Advice on buying a watch from eBay

[s5dude]

Hi,

Am close to pulling the trigger on a rollie on eBay. Won't bother with details, but watch looks gen, seller has good feedback etc. But I've never bought a high value item off eBay before. Is there anything I need to be aware of (eg insurance against damage during delivery) and what protection do you have as a buyer if all goes t*ts up for some reason?

Thanks

[TimeThoughts]

Its probably not want you want to hear mate but I have a personal limit whereby I wont buy anything on Ebay over £500. I sold several items on there in the past and it is so painful as a seller I cant see how any serious small volume watch seller would chose to use that medium. Its a different outlook if they are an established trader with a 'storefront' on EBay.

In my constructive opinion any watch over a £1000 would definitely warrant a face to face. This hobby of ours is just too fraught with chancers.

[Onelasttime]

Hi,

Am close to pulling the trigger on a rollie on eBay. Won't bother with details, but watch looks gen, seller has good feedback etc. But I've never bought a high value item off eBay before. Is there anything I need to be aware of (eg insurance against damage during delivery) and what protection do you have as a buyer if all goes t*ts up for some reason?

Thanks

I'd be surprised if anyone could advise you with the little information you've provided

However, regarding the postage, it's the seller's responsibility to get it to you safely and securely. If it doesn't turn up, then it's the seller taking the hit if he hasn't insured the package properly.

[s5dude]

Thanks, well didn't want to write an essay on the purchase, just wanted some idea of anything i need to be aware of and in particular what protection there is as a buyer.

I had thought a face to face would be a good idea. I don't like the idea of buying something like this I haven't actually seen in the flesh!

[Guitarfan]

if you pay with PayPal you have very good protection.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Thanks, well didn't want to write an essay on the purchase, just wanted some idea of anything i need to be aware of and in particular what protection there is as a buyer.

I had thought a face to face would be a good idea. I don't like the idea of buying something like this I haven't actually seen in the flesh!

Serious Q - would you know it was genuine if you had it in your hands?

Paypal is good protection but the real question is if it's worth it for the hassle if it's a hooky watch.

[Wookie_66]

I took the risk on a £1k watch and all was dandy. I would have never have known but I factored in the cost of a manufactures service into the price and they didnt have any problems with it.
Postage is sellers responsibility but if they have said its only 2nd class they have told you and I would have thought it was your responsibility to ask and pay for better.

These days paypal is completly on the buyers side and so you should be good as ling as you know if it is fake or not when you get it. As said above it is a complete nightmare fore sellers now.

[RAJEN]

On a ''rollie'?
Is it a roll of toilet paper?

[Wookie_66]

Mine wasn't. Or you aiming this at the original post

[Wallasey Runner]

On a ''rollie'?
Is it a roll of toilet paper?

It's a cigarette made with loose tobacco and hand rolled that the naughty boys add illegal substances to that you can smell from about 2 miles away.

[Enoch]

On a ''rollie'?
Is it a roll of toilet paper?

Cigarette.....
I'm a non smoker but that's what the lads at work called em..

[RAJEN]

It's a cigarette made with loose tobacco and hand rolled that the naughty boys add illegal substances to that you can smell from about 2 miles away.

Could be 😄

[number2]

Trigger, rollie... have I missed something?

[andrew]

Trigger, rollie... have I missed something?

:D

Wondering if it was a Rollie Dayto...

[Chris_in_the_UK]

:D

Wondering if it was a Rollie Dayto...

Subbie....

[Wallasey Runner]

Rollie Yachtty !!

[Backward point]

Trigger, rollie... have I missed something?

Just waiting for "Bad boy" and "New shoes" for the full set.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

Just waiting for "Bad boy" and "New shoes" for the full set.

Mine says 'hi'......

[dirboxden]

Serious Q - would you know it was genuine if you had it in your hands?

Paypal is good protection but the real question is if it's worth it for the hassle if it's a hooky watch.

this is a problem i had at first, i would check the movements with others of the same cal on google but the replicas are just to good even the movements look the same to the untrained eye.
i have '3621 rolexs' & ' a history of rolex' reference books and they do help but you still cant guarantee anything with ebay or gumtree,
so now i only buy the more vintage 60's & 70's rolex, i look for age and patina as there are some things that they just cant fake that well and i find age & patina is two off them.

[Devonian]

With everything I always think 'is the saving worth the risk?'.

And can it be resourced from a trusted seller?

[Daddelvirks]

After all those comments he has probably "pulled the trigger" on himself.............

Daddel.

[Kingstepper]

And buy the seller.

[number2]

OP are you sure you'd bond with a rollie?

[Packer]

Personally I wouldn't have a problem buying a high value watch from eBay if the seller looks legitimate, because you can send it straight back and paypal will refund you if there is an issue with it.

I'd be taking it straight to a local expert for a quick check-over though upon arrival.

[Scra]

As said already, factor in a manufacturer's service into your costings, or alternatively a service from a watchmaker who knows what they're doing, and if there's any doubt staight to the manufacturer.
i would get absolute confirmation via pm that the watch is genuine, so you have that to fall back on if it does go to a paypal dispute. If the seller is based in the states, make them aware that if it's being sold as genuine and it turns out not to be so, once they handed it over to USPS, they committed mail fraud. they don't play around with that in the states.
I mentioned that to a seller a few years back, the listing was ended pretty shortly after and the seller's account closed.
Now I'm not a pessimist, but . . .

[s5dude]

After all those comments he has probably "pulled the trigger" on himself.............

Daddel.

No I just wasn't bothering to respond to the pointless snide comments.

But for those genuine replies, many thanks! I didn't think my question was unreasonable, but clearly some on this forum did!

[Sweepinghand]

if you pay with PayPal you have very good protection.

Absolute tosh

I was defrauded for o er £2000 on a watch
Seller sent me a plastic wallet then claimed he had signature etc

Bank paid me out not PayPal

Face to face only

[Bodo]

Did you pay as a personal payment? As that's not how it works.