How sad. Surely, Omega can afford to just "give away" a watch to sales associate reaching 2 years' tenure. Especially if they require staff to wear Omega timepieces at work. Assuming a cost basis at 50% of a $7,000 MSRP for models like a PO or AT, that's $3,500 spread across 24 months... around $1,750 in expenses per employee per year. Cheaper yet on Speedy Pro or SMP.
Seems like a very small expense worth paying, for improved employee morale and building a new hire sales associates' enthusiasm for the brand, if they knew they get their first watch free upon completing 2 years with the company.
I wonder why Omega must go as far as to destroy the watches if the employee elects not to purchase. Why not accumulate these returns into an internal fleet of "livery" watches? And offer sales associates the ability to swap their "service watch" selections every 6 months? So an SA can check out a PO for 1st half of the year, a DeVille next, then a DSOTM later, and on and on. That sort of rotation can only be good for SA's proficiency with the product line.
Or if this 'fleet' idea is too costly, at least offer to supply a previously-returned watch as a free loaner to a new-hire SA, who doesn't yet own an Omega. Destroying is such a dreadful waste of our planet's resources... and erodes any PR goodwill generated through its charitable programs like partnering with the Goodplanet Foundation.
In a couple weeks, I'm planning to make a purchase at an OB for the first time since 2017. Admittedly, learning of this has cast a cloud over my spirits knowing that as I glance at the wrists of SA's in that boutique, some of the beautiful timepieces I see could be destined for the scrap bin.
I would much prefer Omega scrap its policy of requiring SA's to wear Omega watches, rather than scrapping its own watches. I remember the salesman who sold me my first Rolex worn an Invicta Diver. I didn't mind at all because he was very knowledgeable and an excellent spokesperson for the Rolex brand even though he was wearing a Submariner knock-off. His manager, who ultimately rung up the purchase, wore a RG DD 40, and was equally pleasant to interact with. I must be in the minority, but I really don't care what my sales associate is wearing on their wrist when I go into a store to buy a watch from him/her.
