Reply With QuoteI think anything reasonability priced seems to sell quick but there is a lot on SC that are over priced for a private sale and they are the ones that stick around for ages.
It appears many excellent watches on SC are no longer flying out of the door, no doubt because of the Covid economy. I wonder if it’s representative of the market for used (and new) watches generally? If so, can we expect exceptional sale prices in January? I’ll be keeping an eye on TK Maxx for the Spring Drive I’ve hankered after
I think anything reasonability priced seems to sell quick but there is a lot on SC that are over priced for a private sale and they are the ones that stick around for ages.
Last edited by roxylady; 29th November 2020 at 11:56.
Can't say I'd noticed myself, but Christmas approaching might have something to do with it as well.
I don't think there is one reason but lots of complex overlapping reasons which might include:
1) Many members are self-employed and working in sectors are are current shut - so living off saving - no money for watches
2) Many members having convinced themself the sky is falling and are earning as much as before but are working at home and stashing it away
3) Spending so much time at home likely means that money some people would have spent on watches are now being shoved into home improvements
4) General apathy - why buy a watch? There is nowhere to go and really nothing to do that would involve wearing one - I cannot be the only member working at home who can go a week now without putting on a watch.
I'll add in my case there are watches I've sold recently that I haven't gone anywhere near SC on because I know that the sale will generate too much 'noise' plus some untrustworthy members who would flip on. Hence I go to private groups/people I know. The watches would fly otherwise. Examples include New model Sub, New model King Seiko pre-release, Seiko SLA017 etc,
If the OP is hoping for a fall in Rolex prices or an easing of supply then that is wishful thinking.
I am afraid the old mantra is still, to a very large extent, true. Never travel without USD, Swiss Francs or a Rolex watch.
SC is not the place it once was years ago as evidenced by some other posts in this thread.
I'm sort of in this camp. I have bought a few watches recently but I'm definitely wearing a watch less and thinking less about what watch to wear. If you'd asked me before Covid, I'd have told you that I wear my watches for me and me alone but, after 8 months of WFH and barely socialising, it's clear that's not true.Originally Posted by Alansmithee
There’s a good point in there. This forum has long since changed for the worse from one about watches to one about conspicuous consumption. When your consumption can’t be conspicuous anymore, what’s the point?
If its priced right, it will sell. There is still a huge demand for watches overall...just look at the rush every time Eddie opens the shop.
I actually don't read that point as being about conspicuous consumption, more about the lack of leaving the house. A lot of people could work from home and not bother getting out of their pyjama bottoms, so why bother putting on a watch?
I don't think a lot of members here buy a Rolex to show others...I certainly don't and generally hide it under my sleeve when out and about. I am wearing watches less though just because I'm not leaving the house which is my trigger for putting one on.
Think to pre-covid...we'd see threads where people berated themselves for forgetting to put a watch on and only realise when they got to the office.
Last edited by Christian; 29th November 2020 at 12:45.
When you see Watchfinder having to push out a Black Friday sale, that is probably as good an indicator as anything to the state of the market. As has been said, anything which is seen as reasonably priced or maybe, bit of a bargain will find a buyer but anyone pushing the envelope price wise is probably going to find it more difficult.
I think a lot of the money that was sloshed around earlier in the year, with holidays cancelled etc, has long gone and there are a lot less people looking to splash £££ on watch now.
I was surprised to see that the 30th anniversary Speedmaster didn't get snapped up. There's constantly WTBs for Speedies recently, you won't get one with box and papers for much less than £3k nowadays, yet here's a full set anniversary model for just a little bit more and no one wants it.
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I don't know...it's hardly a desireable "limited edition" not really offering anything more than a standard model with a slightly different wording to the case-back. Its currently about £500 more (nearly 20%) than a modern big box would go for which would be a much more inclusive package with no requirement for service, probably remaining warranty and a better bracelet/clasp. You can't even say that the 30th anniversary model is particularly vintage as it has a luminova dial. Even the recent sapphire sandwich models didn't go for as much as it is currently listed for.
