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MTROIS
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Engee Engee
Guys, I feel you're being a bit tough on the OP. He's trying to start a business and make a living. Give him a break on that.

He's being transparent: he's here to learn. I see no reason why this shouldn't be a place for him to learn, amongst other sources. Just because he wants to use his learning to get his career moving, does that make him less welcome than anyone else? There are many traders and dealers here. As long as he participates in the community with the right spirit I can't see a problem and it's too early to say that he's just here to take and not give.

He's made it clear that he's at least a year a way from trading so the accusation of post-farming is a little unfair. Furthermore, he said he is looking to buy low and sell at retail. I think that means he knows he's unlikely to sell within this forum, but he may be able to buy, because it seems to me that prices here are sometimes much lower for some pieces than retailers ask. Aren't all dealers flippers, and do we exclude dealers from buying from here? If a dealer thinks they can make a profit on a piece here surely that's their call, maybe they have a customer they know will pay above top dollar for a certain piece that the dealer can pick up here for "the right price". Having customers waiting, and being able to link those customers to the dealer's network of collectors who sell watches is where they rightly make their profit. Nothing wrong with that.

Many years ago I worked in recruitment. The first lesson I learned was that recruiters don't charge for the time they put into making a placement, and they don't factor into a fee all the work they do for the placements they don't make. They charge for access to their network. The key to nearly every business is to build a network and to work it well. That's all the OP is trying to do and while he may be being a little clumsy, I see nothing malevolent in him.

Time will tell, of course, if he's here to be a contributing part of this community or to just to use it.

This is a tough crowd, probably because we care about this place, but I mostly agree with your point of view.
On the other hand, I hope you will also agree that the way Hipolito introduced himself was certainly a bit awkward and, at times, tone deaf.

Hopefully he learned some valuable lessons on how to introduce himself to complete strangers, lessons that would surely serve him well in real life.
As you said, the start has been a bit rough, but if he truly sticks around, learns and eventually contributes value to this great forum, this episode will be a fun memory in hindsight.

Wishing you all a wonderful day ahead...
 
Togri v. 2.0
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This thread is getting better and better and I love the reponses from the OP. He will get to 200 posts from this thread alone with all the individual replies. I’m a fan already and intend to keep this thread going 😁

As for the upcoming inventory I personally can’t wait to see some nice Hublots bought at other forums and sold here with a mark up (or am I missing the business strategy 😕)

OP in all seriousness: if you are for real, you are probably not attracting a huge number of future costumers with this thread.

Good day sirs
Edited:
 
eugeneandresson
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I think the new ad-free fee structure should be inflated by an order of magnitude for members like this (and don't get me wrong OP, we fully appreciate the candor (but we would be able to spot the veiled intentions over time without it) and I have got nothing against you, its just these days there are more zero-knowledge-wannabee-dealers than collectors that are kinda ruining the hobby for those of us who actually love and are passionate about watches).
 
Wryfox
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Don't bash the guy, folks... He's using the ever popular 3 step business plan:

Step 1: Buy watches
Step 2: ??
Step 3: Profit!
 
STANDY
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I want to be a comedian.

AgentHipolito AgentHipolito
I came here to learn from gentlemen who are open to educating ambitious men like myself.

Can you tell me some jokes.

AgentHipolito AgentHipolito
yes sir I’m trying to gain information. I’m a student. So I have questions.

What do you call a deer with no eyes.

AgentHipolito AgentHipolito
My goal is to buy at bottom cash value or close to my target price as possible & then sell it at retail price. I study my information from some of the top watch traders in the nation. Sorry sir bare with me please.

😁😁😁
 
TimeODanaos
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MTROIS MTROIS
I hope you will also agree that the way Hipolito introduced himself was certainly a bit awkward and, at times, tone deaf.

Hopefully he learned some valuable lessons on how to introduce himself to complete strangers, lessons that would surely serve him well in real life.
I don't like pile-ons, and I do like to cut some slack, so I hear that. But I just mildly observe that the OP is 27 years old, and should be way past learning this. There's tone-deaf and then there's disrespectful. I think he was received with some good-natured humo(u)r, and the crowd only turned tough after he told Archer(!) to "do your research". That wasn't smart, whichever way you look at it. So there's a lot to learn I'd say.
Edited:
 
Archer
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Looked at the first post again...metaphorical advertising under that post:

Hipolito.png


Out of the frying pan, into the fire...

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...

😉
 
Zapatta
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Archer Archer
Out of the frying pan, into the fire...

This reminded me of Jay-Z 's lyrics:

" Fresh out the frying pan into the fire
I be the, music (watch) biz number 1 supplier"
😁😁😁
 
michael e
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All this guy had to do was post a beautiful woman in his avatar and call himself Samantha.
That way most of the posters here would have been falling over themselves to sell her a watch and give her as much information as she ever needed 😁
 
cvalue13
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michael e michael e
All this guy had to do was post a beautiful woman in his avatar and call himself Samantha.

This is the best business model advice this kid will get all goddamned year, and he didn’t even have to pay for a YouTube “class” for it

upload_2021-1-27_11-16-43.gif
 
Togri v. 2.0
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michael e michael e
All this guy had to do was post a beautiful woman in his avatar and call himself Samantha.
That way most of the posters here would have been falling over themselves to sell her a watch and give her as much information as she ever needed 😁

What do you imply here? That we only help women called Samantha? That is so discriminating! I will gladly help Lauras, Jennifers, Ericas and maybe also Paulas
 
BlackTalon
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Wryfox Wryfox
Don't bash the guy, folks... He's using the ever popular 3 step business plan:

Step 1: Buy watches
Step 2: Buy Gamestop stock
Step 3: Profit!
Fixed #2 for you...
 
