Buying Secondhand (Idiots Guide!)

Awkwardhorology

I was going through my old laptop yesterday when I stumbled across this PDF I created for my YouTube channel!

For context I am a horological "dumpster diver" and have bought many watches secondhand on ebay and other places - so I thought it was worth writing down my process. and since I'm an idiot - I don't mind calling it an Idiots Guide!

Since the eBay Authentication Programme went live it has made things a feel a little easier but it's always worth having a buying process in my opinion. I've used this guide when buying my Tudor, Breitling, Grand Seiko, Oris & Omega!

HAPPY MONDAY WATCH NERDS!

#luxury #vintage #rolex #omega #ebay
Reply
timepiece.pete
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Useful, and very well presented.

Awkwardhorology
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Thanks! I'm glad you like it Image

timetrapper
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But is the eBay Authenticators foolproof coming from the side of the buyer? I'm kinda chicken to drop 5k$ on a Grand Seiko. I'm afraid the eBay Authenticators would get scammed by a Chinese A1 tier fake or the seller would just pretend to send it to the authenticators. I guess I'd have to track down someone somewhere who could authenticate a GS haha that will be hard tho. The local shops usually are less nice if you are bringing a second hand watch in you think?

For the second point, I guess if the eBay guys don't authenticate it i.e. if the buyer doesn't send it to them for some reason, it wouldn't get validated and therefore never reach me? And the cash would go back into my PayPal?

Btw thank you for this awesome post. I for years had written off eBay because back when I used to use it however many years ago it didn't have a professional watch authentication service built in. I'm literally just finding out about it today so I'll have to watch a ton of YT VIDEOS on it ASAP to get up to speed on this

Awkwardhorology
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It’s some great points you’ve raised on here. I should do a video on eBay programme I’ll have to post on here when it’s done. 🙂

In short I’ve bought 4 watches from the programme during the last 2 years and this is what I know:

It’s is sent to a third party professional watch authentication (Stoll & Co in the UK) a well renowned company for checks

During this time your money is held and if anything is not as described (I.e fakes, aftermarket parts not disclosed or lack of additional items like box and papers).

If anything is amiss you are notified and can choose to cancel the sale with a full refund.

All packages are fully insured and require signature on delivery so there’s little room for error on delivery (in the UK it’s DPD)

All in all it’s really quick and efficient and it gives me the peace of mind that what I am buying is legit. The only people who seem to not like the authenticity programme are scammers and your typical YouTube grey marketers(for obvious reasons).

I would always still buy from a trusted source regardless with 100% feedback as a seller (not just a buyer) too. And never buy off platform if you don’t know the seller I.e collection etc!