Private sales...member comments.

wristpirate · Jul 22, 2019

Observer
My favorite member comments are the "I can't believe this is still here, it's such a bargain!" while their wallet remains firmly in their pocket.
If it's such a good deal...

I often feel I see deals which surprise me are still hanging around. Doesn't mean I want to buy all of them. If I was on Forbes Rich List that could be a different story.

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Observer
My favorite member comments are the "I can't believe this is still here, it's such a bargain!" while their wallet remains firmly in their pocket.
If it's such a good deal...

Sometimes I feel some sort of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" thing going on. It's normal fora dynamics.

Foo2rama · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
Sometimes I feel some sort of "you scratch my back, I scratch yours" thing going on. It's normal fora dynamics.

I’ve never seen that happen. Note the number of likes those comments get from other people that feel the same. If it was quid pro quo you would not see the likes.

gostang9 · Jul 22, 2019

Observer
My favorite member comments are the "I can't believe this is still here, it's such a bargain!" while their wallet remains firmly in their pocket.
If it's such a good deal...

I personally appreciate these comments from respected long term members. Especially when several such comments are posted in a thread.

Case 1: Majority of the time a great watch at a good price sells very quickly.

Case 2: Majority of the time a watch that lingers unsold is either not great or the price is too high.

Case 3: A slim minority of watches are actually great for the price they’re being offered at and for some reason a buyer just hasn’t been there right away. The comment you reference is a signal to the forum that a FS post is case 3 and not case 2.

jhross98 · Jul 22, 2019

Foo2rama
Often because similar pieces exist in their collection. Or they know the watch and it’s prices but for various reasons doesn’t work for them.

I know I’ve made that comment a few times, for what I’ve felt was an incredibly fair price on a great example of a watch that for various reasons I didn’t feel the need to add to my collection.

I've made this type of comment several times. I think without exception every single time its because I owned the same watch already and wouldn't buy a second example.

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Foo2rama
I’ve never seen that happen. Note the number of likes those comments get from other people that feel the same. If it was quid pro quo you would not see the likes.

Yeah I might be wrong. Not that a quid pro quo would necessarily be a bad thing anyway, it isn't if it is sincere.

But I find those comments unnecessary. They don't adress an objective quality of the watch but something so very subjective as someone's opinion on whether it's "cheap" or "expensive" enough to buy it. If a watch doesn't sell, then it's out of price for the given market at that time regardless of what one might think.

Archer · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
If a watch doesn't sell, then it's out of price for the given market at that time regardless of what one might think.

Or the right person simply has not come along yet. I've seen this sort of comment made many times, and have taken them at face value that the watch in question is priced well. Why didn't a I buy it? I don't buy things simply because they are priced well - I have to want the item in question and quite honestly most times I don't want it even if it's a "great deal."

I think you are reading a lot more into this then there really is...

Dan S · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
If a watch doesn't sell, then it's out of price for the given market at that time regardless of what one might think.

OF is a relatively small community, so there isn't a buyer here for every watch at fair market value. If you watch the Private Sales section carefully, you will see that well-priced Speedmasters, Constellations, etc., sell quickly, but other brands, especially obscure ones, will sometimes linger, even if collectible and priced correctly. I have listed several watches here that did not attract interest, but then sold elsewhere at the same asking price.

jhross98 · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
Yeah I might be wrong. Not that a quid pro quo would necessarily be a bad thing anyway, it isn't if it is sincere.

But I find those comments unnecessary. They don't adress an objective quality of the watch but something so very subjective as someone's opinion on whether it's "cheap" or "expensive" enough to buy it. If a watch doesn't sell, then it's out of price for the given market at that time regardless of what one might think.

sorry i don't agree with that. sometimes this isn't a great forum to sell certain types of watches and sometimes its a slow time of year. the watch i commented on today is a very good Gallet multichron asking a very good price. all one has to do is look at various dealers who are asking much more for worse examples. . . the market for gallet multichrons hasn't crashed in the last 6 weeks that i'm sure of . .the right buyer just isn't necessarily on OF right now

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Dan S
OF is a relatively small community, so there isn't a buyer here for every watch at fair market value.

