Bought a few watches from them back in the day when they used to offer very good deals on grey imports, very good prices and always true to their word.
Not so impressed with the purchasing side- couple of years back sold my watch to them (week old, moment of madness purchase) quoted a price, once they had carried their inspection came back with a price £300 less, cited condition was the reason for knocking money off? Watch was brand new and couldn't tell me what was actually wrong with it!
Anyway thought I'd try them again, benefit of the doubt and all that... Sent off this week my near perfect UK supplied 2015 Omega Speedmaster Racing. Had a quote of between £1400-£1600 subject to the usual inspection, swapped a few emails with them beforehand and they agreed as long my description was correct ( detailed pics sent to them) then they would pay £1600. Yep you guessed it, received an email this morning 'we're pleased to be able to offer you £1400'
Do they always do this, quote high then start playing a game?
I understand some peoples idea of condition can vary hence offering a low to high figure, I'm very meticulous as I'm sure a lot people are on here, tend to put most of my watches straight onto leather so bracelet was unused etc...
Just trying to gauge other people's experiences when selling to them, on the buying front I've never had a complaint, maybe I've just been unlucky so far when selling.....
My job entails buying a luxury product, so am well versed in buying and selling practices. If I consistently operated like this I wouldn't get many repeat customers.
Last edited by Rob153; 5th September 2016 at 13:15.
I have sold 5 watches to them over the years. Difference is, I never send the watch, opting to take it in to one of their appraisal locations. This way they have to look me in the eye and tell me why they do not believe it is worth the higher end of the offer. Funny enough, they have always offered me the maximum amount!
Last edited by ataripower; 5th September 2016 at 13:23.
I have 4 out of 5 watches I sold to them got the maximum higher valuation.
It's a game and they are playing you, ask for the top end of the valuation or for it to be returned.
I've only sold one watch to them and this was my experience, I called up and it took about 2 minutes for them to change the valuation upwards. This was a few years ago but I doubt much has changed.
Friend of mine has sold 3 watches to them. As far as know they have always been fairly accurate on price, within £50 from what he tells me.
I also had a quote over email for an Omega, which a couple of months later I presented to them as a completely separate deal and the prices were very similar. I made no reference to their previous quote, but wanted to see how consistent they were. If they had offered a lower amount I would have referenced the previous email quote.
The biggest variation I've witnessed was the difference between straight buy in or trading your watch against something they have in stock. Obviously the latter scenario is the highest offer.
Some of these examples were in the last 6 months
I have heard mixed reviews but on a few cases they have waited until the watch was in their possession and made a lower offer, similar to your self.
Could try and stand your ground at £1600 and see what they say, maybe try to deal at £1500-1550?
I have bought and sold with them many times over the years, all sorts of watches/price brackets and its always the same, they give a bracket, when they see the watch they offer the lower end, I kick up a fuss, sorry I mean 'ask them why and hash it out' then they pay the higher end, tedious but its always worked out.
Last edited by trainspanner; 5th September 2016 at 13:42.
I was going to do that this time but they said they would still need to send it off to get appraised?Originally Posted by ataripower
Last sale was 6 weeks ago. Took it to the Burlington Arcade shop. They appraised while I waited, offered me the price and I received the funds in 5 working days. Perhaps they have different policy depending on where you go
Tedious is def the word to use, in my business if agree to buy something for a price and it's as described then I don't haggle, simple as.
This. Ask for top of the quoted range or ask for it back.
Strange, that's where I was going to drop it off, had made an appointment then got tied up with and just posted it instead.
Had the same thing, took it into the branch and they said would have to send it off. Watch was perfect. They ended up offering 1400 after initially hinting at 1650. i took it back and sold it to another online retailer for 2100. They used to be great as a small organisation but gone a bit downhill in my estimation. Many still like them tho.
Some mixed responses; maybe I've just been a tad unlucky. Lets see what they come back with, thanks all for the input so far.
Yes agree, very good hands on small company when they started out, dealt with the one of the owners direct back then(Stuart) I wonder if they work like webuyanycar, agents get paid commission of what they can knock off the quoted price.
No doubt they are playing a game, still bloody annoying all the same.
