Does a trip to the service center include water resistant checks?

mmalek1 · Thurs. 4:37pm

The eBay authenticator is a terrible idea. They take perfectly good watches and ruin them.

ErichPryde · Thurs. 4:41pm

mmalek1
The eBay authenticator is a terrible idea. They take perfectly good watches and ruin them.

It helps protect the buyer more often than it creates issues like this as far as I can tell.

Goseki · Thurs. 8:40pm

ErichPryde
It helps protect the buyer more often than it creates issues like this as far as I can tell.

While I agree, I would be cautious if you're buying something new that has a proprietary mechanism. From asking local watchmakers, the response I got was only a certified master omega watchmaker would have access to the tool. Not familiar enough with other brands to know if similar things exist.

502 to right · Thurs. 8:47pm

mmalek1
The eBay authenticator is a terrible idea. They take perfectly good watches and ruin them.

I disagree 100%. I've sold about 15 watches under the program. It's not perfect but it is better for me as a private seller than other options. And it gives peace of mind to buyers that they aren't going to get an empty box or a fake watch. It also protects the seller from an unscrupulous buyer who claims they were sent a fake watch, or a damaged watch, or an empty box.

An established watch dealer doesn't need the program because people trust them to ship an authentic watch with no shenanigans. But buying from a private seller is another matter altogether.

Archer · Thurs. 8:48pm

Goseki
While I agree, I would be cautious if you're buying something new that has a proprietary mechanism. From asking local watchmakers, the response I got was only a certified master omega watchmaker would have access to the tool. Not familiar enough with other brands to know if similar things exist.

Like many case backs that have specific tools for them, those are not really required to open and close these case backs. The fact that it was misaligned alone would not account for a leak. Only if it wasn’t fully rotated into position.

You would have to know what specific problem Omega found to be sure it had anything to do at all with the work of the authenticators…

Goseki · Thurs. 10:37pm

Archer
Like many case backs that have specific tools for them, those are not really required to open and close these case backs. The fact that it was misaligned alone would not account for a leak. Only if it wasn’t fully rotated into position.

You would have to know what specific problem Omega found to be sure it had anything to do at all with the work of the authenticators…

Considering the caseback was aligned when shipped and arrived misaligned not in the 3 sealed positions you described. The only people in between were the authenticators...

padders · Fri. 4:58am

ErichPryde
It helps protect the buyer more often than it creates issues like this as far as I can tell.

It protects the seller too. Once the watch has arrived at their inspection place you are safe as the buyer can't lie and say they received and empty box or defective or fake piece. Well they can but the burden is then on eBay. I like the system and have had no issues with it, the last watch I sold below the Authenticator threshold resulted in a buyer's remorse enforced return. Had it been authenticated he would have not been able to lie his way into a return.

Archer · Fri. 8:13am

Goseki
Considering the caseback was aligned when shipped and arrived misaligned not in the 3 sealed positions you described. The only people in between were the authenticators...

Right, it's only an issue if it wasn't fully rotated, as I already stated. Being out of the correct position, but fully locked is fine.

bsowers34 · Fri. 8:19am

502 to right
I disagree 100%. I've sold about 15 watches under the program. It's not perfect but it is better for me as a private seller than other options. And it gives peace of mind to buyers that they aren't going to get an empty box or a fake watch. It also protects the seller from an unscrupulous buyer who claims they were sent a fake watch, or a damaged watch, or an empty box.

An established watch dealer doesn't need the program because people trust them to ship an authentic watch with no shenanigans. But buying from a private seller is another matter altogether.

I have bought three off of ebay in the last couple years, The authenticator was Stoll & Co. in Dayton, OH. I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing.

Goseki · Fri. 11:24am

Archer
Right, it's only an issue if it wasn't fully rotated, as I already stated. Being out of the correct position, but fully locked is fine.

Yes, it wasn't fully rotated. It was in an in between position. It was Stoll&Co.

Goseki · Fri. 11:29am

bsowers34
I have bought three off of ebay in the last couple years, The authenticator was Stoll & Co. in Dayton, OH. I'm pretty sure they know what they are doing.

Don't forget either, if Stoll&Co aren't an authorized repair center for whatever brand of watch you're buying, it could potentially void the warranty if the original brand noticed signs of outside tampering. Just throwing that out there. I don't think it's common since they are a large company, but there are several posts on eBay forums of people having to have eBay reimburse repair costs since warranty was voided.

Archer · Fri. 11:49am

Goseki
Yes, it wasn't fully rotated. It was in an in between position. It was Stoll&Co.

It's unfortunate, but a price of buying through eBay. I do believe that outside of these isolated incidents, the authentication process is a plus for both vendors and buyers.

502 to right · Fri. 3:52pm

Archer
It's unfortunate, but a price of buying through eBay. I do believe that outside of these isolated incidents, the authentication process is a plus for both vendors and buyers.

Fully agree. I can see how a buyer would be squeamish having someone remove the case back of a watch they are buying. But the alternative could be getting a fake watch. I've held super high end counterfeit watches in my hands and they can be incredibly difficult to tell they are fake. Until you remove the caseback and inspect the movement. And then it's clearly obvious when you have a fake. But if you don't remove the case back you may not know.

And I'll say this: you can bet every gray market dealer that buys a Rolex to resell is removing the case back to inspect the movement before purchasing. So if you are buying from Bob's Watches, or Swiss Watch Expo, or Watchfinder & Co., etc., you know for certain the case back was removed and reinstalled--even if the watch is still under Rolex warranty.

bsowers34 · Fri. 4:13pm

Goseki
Yes, it wasn't fully rotated. It was in an in between position. It was Stoll&Co.

Interesting, because they are Omega certified. But my watches were brand new with stickers still on them.

Goseki · Fri. 4:19pm

bsowers34
Interesting, because they are Omega certified. But my watches were brand new with stickers still on them.

That's surprising. I asked omega and they said there's no affiliation with stoll&co

bsowers34 · Fri. 4:42pm

Goseki
That's surprising. I asked omega and they said there's no affiliation with stoll&co

My local AD uses them for non-warranty repairs on Omega. I wonder why? I myself have never used their services, they go to Omega directly.

Does a trip to the service center include water resistant checks?

mmalek1

ErichPryde

Goseki

502 to right

Archer

Goseki

padders

Archer

bsowers34

Goseki

Goseki

Archer

502 to right

bsowers34

Goseki

bsowers34

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