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  1. t268 May 24, 2019

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    Hi all,

    I recently bought a vintage Deville and while I love it, the thin lugs are a little dainty for my liking. As such, I think it’s gonna move on. I’m more active on WUS than I am here. I put it up for trade and a guy hit me up with a trade for a modern Seamaster 212.30.41.20.01.003. He had a trade ad up as well. I told him that the values weren’t equivalent, and I didn’t have cash to add. I said unless he is in love with my watch and doesn’t care about the money, we probably can’t do anything. He wrote back that he indeed is in love with it and he has the blue variant, so he’s ok with the money piece.

    Most things that are too good to be true usually are. He only has 9 posts on WUS, doesn’t have a forum presence elsewhere. All fishy.

    I was frank and I said that I’m wary of scammers in this scenario. I asked him if he’s in CONUS, and could we talk on the phone. He said he’s local to me and runs a watch repair shop in my town. I googled it and it seems as though there’s a shop by that name with a few google reviews that seem positive. Face to face certainly could be a good thing. Then again, I might just get robbed in person. Most of this seems sketchy. The local thing is potentially promising.


    I’ve attached pics from his trade ad. Please look and let me know if it is legit. Feel free to suggest other screening questions.

    Thanks for your help OF!

    -Drew
     
    DF23931B-35E8-4187-A4AA-BB9A03762808.png 804D0856-20F3-46C6-86A5-176AE45F8B34.png 3D5792F9-0B1C-4BE6-A48D-A40A57F01265.png D940AD89-25D8-49BE-A457-6D7B05F36D48.png 409A6F9B-D94F-4BA6-BCD8-384EE414B6AF.png E555A371-DE5B-4F3A-8E33-EC11C0DC56E3.png 9C2C3AC0-A2E6-4E8E-AFB5-EBEB107C28BF.png AA1D8C06-A469-468A-AFA5-A80177E8BA20.png 54E4FA80-3691-4AD3-868B-E4734EB1F07D.png 813B106F-55CA-4A74-BA2B-F92507AEC8B8.png CD5249D7-75F5-4207-9557-8F82E7D552CE.png
  2. gee_cee May 24, 2019

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    Sorry to state the obvious, but if he's got a shop IN YOUR TOWN why the heck not just pop in there anonymously to suss him out & see if it's the same guy you've been communicating with??!
     
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  3. Meme-Dweller May 24, 2019

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    Google the shop and call the number. Claiming he owns a shop is a grandiose claim that can easily be debunked, versus meeting up at a random place.
     
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  4. boraxman May 24, 2019

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    Meet or have him send his watch first.
     
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  5. t268 May 24, 2019

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    It's a good common sense suggestion. He says that he is only there by appointment only. He claims it was his dad's shop, who recently passed away. Says he's taking it over and isn't always there. Possibly legit, possibly someone waiting for a date and time to rob me. I called this morning, and it went right to voicemail. Might be legit since it's early. I think I'll drive by the shop today and see if they are there. If they're there and/or the story doesn't check out, that'll tell me what I need to know. Thanks for everyone's input.

    Another thing that falls under possibly legit/possibly fishy is that his trade ad went up a day after mine.
     
  6. t268 May 24, 2019

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    Sorry all for the redundant thread. I'm gonna keep this going on the general forum. Thanks so much for everyone's input.
     
  7. Donn Chambers May 24, 2019

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    As others have said, if he claims to own a shop in your town, then this is pretty easy to verify and meeting him there to exchange watches would seem safe to me.

    I’m curious what your DeVille looks like. Can you post a picture? Is it original without a repainted dial? Could be that’s why he wants it. I agree that seems like a one-sided trade (with you getting the best deal), but if he IS a used dealer, he might have bought it for a lower price than you think, or gotten it in trade and doesn’t have a lot of money tied up in it. Perhaps he just really wants the vintage DeVille?
     
  8. Donn Chambers May 24, 2019

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    A local watchmaker/seller in my town as the same practice — he maintains a shop in small strip mall and has a tepid online presence. He works via appointment only, but will generally call you back within a few days to arrange a meet.

    I would drive by the shop and make sure it exists, though. Then if you arrange a meet, make sure he actually unlocks the shop to prove he owns it.
     
  9. 77deluxe May 24, 2019

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    Make an appointment at the shop and go meet him there. He might have more good stuff for sale.
     
  10. BenBagbag May 24, 2019

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    I would drop by un-announced. It's a storefront. If someone's faking his ID then he'll be waiting for you in the parking lot... :cautious:
     
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  11. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. May 24, 2019

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    Many towns now have a safe commerce site at their Police stations. This is also an alternative.....
     
  12. rahul718 May 24, 2019

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    Not sure how relevant this is to the thread but the first picture says it was serviced at Joe's Watch Shop. There's an Omega reseller on the forums called "Exelonman" who sells tons of Seamasters and he seems to always have them serviced at Joe's Watch Shop before putting them up for sale. He also includes that service ticket as well in his listings. This makes me think that this seller purchased from Exelonman and is now reselling it. No harm in that, but that might mean he's a forum member. If you have any doubts I would contact Exelonman and see if he indeed sold the watch to him and if so, it's probably all ok. You might not get a reply, but it's worth asking.
     
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  13. t268 May 24, 2019

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    Thank you everyone. I haven't had much reason to post on OF up until recently since I haven't had much other than more affordable pieces. I want to express my heartfelt thanks for everyone's great help. I'd be happy to post a pic as Donn requested. I'm on a desktop at the moment, and once I get where my cell has reception, I'll post up.
     
  14. t268 May 24, 2019

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    Also an excellent suggestion!
     
  15. Archer Omega Qualified Watchmaker May 24, 2019

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    Having serviced a few watches that were bought from this seller, after having a "fresh service" I'm not sure I would be very reassured if this is the case. Also other issues with that seller...watches with mixed parts being sold as different watches than they actually are...
     
  16. FlyingSnoopy May 24, 2019

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    As others have already said, make an appointment in his shop....
    Cheers
     
  17. Bimmerman77 May 24, 2019

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    Very good info Al. Thanks for letting us know Bc I’ve almost bought from him before. Not now
     
    jccjr likes this.
  18. t268 May 24, 2019

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    It’s official. Scammer.
     
  19. boraxman May 24, 2019

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    So whats the latest? New info?
     
  20. t268 May 24, 2019

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    I’ve been in contact with WUS’s mod and he confirmed the pattern. He shared with me that he was, in fact, shipping from my home town based on complaints of people that have been burned. I have half a mind to go to the address and kick him in the nuts. Of course it’s probably the wrong address and I’d be kicking an innocent set of nuts.
     
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