I went to the Omega Boutique in Westfield Shepherd's Bush and the solitary staff member was very helpful and attentive, and actually knew stuff about watches. We had a chat about the Lemania 5100 movement used in the old Speedies, and this and that, and he put up with my endless questions like a true stoic.
In total contrast, I popped up the way to Ernest Jones to try on some Tudors and this is the dialogue that ensued:
"Hello, I'd like to try on the Black Bay bracelet, the Pelagos, the Ranger on bracelet and the Grantour silver dial, please"
"I can only bring out 3 watches at a time."
"No problem, whichever 3 come first and then I'll try the other on after."
"Sorry sir we can only show 3 watches to each customer."
"OK, can I try on the BB, the Pelagos, and the Ranger, please?"
"Will you want to try on the Grantour as well?"
"Yes, but only after these 3."
"We can only show 3 watches at one time sir."
"Sorry, am I misunderstanding something? I would like to try on 3 watches please. Then, when you've put those away, I might like to try on 1 more. Will this be OK?"
"Let me just speak to the manager sir"
WTF????
This is the actual conversation I had and I was starting to lose the plot. I don't look like a beggar or a scally thief, I don't smell, usually. I'm in the market to buy a new watch (clearly not from them because I can get it cheaper elsewhere, but they don't know that), and I'm being given the runaround by some guy who's making no sense. It must be my face.
I did eventually get to try them on but asking him questions became an exercise in futility, he didn't even know the prices of them.