Id be tempted to write to them and revoke the sale.
So I wanted to sell a watch last Dec and Chronext gave a very good offer on a commission basis, which worked well for me as I was not in a hurry anyway. I enquired through the UK site, but for some reason their Germany (main) office dealt with it. Anyhow, we agreed on a price, they sent a label through, I packed up the watch and sent it all on the same day. The communication was excellent till this point, with almost instant replies. The watch arrived at their office in Cologne the next morning (shown on tracking), and the salesperson confirmed quite quickly too. This was on 17 Dec, 2020.
Then the nightmare began...
The watch wasn't online properly until the 12th Jan, during this time I've emailed several times (of course not during the Christmas and new year holidays) asking for progress, but received minimal replies. (a few excuses from them in between but it's understandable I guess as it was the holiday season).
However, as it went on their website, the production year was wrong, specs were missing, and even the title of the watch was not descriptive enough to show on google searches. I didn't notice for a while and contacted them when I did - took some time for them to correct this info and the watch was finally advertised correctly on the 30th or 31st of Jan. That worked wonders as it was sold within two days. That's when it started to get bad.
So I emailed them to ask them how the payout would work from there. I received this reply on the 2nd Feb:
"It was my pleasure. Your watch has been ordered yesterday, but I am still waiting for confirmation that it has been picked up. I will let you if there are any updates. After sale we have to wait the 14 days of return possibility until we can pay you out. You can send us your bank details by email."
I thought fair enough. However I waited for a few days, with no updates. Sent an email to ask if the watch has indeed been picked up or shipped, nothing. After that I sent an email or two every few days, and more emails the past 3 days (as it's been more than two weeks since it was sold).
This morning I finally heard back from them,
"We are sorry for the late reply. Your watch hasn't picked up by the customer yet and he is going to collect the watch on 15th of March. After the 14 days clear period, i.e. 29th of March, we can officially inform you that your watch is sold and make the payment. If you would like to sell your watch directly to us, based on our extensive market expertise, is xxxx GBP (£1500 lower than what they owe me now after commission sale, and even less than their original straight sell price). The current payout period is one to two weeks. We look forward to receiving your answer."
So they sold the watch and received the money on 2 Feb, and won't pay out till at least early to mid-April (assuming they aren't lying about that either), and offered to pay me £1500 less if I want the money now... This surely is a joke right? I'd hardly imagine anyone paying for a watch, not wanting it to be shipped and receive it next day, but rather wait for a month and a half to pick it up.. I replied to ask this exact question, but doubt that they're allowed to give me any information regarding their correspondence with whoever bought it. But surely they can't get away with saying this to every seller?
What would you do? I really couldn't be bothered to call, post on their social media sites etc before, but might have to now.
This would certainly be my last dealing with them.. Avoid chronext (as seller at least).
Cheers,
Tommy
Last edited by tommyzzj; 17th February 2021 at 15:35.
Id be tempted to write to them and revoke the sale.
Watch back, complete jokers. They know exactly what they are doing.
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I would also be considering asking them to return the watch.
It would be interesting to see if that prompts them to make the payment sooner due to losing the commission.
The internet offers unlimited exposure.
Imagine if the buyer saw this and confirmed that he had already collected the watch.
Might be worth publishing some specific details.
I'm with C, cancel the sale and get the watch back.
Alternatively, tell them you want a BT for the correct amount in your account by a specific day.
Don't let emotions sway you from your preferred outcome.
Thanks for the suggestions so far gents, asking them to return the watch was my first instinct as well - however that might incur the likely VAT when the watch arrives back in the UK (as it's in Germany now...) unless I'm missing something
If i was in same situation/ predicament i would definitely want my property back asap and sent fully insured....
I dont think VAT should be an issue as you / they can agree its your property has not changed hands and they had it for pre sale appraisal....watches must go back and forth to EU for servicing every day...so no declared value for customs....?
Woeful- performance.....
I can completely understand the 14 day period, but regards the rest sounds like complete cod’s wallop- if it was me and as suggested I would call their bluff, ask for the watch to be sent immediately back, I’m sure they could ship it to their London office so you avoid the VAT? Who’s to know what they’ll make up when it’s time to pay supposedly in March.
very bad customer service. I understand that until they are sure the watch cant be returned then they wont want to pay you but it all seems strange with such a long delay. Offering to speed up payment by paying you less seems very unprofessional and an attempt to prey on those who maybe desperate for the money
Reading their reply, is it possible they're saying the buyer has delayed the purchase and now plans on picking it up on 15th March, and possibly he'll be paying then?
