Thoughts on Online purchasing?

I have wondered that myself

Why do you feel your getting a sub par version it is litterly the same item

Get a Seiko in person and examine it closely. They have alignment issues that make the Ali watches look real good.

I’ve bought on Amazon before and didn’t have an issue. Get the Amazon watch save the money.

https://longislandwatch.com/islander-automatic-dive-watch-isl-07/

If you are open to an alternative check out Islander. You can get discounts through signing up for their e-mails. Specs and QC are a bit better.

If you have an ad nearby you can ask if they can match or at least get close to that price, but there are no issues buying your watches somewhere else.

Totally fine. It's the same exact watch either way. It may not have the Seiko international warranty if you get it through this Amazon seller, but I wouldn't worry about that with this watch, as long as it can be returned if there are any immediate issues with the watch.

Purchasing retail is generally more expensive for a number of factors, but the biggest of them is the warranty. For that Seiko you can get 3 years worldwide warranty if you buy it at an AD, if I remember well. Basically you’re paying extra for a bit more of peace of mind. I generally don’t buy retail but it’s good to keep in mind when shopping around.

Amazon is a good place due to the return policy. Brick and mortar ADs usually have watches with better QC. And you get to pick out a unit with flawless QC. I’ve heard a lot of watch brands dump watches with bad QC off to online retailers (not sure if true). May take many orders and returns to get one with perfect alignment.

My man!

All the watches I own have been bought from Amazon. Pretty much all of them on deals bec I enjoy scoring a bargain 😅.

Get the cheaper one, it’s the exact same as what’s in the physical store. If you get a qc issue, Amazon is pretty good with returns so no risk.

I order on Amazon all the time; easy return policy too if you don’t like it.

The only watch I bought at an offline store was my Seiko SNZG13K1. Aside from that, I bought all my watches online & had no problem whatsoever until now.

I started my addiction during Covid under lock-down. I have actually not bought a single watch, of my 20-something watch collection, in person yet. However, I always make sure to buy from trusted sellers with reasonable prices. Also, my watches are very affordable so it doesn't matter that much.

I can imagine if I were to move up in price range it would be a very different story...

I bought a Seiko 5 GMT and a Seiko Prospex Land Tortoise off Amazon. Both were perfect and got ‘em at significant discount. Sub $1,000 I got no problem purchasing through Amazon. Over 1 K I’m looking for an AD to buy from.

I order direct from the manufacturer and ask them to price match with their Amazon store. I've done this twice without issues, and I'm guaranteed a genuine piece at the best price

Nope.

Actually when I consider the less than stellar buying experiences that I had in shops I wonder why do I even bother checking them out when I want a new watch.

No issue from ordering from Amazon. Just take a good loom

at the watch for QC issues before wearing it And return it if need it.

Oh that's really nice! Initially I wasn't a fan of orange dial watches, but after picking up the orange Nodus Canyon watch I've changed my mind.

If it's a choice between just buying online or going to AD to buy in person then cheapest option is understandable.

But if it's a case of "I'm not sure about this watch I should go and try it on in person" and you go into the AD and they provide you a good service then I personally wouldn't go away and take the cheapest option. People are doing their jobs at the end of the day, we all need to get paid somehow. But I might mention that I have seen it a lot cheaper online and see what happens 😉

I haven’t bought any single of my watches at a store. All of them online (mainly because I own mainly micro brands

I prefer to buy from AD’s, and my favorite AD is in another state. I’ve bought several Omega’s from them and have been treated great. So, I am a fan of buying from an AD online.

That said, a good dealer offers something buying grey doesn’t. There is 100% piece of mind that you are getting authentic product. I will say that the majority of grey market watches are authentic, and exactly the same as being sole through authorized channels.

You mentioned being concerned about a lower standard product at places like Amazon. No, as long as you get authentic product it will not be a different (lower quality) product. Brands wouldn’t want to have their name on sub par quality.

Anyway, as other have pointed out, if you want a particular watch and see it on Amazon or new/unworn on the grey market I would suggest contacting an AD and see if they will discount. Don’t expect an AD to match fire sale prices you might find at a place like Jomashop. But a discount offer is possible, perhaps 10% to 20% is possible depending upon the brand and model. Then you have to ask yourself which deal makes more sense. And remember, if you buy from an AD they will stand behind the watch, you will get factory warrantee, and every purchase you make with that AD builds a relationship going forward. For me, the upsides of buying from a good AD outweighs the few grey market experiences i had. I’ll never buy grey again.

I bought this from Amazon UK with no issues.

It doesn't bother me at all, especially from Amazon. If there is a problem it is very easy to return. Also it will most likely be cheaper.

I would never want to buy a watch without trying it on. I've done that and then got great discounts from Grand Seiko (AD) and Tag, Orient and Laco (all general retailers). That said, I live in a capital city, Kuala Lumpur, so it's easy and enjoyable to spend lots of time browsing for watches.

The only watch I've bought online was a Parnis Kermit - I'm not going to go to China to try it on (!) and at that price the risk is minimal. And it turned out to look fantastic and keep reasonable time (gaining 10 to 20 seconds a day, which you can't complain about with a Miyota).

I have no choice, I have to buy online. I can't walk very far at all. Most of my watches are bought of eBay or Northern Gold Smiths. Never been to a watch shop

I like the seiko I have some of them including a grand seiko. Love it

The. You go to jomashop and find it cheaper than amazon.

Nah m8 seiko msrp is optimistic at best, with all due respect if you have other options but buy directly from seiko u are scamming yourself

I only purchased my Tribus from an AD, everything else has been used or JDM.