Buy a watch, help save the world?

#general
HotWatchChick69

Hey fellow watch dorks!

Something totally out of left field for y'all.  Got a Laco Pilot Watch Basic Augsburg Blaue Stunde 39, and want to send it on to a new loving home, but also want to donate the funds to an incredibly effective and efficient charity, that is doing absolutely amazing work.  GiveDirectly DIRECTLY sends on funds to recipients in some of the poorest countries on Earth, with an incredible track record to-date - the effort sprang out of the Effective Altruism movement.

https://www.givedirectly.org/beta/

https://www.givedirectly.org/financials/

So, here's something fun I thought up:

  • Let's open up bidding on the Laco, say, via DM to me
  • The highest bid by Sunday, 3/20, 12pm PT wins the watch
  • At that time, if you donate the winning bid amount to GiveDirectly, and take a screen shot of the completed donation, I'll do a matching funds donation as well

So, in summary:

  • Buy a watch
  • Have the entirety of the proceeds go towards lifting someone out of extreme poverty
  • DOUBLE the size of your charitable contribution through matching funds

Whaddya say?  

If this works out nicely to raise charitable funds, I may do it next with one of my Rolexes, Grand Seiko's, or Omegas!  😜

thatguy306
·

Nice idea!

OlDirtyBezel
·

This is great!

HotWatchChick69
·
thatguy306

Nice idea!

Thank you!  I can't decide if I'd be happier if somebody won with a bid of $10 or $1,000.  What would be hilarious is if there were some super rich dude on this forum who decided to EFF with this whole thing and bid like $10,000.  I think I'd actually be pretty pissed about having to match that kind of donation!  😂

HotWatchChick69
·
OlDirtyBezel

This is great!

Hey dude, I'm waiting for your bid!

OlDirtyBezel
·
HotWatchChick69

Hey dude, I'm waiting for your bid!

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jason_recliner
·

It's a good idea. We've been doing that for years at Watch Lords.  Seller chooses a charity, funds from sale go to that charity.  I chose to match the sales price with my own funds the last watch I put up, but I think it should be optional (to prevent embarrassment and stress caused by a potential $10,000 bid, as you mentioned).

Watchesonthebrain
·

I love this idea!

thatguy306
·
HotWatchChick69

Thank you!  I can't decide if I'd be happier if somebody won with a bid of $10 or $1,000.  What would be hilarious is if there were some super rich dude on this forum who decided to EFF with this whole thing and bid like $10,000.  I think I'd actually be pretty pissed about having to match that kind of donation!  😂

Well you won't get a $10,000 bid from me but I'll be sending you a DM at some point this week even though I already have a Flieger. I just want to support the idea. :)

VegasDancer
·

will each highest bid be posted so potential bidders know what they have to bid...kinda like a bidding progress update?

HotWatchChick69
·
VegasDancer

will each highest bid be posted so potential bidders know what they have to bid...kinda like a bidding progress update?

Brilliant idea.  

Okay, current highest bid is $100.  

Here is what's included in total package:

Image
  1.  Laco Flieger on leather pilot's strap - will include omega style deployant as well, if you want it - watch has been worn maybe 4 times, and in effectively perfect condition
  2.  Warranty still in effect until January 22, 2023
  3.  Beautiful Laco travel case
  4.  Extra SS bracelet
  5.  Your choice of lume / glow-in-the-dark triceratops or pterodactyl - which reminds me, wanna hear a great pterodactyl joke?  "Why can't you tell when a pterodactyl is going to the bathroom?  Because the "P" is silent"

Come on, guys!  This is for a good cause.  I dare you to bid $10k.  I swear I'll match it.

EddiePhluff
·

Very classy. Nice job, and that watch should get plenty of interest. Just nice.

Bessio
·

Man that is really great. I salute you 🫵

HotWatchChick69
·
Bessio

Man that is really great. I salute you 🫵

Okay!  Current high bid is now $200!

Current high bidder asked:

  1.  Why this specific charity? 
  2.  What made you think of this?

Answers:

  1.  Weirdly, I have a bunch of firsthand experience with NGOs, nonprofits, etc., and...  how do I put this diplomatically...  there is a significant lack of transparency, focus on efficacy and efficiency, and much of the incentives of these organizations result in them simply raising funds and expanding, without much effort toward actual impact.  They mostly pull on your heartstrings to get your money, but then the results are questionable.  The Effective Altruism movement has very recently established itself in response to all that, uses very scientific methodology to try to determine highest impact giving / efforts, often using randomized controlled trials and transparency in order to do so.  GiveDirectly sends funds directly to the poorest of the poor, without any conditions, without any agenda whatsoever other than alleviating the worst of the worst global poverty
  2.  Buddy of mine in the Rationalist community gives 10% of his earnings to Effective Altruist efforts.  Was talking with him about my planned purchase of the new Speedmaster '57 in green, and then thought, "Wow.  I'm about to fork over a S&^%-load of cash for this watch, and well, maybe the money could be put to better use?"  So, signed up today for a pretty big monthly, on-going donation to GiveDirectly.  And, then, thought, "Well, I have all these watches that don't get enough wrist time.  I should sell them and donate the money...  Heck, why not have some fun with it on WatchCrunch?"

Anyway, don't mean for this to get all deep and heavy.  We'll get back to our regular programming of Omega color ways, Grand Seiko Zaratsu polishing, and fart jokes soon enough.

jason_recliner
·
HotWatchChick69

Okay!  Current high bid is now $200!

Current high bidder asked:

  1.  Why this specific charity? 
  2.  What made you think of this?

Answers:

  1.  Weirdly, I have a bunch of firsthand experience with NGOs, nonprofits, etc., and...  how do I put this diplomatically...  there is a significant lack of transparency, focus on efficacy and efficiency, and much of the incentives of these organizations result in them simply raising funds and expanding, without much effort toward actual impact.  They mostly pull on your heartstrings to get your money, but then the results are questionable.  The Effective Altruism movement has very recently established itself in response to all that, uses very scientific methodology to try to determine highest impact giving / efforts, often using randomized controlled trials and transparency in order to do so.  GiveDirectly sends funds directly to the poorest of the poor, without any conditions, without any agenda whatsoever other than alleviating the worst of the worst global poverty
  2.  Buddy of mine in the Rationalist community gives 10% of his earnings to Effective Altruist efforts.  Was talking with him about my planned purchase of the new Speedmaster '57 in green, and then thought, "Wow.  I'm about to fork over a S&^%-load of cash for this watch, and well, maybe the money could be put to better use?"  So, signed up today for a pretty big monthly, on-going donation to GiveDirectly.  And, then, thought, "Well, I have all these watches that don't get enough wrist time.  I should sell them and donate the money...  Heck, why not have some fun with it on WatchCrunch?"

Anyway, don't mean for this to get all deep and heavy.  We'll get back to our regular programming of Omega color ways, Grand Seiko Zaratsu polishing, and fart jokes soon enough.

That's awesome.  Well done.

Justintime
·

Wonderful idea! You have given me the solution to the problem of what I'm going to do with some of my watches so I can buy more. My goals - to make room for another watch and to do good in the world. Not necessarily in that order. But maybe.