Not sure why the 14 day rule would still apply though, in that case?
For me it would depend on how easy the piece is to sell and how much you could sell it for versus the price chronext would pay you on 29th March. It obviously sounds pretty rubbish service but I guess you need to take a good look at your options as it stands at this point in time...wait 5 weeks for payment versus the wait to get the watch back (including any potential customs issues) and then selling it by other means. Also thrown into that mix is the chance the buyer pulls out before collecting or exercises his 14-day return.
They will have to declare a customs value but you shou;d be abe to recover the VAT as it is your property and was not permanently exported. Given they have chipped 1500 I guess it is quite expensive so I would check the exact process with HMRC before going down this route but you should not have to pay any VAT on a temporary export and your personal property.
Thanks, I just got this reply regarding the mid March pick-up situation. "Because the customer cannot collect the watch before 15th of March and he made a deposit in advance as discussed with our colleague from the sales team" (which means the watch is not technically sold, but off the market indefinitely)
I would of course not wait until then to entertain them (and possibly be told that the buyer had pulled out or need more time or something.)
Therefore I've asked them to either honour the commission sale payout now (I guess they will need to ask the buyer to pay in full), or return the watch to me.
Will post updates here.
Thanks again guys for the comments
I would be weighing up the time to complete the sale, and the amount it is selling for. Presumably you want to sell. If you get the watch back, you are back to square one.
Chronext are notoriously slow. I’ve had this with purchases as well, and said I’d never use them if I wanted the deal to be quick, with good comms, but they have always delivered as agreed, in time.
As stated above, don’t let emotions get on the way of your preferred outcome.
It's just a matter of time...
This - Unless you think you aren't going to get your money or if you urgently need it, I can't see the benefit in undoing things. Your experience might make you think twice before using them again, but if you get what you feel is a good price in March, that will be a result?
I think you’ll end up with more trouble if you ask for the watch back. I’d try to get the payout now on the basis chronext took it upon themselves to agree this massive delay between sale and collection or, if that fails, wait to see if they honour the dates they have stated. If they don’t, then go nuclear.
In any case, don't forget things like TrustPilot, Reviews.io, etc.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
My honest thoughts are that you're making the completely wrong move here.
They are selling on a commission basis with a 14 day return window. Until the customer picks it up, the return window doesn't begin. So of course they can't pay you yet.
I get your frustration with the lack of transparency, but now you have the facts and frankly it makes sense.
If you undo this you're losing your sale in mid-March for what? The opportunity to sell it again yourself? The potential of a headache on import?
It just makes no sense to me to undo this now. If you're doing it on principle, I hate to break it to you but Chronext isn't going to give a flying hoot, you're only putting yourself out of pocket.
If a seller picks it up from the store they shouldn’t even get the two weeks.
They're ordering online and picking it up from a showroom, which is effectively click-and-collect in current circumstances I imagine. So I don't see why they wouldn't get the same 14 day return guarantee that's advertised all over Chronext.
Folk seem to be looking for a reason to be outraged. They've sold the watch and got the OP his price, this is good news. He has to wait a bit for it, but if he was in a rush presumably this wouldn't have been his chosen method for selling it.
It's plausible.
It's equally plausible the watch may otherwise remain unsold beyond mid-March, sitting on the Chronext website. That's the nature of selling on commission. Equally it could be sitting back with the OP, right where it started.
The buyer has placed a deposit and secured a mid-March date, we don't know their reasons. OP sent the watch mid-Dec. Pulling out now feels like shooting himself in the foot on the final hurdle.
I'm at risk of sounding like a Chronext spokesperson... I'm not! I just think the OP has to look out for his own interest here, as opposed to making an emotional decision.
It’s a British return so insist that the import entry is entered under CPC 6123F01. So long as you still have the AWB / tracking number from your outbound courier to declare on the return you should be fine.
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Imagine you're on the other side of that proposed arrangement... does that seem like a fair way to treat the customer?
