30th Birthday Present
 

Hi

Firstly, I know the questions on this post might be a bit vague. But here goes...

I'm turning 30 soon and am going to New York around the same time. I'd like to come back with something special for my 30th (as most family are giving me money saying 'Get yourself something in New York).

So first of all - in a non travel related question - I was thinking of maybe a watch. Any other ideas on what would be a nice thing to keep from your 30th birthday???

Assuming it is something like a watch - I have a budget of around $1000. Can I get some suggestions on good shops to look for a watch in that price range. Looking for a non-Touristy shop - the kind of places New Yorkers go to buy these things.

Thanks for your help

Martin

Tourneau is a "go to" place for watches for tourists and locals. They have brand names and private label. Tiffany's private label watches I think are good quality. Wempe is a watch shop on Fifth ave. Have a look at the websites and see what looks good to you.

Tag Heuer seems to be a popular brand these days and they have an outlet store at Woodbury Commons, but that's an hour or more on a bus outside Manhattan. If you're going there anyway, it's an idea. There are lots of other designer stores there that might also sell watches.

Assuming you're a man and not into other jewelry and want something that's a keepsake, without knowing amore about you, I can't think of anything else besides a watch. Depending on what sort of life you live, an expensive piece of clothing or sporting equipment? Where are you from and what do you like?

Don't know your likes or dislikes but for my 30th, got my first tattoo.

So maybe a nice tasteful Empire State Building? lol :)

Remember the old saying "no one in New York pays retail?" Well, this New Yorker will tell you that Tourneau is a great place to shop for watches, but after you choose the model you want, you can often get a discount of 20% or so, depending on the brand, on 47th Street.

You can probably get the same discount at Tourneau by asking for it. ;)

Do you know this for a fact? I would be curious..

Don't you know that the cell phone is the new watch? ;)

McLaurie: Please see my question above about discounts at Tourneau...thanks!!

Firstly, stick with the big name shops. You have no idea if that little shop on the corner of something and something is selling the real thing.

Yes, but I will add, that was before the new ownership. Tourneau was sold a few years ago, but before that, it was possible to get a discount. Another way to do it is with a trade in. They happily take an old watch (working or not) and have more leeway for negotiating price. I also know Wempe will negotiate price.

Btw, coincidentally, there was a story on one of the local news programs last night about more and more stores of all sorts willing to negotiate price. Sometimes, all it takes is a request to see the manager.

Yes, I did read that. I would agree about sticking with big name shops for certain things, but watches or electronics are not necessarily one of them...there are places, as I mentioned, on 47th Street that may not be well known to tourists, but that will certainly sell you the real thing for a pretty hefty discount..

But it certainly does not hurt to attempt to negotiate at Tourneau or any other large store.. BEst Buy and PC Richards must have loved that newspaper article!