Selling a watch...

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I'm just going to say that distrust breeds distrust. If you approach this sale with the attitude that the buyer is going to rip you off, the buyer will almost certainly sense your lack of trust and reciprocate. Personally, having read this thread, I would probably not be interested in buying from you at this point, especially since you are selling a watch that is available from other sellers. Dealing with a distrustful seller is just a pain in the neck, and not worth the trouble IMO, unless the item is so unique and special that there is no other option. Keep in mind, given your lack of feedback and selling history, frankly there is no reason for a buyer to trust you, while a buyer on this forum may have significant history and feedback. Try to keep things in perspective and see the situation from both sides. If you can't empathize with the other person, it will be difficult for you to make a sale.
I think you’ve read too much into it I merely gave the reasons why I won’t use eBay and PayPal. The distrust is of PayPal not necessarily people who use PayPal. I didn’t say I don’t trust anyone. You’ve wrongly inferred that. I sell all my cars privately and this includes several Porsche’s and BMW’s over £40k. I wouldn’t do this if I had no trust in anyone I’d just let a dealer take them off my hands.
 
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So your letting it go at RRP 😗
Does it make me a flipper if I sell at market value rather than RRP?

If I decided to sell my A13 snoopy 45th anniversary would I be a flipper if I sold it for more than £4,500 or whatever RRP was?
 
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It doesn't matter, it's his property and he can sell it for whatever price he wants.
That’s exactly my point.
Don’t hate the player...

If you look at other industries it is no different and even worse.
Good luck buying the new Ford GT at sticker price, or any other super car for that matter.
 
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I think you’ve read too much into it I merely gave the reasons why I won’t use eBay and PayPal. The distrust is of PayPal not necessarily people who use PayPal. I didn’t say I don’t trust anyone. You’ve wrongly inferred that. I sell all my cars privately and this includes several Porsche’s and BMW’s over £40k. I wouldn’t do this if I had no trust in anyone I’d just let a dealer take them off my hands.

Just a thought, but maybe it would be helpful to go back to what you wrote and see if you can understand why I "read too much into it". I am just going by what I have read in this thread, it's virtually all I know about you. I am giving you honest and candid feedback from my subjective perspective as an OF member. And if I read something into your comments, other readers may also have taken away a similar message. You can just tell me that I'm wrong, or you can try to understand why I interpreted your statements the way I did.

In particular, after the fact, you state that your distrust is of PayPal, not the buyer, but if you trust the buyer, then the fact that PayPal doesn't provide seller protection is irrelevant. If you trust the buyer, then why wouldn't you let him pay however he chooses. So when you state that you're not keen on using PayPal, you are implicitly saying that you don't trust buyers. That's how it looks from where I sit as a potential buyer. If a seller says that he won't take PayPal because they don't provide seller protection, he is basically saying he doesn't trust me. And that's fine, if that's the message you want to send.

Regarding face-to-face sales of vehicles, that's a completely different scenario, and based on what I've read in this thread, I would guess that you found a way to do the transaction where you felt financially protected. The situation we're talking about here is much more nuanced. GLWS. 👍
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I can't tell if you're being serious and how much it actually bothers you that he bought two and is now selling one...
Isn't it his right to do so? I mean, i get where you are coming from and am aware of what similar behavior drives the prices on certain watches by X2 or more sometimes but it's not like he's a flipper (unless he is and even then - what can you do).
I know he was in doubt whether he would even get one, the posts of another member reselling not one but two which he and I frowned upon and disclosing in this thread he had 2 were the reason I called him out. His additional explanation how he got 2 and now wants to sell one due to circumstances is fine by me.
THIS is how it’s done Stuffler. Pay attention. Well done rominvicta, very honourable of you.
 
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I am just going by what I have read in this thread, it's virtually all I know about you. I am giving you honest and candid feedback from my subjective perspective as an OF member.

I think that the @Japanred should just ask for bank transfer and if that puts some people off, then there is always another buyer. There is probably always another seller too if people are uncomfortable. Of course, you may not get the best price but you play one aspect off against the other. I always ask for bank transfer.

I also think that @Dan S has a good point that most of us don't know much about you so we judge you on the posts you've made like this one. Don't be unhappy if you hear that some people might be nervous about dealing with you.

Good luck with your sale. Nice watch as well.

Cheers, Chris
 
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I’m not going to comment on the trust debate, but if I may, my 2 cents regarding a safe spot for the transaction:

As far as I know, most European countries have state parliaments or local parliament buildings that are in principle open to the public, to ensure democratic processes (meetings of congressional committees etc) are transparent. To get access is free, but you usually have to register online or via e-mail, a check for weapons etc is common. You are then in a building that is secured, there’s usually police present/security everywhere and a coffee bar somewhere, where you can sit down and do the transaction in a quiet, safe and professional atmosphere. Running away with the watch is basically impossible as there’s a check-out process and your potential buyer would be registered with his name and address.

