OMG I need to rant (watch related) bloody eBay authenticators

kaplan · May 13, 2023

BSUdude
It is pretty easy to buy the seller on eBay. I give eBay sellers the same healthy skepticism as sellers elsewhere on the internet. Feedback, length of membership, location, and other context clues can give you a pretty solid idea if the seller is legit or questionable. Plus you can engage in a dialogue with them to judge their communication as well.

You don't need to buy the sellers on eBay though, sellers need to buy buyers

Buyers can just make any claim they want and get their money back with a very high chance and keep the item, this is all on top of 20%+ in fees, I've heard that some sellers don't pay fees somehow, other than that, sellers are suckers

I forgot the members name but he had eBay solved, apart from adding at least 30% on the actual value of the item, you need to provide them a blocked credit card so when something like this happens they can't charge you back, and it happens like 20% of the time

eBay is still the best platform though, there are some old school part sellers that hang in there, and the random rare watch seller who is unaware of what a big mistake he's doing 🙁

Tom Dick · May 15, 2023

Well chaps, by way of closure

Ebay honoured the issue with the buyer of my Seamaster and refunded the fees and the extra box I had to buy him after they realised they made a mistake.

Sadly no such luck with the PO, they made every excuse under the sun and wouldn't budge unless I sent it back to them and then they sent it back to the seller for a full refund. The seller and I agreed whilst neither was at fault, and in fact Ebay where partially liable as they sent it to me damaged, that by the time we got anywhere with them we would be old and grey (er). So will split the cost of a service between us and I have drawn a line under it.

What this episode has taught me though is to firstly be far more cautious with Ebay and their 'authenticator' programme in the UK and secondly to probably move back to selling the few bits I do now sell one the forums and places like that, a lot less hassle from like minded people! I does also miff me a bit that whilst Stoll are no doubt the big dogs in the US, that they're set up here isn't quite the same, in fact its bobbins.

Before I shipped it off to STS for a service on Saturday I checked the watch over! Their 'rigorous inspection process' not only resulted in the watch arriving to me 'sans' crown but I also noticed that the red paint seal on the case back was totally unbroken (I check with a 25X loupe) so their thorough inspection by trained experts hadn't even involved removing the case back to check the movement! Awesome!

fiberguy · May 15, 2023

Tom Dick
but I also noticed that the red paint seal on the case back was totally unbroken (I check with a 25X loupe) so their thorough inspection by trained experts hadn't even involved removing the case back to check the movement! Awesome!

I believe I read somewhere, that they do not remove the case back on any watch they "authenticate"

Archer · May 15, 2023

Tom Dick
Before I shipped it off to STS for a service on Saturday I checked the watch over! Their 'rigorous inspection process' not only resulted in the watch arriving to me 'sans' crown but I also noticed that the red paint seal on the case back was totally unbroken (I check with a 25X loupe) so their thorough inspection by trained experts hadn't even involved removing the case back to check the movement! Awesome!

If that's the case, this watch was pretty much due for a service anyway (which will include a crown in the base service price). The red and blue dots were discontinued way back in 2015...so the watch is at least 8 years old if not more. If the seller is splitting the cost with you, you are coming out of this in very good shape I would say...👍

Tom Dick · May 15, 2023

Thanks Archer

I would tend to agree

iamvr · May 24, 2023

iamvr
I bought a watch on eBay from a US seller on April 18th, and it has been stuck at their distribution center in Glendale Heights IL since April 21st with the status "Your item is being inspected". I couldn't file an inquiry until the expected delivery date May 10th (what a lead time to start with!) was missed. The eBay customer relationship rep's response (translated from German using DeepL) was:

"I have details of Omega Seamaster - Vintage 1958 - Honeycomb / Waffle, Two Tone Dial - Original and the decision has been made in your favor.

Due to the high value of the order, the decision must be confirmed by the team of experts.

Within the next few weeks we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you very much in advance for the reliable handling of your eBay transactions.

I wish you a nice weekend."

After reading this thread, I'm anxious what this "team of experts" are going to do to the watch 🤦. Plus the response implies that nobody has moved a finger for three weeks until I inquired about the whereabouts of the watch. And it will take another "few weeks".

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread, but I wanted to give an update on my case. After more than a month since purchasing the watch, eBay came back and said, they won't be able to ship the watch internationally without providing a reason and I'll be getting a full refund. I immediately reached out to the seller telling him, I'd purchase it again and provide a US address once he receives it back. He replied that he also got a vague message from eBay stating that he won't have to pay the refund, eBay is doing it on his behalf. No clue what's happened or will happen to the watch. The seller assumes that eBay lost it altogether 🙁. Makes me sad, I was really looking forward to this watch. I also feel sorry for the seller.

OMG I need to rant (watch related) bloody eBay authenticators

kaplan

Tom Dick

fiberguy

Archer

Tom Dick

iamvr

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