CPRwatch
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Togri v. 2.0 Togri v. 2.0
What do you imply here? That we only help women called Samantha? That is so discriminating! I will gladly help Lauras, Jennifers, Ericas and maybe also Paulas

Ladies & gentlemen I feel a song coming on , Mambo No 5 .

A little bit of Erica by my side .
 
JwRosenthal
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I think if there is one lesson the OP can take away from this is the art of the soft sale.
If he joined and introduced himself as a young watch enthusiast who has a small but growing collection, has become so infatuated with watches that he would love to make it a full time career at some point- he would have garnered far more favor.

But walking into the room and saying:
I’ve been told there is big money in luxury watches, so I want you all to tell me what to look for, buy all your shit on the cheap and flip it for profit so I can get rich....yeah....kind of like a turd in a punch-bowl.
 
Observer
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
I think if there is one lesson the OP can take away from this is the art of the soft sale.
If he joined and introduced himself as a young watch enthusiast who has a small but growing collection, has become so infatuated with watches that he would love to make it a full time career at some point- he would have garnered far more favor.

But walking into the room and saying:
I’ve been told there is big money in luxury watches, so I want you all to tell me what to look for, buy all your shit on the cheap and flip it for profit so I can get rich....yeah....kind of like a turd in a punch-bowl.
Everybody has their own style, and the brash approach probably works a lot of the time in less geriatric crowds than this. The OP might consider watching some Archie Luxury videos to supplement his learning.
 
Dan S
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AgentHipolito AgentHipolito
I created an account with this forum in order to connect w/ other watch enthusiasts like yourself ...

The way we generally connect is by showing photos of our watches, so have at it. Otherwise, this thread is content-free. 🍿
 
JwRosenthal
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Observer Observer
Everybody has their own style, and the brash approach probably works a lot of the time in less geriatric crowds than this. The OP might consider watching some Archie Luxury videos to supplement his learning.

Brash would be a hard sell “I want to make this happen but need all of your help to make it happen- I need guidance and help making this a career”.
What the OP did was direct, and I applaud him for the honesty- but it was just clumsy and completely lacked finesse.
Building a business is more than just having a plan of action and financial resources- you need to have charm, the ability to read people, and the skill to know when to push and when to release. This is not just with the clientele but with your network as well. Relationships with suppliers and buyers isn’t just about the money- it’s about trust and nuanced human connection- it’s like sex. You don’t just say- hey baby, let’s fυck. But as you said- that may be a generational thing 😵‍💫
 
S.H.
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Brash would be a hard sell “I want to make this happen but need all of your help to make it happen- I need guidance and help making this a career”.
What the OP did was direct, and I applaud him for the honesty- but it was just clumsy and completely lacked finesse.
Building a business is more than just having a plan of action and financial resources- you need to have charm, the ability to read people, and the skill to know when to push and when to release. This is not just with the clientele but with your network as well. Relationships with suppliers and buyers isn’t just about the money- it’s about trust and nuanced human connection- it’s like sex. You don’t just say- hey baby, let’s fυck. But as you said- that may be a generational thing 😵‍💫

Indeed. Lacking finesse when you want to make money dealing useless shiny luxury things (that is right, most of our watches are pricey, shiny, precious only to us and not really useful) is a problem. I don't sell a watch like a roll of toilet paper.
 
pdxleaf
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
...
it’s about trust and nuanced human connection- it’s like sex. You don’t just say- hey baby, let’s fυck...

People do like to think they are special. In either case, in the end they're screwed.

I think his candor is refreshing. I can overlook the lack of polishing. It's not much different than the hundreds of threads boasting about buying low, hunting bargains at garage sales, seller didn't know what he had, snuck in the final bid, what new watch model will appreciate more, getting on waiting lists, etc...

It's not that I like his concept. It's reality that watches have become like art, sold stored and never to be seen again except when they are auctioned again. But I prefer his straight forward approach to being told he is just a pure collector looking to expand his meager collection.

Not directed at anyone. Just my opinion.

Cheers

Dave

Edit: not saying all collectors are also thinking about making a buck. Rather, not liking being told they are into watches but really just want to make a buck.
Edited:
 
Observer
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Brash would be a hard sell “I want to make this happen but need all of your help to make it happen- I need guidance and help making this a career”.
What the OP did was direct, and I applaud him for the honesty- but it was just clumsy and completely lacked finesse.
Building a business is more than just having a plan of action and financial resources- you need to have charm, the ability to read people, and the skill to know when to push and when to release. This is not just with the clientele but with your network as well. Relationships with suppliers and buyers isn’t just about the money- it’s about trust and nuanced human connection- it’s like sex. You don’t just say- hey baby, let’s fυck. But as you said- that may be a generational thing 😵‍💫
It's a numbers game and the HBLF approach allows you to present your wares to a larger audience, albeit with a lower success rate. At the end of the day, you only need one taker. I'd be tempted to give it a try, but all the bars around here are closed. Maybe after the Covid there will be pent up demand.
 
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