I honestly don't think that is a good gauge of the current state of play for SC.
I find that to be true, some watches sell within minutes, when priced right. I see many sellers take a look at ebay and base their price on watches that are for sale rather than sold, I think it would be a better move to check completed listings and what the watch has previously sold for rather than base the price on some chancers listing. Also remember that ebay has a massive audience as well as the seller would have to pay fees.
Seems a weird market to me. Prices are really high but not sure why when I see the same stuff listed over n over on eBay.
I looked at a Pelagos the other day, they’re a grand more than I sold mine for but they’re also just sat on eBay doing nothing. But you couldn’t offer someone a grand less could you.
My friend paid £1700 for an old datejust a year or so ago, same thing now you won’t see below £3k and most around £4K
Seems to be exactly the same with cars though.
It’ll probably feel like a big crash next year whereas in reality it’ll be more realistic to where prices should be imo.
True-ish, but the amount of stuff that lingers on SC then goes on to sell for more elsewhere, especially eBay, can't be ignored. Sometimes on SC you can offer something at trade or below and people still aren't interested. Limited audience.
I have always found that SC is a very picky market, not one with broad tastes.
Some things fly, whether they are competitively priced or not. Other things not so in tune with forum tastes can hang around for ages, even if they are well priced.
For instance, most vintage stuff does particularly poorly here, unless it is mainstream.
The current climate has perhaps exaggerared this tendency.
Dave
I find it incredibly difficult to sell anything on SC these days. Not sure if it's me, the watch or the price
Those items that eventually sell usually include me taking a bath on. I currently have listed the Seiko Alpinist LE at list price and very little interest. If e-bay had done a £1 listing this weekend I could have got my money back and some quite easily. I am now looking at returning it tomorrow for a refund, which seems the easiest thing to do, but is a shame.
Most of my sales these days are over on the bay, partly down to a lack of interest on here.
Alansmithee’s post is a really good list - I’d add a 5th point to it which would be a reassment of priorities because of the current situation, and watches not being one of them.
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OP, you say many "excellent watches no longer flying out the door" - why haven't you bought them? Might explain some of the reasons why unsold.
I never sell so it doesn't impact me. But, if I did, this place has become more aggressive and rude and seems manned by certain abrasive pompous individuals where personal attacks being more common (Bear Pit is a disgusting place), which I imagine puts people off from listing - compared to the past. Or perhaps it's just my rose-tinted glasses.
Last edited by jukeboxs; 29th November 2020 at 14:16.
The market (on SC at least) seems less fluid than it was and I'm sure many people need to sell to buy and so that inevitably affects sales volumes. There used to be a fair turnover of watches whereas now there seem to be some (mostly popular and/or well priced) ones which sell within a day and the others sit around for a while with no sale.
Another factor is that a lot of members aren't listing more popular or sought after watches on SC due to the high risk of the thread being spoiled by irrelevent comments or moaning that someone has the audacity to make a profit rather than a loss on watch. I wouldn't list a Rolex on here even if I wanted to sell one as inevitably it would decend as most of the recent threads have done. Also applies to other brands not just a Rolex thing.
Personally, I have cash ready to spend and there are watches I would like to purchase but these days I seem to decided exactly what I want and am less willing to "try" something else, perhaps related to the first point. A few SC watches recently, I have been hovering over the pm button but end up putting myself off because it isn't "exactly" what I am looking for.
On the flip side, I have sold and purchased several watches from excellent members via WTB's and that is now my preferred way to sell or purchase a watch on the forum. Obviously requires a bit more trust as there is no public scruity but also no public trashing either!
Unlike others, I still wear my watches despite working from home. It’s probably because I’m not taken with dress watches; now I’m no longer wearing a suit, I can wear less dressy timepieces (my preference).
It’s wasn’t my hope (I don’t like Rolex). I had been considering selling one or two watches, but I’ve decided to hold fire for the foreseeable future.
Last edited by Dougal; 29th November 2020 at 14:29.
