Why we are happy when a watch stays in the OF family

Eve · May 2, 2020

Walrus
I think I bought three watches here. Two I have one I gave to my wife to pass on to someone in her family who loved my watch collection. I quoted the above post about the guy saying he put a watch online for sale at too high of a price so it wouldn’t sell. I’m not sticking up for this guy nor am I saying he is telling the truth but I can tell you I actually do put watches online at extremely unrealistic prices so they don’t sell. I do this because my wife is happy if she thinks I’m trying to sell a couple watches as I pick one up. Yes it’s deceptive and I guess is a bit scummy to do but when you are married you can either be right, or you can be happy, you can’t be both.

So if somebody actually made you that unrealistic offer, you wouldnt sell? 😀 just asking 😗

Shabbaz · May 3, 2020

tyrantlizardrex
I look forward to the imminent use of the ban hammer.

I understand your feelings. But although I fully disagree with @oinkitt, banning him IMHO is not the right way. His view on certain things is very different and not mainstream but there should be room for this on OF. That is what makes OF special. To answer @oinkitt 's question...

Walrus · May 3, 2020

Eve
So if somebody actually made you that unrealistic offer, you wouldnt sell? 😀 just asking 😗

I’ll tell you what happened about a month ago. Someone contacted me to try to purchase a Waltham diver I had up for a while. They were very interested. For two days they txt me asking more details. They ended up making an offer which was about 80 dollars lower than my inflated price. I shit you not I told them I decided not to sell and went back to my ad and raised it another 100 bucks. How dare someone actually try to buy it. So I can honestly tell you I did not sell when I was given a good offer.

JwRosenthal · May 3, 2020

Shabbaz
I understand your feelings. But although I fully disagree with @oinkitt, banning him IMHO is not the right way. His view on certain things is very different and not mainstream but there should be room for this on OF. That is what makes OF special. To answer @oinkitt 's question...

I agree. I was actually going to reply similarly to @oinkitt before he was given a time out. I get his “tough love” approach:
the idea of: You take you licks and move on.
Being had is a life lesson.
If you care about what happens to your property after you sell, you shouldn’t have sold it.
Quit your bitchin and move on with life.
It’s not the message that’s the problem, it’s the delivery.
@oinkitt if you are reading this- I get it, most of us do- but this thread like many other threads you have reacted to, is just a place for us to share “whine” and commiserate “cry” about and experiences we feel are unjust (values). We are not asking for legal reformation or social change- we know that won’t happen, nor does it need to. What it’s about is keeping the community aware that people need to keep their wits about them when entering into any transaction- that people are always looking for an opportunity to “play” you. I feel this was your message but it got lost in the suck-ass delivery.
I too think it’s “pathetic”....we shouldn’t have to live in a world where we can’t deal honestly and fairly with everyone, laying our cards on the table for fear that someone will try and take them all...but such is life and I guess only a “snowflake” (I’m well past the snowflake age btw-my generation is the model of suck it up and eat shit), would care enough to be considerate of others regardless of the circumstance- if for no other reason than to expect the same respect in return.

steelfish · May 3, 2020

This kind of stuff really winds me up. Makes me feel like I’ve been taken advantage of. I’m the type of guy where if I’ve bought something at a good price, I’d sell at a good price also. We’re part of a community forum so why not. And I’d expect to be treated the same way in return. If I want to pay retail prices or grey prices...I’d go to a shop/grey dealer direct.

I’ve actually bailed out of another forum and given up a huge amount of positive feedback I had built up - just due to being taken advantage of many times with forum hoovers buying my pieces at good prices.

I appreciate that the OF forums are a market and market prices do apply, but for me it’s the dishonesty. If I were desperate for cash, I’d at least like to know if I’m being low balled because the guy is a dealer (or Because they are a sly forum hoover) and make an informed decision as to whether I’m prepared to have my pants pulled down on the transaction or not.

