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I find it amusing when dealers don’t respond to purchase inquiries…

M'Bob
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I won’t name names to be courteous, but I’ve noticed numerous times in recent years, I’ve filled out watch-purchase inquiry forms on the sites of well-known dealers, and I never get a response. Some I’ve tried multiple times, using different email addresses. In all cases, I’ve found something similar elsewhere that was either equally, or more satisfying. Further, I would not, out of principle, buy something from them going forward. Other folks, like Paul Duggan, Matt Bain, Bernard Watch, respond within hours. Don’t know how one survives with a business model where a potential customer is not expediently dealt with. Anyone else have a similar experience?
 
gbesq
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I generally find that most Japanese dealers are very quick to respond to inquiries. I’d also give a thumbs up to James Kibble at Kibble Watches in the UK - nice guy, very honest and always responds quickly to inquiries.
 
Dan S
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I think that some of those websites are just placeholders for the dealer to have a web presence. There's one very well known dealer, extremely active on IG, who hasn't updated his website in years. They probably sell mainly to people they already know and maybe through IG contacts. See if you get a fast response via IG.
 
Mark020
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Interesting discussion. I have run into this multiple times as well. Think the answer may be that they don’t want customers which know too much
Edited:
 
calalum
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Dan S Dan S
I think that some of those websites are just placeholders for the dealer to have a web presence. There's one very well known dealer, extremely active on IG, who hasn't updated his website in years. They probably sell mainly to people they already know and maybe through IG contacts. See if you get a fast response via IG.

Very true. When I was kind of a newb I was looking for a vintage Zenith Cairelli and had no idea what the market price was. I came across a dealer offering via a web search and reached out to the dealer. He responded that the ad was old and casually mentioned that the market price was by then 2x what his ad suggested. Obviously, he could have marked the watch sold or if he still had it he could have updated the asking price.
 
Tony C.
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While this narrow tangent is obviously of interest to watch collectors, don't get me started on the obviously far broader issue of "customer service".

Over the past ~15 years I have "fired" many companies on the basis of terrible customer service, and almost always tell them that I will not only no longer use their services, but will also go out of my way to discourage others from doing so.

Conversely, I tend to be very loyal to companies with good (or better) customer service, and frequently remind them, so that they don't become complacent.
 
TheGreekPhysique
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M'Bob M'Bob
I won’t name names to be courteous, but I’ve noticed numerous times in recent years, I’ve filled out watch-purchase inquiry forms on the sites of well-known dealers, and I never get a response. Some I’ve tried multiple times, using different email addresses. In all cases, I’ve found something similar elsewhere that was either equally, or more satisfying. Further, I would not, out of principle, buy something from them going forward. Other folks, like Paul Duggan, Matt Bain, Bernard Watch, respond within hours. Don’t know how one survives with a business model where a potential customer is not expediently dealt with. Anyone else have a similar experience?

I think it also depends on the platform that you are using to inquire. You would think that using a chat function on their own site or inquiry tab would be best but often times that gets lost as email notification. You might have better luck messaging someone on their socials if they have that option.
 
M'Bob
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TheGreekPhysique TheGreekPhysique
I think it also depends on the platform that you are using to inquire. You would think that using a chat function on their own site or inquiry tab would be best but often times that gets lost as email notification. You might have better luck messaging someone on their socials if they have that option.

You make an excellent point. But, since this is a hobby, if making an inquiry to them via the vehicle they propose doesn’t work, I’m just going to look elsewhere.
 
Pastorbottle
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The stupidity of people knows no limits.
Nothing unusual about that
I had a next door neighbour who wanted to sell his Ford F100 truck, he advertised it for sale, and the next day pawned his phone, then wondered why he didn’t get any replies to his ad! No bastard could call him, could they!
I ended up buying it off him for about an eighth of what he advertised it for…… he thought it strange that he had no other offers
What a world class imbecile!
Edited:
 
reverbtime
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Yep, know what you mean. I tend to stick to dealers that are watch collectors first.

However, my best purchases have been via eBay or the forums, Watchrecon, etc. Will probably stick to that.
 
Tayne
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I made an enquiry via chrono24 to a dealer, they took 4 days to respond during which they posted several other ads on chrono24.
The response was to tell me that the watch was sold but could he contact me if he got another one in?
I didn’t bother to reply to him.
 
Davidt
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I asked a question on two watches I was genuinely considering buying last week from a well respected dealer. Still haven’t heard back, even though they replied to my initial inquiry. Perhaps they didn’t want the hassle of shipping to the UK from the US but it’s very poor practice imo. I’ll never contact them again, nor recommend them and there are times I’m in the US so shipping wouldn’t be an issue.

I cannot fathom how some people think it’s not worth several minutes a day to rely to all DMs, regardless of likelihood of an immediate sale. All contact with potential customers has the potential to influence networking and future sales. Blows my mind.
 
Fallout Boy
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Sorry Italy :whipped: : 50% of my friendly contacts (pro´s!!) - ZERO points and often zero response.
samesame at leboncoin here in Southern France.
I don t expect too much "service" anymore.
 
Fallout Boy
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This week: nothing happened. ( Friendly asked in English, sorry, next time in German)
c24italy.jpg


cavenezze.it : what went wrong with you in your life? 😁
 
Mark020
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Fallout Boy Fallout Boy
leboncoin
Funny institute anyway. I had it installed on my phone but could not update it after a while. When I contacted them they said: 'only for France'
 
Fallout Boy
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IMHO you need a FRENCH telephone-number to register and then you can use the mailing-system of LBC. Leboncoin is OK, if yo like old (french) cars or furniture; or to buy houses 😉
 
BlackTalon
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Davidt Davidt
I cannot fathom how some people think it’s not worth several minutes a day to rely to all DMs, regardless of likelihood of an immediate sale. All contact with potential customers has the potential to influence networking and future sales. Blows my mind.
Maybe it's due to their past experiences? They likely know where their time/ effort is best spent.
 
Mark020
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Fallout Boy Fallout Boy
IMHO you need a FRENCH telephone-number to register and then you can use the mailing-system of LBC. Leboncoin is OK, if yo like old (french) cars or furniture; or to buy houses 😉
Well I had it working…
 
Faz
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M'Bob M'Bob
Further, I would not, out of principle, buy something from them going forward.
👍 I’ve had many similar unexplainable experiences. How weird it is when you have cash in hand and you’re facing a dealer that’s not interested in your money?!?😵‍💫
 
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