The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi all,

i can buy a Chrono Colt from a new member here with non references at all at any site, would you do it???

Or can you give me some advise how to deal with this? Should he send the watch first before i pay?

Regards Raymond147.

Depends on a lot of factors. Firstly I'd want lots of high quality pictures of the watch, including something with todays date or a specific word of your choosing in the frame to prove ownership. Then I'd want a landline number to actually speak to the person. If you were being particularly careful you could ask for a scan of a utlities bill showing name and address. It might also be worth asking if they have an eBay that you can check the feedback on.

Then if that all looked OK and I decided to go ahead, I'd INSIST on paying by Paypal only, AND I'd pay (via Paypal) using my credit card. That should give you double protection in terms of Paypal's protection and your credit card company.

Obviously this still won't guarantee the deal 100%, but it minimises your risk of financial loss as much as possible. But ultimately, if it still feels wrong then I'd walk away.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thanks Driver8...

Will think about these things, but is it not better to let him send the watch to me before i pay? I have a couple references that he can check...
The seller lives in New York he says but wants to send it from Italy were he is on holiday because of the taxes...

I have no creditcard so i cannot pay in that way...

Thanks for the reply driver8!

Well you can certainly ask him, but don't be too surprised if he tells you to **** off!

If he was to go along with it, then it's absolutely great for you as you'd have zero risk, but he will have ZERO protection in the event that you decided not to pay.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

slight wiff but your call.

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

At one time or another we all started out with no references. Ask for lots of photos of all different angles and paperwork.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

I would also ask if they have an Ebay acct, I am sure most of us on here have one. Once they say they do search for there feedback ,and then try and send them a question through Ebay to make sure they receive it

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One Watch At A Time.

the man called it of!!!!! saying that he sold it to a good friend of him, very strange... i asked to much questions i think.

thanks for all the reply's guys!

hopefully next time better for me.

Its probably for the better. If somebody has no references, no ebay account, and hasnt even been a member on any particular site for any measurable amount of time, run, dont walk away. No deal is good enough to lose your money on. Very rarely does a watch come up for sale that is so rare that you wont see another one up in the near future. Sometimes you just need to pay a little bit more money to have the peace of mind that you are making a safe purchase.

We all started out at zero, but we all also built the reputations that we have. For some of us, we bought a lot of things to get a clean track record. Other people sell inexpensive items that people dont have to stress out about when buying from them. Some make local deals in person. If you are selling a multi thousand dollar item to a stranger, you need to be prepared to prove your worth unless you get somebody willing to take a big risk.

And the best advice is what D8 gave you about your gut feeling. If its off, walk away and dont look back. Ive had deals that seemed fine on paper, but still left me with a bad feeling (as both a buyer and a seller) that I had to walk away from. Your gut feeling is the best weapon youve got against getting scammed.

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-RJ

First, it's impossible to ask too many questions. I just completed a sale of my Skyracer with a guy who had never spent that kind of money in an online deal. He asked plenty of questions - mostly the ones he should have. Asked for additional pics - a bit of a pain for me, but so what?? In the end he was able to transfer the funds with confidence and get a knee dropping watch the next day. If I want someone to shell out 4 figures I damn well be ready to communicate. Any seller hesitancy is reason to WALK away.

Second, it is difficult to make a sale without references. There are a bunch of guys, as mfserge can and soon Otto will be able to attest, that entirely missed out. In the end all a seller can do is be straight up. If a guy with no references wants to get pissy about providing info, let him take the f&*%ing watch to a pawn shop.

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SHARKMAN

thanks sharkman and rjrjrjrj,

really helpfull information for the next time!

most items on this site are from the usa and i am from the netherlands so i will always ask a lot of questions if i want to buy a expensive watch because i dont live next door...

again thanks for the reply's

My general rules:

1. If you can't afford to loose the entire amount then don't buy it

2. If the price is really low then there is something wrong

3. Speak to the seller on the phone

4. Pictures, post and ask here about authenticity

6. No funny stories. If there is doubt, there is no doubt.

7. Refer to rule 1 then pull the trigger

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This is a Rochefoucauld, the thinnest water-resistant watch in the world. Singularly unique, sculptured in design,hand-crafted in Switzerland.
In Philadelphia it's worth Fifty bucks.

Nice set of rules!!

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

definitly!!!!