Why not have a register of dealers, or a requirement to state whether you’re a dealer during all buy/sell transactions? It’s not about invading privacy, it’s about encouraging transparency. And those dealers who attempt to fly under the radar can be added to the list by the community. Would also help separate out the honest dealers versus sly forum hoovers as well. Not to completely victimise dealers as I’d be fine to deal with a dealer - if they were honest about it and I have the choice. I would decline to deal with a sly forum hoover.

Just a suggestion.

tyrantlizardrex · May 3, 2020

Shabbaz
I understand your feelings. But although I fully disagree with @oinkitt, banning him IMHO is not the right way. His view on certain things is very different and not mainstream but there should be room for this on OF. That is what makes OF special. To answer @oinkitt 's question...

I can think of some views that there shouldn’t be room for anywhere.

For example: When someone posts that they don’t care about the feelings of others, that’s an alarm bell for me.

Communities are rarely improved by angry selfish people.

chichi · May 3, 2020

I think the 200 post requirement for OF is a good speed bump, but saying that there is no method that is going to be perfect in terms of keeping the watches within the OF community.

chichi · May 3, 2020

and isn't the bigger question: are people basically good or not?

w154 · May 3, 2020

I’ve sold a few things here. At least twice watches have been relisted within weeks for more money (one example for almost €6k when I sold for <€4k). I agreed to the selling price, so good luck to them if they think they can get more.

I had zero emotional attachment to those watches though. They were both bought well, sold at a bit of a profit, and had been on the sales forum long enough to have had good exposure. I wouldn’t give a monkeys if the buyers had made a song and dance about how much their new purchases meant to them. I only care about being paid, and very importantly a low risk of fraud as the expensive one was paid for by bank transfer.

But I do have a few watches that I’d feel pretty disappointed if they were sold to a “collector” only to be flipped. In these cases I would see deception in buying practices as being completely unacceptable. Other than that I don’t see what people can complain about.

JwRosenthal · May 3, 2020

w154
I’ve sold a few things here. At least twice watches have been relisted within weeks for more money (one example for almost €6k when I sold for <€4k). I agreed to the selling price, so good luck to them if they think they can get more.

I had zero emotional attachment to those watches though. They were both bought well, sold at a bit of a profit, and had been on the sales forum long enough to have had good exposure. I wouldn’t give a monkeys if the buyers had made a song and dance about how much their new purchases meant to them. I only care about being paid, and very importantly a low risk of fraud as the expensive one was paid for by bank transfer.

But I do have a few watches that I’d feel pretty disappointed if they were sold to a “collector” only to be flipped. In these cases I would see deception in buying practices as being completely unacceptable. Other than that I don’t see what people can complain about.

I agree totally. And if it’s a square deal without a “collector” story I’m fine. It’s like when I’m approached in the street by someone who wants to tell me their sob story before asking for money...I’ll give you the money, I don’t need the story.
I picked up a pretty rare pair of Tannoy Monitor Speakers from a local seller in original cabinets- he was an elderly man and knew they were valuable. I paid him a fair price along with a bunch of other gear he had. I played with them for a few months and decided they just weren’t for me (I already had too many vintage $$& speakers- they take up too much room), and advertised them on Audiogon for a fair price for local pick up only. I got calls from all over the country offering far more than my asking if I would ship- but no way was I gonna ship those things. A group of very nice Chinese men called me, came down from New York and paid me cash for then. I asked what their plans were for them (before any cash had exchanged hands) and they said they plan to send them to Asia where they can get 3x what they paid for them. I felt no ill will, was happy that they were being honest and that they were going to another collector (which is who the end user will be), and that they were doing the hard work of brokering them. I made a profit- no heartburn...because it was all above board. They came back a few weeks later and bought several other pieces from me.
And I will note- the only caveat I asked (because I did care) was that they didn’t scrap the cabinets which I had re-done with matching oil stain to perfection and they had the original cane grills (it’s common to pull the drivers and build new cabinets with better acoustic properties than the original boxes). They laughed and said the cabinets were part of the allure.

jsducote · May 3, 2020

oinkitt
Again, you have offered no evidence I am wrong, In fact, in the spiel above you state I am right. The OF sales forum is a market place like any other sales platform, as such it is NOT special.

