want to sell me a watch?

I was treated with drinks and snacks and after four visits decided on a Pam328 and bought a fitting assolutamente strap with buckle to go with it.
if I was treated like dirt I would have never bought anything from them.

Respect for reps works for everyone - except for the taxman... Lol

 

[sweden]

Great story wittnauer!

Sounds like great sale reps at the AD!

 

[wittnauer]

Thanks Sweden,

Dutch guy here living in Toronto Canada. They really made the purchase memorable, something that some TD's should know about too. I will buy more from whomever treats me like a valued customer. It's not hard to pick a favorite TD when treated with a little bit of attention. It leaves a few other TD's clueless wondering I don't return to buy more.

 

[d4m.test]

if a sales clerk wants to be an ass-hole about this I will treat him/her like suitable shit and will ask for another clerk or the owner and tell them how this clerk treats me as if I wasn't welcome here. Don't they want to sell me a watch?

I was treated with drinks and snacks and after four visits decided on a Pam328 and bought a fitting assolutamente strap with buckle to go with it.
if I was treated like dirt I would have never bought anything from them.

Respect for reps works for everyone - except for the taxman... Lol

I love your way with words here. Awesome.

You highlight a couple of key things here

1. Sales reps at ADs are people who want to sell you a watch
2. The path to gens is lined with reps or it could be the other way around
3. The government funds a lot of the anti-rep activities, not for a stance on principles but for what they see as a lost opportunity to TAX commercial activity
4. Don't feel bad about wearing something you enjoy... even to an AD

Seriously I think I've changed my thinking on this. (Assuming you aren't trying to pass off a rep as gen)

 

[trinity13]

Last year in October in Kuala Lumpur i went to KLCC where they had a Ball watches roadshow. I went there with my Breitling Colt 44mm reps. Maybe they weren't familiar with Breitling but they did serve me well. Ended up I bought 2 Ball watches from them (Sincere). Since i'm travelling alone back to Jakarta, i dont know how to carry the watch (due to customs), so
the guy told me to wear the Breitling because he thinks it's more expensive than the 2 Ball watches... LOL.

But when i was in Hong Kong early this month, i went to IWC boutique and was looking to buy a Big Pilot watch.
Somehow i feel the AD knew i was wearing a BP 5004 rep but the guy still treat me nicely and with respect.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

 

[wittnauer]

Thanks brother Grim you got it.

 

[bradj]

I do all the time, haven't gotten called out yet.

 

[wittnauer]

I do all the time, haven't gotten called out yet.

nice case back! Show us a pic of the front too please.

 

[SUMIKITO]

Maybe it would be different in some cities/towns, et. Some places are just flooded with reps, even the lady AD owners I have observed carry Rep LV handbags and Rep sunglasses etc. So maybe those things are acceptable and just a way of life for them. Even if they are official AD's. But if you were in a more high end business like city, or a classy town, they would frown on your Rep. I don't think you would survive a walking tour of the big AD's in Geneva or Basel. You could get away wearing a Folex in Manhattan, LA. or any other Gotham city easy. Depends............it varies......... It just becomes automatic to me to remove my Rep when doing my AD 'tour of the month'.............. and put it back on when done. Sure wouldn't want to confront the Rep. Police and be asked "papers please' !

 

[granvino]

I thought visits to an AD wearing reps is considered not only careless but pervasive to the hobby. I wear my frankens from one of the top builders on rg to work and even in front of gen owners and never have I been called out, but why create controversy walking in the Panerai Boutique to show off a rep?

 

[infamous18]

I thought visits to an AD wearing reps is considered not only careless but pervasive to the hobby. I wear my frankens from one of the top builders on rg to work and even in front of gen owners and never have I been called out, but why create controversy walking in the Panerai Boutique to show off a rep?

Agreed. No reason to wear your reps to any AD just bringing unnecessary attention to our hobby. Don't really see what the point is.

 

[458spider]

What works for him might not works on us, i would still stay away wearing reps to AD or boutique
unless i got super franken

 

[peterpl]

Everyone is pretty much on par with not intentionally wearing reps into ADs. But if I happen to be wearing one and forgot and just strolled into an AD I wouldnt be worried the slightest.

I'm actually very very good friends with someone that works at The Hour Glass. He has told me even though most sales people know some knowledge on watches, they cannot tell the reps we get. It is impossible from 2-3 feet away. Only open casebacks would be a giveaway.

He said the sales people are more concerned with making a sale. They dont really give a sh|t with what your wearing. He was working in another smaller AD prior and he said it was even worse. Some sales people dont even know basic differences between movements ETA2824/7750/inhouse etc etc.....they just want the sale and commission. He said dont worry.

