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Evitzee
·So when a 1957 Submariner comes with a fake bezel ebay would authenticate it because the part is no longer available? Again what is the point if they aren’t 100% accurate.
eBay Authenticity Guaranteed Experience
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ConElPueblo
·There is no real point to it, imo. It's a fig leaf to give the veneer that some 'expert' has gone over it and pronounced it authentic. No one should expect this process to replace your own due diligence if you are thinking of buying.
...and we know this. Those who would benefit from the service do not 🙁
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mathewsc95
·I don't understand, what exactly are you asking eBay to do? What issue are you asking to be resolved with respect to their guarantee? Are you asking them to change their judgement and say that the watch is not authentic?
BTW, eBay is not charging anything for this.
I was under the impression this would be on the sellers end, but my mistake. I want them to resolve the following:
1 - the authenticity card must have the correct serial no. That should go without saying.
2 - Reassure me that a process that allows for an incorrect/useless authentication card is really something i can trust. For enthusiasts who have spent years learning about and buying these watches, this service might be useless, but it does fill a niche for those less experienced. Maybe such people shouldn’t buying used luxury watches on eBay but that’s a different conversation.
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STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collectorSo we see the case back sticker. Do we know if the case back was removed ?.
If so was a new seal used.
Is the watch pressure tested if a diver if case back is opened.
Several questions I would like answered.
But truthfully I doubt I would ever use or need the service.
If so was a new seal used.
Is the watch pressure tested if a diver if case back is opened.
Several questions I would like answered.
But truthfully I doubt I would ever use or need the service.
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High Hope
·Congratulations on what looks to be a beautiful Speedy!
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerAgain what is the point if they aren’t 100% accurate.
Other than the typo, the information provided was accurate.
Remember this is not a “completeness” guarantee, but an “authenticity” guarantee. This isn’t a replacement for the buyer actually looking at the listing to see what is or is not included. It’s not going to tell you if the bracelet isn’t there, because that’s obvious in the listing. It’s not going to tell you that the boxes, paperwork, or hang tags are missing. If the bracelet is there, it won’t tell you if it has all the links. That’s up to your due diligence as the buyer to determine.
This is meant to ensure that was was listed is what you get, and that you don’t end up with a Chinese fake or a rock in the box.
Imposing a collectors view of what you would want in a service like this, is somewhat misunderstanding what this is for. It’s not for a hardcore collector who is going to be concerned that the crown isn’t period correct, it’s for the casual buyer who doesn’t want to get ripped off getting a fake.
People love to crap on eBay here, and yes a good amount of that is justified. But from what I have seen on other forums, buyers are mostly happy to have some confidence that they won’t get completely ripped off.
Cheers, Al
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eelpie
·This morning I received an email from eBay, informing me there was a new listing for a Kawaguchi model TAG Heuer. The auction carried an authenticity guarantee from eBay, probably based on the word of the seller.
The dial claims it's a Calibre 36, which is automatic. The seller says their jeweler had replaced the battery and the watch checked out okay. The limited edition number was 1996/2000.
Well, you obviously don't change a battery on an automatic and the limited edition number is the same on every fake. In addition, the only TAG Heuer model with the name of Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi on it is a TAG Heuer 2000 Quartz.
I reported it and it was gone in about ten minutes.
I don't know if the seller has an awful jeweler, or if the seller was spinning a tale about the authenticity in order to make a sale, but the eBay authenticity guarantee for this watch didn't mean spit.
The dial claims it's a Calibre 36, which is automatic. The seller says their jeweler had replaced the battery and the watch checked out okay. The limited edition number was 1996/2000.
Well, you obviously don't change a battery on an automatic and the limited edition number is the same on every fake. In addition, the only TAG Heuer model with the name of Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi on it is a TAG Heuer 2000 Quartz.
I reported it and it was gone in about ten minutes.
I don't know if the seller has an awful jeweler, or if the seller was spinning a tale about the authenticity in order to make a sale, but the eBay authenticity guarantee for this watch didn't mean spit.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI don't know if the seller has an awful jeweler, or if the seller was spinning a tale about the authenticity in order to make a sale, but the eBay authenticity guarantee for this watch didn't mean spit.
You do realize that it doesn’t get authenticated until it’s sold, right?
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eelpie
·You do realize that it doesn’t get authenticated until it’s sold, right?
