...effective immediately, I'm out of the private watch assessment business. I've been getting several requests per day to assess watches for originality or condition. While I really do appreciate the confidence the members here have in me, the demands of the real world are such that I can no longer provide individual assessments on proposed purchases through the OF mail system. If you need an experienced helping hand, please add other moderators to your PM conversations, or make a post in the appropriate area of the forum for all to see and comment. The latter is probably the better course of action. I'll post comments if I am able, just not on a one-on-one basis as in the past. I suggest that pictures be copied and uploaded from the sales webpage to avoid the risk of "outing" the listing to all. Sorry to do this, it's just that Omega Forums is no longer a small website. This is a testament to the efforts of Ash and Trev. Thanks to all and especially the moderator team. gatorcpa
Evan, this is totally understandable. The requests for help seem to grow exponentially. I feel this is partly from the forum's size, partly from fears cultivated by all the pitfalls out there and, I am afraid, partly from people's laziness to do their own research. We seem to have a great nucleus of talent including many newer members and I'm quite sure that they will be willing to step up. Thank you for being such a great help to so many! We look forward to your continued kindness at whatever level is appropriate. You did create your own problem by being so damn knowledgeable and friendly!
Even I have and I have no expertise whatsoever. So I just suggest they post on the open forum, which they almost never do.
Mods, set up a robot mod that randomly responds with one of: "Redial" "Fake" "Looks ok, it's all about the price" "Looks legit" "Send me the link, I want to buy it!" Then post a sticky directing inquiries to that guy. Seriously though, so a big thanks to all the mods for all their help. I have been guilty of PM'ing a mod on occasion and I really appreciate the help! That said, I know this isn't a 'real' job (as in paying) so completely understandable that you guys can't field hundreds of questions. I think the community would be better served by having most of these posted publicly.
You have no idea! Hey, where's the "overworked and underpaid" smiley? I bet most of the mods here can safely say that if they had 25¢ for each member they've helped (here and other forums) they might not have a ____________ (fill in 'car payment', 'mortgage', etc.). Some of us might even own a private island. There's a justified fear of some lurker sniping the gem you mined. Like a Magic 8 Ball, but for watches. I like it!
You'd be pretty close if you sold me that sweet 2499. Oh, stop being so melodramatic. You know you can PM me any time.
I've noticed this same problem. The requests for help are getting out of hand. And the common theme is that: 1) people have not done their own homework (and in many cases, haven't even searched the OF for past threads) and 2) people are being secretive so they don't "out" their prospective purchase. At some point the sheer quantity of requests--and follow-on, inane questions--is taking the fun out of it.
In every aspect of life there are givers and there are takers. Both are proud of who they are. Most here are givers, we have to guide the takers elsewhere.
Just have to reply with "ask in a public thread so others can also read and learn from the response" I almost always respond with that as the fact is 95% of the time the watch they may be afraid of being outed is a junk grade redialed 14K Seamaster DeVille that a dealer is selling for $2500 or a 321 Speedmaster from a 1 feedback seller in Mauritius. Having those discussions in public help other people learn and are a positive thing, while saying no to 30 redialed 50s/60s dress watches one after the other helps nobody and achieves little.
It's this part that can annoy. To my experience, any buyer who keeps asking and asking and asking questions isn't looking for a reason to buy the watch, they're straining for a reason NOT to buy it.
All the more reason to make them post in public, more peer pressure to not be a piker and buy the better watch.
