Sold a watch on eBay, buyer says a function "should not be like this"/"misleading"

Archer · Jul 5, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
Well, I did ask him at the time whether the stem could be swapped, to which he said it was a feature of the watch.

When you trim the stem for a screw down crown, there is a sweet spot that allows the crown to be fully screwed down to the case, but doesn't cause it to screw down until you apply pressure towards the case. The spring inside the crown should have to be compressed slightly to cause the threads to catch.

In addition to replacing the entire stem, if getting one is a problem (no idea with the watch in question) then a stem extender can be used, or some advocate dropping a small piece of lead inside the crown tube. When the stem is threaded into the crown it compresses the lead flat, and won't let the stem go in quite so far - in effect lengthening the stem by a smidge. Not a huge fan of this myself, as it seems like a bodge and really stems are quite cheap typically.

It sounds like he just didn't want to deal with it.

Cheers, Al

rcs914 · Jul 5, 2018

U ulackfocus
Don't know - but I'm certainly missing it too.... along with a lot of other long term members who were all wondering via PM. (and 'wondering' is the nicest way it can be said)

Yeah at $700 I'm like "That's pretty cool" and at $8500 I'm like "umm, that's more than a mid-2000s Submariner, and a hell of a lot of other cool watches". I mean you could get a mint condition first generation radium dial Zodiac Seawolf for less than 1/4 that price. IDK. I just don't see anything special with the Titus. I must be missing it.

GuiltyBoomerang · Jul 5, 2018

Archer
In addition to replacing the entire stem, if getting one is a problem (no idea with the watch in question) then a stem extender can be used, or some advocate dropping a small piece of lead inside the crown tube. When the stem is threaded into the crown it compresses the lead flat, and won't let the stem go in quite so far - in effect lengthening the stem by a smidge. Not a huge fan of this myself, as it seems like a bodge and really stems are quite cheap typically.

It sounds like he just didn't want to deal with it.

Cheers, Al

Actually Al my watchmaker did do that, then said that it would be fine since he didn't want to induce more end-shake.

I believe from now on I'll just be saying no and getting parts or approaching other watchmakers for different jobs...

@rcs914 it's more due to the fact it resembles the early Subs, so people wanting that early diver's fix would feel a Calypsomatic would hit that sweet spot of looks and (occasional) value.

abrod520 · Jul 5, 2018

I think what it comes down to is the Zodiac is what, 34mm? and the Titus is 38mm.

shishy · Jul 5, 2018

abrod520
I think what it comes down to is the Zodiac is what, 34mm? and the Titus is 38mm.

Fair, but the size difference alone doesn't account for that much of a value 😀. Never forget that social media hype! For what it's worth, those calypsomatics (gilt dial, full size, 1st to 5th gen) have been swapping hands at near that asking price privately, which is probably why it was priced as such. Not sure I agree with that valuation but yeah.

rcs914 · Jul 5, 2018

shishy
Fair, but the size difference alone doesn't account for that much of a value 😀. Never forget that social media hype! For what it's worth, those calypsomatics (gilt dial, full size, 1st to 5th gen) have been swapping hands at near that asking price privately, which is probably why it was priced as such. Not sure I agree with that valuation but yeah.

Yeah, not getting it. $8500 buys a pretty nice Seamaster 300. I mean if it were "The Titus Calypsomatics were the original watch used by Cousteau" rather than just being named after his boat, maybe then I'd understand. I guess if there are people happy to pay those prices - great for the sellers.

MikeMan2727 · Jul 5, 2018

Should've been hoarding Titusesses instead of watches I like. Oh well, live and learn!

Glad your issue got resolved though! This is why I always worry about selling watches on eBay.

ulackfocus · Jul 5, 2018

shishy
Fair, but the size difference alone doesn't account for that much of a value 😀.

Oh, contraire, my fellow Omega Forumian. Condition and case metal being equal, I can give you several examples of size making a large price difference.

The IWC Portofino was available in 34mm and 39mm size cases, and the 39 commands nearly twice the price.

Vintage Omega Centenaries came in both 33.5mm-ish and 35mm-ish cases, and the larger version fetches several hundred more (at least it used to).

Vintage IWC caliber 89 examples came in cases anywhere from 34mm to 37mm, and the larger they are the more they sell for.