Hoovers still hoover
Good point...I've probably shifted more towards WTB than SC over the years...I suspect theres a lot of trading that goes under the radar so judging things by what you can see on SC alone is probably pretty misleading and I noitice that the rate of posts on H&V is still pretty high.
Spending more than £10 on any watch is stupid, are we stupid ?
Sports stuff at a good price goes fast, everything else takes time or doesn’t sell on SC.
My approach is that, if I bought it from the forum then it’s offered on the forum first. If no takers after a week or so, then I will go to eBay or a dealer. Unless selling a year plus later where prices had gone up, if I made a profit on that I would contribute to the fundraiser but I’ve never made a profit so it’s a moot point...
If it wasn’t bought from the forum, then I’m likely to go to eBay or a dealer first because I don’t want the potential hassle on here. I’ve not had any problems selling on SC yet, but if I did I’m the type that would probably want to find another forum as a result. I also think this place can be a bit of a small world too. I flip watches quite a bit and I get the impression this is frowned on by some, so I’m almost embarrassed to list everything through the forum these days.
Last edited by Berty234; 29th November 2020 at 15:44.
As a general rule, anything on SC that has Rolex on the dial tends to generate a degree of slabbering hysteria. If it is sensibly priced, there’s usually a queue of exited folks lining up to buy it. Otherwise, folks are falling over each other having a tantrum about it.
I’ve sold quite a few from my old Rolex collection over the years, but I don’t think I would contemplate trying to sell on SC these days.
Anything else, without Rolex on the dial, generally tends to be met with apathy or complete disinterest (with a very strong correlation between good value, beautiful, classic vintage watches and complete disinterest).
I’ve noticed exactly that. Private sales it not private sales pricing - even worse when the sale says that they would rather it kept on the forum than go to a dealer, but they are demanding dealer pricing!
I think you’re right bout this and to be fair I can kind of see it. I’m fortunate enough to have got to a stage in life where I don’t have money worries, but back in maybe April time I did feel very down bout the outlook. There seemed no end in sight. I think I just accepted after a while that human nature is very resilient.
How do I join these private groups fella? :-)
Joking aside I don’t blame you. Too much grief and hassle. The amount of sales not appearing on SC now is such a shame.
If I am spending a decent amount on a watch I much prefer to do it face to face. Part of the enjoyment of this hobby is meeting likeminded people and chatting about watches over a beer or a coffee. Since Covid has put pay to any travel, that particular avenue of pleasure has been closed off. Hopefully things will return to some sense of normality from next Easter.
I think the used watch market is very focused on a few desirable brands and models.
Beyond that the market is pretty soft. I have sold only two watches here, both really nice examples of what I’d consider classic designs and both took a while and price drops.
I suspect many think the used market is stronger than reality. Unless it is a Rolex Professional model.
I may be totally out of date, but wasn't the dealer market booming in the last lockdown? Lots of people stuck at home not spending their money on anything else and with plenty of time on their hands.
Back then though was it all a bit of a novelty, weather good, not working for weeks, doing the garden DIY, sun tanned saving a few quid even but since those "gloriously" happy days has perhaps reality started to set in, 1000s out of work, companies shutting, prospects not what they where, suddenly for many living perhaps more important than a new trinket to brag about.
It amazes me how some lovely watches are left languishing on SC,I was surprised the Tipo didn't go in an instant it took time.
There has been some other cracking stuff like the old Smiths WD for example and a Heur?
There is money around though if its a Rolex why dont these buyers like the other stuff?maybe because its more about investment than the watch.
Within my short time here this does seem to be the case. Lots of hysteria and greed is what I see lots of which is pretty sad. When I first joined one member even insinuated that I was part of the scamming crap that was going around. It’s not very nice. Expensive things seem to bring the worst out in people not the best.
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Having sold a CP-2 Tipo on here, I wasn't surprised that it didn't fly. Lovely watch, forum darling, I was drilled on price with only 1 serious offer.
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In a nutshell.
Or G-Shock, everyone seems to love a Casio!
Since I have had access to sales corner I have nearly exclusively listed items here first as I would rather they went to a fellow enthusiast. However, sometimes I’ve gone to eBay simply for financial reasons, when I need to get maximum funds.