Just ask them for £1600 if they can get away with giving you £1400 they will try.
I only ever sold one watch to them and pushed them up in price
Sent from my SM-A5100 using Tapatalk
Less than 2 years ago sold an unworn 2004 Sub LV to them, stickered and with everything. Had email dialogue, given a price range, was not comfortable posting so agreed to take it to Maidstone for appraisal. Before going I made it clear that it would be a waist of my time if I was offered less than this, and I would not accept the offer. Sure enough a couple of days later was offered less 'had a lot of this model come in over past few days'. They would not negotiate, I got to walking out of the door and I changed my mind and accepted the offer, but felt fairly annoyed at the time as it was a 2.5 hour return journey to their premises and had sought and been given assurances on the offer before travelling.
Last edited by Crispin; 5th September 2016 at 14:33.
I have never had an issue always offered upper end and a few times have had more paid when in person. But I always do my deals with them face to face as I have been dealing with them for almost 10 years now.
^^^ +1 ^^^
Hi,
I think you probably already know the answer to your question ; )
The cynic in me says that it's a tactic that they no doubt use very successfully, as they know once the item is in their possession is highly likely that the seller will 'take it on the chin' and accept the lower offer.
It's a quick and easy route to a few £100s extra profit. Some people will be selling to cover short term cash flow issues etc (not suggesting that applies to you) so they know they have some leverage.
Stick to your guns if you're certain of the condition/value.
jeff
That's virtually what they did to me with the first watch that I sold them. Might earn them a few extra quid short term but how many people will steer clear of them......
Bought many watches from them when they supplied grey, never had a problem at all. Like to think I was a decent customer to them when they first started out. Yes, I do also, f2f much easier and very difficult for them to start haggling over condition price when you're in front of them. Prob that's why they prefer for watches to be posted.
Jeff,
You're absolutely right, just was hoping mine was an isolated case, hence the thread. No doubt they do use this tactic on a high number of their purchases, will prob work on a good percentage of people. I'm confident of value/condition they've got much older watches on rubber (mine on bracelet) starting at £2195. They'll need to do nothing to mine and still under Manufacturers warranty. I could of given it to my friendly watch specialist on S.O.R for a tiny bit more. I can be stubborn so and so, if I don't get the £1600 it'll be coming back home.
well that was quick, no phone call required, polite email sent : just replied 'after re-inspecting your watch we would like to increase our offer to £1600'
I wonder if someone from watchfinder frequents the forum.....:D
Thanks for all input guys; appreciate it.
At least now I know if I ever sell a watch to WF to stick to the higher price. Sounds like they were just trying their luck with the lower offer.
Yes most definitely- bit naughty but by the sound of it seems to be standard. I heard they were in the process of being bought out so maybe things will change for the better.
On a positive note at least they didn't take days to come back to me.
Didn't realise they were being bought out. Hopefully things improve as they do seem to have a few negative reviews on here alone, although every case is different.
A good result!
It's the same with house/car insurance renewals, internet/phone etc. These organisations seem to rely on the customer lacking the will/inertia to shop around or to hold out for the best deal when they quote. The numbers obviously stack up on their side as they keep doing it.
It does get old playing the same old game all the time though.
jeff
Glad this worked out OP. I've had email quotes from them before & also sold a 2014 Hulk Submariner to them last year (a transaction I was happy with). In future I'll probably make face to face appointments and be patient. From anecdotal advice I've been given, it sounds like current stock levels make a difference when you're selling to trade.
Do you mind me asking which other online retailers you've dealt with or recommend for accurate quotes and selling/px?
Yes Jeff, how many people just renew premiums without shopping around eeek, what a waste of money. Still think it's stinks, if you offer a price, honour it, simple. Customer happy, will return and of of the best form of advertising will recommend to others.
That's what I've heard, could be wrong Chinese whispers and all that. But got told 4 people own it and are looking to sell to an investment group.
Very informative, I have 3 Rolex Sports to shift next month and was looking if its worth going down this route to raise funds etc so will bear in mind that they may try it on and reduce their valuation. Guessing they cant be bothered with hassle of returning it!!!!!
