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New Polerouter on Hodinkee

bub838
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Foo2rama Foo2rama
Hoodinkee is anything but shady. The 2 or 3 times they have been caught in an error, they have responded quickly and updated the listing. It is impossible for them to have expert level knowledge of everything out there.
.

Yet, it's Hodinkee. They have the largest reach of ANY site out there and carry enormous amounts of influence. They have the power to literally move the market price for pieces. They absolutely should be held to the highest standard and expert level knowledge should be expected with their resources.

The internet (reddit, WUS, here) have been extremely quick to point out errors in listings such as:
Omega Speedy debacle
Rolex 16753 listed as a 16750
This Polerouter
and I was browsing WUS earlier where the Movado listing they just put up was getting hammered.

That's just off the top of my head. I'm probably missing some.
Maybe shady is the wrong word, but for the prices they're charging and they resources they have... I guess I was expecting more.
 
Diabolik
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Completely agree with Darlinboy. Once you release your Dollars, Pounds or Euros, it is a job to get them back so best to do your homework before hand. Whether it is Hodinkee or St. Francis, best to check and double check and if there is slither of doubt, treble check ! I like to do my homework, it is part and parcel of our addiction. Too risky when we are talking of thousands and now it does look like tens of thousands ...

Takes nothing and it is free to ask. There are plenty of very knowledgeable people out there ready to help and never forget that good old saying ....
"if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is!" 馃榾
 
Drawarms
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you guys are so savage, poor louis. 馃檮

We all know none of us are buying watches from hodinkee. lmfao.

Their target market is their readers who have zero time to do what we do. They are offering a service to that market, which I think is great.

Are some watches they sell overpriced? sure. However, I can think of several other vintage watch dealers that charge much more of a markup.
 
Tony C.
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Drawarms Drawarms
Are some watches they sell overpriced? sure. However, I can think of several other vintage watch dealers that charge much more of a markup.

I think that most of the critics, myself included, have little beef with prices. It is the misrepresentations that rub us the wrong way.
 
Drawarms
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Tony C. Tony C.
I think that most of the critics, myself included, have little beef with prices. It is the misrepresentations that rub us the wrong way.

I agree actually on that point, but its tough for anyone.
Edited:
 
Darlinboy
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If you find that misrepresentations in the watch marketplace rub you the wrong way...

keep a fire extinguisher close at hand...

because the heat generated by that much friction is sure to set you afire. 馃槣
 
Tony C.
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Darlinboy Darlinboy
If you find that misrepresentations in the watch marketplace rub you the wrong way...

keep a fire extinguisher close at hand...

because the heat generated by that much friction is sure to set you afire. 馃槣

Perhaps you misunderstood. I don't necessarily find misrepresentations "in the watch marketplace" to be irritating; only when they appear at high-profile dealers.
 
bill5959
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Seriously, Hodinkee is taking advantage of their market power to sell watches. They should be held accountable. Shamelessly promoting every new reedition of watches that don't hold vintage value, etc. gains them access to all aspects of the watch world---not to mention tax deductible travel to car events and other sweet deals. Ben has built himself a nice lifestyle in this bubble we are in. I'll happily pay for curated watches I can trust but that is rarified air these days. Like all things "collectible" wear protection and be capable of absorbing the downside. I think this was a rant, so I feel better and the Grey Goose is excellent.
 
dsio
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Calm down a bit, when you're bagging Hodinkee because you feel jealous over the tax deductible status of their transport to events it starts to make the rest of your statement look rather bitter and mean spirited.

Hodinkee got big as a result of being very good at what they do, now that they are big they're a lightning rod for criticism as people love to be able to catch them in a gotcha type moment.

They aren't always right but they've been very good in the past with corrections and checking after the fact which in the watch journalism world makes them the exception rather than the rule.

Having met Ben and knowing the type of genuine watch nerd he is, I don't really like the personal attacks people make on him either as he's a really good bloke and is incredibly friendly and warm to watch collectors and not at all pretentious or a snob. People don't realise this but the watch he'd probably keep if he had to part with all the others is his Speedmaster MK40, which was from his grandfather and started his whole interest in watches. He does what he loves, and I respect people for that as I try to do the same.
 
bill5959
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I am calm. I don't see a personal attack because he is Hodinkee. I am still waiting to hear about the famous crown. And yes they are better representatives of Internet journalism than most. But going against the grain is not mean spirited it is free speech.
 
Slevin kelevra
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I for one think Ben and the other owners (if there are any) need to have a rethink about who is running the Watches part of the Shop.

I am a massive Hodinkee fan but surely the whole point of a Hodinkee shop is so that buyers can have 200% confidence in the watches they sell. Otherwise they may as well just take their chances on Ebay etc.

The " we are human, mistakes happen " argument works maybe one or twice. Not five or six times. Trust etc will very quickly fade away which is a huge shame.
 
Slevin kelevra
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I also remember that in an early ish Hodinkee Video on Youtube Ben openly admitted he wasn't the expert on everything but he wasn't afraid to go an seek out the experts and get their input. I respected him hugely for that. Unfortunately it seems that isn't happening for the watches being sold in the shop.
 
shoota70
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Tony C. Tony C.
Hey Louis,

I've pointed out twice that the crown is, contrary to your claim, not original, and yet you've failed to respond.

Why is that?

(*crickets*)

Regards,

Tony C.

Crickets still chirping
 
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