I’ve done this quite recently with a speedy pro, a 2264 and a avenger chrono. Although I needed the money, I do wish they’d gone to someone on here, other than the obvious hoovers/idiots.
I don’t think I ever wouldn’t use SC for fear of abuse or because of a bit of hassle as some people have stated. I’d rather give someone decent the opportunity to buy and put up with the idiots. Life is short, and who cares about trolls on a forum?
Everyone has a right to ask whatever price they want but I see quite a lot of stuff that I would consider over priced, or even close to retail for nearly new stuff. I’d rather pay an extra 50 quid for new. (Obviously hard to get stuff excluded)
There's a new KS? I seem to have missed that one completely. Do you have a link with more info regarding that one?
Going off memory - I think I have bought two watches in all my time here - one was fine and the other was a disaster - I couldn't be bothered again.
I have sold 5 watches on Sales Corner this year, as well as a handful of straps and a bracelet.
Everything sold, but there is no doubt that slightly more left field items (my Lum-Tec M50 being the obvious example) take longer simply because there is a more limited market.
On the other hand my Steinhart went quickly and I think I only dropped the price by a tenner, while my PADI Turtle went instantaneously at full price.
My deductions therefore are that the market on SC is a little slow and that there is no place for highly speculative pricing. I also think it helps if the sales post is thorough - I pride myself on writing good sales threads with decent (current) photos and I am constantly appalled at the sloppy, lazy nature of many others I see.
I differ from some of the earlier posts here in that I would be very uncomfortable selling anything of real value on eBay. I have only ever sold one watch there and it was a bit of a disaster.
Simon
Blimey, things are very different in Wales post-devolution, my local Sainsburys won't take Swiss Francs any more...
M
Breitling Cosmonaute 809 - What's not to like?
Reading through the posts I think everybody has hit on the various reasons.I do think the SC isn't the same as it was compared to the last few years in terms of what is available on the SC. I don't see a lot of Eddie's watches on the SC anymore. I suppose people buy them and keep them! Vintage pieces don't seem to sell and I suppose people gravitate to Rolex and other makers and the lower end suffers.
I generally sell what I put on though as I did like to keep the prices competitive and turn the money into something else I would like.
My two pennies on it.
I check the SC couple of times a day.
Yes the watches posted seem less.
Have yet to list a watch but it’s likely I’ll do so in January
If priced to sell a watch will sell on SC. Not sure this has changed a lot - but there is a lot more items than watches for sale - (more like eBay without commission).
Like anywhere it’s demand driven but we have a smaller population here. Personally I haven’t sold anything over £50 on eBay for many years. If I couldn’t sell a watch on SC, I would consider various dealers.
I don't think that it's true that a watch will sell here if priced correctly.
This is too small an audience with quite specific forum tastes for such a universal comment to be true.
I have successfully sold a few watches elsewhere for more than I asked for here.
Vintage doesn't sell well here.
Military doesn't either.
Smaller brands also suffer.
D
If the price is right it will sell.
I recently sold a new Timex and a vintage Seiko. A number of messages received for both, and both sold literally within minutes. I must not be asking for enough money!
Although I have in the past sold a couple of non watch items on sc, I would prefer two sales corners, one for watches and watch parts etc, and one for everything else. But that's just my preference and I realise it's not going to change. I can certainly live with it as it is.
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Can only speak for myself, but lately I very rarely see anything on there of even the slightest interest, and when I do, it seems to sell in an instant, often for more than I'd pay. Possible that I'm not alone in this. No doubt plenty of other factors in play - the double whammy of Brexit uncertainty and COVID not the least...
There's a BLNR on SC which should have gone by now and hasn't. Pride and Pinion sold one yesterday for £13,850 so £12k can't be far off the buy price. Maybe I'm biased as I have an older one on oyster but I thought that would have gone by now.
A friend on here bought a stickered one(oyster bracelet) at £10.5K 3 weeks ago -private sale
He subsequently sold it on for the same and bought my day date.
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