Even if the sales person spotted a fake i HIGHLY doubt hes going to pull you up and say "Hey buddy your watch looks shithouse ---- its a fake". They would NEVER do that. First of all bad customer service and big potential to lose a sale. He actually said he knows someone that buys around 100k worth of watches every few years but also wears reps to the AD. Even shows him how good the reps are. Anyone on here? hahahaha

If your going to do it just be yourself and dont act suss.

 

[d4m.test]

I do all the time, haven't gotten called out yet.

HMMM Looks fishy... Lume shot please.

I thought visits to an AD wearing reps is considered not only careless but pervasive to the hobby. I wear my frankens from one of the top builders on rg to work and even in front of gen owners and never have I been called out, but why create controversy walking in the Panerai Boutique to show off a rep?

I agree...if you walk in claiming your rep is a gen with your balls hanging out. This is the kind of A-hole that gives our hobby a bad name. But if you walk in as just a watch loving customer wearing a watch they enjoy looking to upgrade to a gen, I think they would appreciate the fact that a rep has brought you into their store to spend 10x more on their product.

By the way G... You haven't gotten called out on your frankens and you never will. I was looking at pictures of a gen 10A this morning and I swear if you put mine next to it you would forget which is which.

 

[tranzmizzion]

my how times have changed. lol

 

[wittnauer]

I don't see the big deal on this issue.

My watches are for MY pleasure only. I love them end really get a kick out of wearing them - for ME. Wearing a watch is almost a very personal thing for me and so I don't really like anyone looking at my wrist and comment on the watch I'm wearing because it means I must reciprocate in the conversation and be truthful. I don't want to tell anyone it's either fake or real or, in the least, lie about it. It does happens (of course with the great quality of reps today) and spotted a genuine on my wrist would sometimes make me feel pretentious, depending on the party (some watches represent a small fortune in the eyes of someone who has fallen on hard times), but a rep on my wrist compells me to fess up right of the bet as I am far from a pretentious man.

I do enjoy the GTG very much. Show and tell among fellow collectors.

Everyone has their own way of enjoying their collection of watches; I like my private silent enjoyment, others might just like to 'flash' them to as many people as possible (it might just lift up to the image you aspire for reasons of profession, popularity or highschool reunions -hahaha) and others find a medium like RWI to reflect your passion that people around you wouldn't understand. I like you guys very much, although I don't post very much or can't be bothered taking photographs and such.

So I'm just a simple collector and don't care if anyone has a problem with it. I'm far from a shy guy so someone calling me out and starts judging will get something reciprocated without a doubt. ( I'm a general contractor so I know a few words - lol).

Telling the AD staff right of the bet is my choice because I want to establish a report with them just the same as I do with all of you here. A long-term relation built on honesty will have more benefits than hiding your beautiful rep before entering the store. Don't forget that these AD's must share a passion with you for watches as well. Some rep-owners are pretentious sob's and some AD's are also. In general we like the same things.

 

[iliketowatch]

Calling attention to the hobby by wearing and showing off super replicas to AD representatives does a disservice to us all and will eventually make it harder and harder for our dealers to get us the watches we want. In fact, this has already happened over the years. I do not see the point. If you are going to do it, it makes zero sense to me to actually tell the dealer "This is a replica, and here's how you can tell'.

 

[Bustyouup4free]

1:1 Rep Ultimate Version Galaxy S5

 

[d4m.test]

Calling attention to the hobby by wearing and showing off super replicas to AD representatives does a disservice to us all and will eventually make it harder and harder for our dealers to get us the watches we want. In fact, this has already happened over the years. I do not see the point. If you are going to do it, it makes zero sense to me to actually tell the dealer "This is a replica, and here's how you can tell'.

A great point you make here. However I would venture a guess that employees at ADs are aware of reps and may have even used google to find our dark corners of the universe already. I don't think wearing a rep to an AD will spark a wildfire of enforecement.

Will I do it? NO! But not for fear of backlash.

I really don't think anyone is going to call you out or even care, especially if you aren't being dishonest.

 

[wittnauer]

I don't believe we enter through AD's gates like RWI cattle with our reps at anytime.

The odd visit here and there doesn't harm anyone and it's not the AD who is picking up the phone to call the anti-counterfeit enforcement department to initiate an international investigation project. These departments have limited resources and will not waste time on the small end-buyer who buys a watch on-line or picks one up from their travels.

To keep these departments running they need to find and intercept 'large volume' and 'frequent' routine shipments in order to seize the loot and show that they have shut down a large part of a crime-syndicate or something. For the pieces you and I order, I know they are aware of, border customs has partnered up with this department and will clear your package before it releases it to your national postal services. Once that is through, it stops right there. Customs will find some package from time to time - just for show - so it looks like they are doing their job, but they don't really care too much (depending on your nation). It's too much work to pick you up for possessing a replica watch and take you in for questioning to get a mailing address from China (who knows what this address is anyway - probably a replica address too) and get laughed at by Chinese authorities. It's simply not happening so our hobbies won't be affected unless a TD starts moving the stuff to you by truck loads.