Sleeper 321 Speedy on eBay

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Yikes. Good point. Ethics aside for a minute, what if it really does need a battery! Forcing a return could be interesting if it’s quartz powered lol.

The seller couldn't even described completely his omega speedmaster except he just stated tachymetre and the battery needed replacement, not knowing its manualwind. And there was a fraud just took advantage of the seller's seemingly ignorance and lacked of knowledge, by going through the back door. Stealthy and dishonest indeed. I hate that for not being fair to the other bidders. The story might be different if the seller had been a longtime vintage watch seller on eBay, but for sure, he wouldn't entertain a private negotiation for offer lower than fmv.
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Using the power of free will, the seller chose to end the auction process early—even though there were people who’d already placed earnest bids. To me, that doesn’t seem like very “honest” behavior by the seller.

At the end of the day, the seller was a willing participant in this—ether through ignorance or greed. As a seller of any type of goods, you have an obligation to understand what you’re selling (value, condition, capability) and be able to accurately describe the item.
I've been selling on ebay for more than 20 yrs. Over that time I've had many offers, both realistic and lowball to end auctions for a BIN. My policy has always been never to end an auction early. Even when the offer may be higher than I think the item is worth. I always state this so bidders can be confident I won't pull the rug out at the last minute. I feel it is unfair to all the people who follow what I have and may be waiting until the very end to bid. Just MHO
 
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I've been selling on ebay for more than 20 yrs. Over that time I've had many offers, both realistic and lowball to end auctions for a BIN. My policy has always been never to end an auction early. Even when the offer may be higher than I think the item is worth. I always state this so bidders can be confident I won't pull the rug out at the last minute. I feel it is unfair to all the people who follow what I have and may be waiting until the very end to bid. Just MHO

I always let my auctions run through completion and live with wherever it ends.
 
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Ha. Seller lives minutes from my house.
Perhaps I’ll invite them over for a speedmaster101 pre-k class.😁
 
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So the uneducated and "honest mistake" sellers deserve to be lowballed? I find it predatory to take advantage just to get a deal. There was an auction going on, it would likely have ended higher, but someone convinced the seller to end it 24 hours early basically by lying. That's a lot different than winning an open auction or finding a $20 Speedy at a junk sale.

Have you looked at the seller’s feedback and selling history on eBay? (In case you haven’t, click here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/sparklers4u/m.html?_trksid=p3692).
They have been selling on eBay for 15+ years and sell jewelry and old/used watches.
I am sorry, but if 15 years on eBay have only taught you that much, you only deserve to get that much. And as I said earlier; they deserve every penny they got (based on their selling history and other items, they probably bought this watch at a garage sale or estate sale for next to nothing so their efforts were rewarded). And they don’t deserve every penny they didn’t get, as obviously either laziness or sheer stupidity has prevented them from further most basic research about item they are selling. (I mean, just google “Old Omega Speedmaster Professional” for god’s sake... 🤦)

So let’s stop playing “Holier than thou” here.
No one had a gun to their head to sell it at the price they did. They were willing participants in the entire deal (keep in mind that you even told them they undersold it and they are still going ahead with the deal), and probably as far as they are concerned they are the lucky ones as they found a “sucker” to buy the non working watch that’s missing a battery that they picked up for only $20 earlier in the day...
 
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Have you looked at the seller’s feedback and selling history on eBay? (In case you haven’t, click here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/sparklers4u/m.html?_trksid=p3692).
They have been selling on eBay for 15+ years and sell jewelry and old/used watches.
I am sorry, but if 15 years on eBay have only taught you that much, you only deserve to get that much. And as I said earlier; they deserve every penny they got (based on their selling history and other items, they probably bought this watch at a garage sale or estate sale for next to nothing so their efforts were rewarded). And they don’t deserve every penny they didn’t get, as obviously either laziness or sheer stupidity has prevented them for further researching the item they are selling.

So let’s stop playing “Holier than thou” here.
No one had a gun to their head to sell it at the price they did. They were willing participants in the entire deal (keep in mind that you even told them they undersold it and they are still going ahead with the deal), and probably as far as they are concerned they are the lucky ones as they found a “sucker” to buy the non working watch that’s missing a battery that they picked up for only $20 earlier in the day...
Thing is, with that attitude, many here probably are holier than thou. Carry on spouting off mate, as far as I am concerned, your card is now marked as a chancer and amateur dealer. Unfair? Maybe but that’s how it comes across. I wonder how many will look at your next boastful post about your latest great find in a new light. I certainly will. It would be a waste of bandwidth to suggest we will never do business henceforth since being on opposite sides of the pond that was unlikely but take that as read too
 
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Thing is, with that attitude, many here probably are holier than thou. Carry on spouting off mate, as far as I am concerned, your card is now marked as a chancer and amateur dealer. Unfair? Maybe but that’s how it comes across. I wonder how many will look at your next boastful post about your latest great find in a new light. I certainly will. It would be a waste of bacwidth to sidestep we will never do business since being on opposite sides of the pond that was unlikely but take that as read too

My “Attitude” only reflects the reality of this deal.
Like it or not, If you open your eyes and look at it, you’ll find that it’s true.
If you wish to view it from your skewed point of view so be it, But the facts are the facts and frankly I don’t really care what you think about me or my dealings.
 