Last edited by kultschar; 5th September 2016 at 16:12.
God - that must have drove you nuts after all the hassle and pre-warning
I would imagine you'll get a much better price in sales corner than selling to the trade :D
The retailer in question, I'm guessing from reading between the lines, isn't well liked around here as he used sales corner to build stock. This was before i was a member on here. I'll leave it there. Not sure if I'd breach rules. If not happy to name.
I once sent them a watch, they offered me more than I would have got on SC at their higher quote. Once the received my watch, they offered me the lower option, I rang them straight away and asked to speak to the person who had emailed me the quote. When I was put through they straight away asked "Would you like us to up our offer to the higher one?" Obviously I said yes and within a couple of days the higher quote was in my account! Its worth ringing them.
Indeed, I was not impressed, they would not budge on the 'new' offer and I literally had one foot through the doorway on the way out when I decided to proceed with the lower offer. Do not appreciate these games when I went to the trouble of being clear from the outset.
- - - Updated - - -
Last edited by Crispin; 5th September 2016 at 17:29.
I believe the original owners now have serious new investors, which h may explain the new shops and the period of quite high offers for used stock.
I had a pretty poor experience buying from them, awful actually. But they seem OK to sell to, although the low ball offer is to be expected. No company is going to pay more than they need to. Buy cheap,sell high, the mantra of all businesses. Watchfinder is no different. Why would they be?
It's the basic ethos of all businesses, buy as cheap as possible and sell as high as you can, goes without saying. It's the blatant game playing that gets my goat, agreed on a price based on it being in the condition that I had described to them. Subsequently changing it to lowest price possible with no justification, now that's not good business sense just downright misleading. Would I have sent to them at the lower figure? Def not.
You did!
Sold to them twice in the last two years.
Each time they honoured the top price - I considered both watches to be in mint condition.
Also bought two watches from them, and those purchases went very smoothly too.
With my geographical location, all my dealings are over the phone or email, and watches posted in/out.
Lol, not exactly- they first quoted £1400-£1600, after a few emails they agreed if it was in the condition I had told them then they would pay £1600. They then backtracked and offered the lower amount with no justification after receiving the watch. If they had said they were only going offer £1400 I would never had sent it.
Not been here long have you?
A bit like a certain car buying website, you get a quote take the car along and they find a hair width scratch an inch long and start deducting in £100 increments! Wtf my car is 10 years old what you expect!!?. I got a quote from watch finder for my partners longines they offered a totally insulting low valuation. Then have the cheek to offer the same watch (goes for Rolex etc too) at nearly new price when a year old!! Cheeky sods!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
By the sound of it I'm completley wrong about the powers of S/C, I stand corrected.
I can partly understand WBAC- damage is damage irrespective of age. If you had a ten year old Sub and described it with no damage, turned up with a big scratch on the clasp then I would expect to be knocked.A bit like a certain car buying website, you get a quote take the car along and they find a hair width scratch an inch long and start deducting in £100 increments! Wtf my car is 10 years old what you expect!!?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I asked another dealer( newish to the scene) for a PX value and they offs me £700!
You're right I would expect that too. I was meaning wbac start deducting for very very minor imperfections regardless of age. Sorry I maybe didn't make myself clear.? Yeah you need to shop around for sure!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dealers-
I once walked in to the David Duggan store in the Burlington Arcade.
I explained to the employee working in the store that I had a brand new black dial/steel Daytona at
home that I wanted to sell and how much would they offer me for it?
He tapped away on his computer for a few seconds and said 'list price' £7950 -
I said that I'd bring it in the following week......
The following week I lugged the Rolex/box/papers back to the David Duggan store, before entering the store I had
a quick browse in the window- they had no steel Daytona's.
Upon entering the store I was introduced to the boss who happened to be there this time.
I told him I'd brought my Daytona to sell and he casually walked over to the back of the window display, had a look and said 'I've got lots of that model- I can offer you £7000'
I explained that the bloke sitting only 6ft away had told me list price a week earlier and the boss just shrugged.
What a di#ckhead I thought and I've never been near the store since....a complete waste of my time
Last edited by farmkid; 6th September 2016 at 13:00.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