Yeah, and I'm not all that reassured. What are the qualifications of the person doing the authenticating? Will they crack the back or will they take the word of the seller and his/her jeweler that the watch is legit?
If the seller has truly been told the watch is okay by the jeweler, you'd then have a situation between the seller and the person doing the authenticating. How long would the buyer's money be held up?
I am not crazy about third parties opening any watch I've sold, especially if they're anonymous.
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JwRosenthal
·The opening of the watch is my problem here as @STANDY mentioned. Sure it's an inconvenience having to wait a few more days for a new toy to arrive- I have no problem with eBay opening the box and verifying that the contents match the description (and not a rock). But opening a watch can nullify a warranty if a wax seal is used. My biggest concern in that the rear seal can be crimped if hastily handled (in the mad rush to get 400 watches inspected by EOB on Friday), hence a dry pressure test like @Archer has illustrated several times- which I doubt they are doing.
If I bought a freshly factory serviced Submariner from a dealer on eBay and the inspector didn't apply the rear seal properly, and the watch leaked- who would be liable? How would you prove who was liable?
If I bought a freshly factory serviced Submariner from a dealer on eBay and the inspector didn't apply the rear seal properly, and the watch leaked- who would be liable? How would you prove who was liable?
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerYeah, and I'm not all that reassured. What are the qualifications of the person doing the authenticating? Will they crack the back or will they take the word of the seller and his/her jeweler that the watch is legit?
If the seller has truly been told the watch is okay by the jeweler, you'd then have a situation between the seller and the person doing the authenticating. How long would the buyer's money be held up?
I am not crazy about third parties opening any watch I've sold, especially if they're anonymous.
Have you actually read what this process involves?
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Vercingetorix
··Spam RiskMy definition of authentic seems to be a bit more strict than the definition ebay is using. According to ebay both these are authentic.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerMy definition of authentic seems to be a bit more strict than the definition ebay is using. According to ebay both these are authentic.
Neither are a watch, so I think you are okay mate...personally, I'm not a buyer for either.
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pdxleaf
·Unfortunately most people, sellers and buyers both, won't have read the process, which will lead to a lot of misunderstandings.
True, but Ebay wasn't terribly specific about the details.
After reading the initial heads up of the coming program, I also called them. Other than telling me they planned to use a respected national company, they had no additional information.
It appears that they don't open the caseback. It is a legitimate question as we know how good the fakes are getting. But Ebay did not not say what they intended. It appears from the current description of services that they simply perform an external review to compare against the seller's description.
All comments aside regarding the usefulness or need for this service (the intent is laudable in my humble opinion), if I were paying for such a service I would not buy it based on their cursory description of their process.
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Dan S
·It appears that they don't open the caseback.
Is that what they told you? In the description of the process, they specifically mention verifying the movement. See the video linked on this page, specifically at 1:35 into the video.
https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/new...e-us-with-new-service-authenticity-guarantee/
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pdxleaf
·Is that what they told you?
No, no one I spoke with could tell me. I tried several phone calls, was transferred, placed on hold, spoke to managers and generally treated like the pion i am.
Thanks for the video. While they mention inspecting the movement, the example watch has a clear caseback. It is not clear (to me) what they do if the case back isn't a see-thru.
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Dan S
·No, no one I spoke with could tell me. I tried several phone calls, was transferred, placed on hold, spoke to managers and generally treated like the pion i am.
Thanks for the video. While they mention inspecting the movement, the example watch has a clear caseback. It is not clear (to me) what they do if the case back isn't a see-thru.
That's true, but they explicitly mention checking the movement as part of the multipoint inspection, so I would be surprised if that is only for watches with a display back. I suspect that they are deliberately trying to be vague because they expect that the process is going to be a moving target. They have already changed the part about cleaning the watch.
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pdxleaf
·I suspect that they are deliberately trying to be vague because they expect that the process is going to be a moving target.
I think so too.
I know it's a complicated process and want to believe their intentions are good. I have been involved with rolling out new programs and systems at work. It's not easy and there will always be something missed, no matter how much testing and planning and communication with stakeholders is done. It's easy for me to sit at home and criticize them, I know. Maybe they hit the mark for 90% of their customers. But the program was intended for 2K plus watches and so-called luxury brands. They should have anticipated that their audience would be concerned about the specifics, as these are detail oriented people. There is room for improvement.