The customer has made the order remotely, paid remotely (presumable in full before collection), and Chronext are sticking by their 14 day guarantee. No issue there.
The bit Chronext got wrong was the listing details which OP had them fix and clearly their sales process lacked clarity.
Last edited by M1011; 17th February 2021 at 19:28.
If someone is picking it up a store why should you receive an automatic return policy? Just because you didn’t like it they could possibly just return it for a full refund, If the goods are faulty then fair enough. Chrononext are selling it and I presume have fully inspected it, in the event of something going wrong with they would have to rectify it.
What Chronext have done wrong is taking a deposit and not giving the OP a choice- Commission sales can sometimes be difficult but in this case the only person at risk so to speak is the OP.
Last edited by Rob153; 17th February 2021 at 19:36.
Should’ve sold it here.
Seriously though, good luck getting sorted and don’t use them again if you don’t like it
Think if ordered online still have 14 days but if not the case could still be Chrononext policy.
Personally, I’d wait until March, not too long in the scheme of things. We don’t know where buyer is coming from, maybe not even Germany and travel inconvenient at the moment:
The cancellation regs will still apply to click and collect if purchased online.
Last edited by Berty234; 17th February 2021 at 20:40.
Thanks - I have to admit my most recent reply to them was somewhat affected by emotions, but it was still very respectful (no strong language whatsoever, I just explained my position and asked for either the full payout soonish or a return). Either way, I doubt they would proceed with the return after that email as it would cost them too. Will update here accordingly.
To be honest if this April payout is confirmed (just to clarify, March 29th is the earliest date they can 'start' processing the payment, which takes 1-2 weeks as they claim), I'd be somewhat okay with it. But the lack of transparency so far makes me think that it's more likely that some other 'accidents' would happen.
Imagine if they tell me the buyer needs another month or two before being able to pick up the watch, I would be in the exact same situation as I am now.
Thanks for the heads up on their practices. Can I ask did they describe this arrangement for deferred payments in the commission sales agreement?
As above, I would also be saying please return my watch.
Yes if ordered online it’s 14 days, worse still if they are not notified in therms of the sale about their right to cancel, then they can cancel and receive a refund anytime within the first 12 Months. It’s all about how it’s been sold, if they do take a holding deposit, refund then charge again it at the time of pick up it changes the type of sale- I’m not saying it’s right but as a business it stops the people just changing their minds etc....
Just chipping in - for online sales you have 14days to notify you wish to return goods (in unused / unaltered condition) then another 14d to return from that date - so possible 28days maximum.
OP: 29 March is not too far away now if you can hang on for payment to be made? Then you can make your comments known through the usual channels.
Strange thing is Chronext offer free insured shipping so I wonder why the customer has not bought for 1 and 1/2 months after deposit. If I were you I would call them up for an explanation.
Last edited by MartynJC (UK); 17th February 2021 at 20:34.
Shoot me if Im wrong but isn’t this a good reason to sell on here eg SC ?
Chronext are jokers, I sent them my tag heuer a couple of years ago and had a nightmare also. Chipped me on price on the pristine watch, then when I accepted the hit, it took me multiple emails of harassing them for payment until I ordered the watch back instantly. As soon as I asked for the watch sending back the money was in my account.
Jokers !
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Watchfinder may pull your pants down but at least it’s over with quickly. Chronext are completely rotten.
Very interesting reading. I have considered Chronext but certainly won’t be now. I hope it all works out well for you OP.
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I’m with this approach, not easy but let it run its course. Have you read the current state of goods coming into the uk? I’ve been waiting for an item with UPS that is “held up due to Brexit related disruption” and has been for 4 weeks. You could find yourself getting it sent back and not actually get it back until after the reported settlement date.
Chronext are the worst. I sold my explorer toy then a few years back and had to threaten them with the police and legal proceedings before I eventually got my money. Hope everything ends well in your case
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Good that their behaviour is being highlighted on here, I will certainly never use them after reading these horror stories.
OP. Thank you for posting this on here. It’s recommendations and reviews like this that help others out. I just hope all gets sorted for you and quickly. Let’s hope Chronext lose a few customers on the back of this thread - bad behaviour on their part.
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Last edited by Stonewood; 18th February 2021 at 10:26.