Vintage Omega Seamaster 120's came in different sizes - full size, mid size, and ladies size (I forget the exact diameters). The full men's size blows away the boy's and woman's size as far as the price they hammer at in auctions and eBay listings.

rcs914
Yeah, not getting it. $8500 buys a pretty nice Seamaster 300. I mean if it were "The Titus Calypsomatics were the original watch used by Cousteau" rather than just being named after his boat, maybe then I'd understand. I guess if there are people happy to pay those prices - great for the sellers.

Are there people that crazy? 😲 😜

Now, when it comes to the Calypsomatics in question, I can't say why one exact reference has nutso pricing, or even if they actually sell near that asking amount. Is Instagram as powerful as Hodinkee for creating bubbles / demand?

shishy · Jul 5, 2018

U ulackfocus
Oh, contraire, my fellow Omega Forumian. Condition and case metal being equal, I can give you several examples of size making a large price difference.

The IWC Portofino was available in 34mm and 39mm size cases, and the 39 commands nearly twice the price.

Vintage Omega Centenaries came in both 33.5mm-ish and 35mm-ish cases, and the larger version fetches several hundred more (at least it used to).

Vintage IWC caliber 89 examples came in cases anywhere from 34mm to 37mm, and the larger they are the more they sell for.

Vintage Omega Seamaster 120's came in different sizes - full size, mid size, and ladies size (I forget the exact diameters). The full men's size blows away the boy's and woman's size as far as the price they hammer at in auctions and eBay listings.

Are there people that crazy? 😲 😜

Now, when it comes to the Calypsomatics in question, I can't say why one exact reference has nutso pricing, or even if they actually sell near that asking amount. Is Instagram as powerful as Hodinkee for creating bubbles / demand?

You're right, you can probably find cases where it's even worse than that (re: the point about size alone affecting price). Regardless, to the more interesting question:

I think Instagram hype is way more transient, in that people will be more likely to make impulse purchases/overpay just because they're so caught up in it. If your entire feed is one hashtag, and you see it getting X likes and a bunch of *heart eye emojis*, there is a chance you will get swept up in the hype and want that watch, even if it means you overpay for it. Overpaying is even more common on IG because a lot of the people you buy from aren't really selling, it's more you just trying to pull it out of their collection. If a handful of people with a ton of money to spare want something badly enough, they'll get it. But that doesn't necessarily equate to market price 😀.

Personally I think IG is great if you use it with self control, or even to chat up other collectors and talk about their collections (which I've done, and made many cool friends doing so). But that's true for pretty much all social media.

MikeMan2727 · Jul 5, 2018

That's why I don't use IG for watches...don't want to get caught up in the hype. I just stick to looking at the so called Instagram models 🥰

shishy · Jul 5, 2018

MikeMan2727
That's why I don't use IG for watches...don't want to get caught up in the hype. I just stick to looking at the so called Instagram models 🥰

But the wrist models...

EDIT: also, I swear after a while all watches look the same on IG.

MikeMan2727 · Jul 5, 2018

shishy
But the wrist models...

EDIT: also, I swear after a while all watches look the same on IG.

Wrist models tend to be too hairy for my liking haha

Dre · Jul 5, 2018

rcs914
Yeah at $700 I'm like "That's pretty cool" and at $8500 I'm like "umm, that's more than a mid-2000s Submariner, and a hell of a lot of other cool watches". I mean you could get a mint condition first generation radium dial Zodiac Seawolf for less than 1/4 that price. IDK. I just don't see anything special with the Titus. I must be missing it.

That's a nice Mk 2!

rcs914 · Jul 6, 2018

Dre
That's a nice Mk 2!

It belongs to my father in law. He purchased it from his best friend before he passed away for $500 (the guy had literal tote bins full of vintage watches). He's had it serviced but basically it is in pristine condition. The stretch bracelet links work perfectly, and there is barely a mark on the watch. It looks new.

gatorcpa · Jul 6, 2018

U ulackfocus
Condition and case metal being equal, I can give you several examples of size making a large price difference.

I'll give the forum another example. There was a large sell-off of vintage watches recently out of Quebec. @ulackfocus and I both pulled nice fishes out of the 'Bay on that one.

I bought a Universal Geneve Uni-Compax, 35mm version. There was another Uni-Compax, 37mm version, same 18K metal and same cal. 281 movement that sold for the exact same money (within $25). That 2nd watch watch was advertised as non-running and had questionable hands (lumed on a non-lumed dail). Otherwise, the cosmetic condition of both watches were similar.

I figure that a service and new hands would have to run at least $500. That's the difference.

