We're Living in a Society: Don't Do This When Buying a Watch
I have never purchased a watch from a private seller on any platform, nor have I sold one. Lately though, I have given some consideration to paring down my collection by selling a few (I'm struggling with letting go).
Reading this article gives me some trepidation about the process and what type of behavior I would have to endure.
What buying/selling nightmare have you experienced in the past?
https://wornandwound.com/were-living-in-a-society-dont-do-this-when-buying-a-watch/
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Danilo
Early to being a watch enthusiast. Enjoy the history of horology as much as I do the hunt for the next timepiece. I enjoy striking up conversations with folks I don't know and finding out what drew th...
Detroit
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Last active: 4 min ago
19.43 cm
I’ve bought and sold dozens of watches on two platforms: Reddit and Chrono24.
Chrono24 provides buyer protection and charges 6.5% commission fee to the seller. Also charges tax to the buyer but you have piece of mind.
Reddit offers lower prices but there is no buyer/seller protection; you need to completely trust the other party. Buyers should look at seller history before sending them money, sellers should use secure methods of payment that don’t include PayPal (imo).
So far I’ve had no negative issues!
My only experience was through Chrono24. One one occasion I fell on a dealer who listed a watch that he didn't have in stock (WTF)?, and on the other occasion I dealt with a very nice gentleman from Germany who was very distraught to discover that his shipment through DHL actually went by regular post and took almost a month to reach me.
Does nor sound bad at all...giving me some hope. Thx.
I’ve bought and sold dozens of watches on two platforms: Reddit and Chrono24.
Chrono24 provides buyer protection and charges 6.5% commission fee to the seller. Also charges tax to the buyer but you have piece of mind.
Reddit offers lower prices but there is no buyer/seller protection; you need to completely trust the other party. Buyers should look at seller history before sending them money, sellers should use secure methods of payment that don’t include PayPal (imo).
So far I’ve had no negative issues!
Thanks! I've looked at Chrono24. Do you only purchase within your country of origin?
My only experience was through Chrono24. One one occasion I fell on a dealer who listed a watch that he didn't have in stock (WTF)?, and on the other occasion I dealt with a very nice gentleman from Germany who was very distraught to discover that his shipment through DHL actually went by regular post and took almost a month to reach me.
Your batting 50%. Sounds like the dealer runs with the airline strategy of over booking.
I’ve bought and sold on C24, but feel it’s gotten worse lately, they add more tax now.
So will try Reddit for my next sale. So far only bought on Reddit, all went fine.
Pretty much only buy from eBay, or swap on Facebook.
Thanks! I've looked at Chrono24. Do you only purchase within your country of origin?
Yes, it makes shipping easier.
Yes, it makes shipping easier.
Gotcha.
I sell on eBay and just know that 16% fees sucks but is part of the exposure the site offers. Rarely I will sell a micro on a dedicated FB group.
I avoid WUS sales like the plague. Idiots constantly low balling.
I sell on eBay and just know that 16% fees sucks but is part of the exposure the site offers. Rarely I will sell a micro on a dedicated FB group.
I avoid WUS sales like the plague. Idiots constantly low balling.
Thanks. ebay seems to be the choice for most.
Metropolitan areas often have a strong participation in peer to peer (P2P) selling platforms like OfferUp. Rural areas not so much.
The benefits include no seller fees unless you want your listings pushed and no shipping hassles unless you enable that option. There is also a robust user history feature that includes metrics such as responsiveness and punctuality.
In addition to a few watches I've most often sold precious metals and collectible coins this way. I always meet at the Police Station that happens to be very close to my home. The prospective buyer gets to view the item then forks over the cash if satisfied. I don't accept electronic payment but many other sellers do. I often bring similar items but only show them if I feel like that is a good move.
Drawbacks are prospective buyers that don't follow through after negotiating a deal, low ballers and late night messages. I've learned to disable notifications before bedtime and follow up the following day.
My listings have a lengthy description of what I will and won't do. If a buyer asks a question with an answer that's already contained in the description then that's one clue that the buyer may be a pain in the butt.
If you like the buyer you can exchange phone numbers and then conduct future deals offline. I have developed a roster of buyers who now contact me directly when they are ready to buy precious metals however I continue to always meet at the Police Station during daylight hours. I use a pseudonym without a picture of my face for security reasons and don't provide a description of my vehicle prior to the meet up.
Taking good pictures is key and the more info you put in your listing description the fewer questions you'll have to respond to. There will be a few clowns however that's the nature of P2P platforms in general.
The absence of shipping, listing and other fees should enable you to price your item competitively.
Be safe and good luck!
Metropolitan areas often have a strong participation in peer to peer (P2P) selling platforms like OfferUp. Rural areas not so much.
The benefits include no seller fees unless you want your listings pushed and no shipping hassles unless you enable that option. There is also a robust user history feature that includes metrics such as responsiveness and punctuality.
In addition to a few watches I've most often sold precious metals and collectible coins this way. I always meet at the Police Station that happens to be very close to my home. The prospective buyer gets to view the item then forks over the cash if satisfied. I don't accept electronic payment but many other sellers do. I often bring similar items but only show them if I feel like that is a good move.
Drawbacks are prospective buyers that don't follow through after negotiating a deal, low ballers and late night messages. I've learned to disable notifications before bedtime and follow up the following day.
My listings have a lengthy description of what I will and won't do. If a buyer asks a question with an answer that's already contained in the description then that's one clue that the buyer may be a pain in the butt.
If you like the buyer you can exchange phone numbers and then conduct future deals offline. I have developed a roster of buyers who now contact me directly when they are ready to buy precious metals however I continue to always meet at the Police Station during daylight hours. I use a pseudonym without a picture of my face for security reasons and don't provide a description of my vehicle prior to the meet up.
Taking good pictures is key and the more info you put in your listing description the fewer questions you'll have to respond to. There will be a few clowns however that's the nature of P2P platforms in general.
The absence of shipping, listing and other fees should enable you to price your item competitively.
Be safe and good luck!
Thanks for the education Jack, much obliged. 🤝