Speedmasters from Peru......

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Peru seems to be the Center of rare vintage Speedies in the moment. eBay churns out plenty in very short auction cycles from unknown sellers with mini feedbacks..... Who knew .
 
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Strange indeed... SASS = South American Sleeper Speeedmasters ? 😁
On the other hand, since 2001 during GTG, I have seen a lot of genuine ExtractofArchives with " Delivered to: Argentina " or " Delivered to Peru " ...
 
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PLEASE AVOID these eBay listings. These guys have been “selling” from Peru since the 2000s. I know the prices look attractive but you will part with your money and all you will receive is an empty package in the post.

Anybody with very low feedback, all relating to low value items and all recent and now selling many high value watches …. well you can guess.

By the way they have evolved over time and they do have watches so don’t be fooled when they provide additional photos when asked.
 
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PLEASE AVOID these eBay listings. These guys have been “selling” from Peru since the 2000s. I know the prices look attractive but you will part with your money and all you will receive is an empty package in the post.
Anybody with very low feedback, all relating to low value items and all recent and now selling many high value watches …. well you can guess.
By the way they have evolved over time and they do have watches so don’t be fooled when they provide additional photos when asked.
I recall a time, and not too long ago, when the world's major source of faded vintage Speedy bezel inserts were suddenly found in Australia, sellers claiming the long summer months and hot sultry outback seasons and the sea and surf created these inserts. Hmmmm. 😵‍💫 Personally I always thought ovens and bleach (not the beach) were involved... 😎
 
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As the saying goes, if it looks like **** and smells like **** then it probably is ****
 
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As the saying goes, if it looks like **** and smells like **** then it probably is ****

Yep and you can't polish it...
 
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Yep and you can't polish it...
But unfortunately people get caught all the time. Years ago they wouldn’t accept PayPal payments … now they do so I’m not sure exactly who gets scammed - the buyer or PayPal?
 
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Does the purchase also go through eBay's Authenticity Guarantee with purchase price held in escrow pending third party authentication?
 
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Yep and you can't polish it...

Mythbuters proved you can...
 
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Does the purchase also go through eBay's Authenticity Guarantee with purchase price held in escrow pending third party authentication?
I think there are two separate points here. Firstly, the authentication programme is relatively new and I’m not sure if South America is included. However, more importantly (having spoken to a seller whose watch went to the buyer via an authenticator) as I understand it funds are released before the watch is necessarily received by the authenticator. I know it sounds odd but the programme does not delay receipt of payment.
 
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Notice to Mariners!.
Be careful with Peruvian sellers on eBay!!!
Please check very carefully and easy easy !!!!!
 
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By the way, turns out if you send with UPS/DHL etc. - you get the money instantly on delivery, for untrusted sellers it's usually hold - since there was mentions of this guy selling other stuff, I guess it could be a way to build up that trust

So basically if these listings are scam, it would be eBay losing the money on refund, as the seller's payment will likely be unreachable to them

But I give people the benefit of the doubt, so I'm not saying these to act with prejudice against a person/seller I don't know, or discriminate against a country/zone, it's just an insight into the worst case scenario
 
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But I give people the benefit of the doubt, so I'm not saying these to act with prejudice against a person/seller I don't know, or discriminate against a country/zone, it's just an insight into the worst case scenario
It’s completely your prerogative to give people the benefit of the doubt and this is not discrimination against a country or people. I was a victim of people in 2009 who happen to list the same mainly Speedmasters on accounts that are registered in Peru. It’s over a decade later and the same listings keep appearing on eBay. Irrespective of who the seller is or where they are registered my advice is don’t bid on listings if the seller has low feedback and no history of selling high value items … simple.
 
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And here’s another one - selling an Ed White, starting bid $100, total of 18 feedbacks and all as a buyer and 15 of which received within the last month. Photos always look the same and description always written the same - and all in Lima, Peru.
 
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Well, Peru's a long way from anywhere: it's easy to see how a watch might get lost for a few years only to resurface.... NOT!
 
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And here’s another one - selling an Ed White, starting bid $100, total of 18 feedbacks and all as a buyer and 15 of which received within the last month. Photos always look the same and description always written the same - and all in Lima, Peru.
You didn’t even post the best photo. It’s even got an old fashioned “proof of life” shot so it has to be legit (or being held for ransom)
 
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I Know!! That’s the thing - as I mentioned earlier - they’ve evolved over time and do have the watches. Bought with the proceeds of their crimes. They clearly think they need to look as legit as possible - hence today’s newspaper!!
 
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There’s a pile of stuff from Venezuela too, I’m not that brave either
 
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And here’s another one - selling an Ed White, starting bid $100, total of 18 feedbacks and all as a buyer and 15 of which received within the last month. Photos always look the same and description always written the same - and all in Lima, Peru.
… and it’s gone - listing removed after it ended. Not sure if it’s final bid price or if payment was made.