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What's the difference between knowingly snatching an £8k watch, for £5k ... or charging and old biddy £2000 to fix her roof, when it's only a £750 job....

You can't really sugar coat either i.m.o

There is a difference, as in this particular case, (to use your analogy) “The old lady” that was charged 2,000 to fix her 750 roof is actually a roofer herself... 😉
 
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I don’t really see why some have an issue with this Ebay auction ending early.
It’s allowable under Ebay rules ..........as long as the sale is completed through EBay and they are paid of course.
Fine for a buyer to step up and make an early agreement with a seller. Especially a seasoned seller.
Not so fine is to contact the seller post deal and offer a better price.
 
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The story might be different if the seller had been a longtime vintage watch seller on eBay
They are. Look at their 15+ year old feedback and selling history (jewelry & watches. Hello??)
 
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This seller clearly isn't a seasoned high end watch seller. No, the shady roofer wasn't conning another roofer. Let's not pretend a wolf just bested another wolf. Ndgal, you're also not unbiased here, you flip vintage watches. Your profit margin relies on getting the lowest price upfront, which is fine. This wasn't a terrible deal for the seller, it certainly was more than $20, and they do seem happy.
For the record, I never offered a dime to the seller after the auction closed.
 
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They are. Look at their 15+ year old feedback and selling history (jewelry & watches. Hello??)

How many speedmaster 321 he sold?
 
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This seller clearly isn't a seasoned high end watch seller. No, the shady roofer wasn't conning another roofer. Let's not pretend a wolf just bested another wolf. Ndgal, you're also not unbiased here, you flip vintage watches. Your profit margin relies on getting the lowest price upfront, which is fine. This wasn't a terrible deal for the seller, it certainly was more than $20, and they do seem happy.
For the record, I never offered a dime to the seller after the auction closed.

They might not be “Vintage Watch Experts”, but I think you are missing my point. They are experienced eBay sellers (15+ years), they must know that the internet and google exist. and they do sell items that are in that field (jewelry & watches). And trust me, people who do what they do (pickers, garage/estate sale buyers) are out there every day just looking and hoping for that “Big payday” unearthed find... Therefore, they are (or should be) completely qualified, or at the very least experienced enough to know what they are doing.
I mean, I am sure that they actually bought this watch somewhere based on their selling history. I don’t know how much they paid, but if they had zero knowledge about it, how could they have known that they weren’t overpaying even at the price they themselves bought it for? Even if it was $100! So they surely know something.

And yes, if you want to use the old lady/roof analogy it is exactly as I have written previously.
In this particular case, your “Old lady” is a roofer herself.

So again, either laziness or stupidity kept them from maximizing on their risk/investment. It only could be either one of these two options. There is a not third here. (And since you actually educated them after the fact and they are still going ahead with the deal my vote is for option B...).
 
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To be honest, we never know that the auction would end higher than 5k5 being offered to seller. Seller is happy with it so no problem there. After the auction got to 3k I dont think seller wasnt even doing some research before ending the auction, so all is fine.
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Plenty of eBay listings from novice vintage watch Ebayers asking outrageous prices for watches with multiple issues.
I’ve gotten tired of messaging sellers and politely informing them of major issues with their listings.
It’s a free market place. Some ask too much. Some should have asked for more.
 
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OK, I disagree, but let's move on. We all have to live with ourselves at the end of the day.
 
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the problem was the bid was on going and suddenly someone was sneaking to change the rules in the middle, when from the beginning it was not a bin item.
 
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To be honest, we never know that the auction will end higher than 5k5 being offered to seller. Seller is happy with it so no problem there. After the auction got to 3k I dont think seller wasnt even doing some research before ending the auction, so all is fine.
True.
 
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Do any of you ever go to flea markets/car boot sales/garage sales/similar events?
And while scanning the offers and seeing something interesting, do you tell the seller that his or her asking price is way too low if that is the case?
Or do you pick it up and just pay the asking price and feel good that you didn't haggle?

If you always tell the seller that the price is too low and that you'll pay market, fine, criticize.
If not, .....

I know, its a hypothetical question, because mostly nowadays the prices asked at those events seem - in my eyes - to be very ambitious.