Size matters.
gatorcpa

shishy · Jul 6, 2018

gatorcpa
I'll give the forum another example. There was a large sell-off of vintage watches recently out of Quebec. @ulackfocus and I both pulled nice fishes out of the 'Bay on that one.

I bought a Universal Geneve Uni-Compax, 35mm version. There was another Uni-Compax, 37mm version, same 18K metal and same cal. 281 movement that sold for the exact same money (within $25). That 2nd watch watch was advertised as non-running and had questionable hands (lumed on a non-lumed dail). Otherwise, the cosmetic condition of both watches were similar.

I figure that a service and new hands would have to run at least $500. That's the difference.

Size matters.
gatorcpa

😜 I know! I never said it didn't, just that in the example of the calypso and zodiac, there was a lot more to it than just size that caused the huge price difference.

Congrats on the watch 👍

GuiltyBoomerang · Jul 7, 2018

So happy times for everyone!

And another unhappy customer who has this to say about a couple of 1930s-40s men's watches for repair I sold to them:

The photos they've provided are as follows:

So they say that:

1) These are in no way at any time in history men's watches and only ladies would have worn them

My description has these sizes:

If that's not mid-size/boy size for men for the period, I am shocked. Am I supposed to add "at the time these were men's watches however would be classified as unisex now" ? Or say "at the time ladies watches were 15-20mm across (or less)" ?

2) The lug is broken (on the Technos)

Um...

And if these listing photos show a broken lug, that has to be the worst non-soldering ever. Missing female bar/fixed bar? Maybe.

3) Other issues

There are none...other than me misspelling Tecnos as Technos?

So while I wait for them to come back, I am contemplating my response this time around. @Foo2rama's answer does look good, however coming off as too knowledgeable may rub this person the wrong way and give me a negative feedback (on what should really be positive.)

Hope everyone's weekend is going well!

blubarb · Jul 7, 2018

GuiltyBoomerang
So happy times for everyone!

And another unhappy customer who has this to say about a couple of 1930s-40s men's watches for repair I sold to them:

So they say that:

1) These are in no way at any time in history men's watches and only ladies would have worn them

My description has these sizes:

If that's not mid-size/boy size for men for the period, I am shocked. Am I supposed to add "at the time these were men's watches however would be classified as unisex now" ? Or say "at the time ladies watches were 15-20mm across (or less)" ?

2) The lug is broken (on the Technos)

Um...

And if these listing photos show a broken lug, that has to be the worst non-soldering ever. Missing female bar/fixed bar? Maybe.

3) Other issues

There are none...other than me misspelling Tecnos as Technos?

So while I wait for them to come back, I am contemplating my response this time around. @Foo2rama's answer does look good, however coming off as too knowledgeable may rub this person the wrong way and give me a negative feedback (on what should really be positive.)

Hope everyone's weekend is going well!

🤨 Unfortunately you can't even legislate against that kind of stupidity and critical reading seems to be limited when buying vintage by more than a few on feeBay. 🤨

ulackfocus · Jul 7, 2018

The world is full of idiots and assholes. eBay seems to be one of their meeting places.

FreelanceWriter · Jul 7, 2018

Next time, also add the words "as is" to the listing prominently. How about:

1. These are men's watches and both were depicted clearly enough in my photographs for you to see exactly what you were receiving and to do any research to satisfy yourself that they are men's watches before purchasing them. You could also have asked me for their dimensions before purchase. Nevertheless, if you can provide any authoritative evidence that either of these is a ladies' watch, I'll happily accept the return; otherwise, I will not.

2. These were clearly listed "for parts/repair" and sold at an appropriate price for parts/repair, not as watches that are necessarily complete, functioning, and wearable in their current condition. That's exactly what "parts/repair" means. Further, everything about the watches' external condition was fully disclosed in the photographs.

3. As you know, there is no such thing as a 1940s "Technos" watch; the authentic brand is Tecnos, which is what you (also) thought you were receiving and exactly what you received. Your argument about my misspelling would only be relevant if the discrepancy were the other way around, such as where I spelled the authentic vintage correctly in the listing, but you received some unknown or knock-off imitation watch that said "Technos" (or "Rolix") on the watch instead of the authentic vintage brand name Tecnos (or Rolex). You wanted an authentic vintage Tecnos watch and you received an authentic Tecnos watch; so my poor spelling is irrelevant unless you're my mom. Here are some photos of other authentic Tecnos featuring the same spelling as the watch parts that you received. If you can provide any photograph of the existence of any vintage "Technos" watch, I'll happily accept a return; otherwise, I will not.