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Selling Non-Running Watches on eBay as "For Repair/Parts" - Full Disclosure?

GuiltyBoomerang
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Recently I put a few watch lots on eBay. In each of them, I made clear, in either the title or description, that the watches were intended for parts or repair.

So you can imagine me, after some time, holding back my laughter when the buyer started a message thread:

1) Stating they would pay soon, which they haven't yet, thankfully

2) Asking me if any of the watches were broken or missing parts. I responded that the photos showed if visible parts were missing and/or the fact I listed the watches as a job lot would be enough for that

3) The message at the bottom of the screenshot, with my response at the top.

Screenshot_20210705-124352_eBay.jpg


Whilst I'm willing to cut some slack for someone keen, their last point is something of note. Is it necessary to say that a watch is broken or missing parts in the description, when you've already stated stated they're not running?

If anyone else has had some fun experiences with the Bay selling do share!
 
SkunkPrince
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Looks like someone for whom English is not a native language and there is not much competence.
 
DaveK
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Knowing you are likely to encounter, as @SkunkPrince notes, non-native English speakers, drunk bidders, @JwRosenthal after 10:00pm, and noobs who have never bought a watch before and are naively only wanting to see all good things, you can’t go wrong with over emphasizing the non-working status of your listings 😀
 
Archer
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GuiltyBoomerang GuiltyBoomerang
Whilst I'm willing to cut some slack for someone keen, their last point is something of note. Is it necessary to say that a watch is broken or missing parts in the description, when you've already stated stated they're not running?

I can't see your listing, so difficult to say what you did or didn't show. But I will say that "non running", "broken", and "missing parts" are not the same thing obviously.

If your listing for example doesn't show the movements in any detail, then to me this is a perfectly valid question, and not worthy of mockery, but an answer.

If I am buying a watch for parts (something I have done probably more than a hundred times) it would make sense to be sure that the parts I need are actually in the watch I'm buying.

But again without being able to see the listing, I have no idea what you actually showed.

Cheers, Al
 
sxl2004
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The more explicit and detailed you are, in multiple listing locations, the less risk of after sales problems on EBay.
 
GuiltyBoomerang
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Archer Archer
First lot doesn't appear to have any movement photos, but the other 2 do...

Indeed, I erred on the 1st one...I simply left the description as "not working and for parts or repair." Chalk one up to foresight...

Regarding the buyer, they seem to be okay to get the items after some explaining.
 
Engee
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"Spares or repair" in the title, and again in the body of the text seems to me to be standard for this situation. I also like to state that images form a part of the description and bidders should study them carefully.
If I can open the watch I will include a picture of it. If not I will state I couldn't open it.

I don't think, as someone who might not even know what is not inside a watch-case, ie missing movement parts, can be expected to do so. If a potential buyer is looking for a specific part that is not shown, then the risk is with them.
 
Archer
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GuiltyBoomerang GuiltyBoomerang
Indeed, I erred on the 1st one...I simply left the description as "not working and for parts or repair." Chalk one up to foresight...

Regarding the buyer, they seem to be okay to get the items after some explaining.

I believe you have a timing machine, so although you might not be an expert, I think you may be capable of seeing if any parts are actually missing from these watches. But if you are not confident in saying so, clear and close movement shots should be the minimum in my view.

But in the end I suppose it's whether you want a smooth sale that gets the most value out of what you are selling, or if you are okay with questions, problems, and possibly a lower final price will determine how to proceed. I would choose to add as much detail as possible, as I feel that just posting photos and saying they are part of the description is perhaps a bit of a cop out in many cases that I've seen (not saying this about you).

Cheers, Al
 
Vercingetorix
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EACD985D-4186-4989-955F-B1482C69F7D8.jpeg
Engee Engee
"Spares or repair" in the title, and again in the body of the text seems to me to be standard for this situation. I also like to state that images form a part of the description and bidders should study them carefully.
If I can open the watch I will include a picture of it. If not I will state I couldn't open it.

I don't think, as someone who might not even know what is not inside a watch-case, ie missing movement parts, can be expected to do so. If a potential buyer is looking for a specific part that is not shown, then the risk is with them.
eBay does not have a category for spares or repair in watches, only pre-owned. Anything wrong or missing and the seller gets screwed because the listing category is pre-owned not parts or repair. Ask me how I know.
 
TDBK
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Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
EACD985D-4186-4989-955F-B1482C69F7D8.jpeg

eBay does not have a category for spares or repair in watches, only pre-owned.
I don't know if they have it in all countries, but in the US they have categories for both parts and for watches for parts.
 
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Engee
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Vercingetorix Vercingetorix
EACD985D-4186-4989-955F-B1482C69F7D8.jpeg

eBay does not have a category for spares or repair in watches, only pre-owned. Anything wrong or missing and the seller gets screwed because the listing category is pre-owned not parts or repair. Ask me how I know.
There's always that risk, but there's no come back for sellers on eBay anyway. No matter how accurately you describe an item, and no matter how well your item fits into the pre-set drop-downs, if a buyer doesn't want what you've sold them they can send it back and you have no come back. Ask me how I know!

All we can do as sellers is be as transparent and honest as we can, and hope that the buyers are fair and reasonable with us. On the whole that has been my experience. If it wasn't I would stop selling on ebay.
 
Vercingetorix
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TDBK TDBK
I don't know if they have it in all countries, but in the US they have categories for both parts and for watches for parts.
It’s not watches for parts or repair it’s watch parts. Watch parts only go to pre-owned as well, so they better be useable. What I am referring to eBay calls condition, and unlike a lot of categories there is no condition of for parts or not working with watches or watch parts. Cameras yes, parts or not working and no returns for any reason from any buyer as long as your description is for parts or repair and nothing else. Watches do not have the option for parts or not working. First picture if from cameras, second from watch parts-movements and third from plain wristwatches.
0B25A94A-CA8F-45E5-8D24-09D2319EAF2C.jpeg AD649D04-DA87-4A9F-A48F-5EB620822F07.png AF707DB7-6153-4B77-9190-9E1BE826293C.png
Edited:
 
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Mafkees
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I apologize for the off-topic comment but that Doxa certainly deserves a second life. The size is fine, the case is great and the dial is amazing!
 
ghce
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All seem pretty fair listing with plenty of buyer beware warnings
 
riimar
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DaveK DaveK
Knowing you are likely to encounter, as @SkunkPrince notes, non-native English speakers, drunk bidders, @JwRosenthal after 10:00pm, and noobs who have never bought a watch before and are naively only wanting to see all good things, you can’t go wrong with over emphasizing the non-working status of your listings 😀

Talking about drunk bidding, I once ended up with a omega geneve with water damaged dial and needing a service. Never wore it in years ::facepalm1::

A lot of people never read the description I guess.
Non native english is no excuse, google translate works well enough 😀
 
Wlcutter
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FWIW, as a sort of ancillary to this: I sold a 6139-6005 which was listed as having stuck pushers, and in the listing, in bold, I said it mostly worked but for sure would need a service. The buyer opened a return request because the pushers stuck and it ran inconsistently--i.e. exactly what I'd described--and, because the return was requested due to the item not being as described, I was forced to accept the return. tl;dr: overstate when something doesn't work.
 
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