Yep.

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Archer
Or the right person simply has not come along yet. I've seen this sort of comment made many times, and have taken them at face value that the watch in question is priced well. Why didn't a I buy it? I don't buy things simply because they are priced well - I have to want the item in question and quite honestly most times I don't want it even if it's a "great deal."

And that's exactly the reason why that incredibly priced watch is "still here": people who read the listing don't want it, and that includes those who comment how surprised they are.

As @dan02 noted above, a "great deal" Speedy or Connie disappears in minutes, no need to remain how well priced it is. The rest I guess they need a little bit of friendly marketing, that's OK.

Archer · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
And that's exactly the reason why that incredibly priced watch is "still here": people who read the listing don't want it, and that includes those who comment how surprised they are.

So just to clarify, are you saying that it's still related to price as you did above? Do you not believe that something can be priced very well, and yet sit for a while?

Foo2rama · Jul 22, 2019

@Rochete there are some watches I am very familiar with and I’ll make the comment only under 3 provisions. It’s below market, it’s a great example, it’s a trusted seller.

Example. I’ve made that comment on a few Seikos but I’m waiting for one in a certain date range ( it’s easy to date seiko).

If my comment backed by my reputation pushes a buyer over it’s a win win for the buyer and seller. Seller makes a sale, buyer gets a good deal on a good watch. I see it as putting my reputation at risk when I do it.

No different then posting something here from eBay with a recommendation.

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Archer
So just to clarify, are you saying that it's still related to price as you did above? Do you not believe that something can be priced very well, and yet sit for a while?

Price is one factor. If no one wants the watch, it isn't selling... until someone gets to want it. On this forum, I believe price would be the main, if not only, factor for a nice Omega not selling. With other brands situation is different.

Archer · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
Price is one factor. If no one wants the watch, it isn't selling... until someone gets to want it. On this forum, I believe price would be the main, if not only, factor for a nice Omega not selling. With other brands situation is different.

So how quickly does something have to sell for it to be priced correctly in your view? A day...week...an hour?

Rochete · Jul 22, 2019

Archer
So how quickly does something have to sell for it to be priced correctly in your view? A day...week...an hour?

From my observations, here a nice Omega will be sold in a reasonable time if it is "correctly" priced.

Archer · Jul 22, 2019

Rochete
From my observations, here a nice Omega will be sold in a reasonable time if it is "correctly" priced.

Okay, but my question was what do you consider reasonable?

Japanred · Jul 23, 2019

Observer
My favorite member comments are the "I can't believe this is still here, it's such a bargain!" while their wallet remains firmly in their pocket.
If it's such a good deal...

I think the McLaren 540 is a bargain at its current price point. The 12C even more so. Doesn’t mean I’m going to buy one.....

Japanred · Jul 23, 2019

Archer
Okay, but my question was what do you consider reasonable?

Surely everyone’s interpretation of this will be different?

Rochete · Jul 23, 2019

Archer
Okay, but my question was what do you consider reasonable?

There isn't one reasonable time, that would be an unknown variable depending on several parameters for each case. Unfortunately I haven't sistematized my observations enough as to put that into numbers and make a scientific paper on reasonable selling times, nor do I think that would be useful or relevant in any way. At some point you see a watch bumped several times and think "wow this nice watch still here!" or "wow that was fast!". Seller will have his own idea of what a reasonable time is before reducing or withdrawing.

Private sales...member comments.

wristpirate

Rochete

Foo2rama

gostang9

jhross98

Rochete

Archer

Dan S

jhross98

Rochete

Rochete

Archer

Foo2rama

Rochete

Archer

Rochete

Archer

Japanred

Japanred

Rochete

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