Scared watch buying
Discussion
Why do a lot of people keep buying from dealers rather than a private sale? Are they really that scared of getting screwed over? Looking at the price that the dealers ask and what is for sale from a private sale is a big difference,i know people will say they have over heads but if you buy say a watch with say 3-4 years warranty from the manufacturer on the watch whats the problem? I know ebay is full of scammers but there are some good deals to be done out there if you keep your witts about you!
Thats a fair point but i just dont understand why you would pay maybe 2k over to the likes of say watch finder and all the others that are mentioned on here that you can buy on a private sale?? Mind you i can never understand how some people send there bank details to a guy that needs to get 20 million out of his account and will give you 20%!!! But it happens!!
I suppose if you’re confident enough to hand over say, £10k, to an individual for a watch, go for it. For many people such a purchase is a huge outlay, and if the watch turns out to be a Chinese fake, you’ve just lost £10k. And you’ll have that horrible feeling of having given that money to someone who is still laughing at you.
My SS Daytona was for my 50th birthday, nearly 6 years ago. I’d read and read about them, but couldn’t trust myself with a private purchase. New, they were unavailable. Used, from Milton’s in Chester, £500 under (!!!) list price. And Milton’s are a very highly regarded dealer, who came recommended by a few acquaintances. A no brainer,
My SS Daytona was for my 50th birthday, nearly 6 years ago. I’d read and read about them, but couldn’t trust myself with a private purchase. New, they were unavailable. Used, from Milton’s in Chester, £500 under (!!!) list price. And Milton’s are a very highly regarded dealer, who came recommended by a few acquaintances. A no brainer,
The same reasons why people might buy a car from a dealer.
The typical ‘Joe Bloggs’ might go down that route in buying an expensive watch (that they likely know little about) for some of the following reasons:
1. Less likely to be scammed
2. Less likely to buy a fake / stolen / inauthentic / ‘franken’ piece
3. Finance facility offered
4. Insured shipping
5. Warranty / direct point of come-back
6. Consumer protection laws
7. Laziness / Convenience / Confidence
8. Not everyone is on a Forum, au fait with E-Bay etc.
9. Model may be hard to obtain elsewhere
10. Allegedly checked, cleaned, serviced etc. pre-sale
11. Ability to pre-inspect & try in store
12. Trade-in facility
13. The luxury buying ‘experience’ i.e. cava, cake & comely sales staff
And of all of those, don’t underestimate the laziness factor.
The typical ‘Joe Bloggs’ might go down that route in buying an expensive watch (that they likely know little about) for some of the following reasons:
1. Less likely to be scammed
2. Less likely to buy a fake / stolen / inauthentic / ‘franken’ piece
3. Finance facility offered
4. Insured shipping
5. Warranty / direct point of come-back
6. Consumer protection laws
7. Laziness / Convenience / Confidence
8. Not everyone is on a Forum, au fait with E-Bay etc.
9. Model may be hard to obtain elsewhere
10. Allegedly checked, cleaned, serviced etc. pre-sale
11. Ability to pre-inspect & try in store
12. Trade-in facility
13. The luxury buying ‘experience’ i.e. cava, cake & comely sales staff
And of all of those, don’t underestimate the laziness factor.
Edited by UnclePat on Tuesday 30th July 07:31
UnclePat said:
The same reasons why people might buy a car from a dealer.
The typical ‘Joe Bloggs’ might go down that route in buying an expensive watch (that they likely know little about) for some of the following reasons:
1. Less likely to be scammed
2. Less likely to buy a fake / stolen / inauthentic / ‘franken’ piece
3. Finance facility offered
4. Insured shipping
5. Warranty / direct point of come-back
6. Consumer protection laws
7. Laziness / Convenience / Confidence
8. Not everyone is on a Forum, au fait with E-Bay etc.
9. Model may be hard to obtain elsewhere
10. Allegedly checked, cleaned, serviced etc. pre-sale
11. Ability to pre-inspect & try in store
12. Trade-in facility
13. The luxury buying ‘experience’ i.e. cava, cake & comely sales staff
And of all of those, don’t underestimate the laziness factor.
