My first Rolex was a 2008 Submariner that I had purchased from Lee Michaels in San Antonio, Texas while on active duty in the United States Army after having completed my undergraduate degree. Regretfully, I traded it as a down payment towards the purchase of a 2009 Harley-Davidson. My next Rolex was a 2010 GMT Master which I still have. I love high end watches, vehicles, and motorcycles obviously.
In addition to being 100% total and permanent medical retired Senior Army Non-Commissioned Officer who served 20 years, 9 months, 6 days on active duty I worked hard to obtain advanced degrees, certifications, and licensure in preparation for the next chapter in my family's life after over 20 years of faithful service to God and Country. As such I know work as a civilian government civil servant. In addition I am working towards completing my PhD in Management whereby by the grace of God, tremendous opportunity I make a very comfortable income.
I go to work in business suits made by Brooks Brothers and other well known designer's and business casual. While God, County, and family are first and foremost to me I came from humble beginnings working hard to get to where I am today and am still striving for top. But, I have an will never forget where I come from or the fact that we should never judge a person by their outward appearance.
I am a large menacing figure former Army Drill Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Senior Enlisted Advisor to a Colonel. Many folks asume I am some criminal who just got out of prison with my tattoos, beard, bald head were they also plate glass me in being quite opposite of who and what I am oftentimes. So when I went to another Rolex dealer the salesman basically gave me a Rolex catalog and ignored me!
So, as my family and I had visited Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers a few times met with very friendly and professional employees I elected to purchase a new Rolex from them. However, as I entered the store on this occasion I was ignored by everyone with the exception of a new 20 year old salesman named Jeffery Rogers. This young man loved watches and new what he was talking about. He was quite courteous and did not hesitate to answer my questions and show me the watches I was interested in. So I purchased a new Submariner with date whereby Jeffery was so new he had to be shown how to close the sale.
It was clear that the remainder of the stores employee's were disappointed that they did not get the sale. What they did not realize was on top of everything I new that they were supposed to have the in store jeweler go over the watch, remove the protective tape, size the watch to the customer and clean it. I don't fault Jeffery but when fine watches are presented most of us are used to the salesman wearing white gloves showing one watch at a time.
I paid for my new Rolex and an older gentleman who appeared to be one of the salesman set the date and time. I was quite disappointed as had asked them to remove the protective tape. On top of this they basically gapped the $9,063.00 fine timepiece obtained the box, filled out the owner's card and handed it to me if I had just purchased a candy bar from a convince store. I am even more disappointed that when attempting to engage the other salesman in small talk conversation that they ignored me wearing their emotions on their sleeve in almost a stomping off temper tantrum sort of manner upset that they did not get the sale and Jeffery did.
I am a collector if fine timepieces in that on top of my new Submariner, GMT Master Rolex's I own the James Bond version of the Omega, Breitling Avenger, and a Zenith which is worth over six figures by itself. I do plan on purchasing other timepieces in the future while after this experience would be hesitant to do so from Liljenquist & Beckstead again.
Lee Michaels in San Antonio have always treated me with great respect always offering to clean my watch and other jewelry. They even clean my wife and children's jewelry never showing anything but the utmost professionalism unlike Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers where I was seriously taken a back by the lack of professionalism where I left feeling like I just left a car dealership that floods it's floors with salesman willing to kill each other just to get the next sale. I certainly hope that any future interactions with Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers are not like what I experienced at the time I purchased my new Rolex Submariner with date from them. read more