Reply With QuoteMost importantly, does it have stickers?
I am currently intending to purchase a watch but have not yet decided what to buy. However, I will more than likely explore purchasing an owned watch and may buy it from eBay or other online sales/auction sites.
I was wondering if anyone has a checklist of questions they ask the seller in order to gain further information about the watch and make sure it is authentic and does not have any issues or concerns.
I was thinking along the lines of the below, but appreciate it will depend on what information the seller has already provided in the sales advert:-
1. Does the watch come with the original paperwork and box?
2. Do you have the original receipt?
3. When did you last have the watch serviced?
4. Are all the parts original or have any replacement parts been fitted?
5. Can you provide the serial number?
I would appreciate any feedback/recommendations and if I have overlooked any fundamental questions that should be asked.
Most importantly, does it have stickers?
2b what was done?
2c Did you recieve the old parts?
2d Do you have the receipt
7 How did you come by the watch
8 How long have you owned it
9 Why are you selling?
10 Can you provide references, doesn't have to buying and selling watches. Eg, regularly buy car wrecks at such and such to do up? Av amp on forum. You get the idea? What is there eBay handle, other sales platform handles.
11 Returns policy?
These are sone of mine... Good luck
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Oh forgot one really important one does it work as expected?
Proving the concept with short video sent over email WhatsApp Dropbox Google docs or other
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Buy the owner as much as the watch.
What answer to any of these questions might prove that the watch is authentic?
Haywood
None, but I guess the more answers, information or documentation the seller can provide increases the odds of it being authentic.
It also allows you to gain a better understanding of the seller based on how he responds.
I agree with Heywood. If you don't know the seller and it's expensive then see it in the flesh and take somebody who does know.
Better still buy from a trusted source.
Agree, buy from a reputable source who has a proven track record in the brand that you are considering and is highly regarded by the likes of people on here.Originally Posted by g40steve
Unless you are buying something for a few hundred quid, avoid e-bay, gumtree and most high street pawn brokers unless you know what you are doing.
There is a sizeable list of respected and trusted dealers on here if you search for it.
If buying a Rolex watch from an AD.
12 - does it come with the hang tags?
A service is only worth the paper it's written on if they provide the paper with it written on and it's by someone with a decent reputation.
If you're buying from eBay and it hasn't had a manufacturer service you can check up on or something from a bona fide watch repairer, assume it needs a service. I must have bought 15 or 20 watches from eBay and only one didn't need a service.
"A man of little significance"
Renumbered watch and a dishonest or ignorant seller would fall straight through the gaps....
H
G40Steve's point is Very VERY important!
Adding a question for yourself. Can you afford to throw the money away should it turn out to be a bad deal. This should be the first question. The most important one.
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Most ADs have negligible ability when it comes to examining a secondhand watch and I know cracking examples of cocked up watches they have sold in ignorance. There are a couple of good ones, but ten times that number are hopeless.
H
So would asking to take the watch to be verified at a AD or reputable watch shop not be a bullet proof way to ensure it is genuine if the sales assistant was not that experienced. Also, out of interest how much would they charge for this and would you have any comeback to claim against them should they make a mistake and the watch turned out to be a fake. Sorry to go off on a bit of a tangent.
Your average AD staff are empty headed sales people in suits - you would probably get a better opinion from the guy outside brushing the street.
I think the factors that need to be taken into consideration vary hugely depending on the type of watch you are interested in. For instance, if you are considering a vintage watch, some are much more likely to be misrepresented or to have had value-reducing alterations than others. For some watches, it’s all about the originality of the dial and an absence of clumsy refinishing of the case, and in that case it is not so much a matter of asking questions but having large, detailed images, a thorough knowledge of what the watch is supposed to look like, and a seller that is trustworthy.
Or, for a non-vintage watch with known high service / refinishing costs, then unless there is strong evidence to the contrary (very rare), assume that it will need a service and factor the cost in.
I have never had much luck getting useful answers to questions from Ebay sellers and it has come down to how I think the watch looks in comparison to whatever information I can find online.
What sorts of watches are you homing in on?
Could you not buy one from sales corner?
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First, how would you know which AD or dealer has the knowledge to assess a watch and its parts?
Posh location and name? Dolly bird count? Posh chap in a suit? Footballers use them?
While I've sometimes provided this service for tz-uk members, why would most places consider it? One can imagine how most (of the few capable of doing it) might imagine the situation :
"Good morning, shopkeeper! I note that you specialise in fine timepieces, but I don't wish to pay for the value of your expertise by spending money on your own stock and have instead bought this from a tattooed man with six positive feedbacks (all Pokemon cards) on eBay. Would you mind assessing it for a fee? Of course, the true value of your expertise may be viewed very differently by us both and in giving an opinion you may be exposing yourself to all sorts of problems, not least from eBay's ClocksAndDoggers69 if you say "anyfink" about one of his pieces. Oh, and for your small fee yes I will consider you responsible both for the authenticity of the watch, all its parts and any warranty issues that I think you should have spotted before I bought it on your say so.....because in my heart I don't trust ClocksAndDoggers69 but I can save £250 buying from him if someone else is mug enough to allow themselves to be caught up in the deal, all because I won't pay a bit more for proper peace of mind. Yes, I do have neck brassy enough to ask you this, because I have read on Mumsnet that one can always take a watch bought elsewhere into a jeweller and get it checked out for free....."
I know that I would say this, but bad sellers (by which I mean those either dishonest OR lacking the knowledge to identify bad parts, either of which leaves you in the doo just the same) outnumber sellers whom you can trust by a large margin.
A key question for me would be whether the seller will be there and in a financial position to refund you immediately if a watch should turn out later not to be as described, to have problems or even be stolen. Listen to your worst fears and you'll just about be in the right place.
H
Thanks everyone for the advice so far.
Si - I was thinking of the following:-
Seiko 6105 8110
Omega Speedmaster - 1967-1971, birth year or a new second hand one 2014 onwards.
Nomos tangente 38
Breitling navitimer
I am taking my time in deciding because I am enjoying having a relaxed view and reviewing a number of options.
I have only just been able to view SC so I am not that familiar with it but thought that due to the number of watches on internet auctions/sales sites it would offer me more watches I want to buy and so would improve my chances of either getting a mint example or maybe a better price.
But I agree buying from SC would be a safe option.
Patience is required, the right watch will come up eventually, and you will be sure that it's the real deal. Post on WTB, you may be surprised.
You may get a slightly better price on eBay, maybe not. But for a small saving, peace of mind is always better for me
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