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Risk of posting a watch…
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Davidt
·I’m in the UK and for international shipping I use DHL express. However above say £8-10k I’d be looking at alternate options. If you’re moving a £35k watch from the UK to Germany, 1) I’d be doing bank transfer only. No escrow, whatever the hell that is. 2) Between those countries I’d be flying and either asking the buyer to collect from you or flying out to drop it off and make a weekend out of it.
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gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorI am seeing several suggestions here that our UK seller travel to Germany for an in-person transaction. That sounds like a good idea, but unless the seller declares the watch at German customs (as the UK is no longer part of the EU), then seller would be at least technically responsible for customs costs and in violation if not paid.
If the buyer wants the watch that badly, then they need to get on a plane to the UK. Dealing with customs should be buyer’s issue, no different than if the watch were shipped.
If it were me, I’d drop the price to cover the plane ticket, with all other costs on the buyer.
gatorcpa
If the buyer wants the watch that badly, then they need to get on a plane to the UK. Dealing with customs should be buyer’s issue, no different than if the watch were shipped.
If it were me, I’d drop the price to cover the plane ticket, with all other costs on the buyer.
gatorcpa
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Evitzee
·It appears the OP has a committed buyer at his asking price on C24, so he needs to play by C24's rules, and that means Escrow. Buyer pays into C24 escrow, seller gets the watch in buyer's hands, escrow is released to seller. Seller's amount is reduced by the agreed upon C24 fee. Since this is a private sale there is no requirement that the seller entertain any return. Sale is final. How the buyer receives the watch is negotiable. Have the buyer pay into escrow and have him come to the UK to inspect and accept the watch is completely as described. He confirms to C24 that watch is in his hands before he leaves, and have him sign document confirming acceptance. Take pics! Escrow released. Buyer returns to Germany and deals with Custom import issue at his discretion. £35k is not chicken feed, but many watches are sold on C24 for far more money.
Edited:
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stamplicker
·Never sold to a gray dealer, but with all the fees from C24 and customs complications, couldn't you just go down to London shops and end up in the same ballpark money wise?
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STANDY
·Isn’t it like a £\€200 mid week return flight.
For that amount of coin I would be face to face only.
For that amount of coin I would be face to face only.
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Felix_La_PuBelle
··A lot of room for comedy in there, gang.Isn’t it like a £\€200 mid week return flight.
For that amount of coin I would be face to face only.
I was wondering this. Past a certain price point, the plane tickets must be cheaper than the transactional costs (and worry) of escrow, shipping, etc.
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Japanred
·Thanks all. Might well have been a scam as I’ve not heard from him since offering to do a face to face deal.
He offered full asking price (who does that?) without asking any questions about the watch (who does that too?).
He offered full asking price (who does that?) without asking any questions about the watch (who does that too?).
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Annapolis
·Yeah probably a scam—or at best a very nervous buyer (himself wary that the face to face suggestion was some kind of scam), who’d be more trouble than it’d be worth.
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rfortson
·I had a friend here sweating a Rolex for $10k (probably more) that got held up in shipping. It was a US transaction (NJ to GA, I believe). Everything eventually worked out but he was kicking himself for not just hopping on a plane and doing the deal face to face. Once you go above some TBD threshold, it seems like that's the best option.
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zimonyig
·Definitely in person, especially given the UK-EU shipping aspect. A return flight ticket is a negligible cost compared to the price—a safe meeting spot can be arranged at any airport. If he isn't willing to do that, it's better to steer clear.
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biaesch
·My apologies that it did not turn out working, but probably better. At this value, certainly an interesting experience. Where would you set the threshold for only personal face to face transactions?
I think the international border component certainly added complexity and uncertainity. I have done 5k+ deals within the US using ebay or C24 escrow without any issues, but maybe I was just lucky...
I think the international border component certainly added complexity and uncertainity. I have done 5k+ deals within the US using ebay or C24 escrow without any issues, but maybe I was just lucky...
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rfortson
·My apologies that it did not turn out working, but probably better. At this value, certainly an interesting experience. Where would you set the threshold for only personal face to face transactions?
I think the international border component certainly added complexity and uncertainity. I have done 5k+ deals within the US using ebay or C24 escrow without any issues, but maybe I was just lucky...
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Annapolis
·A lot of variables. If it’s someone I know or have some solid reason to trust, I might not have a limit. And, at any rate, for anything over a couple grand I’d insist on a wire transfer anyway, so there’s not as much risk. If I’m dealing with an established online dealer (like EuropeanWatch or DavidSW), then there’s no limit.
I’d say I won’t use eBay (and the like) for anything over about 5k. That has as much to do with the fees as with anything else.
On the buyer side I would probably never buy a watch over a couple grand that I hadn’t had a chance to inspect in person, unless it’s from a well known online retailer with a return policy.
I’d say I won’t use eBay (and the like) for anything over about 5k. That has as much to do with the fees as with anything else.
On the buyer side I would probably never buy a watch over a couple grand that I hadn’t had a chance to inspect in person, unless it’s from a well known online retailer with a return policy.
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.The highest value I’ve ever transacted overseas was $11k. Italy to US. The difference is that I trusted the seller, an OF member, we had done many such transactions prior. He is strict on payment, paperwork and proper insured shipping via courier. I would never trust a total stranger. This case set off alarms as soon as I read it. Risks are low if you know and trust your counterpart. OF is the best place to buy and sell.
I had one sale to a guy in California who wanted PayPal. I made him pay the commission and I would not proceed until he signed a “contact” under which he would not play games. EG Keep the watch and demand his money back. He signed it and the transaction was fine.
I had one sale to a guy in California who wanted PayPal. I made him pay the commission and I would not proceed until he signed a “contact” under which he would not play games. EG Keep the watch and demand his money back. He signed it and the transaction was fine.
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tikkathree
·For me I would wait for a situation I'm comfortable with. If you're having to ask these questions in my opinion it's not worth continuing. Just wait for someone in the UK or sell it some other way. That's a lot of money.
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MTROIS
·Thanks all. Might well have been a scam as I’ve not heard from him since offering to do a face to face deal.
He offered full asking price (who does that?) without asking any questions about the watch (who does that too?).
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