Most people aren’t actually aware that those buildings are accessible for the public, I just happen to know since I work in one. I’m not saying I’m selling all my watches there, quite the contrary, but I had two buyers in recent years who were very anxious about the meeting point and ended up being extremely happy with the solution. It’s just an idea.

Whatever way you choose: Good luck with the sale!
 
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Well, we have Leeds Town Hall and Leeds Civic Hall
Both grand old administrative buildings but unfortunately, neither are open to public meetings for watch exchanges.
 
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I think that the @Japanred should just ask for bank transfer and if that puts some people off, then there is always another buyer. There is probably always another seller too if people are uncomfortable. Of course, you may not get the best price but you play one aspect off against the other. I always ask for bank transfer.

I also think that @Dan S has a good point that most of us don't know much about you so we judge you on the posts you've made like this one. Don't be unhappy if you hear that some people might be nervous about dealing with you.

Good luck with your sale. Nice watch as well.

Cheers, Chris

I’m no expert but I think even bank transfers can have some risk. I learned this when I had an amazing artist in Slovenia do a painting of one of my cars about 12 years ago.

I went down to my bank to do the international wire transfer to his account in Slovenia and my banker advised me not to do it off of my main bank account. He set up a separate “staging account” as a firewall and we transferred the money from there. I’ve had that extra bank account ever since.

Not sure exactly what the risk is, but you do provide your bank routing number and account number to do a wire transfer.
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I’m no expert but I think even bank transfers can have some risk. I learned this when I had an amazing artist in Slovenia do a painting of one of my cars about 12 years ago.

I went down to my bank to do the international wire transfer to his account in Slovenia and my banker advised me not to do it off of my main bank account. He set up a separate “staging account” as a firewall and we transferred the money from there. I’ve had that extra bank account ever since.

Not sure exactly what the risk is, but you do provide your bank routing number and account number to do a wire transfer.
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I am not sure what the risk is either but I have been advised to create a staging account as well. BUT, I have also been advised that it is 100% safe for the receiver of money as the account number only allow deposits and not withdrawals. If you use checks/cheques at all, your bank account/routing number is written on the bottom of each for all to see. So again, not sure what the risk is but I have experienced the same as you.
 
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@RonJ-in-VA and @Scarecrow Boat - I've not heard of this staging account idea but if your bankers are recommending it, then it must have value.

If you're receiving money, I believe there is zero risk as I can't see how anyone could take money from my account after it has cleared. As noted, my account details are on cheques and every invoice I send out from my business so, those details are easily obtainable.

I've sent sums similar to the amount the OP is asking to established members on here direct from my bank so, it appears in Spain and UK, they don't have that staging account concern. Always worth being careful, though and it may be that my bank managers just have a different view.

Cheers, Chris
 
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The idea of a "staging" account is just the concept of not putting all your eggs in one basket. As a general principle if you keep the bulk of your money at one bank and more so, in a single account the magnitude of the loss is greater if the account is ever compromised.

I have my business banking details on every invoice, how else would I get paid (I hate cheques)? As part of risk mitigation I keep the bulk of the business funds in various online only money market accounts. These cannot be used for transactions other than internal movement executed via online applications. So the main current account only holds enough money for operations.

The risk of sharing your account details in well regulated countries is minimal, practically zero. Your bank account is much more likely to be compromised in other ways. In more questionable countries, especially those deemed as high risk third countries by the European Commission it may be more so.
 
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So @Japanred, what ever happened to the ad, haven't seen it show up yet. Hope the naysayers and nannies didn't scare you off.
 
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Doesn't seem like too high an asking price at £9,950.
That translates to $12,557.50 in USD at the current exchange rate.

Especially since the 50th Anniversary watch he is selling is still in the brand-new-watch packaging.
 
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Yes, that is an interesting comparison.
Asking price is $2300 lower (at $10,200 USD), also BNIB, and it is from a seller (Demollo) with lots of positive reviews.

Both sellers are in Europe, so I assume there is some Customs Duty for a U.S. buyer, true?

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There would for sure be customs duty to the US (anything over $800 has duties). This difference is Demollo advertises that he will cover those fees if the watch is sold to someone in the US.
 
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There would for sure be customs duty to the US (anything over $800 has duties). This difference is Demollo advertises that he will cover those fees if the watch is sold to someone in the US.
Not necessarily, whether you are hit by US custom duties is a hit or miss affair, they can't flag every parcel that comes in, they just don't have the manpower to do that. I received a watch from overseas in April of $4,900 value and it sailed right through with no issues. You should plan for duties but you'll often be pleasantly surprised when none are collected.
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Also, quite recently this watch actually popped up again as available to order online on the US Omega site at MSRP. It didn't stay available very long of course, but still this is a sign perhaps that selling for significantly above MSRP might be tough