^^^^^ This. I’ve bought 4 watches from private sellers, ranging in price from £1500 to £8500. I’ve saved money in the process but without doubt there’s an added degree of risk. I’ve sent a friend to collect a watch without me even seeing it. I’ve met a seller in a city centre bar, and I’ve been to a buyers house before. Definitely added risk but if you can stomach it, there are indeed savings to be had. The typical ‘Joe Bloggs’ might go down that route in buying an expensive watch (that they likely know little about) for some of the following reasons:
1. Less likely to be scammed
2. Less likely to buy a fake / stolen / inauthentic / ‘franken’ piece
3. Finance facility offered
4. Insured shipping
5. Warranty / direct point of come-back
6. Consumer protection laws
7. Laziness / Convenience / Confidence
8. Not everyone is on a Forum, au fait with E-Bay etc.
9. Model may be hard to obtain elsewhere
10. Allegedly checked, cleaned, serviced etc. pre-sale
11. Ability to pre-inspect & try in store
12. Trade-in facility
13. The luxury buying ‘experience’ i.e. cava, cake & comely sales staff
And of all of those, don’t underestimate the laziness factor.
Edited by UnclePat on Tuesday 30th July 07:31
No different to buying cars as the above post states.
As I'm far from a watch expert, I also wouldn't feel 100% comfortable buying an expensive watch from a private seller (especially over the internet) given the quality of fakes etc. As a result, I've never bought private before.
However, I guess there are 3 steps that can strongly reduce the risk:
- Avoid watches without papers (and boxes)
- Use Chrono24, as they hold the money for a period, allowing you to check authenticity
- Agree with the seller to have an AD check it over
(- Do your homework on the specific model and make sure you know exactly what to look for)
Any other obvious things I'm missing?
However, I guess there are 3 steps that can strongly reduce the risk:
- Avoid watches without papers (and boxes)
- Use Chrono24, as they hold the money for a period, allowing you to check authenticity
- Agree with the seller to have an AD check it over
(- Do your homework on the specific model and make sure you know exactly what to look for)
Any other obvious things I'm missing?
The trouble is that fakes are now almost indistinguishable from the genuine article - even side by side, the differences are tricky to spot:
https://youtu.be/P_ZTqC2Yxxs
The trouble is, you won't get a side by side comparison in the real world.
It's a risk buying on-line, particularly (obviously) the more you spend.
https://youtu.be/P_ZTqC2Yxxs
The trouble is, you won't get a side by side comparison in the real world.
It's a risk buying on-line, particularly (obviously) the more you spend.
Both of my higher value watches i've bought privately.
Speedy Pro - paid £2600, so £1200 saving.
Max Bill Chrono - Paid 750 so probably about an £800 saving.
Both are mint, boxed, papered etc.
Next on the list are either Pelagos or a Superocean Heritage. Both i'd expect to pick up with significant savings.
Speedy Pro - paid £2600, so £1200 saving.
Max Bill Chrono - Paid 750 so probably about an £800 saving.
Both are mint, boxed, papered etc.
Next on the list are either Pelagos or a Superocean Heritage. Both i'd expect to pick up with significant savings.
Mr Pointy said:
I'm not sure why poster think boxes & papers add any security or reduce the risk of buying a fake. They are easier to fake than the watch.
Exactly. There are bogus aircraft parts floating around the airline industry supply network, and even ten years ago they were becoming difficult to spot. The paperwork and boxes, lol, easy. Mr Pointy said:
I'm not sure why poster think boxes & papers add any security or reduce the risk of buying a fake. They are easier to fake than the watch.
I agree. If someone can manufacture a watch, then making a box and papers is child’s play.I’ve happily bought watches without their box and papers. It makes no odds.
I'm not suggesting box & papers does increase the security / reduces liklihood of fake.
However when comparing new from dealer vs preowned - it would make sense that preowned WITHOUT box & papers would cost less, as it's an incomplete package.
My post was to highlight that buying pre-owned could save you money over new but also get you inessence the same watch - ie, mint condition, with everything it should come with from the dealer.
However when comparing new from dealer vs preowned - it would make sense that preowned WITHOUT box & papers would cost less, as it's an incomplete package.
My post was to highlight that buying pre-owned could save you money over new but also get you inessence the same watch - ie, mint condition, with everything it should come with from the dealer.
If you are prepared to take the risk - and are going into a transaction with your eyes wide open - then you're as prepared as anyone else.
As others have said, box and papers are immaterial in terms of ensuring a watch is genuine.
It is reported that fakes/'replicas' are getting even closer to the real thing - I wouldn't know a real Daytona (for example) alongside one of the best fakes, they are, to all intents and purposes, the same. But any doubt would ruin the ownership.
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