I don't believe I have disrespected anyone, I just hold a different opinion.

From my perspective, although I hold no fantasy that it will alter yours, is that the evidence you're asking for is all around you. The social/societal norm on this particular forum is that flipping for greed isn't any more appropriate than taking candy from a baby. Even if it's easy to do, it's not to be done. That's not to say that all of the 7 deadly sins are discouraged here, as lust, envy, and pride are certainly common themes (and a bit of gluttony - you know who you are). Perhaps there's a silent majority who agrees with you. But if 100 people are taking one position and you take the other, that should be enough evidence for you to consider that they're not ALL wrong.

As for disrespecting others, I disagree with you there and I think it has mostly been in your tone of condescension. You stated that you find it amusing that people are hurt/offended when they're lied to. It's generally bad form to take delight in another's unhappiness, regardless of what caused it. The short responses don't help your image being portrayed as thinking you're better/more enlightened than everyone else. A lot of people are putting careful consideration into the discussion and I don't see anyone else coming across as flippant as you do.

vintage hab · May 3, 2020

I'm new to the site and going to go a little off-topic, if I may. I'm looking to buy a speedy, most likely FOIS, and I have been shopping both new & pre-owned at a variety of places online. Obviously grey market is cheaper than buying from an AD, but there can be warranty issues.
What's the general thought about buying from a grey market dealer? How can I tell if a pre-owned watch was originally purchased at a grey market dealer or AD? Should I care?

ZIELSZIEK · May 3, 2020

vintage hab
I'm new to the site and going to go a little off-topic, if I may. I'm looking to buy a speedy, most likely FOIS, and I have been shopping both new & pre-owned at a variety of places online. Obviously grey market is cheaper than buying from an AD, but there can be warranty issues.
What's the general thought about buying from a grey market dealer? How can I tell if a pre-owned watch was originally purchased at a grey market dealer or AD? Should I care?

Hello and welcome to the forum!
Sadly, I cannot provide any expertise, but there are plenty of knowledgeable members when it comes to Speedmasters on here. All you need to do is post in the "Modern Omega Watches" Section in order to get help: https://omegaforums.net/forums/modern-omega-watches/
Good luck!

Widows Son · May 3, 2020

I have a few firearms, one of which is an all matching 1916 DWM Luger my dad gave me for Christmas about 30 years ago. I had also picked up the same vintage Luger but it was mismatched and pretty beat. I had it reblued (don't shudder fellow collectors) and made it into a shooter. It was gorgeous but not really all that collectible. A fellow Lodge brother is very interested in German pistols. I decided to sell it to him at a real bargain. I'm sure I could have made 2x as much at a gun show but he's a close friend and I already had a far more valuable one anyway. He's very happy and I'm happy it went to a good home. But, I would be really pissed if it had ended up at a gun show shortly therafter!!!

Paulomega · May 3, 2020

oinkitt
OF appears to be full of special snowflakes who feel its productive to spend their time worrying if other members make money from things they purchase off the forum or on eBay.

Most of this thread is a BIG virtue signal in my opinion.

In your opinion, right! Wouldn't expect anything different from you?

SO WHY DO YOU WASTE YOUR TIME HERE?
SURELY YOU COULD ENGAGE IN SOME OTHER UNPRODUCTIVE VENTURE ELSEWHERE.

Bill Sohne · May 3, 2020

Hi Everyone ....

Let go forward , please stop typing the users name that has been a topic of being disrespectful to other forum members and the community. Nothing good will come if it...

On the topic of opposing opinions ... well that is fine in my book.

Please lets get back to normal and go forward !

Best regards
Good Hunting and Be Safe

Bill

Explorador · May 3, 2020

Some people have a heart in the chest and others seem to only have a cash register inside.

I have a passion for watches. When I see a nice watch I feel some inner joy, that comes just from the beauty of the watch. No second thoughts or intentions. I think that is what most of the OF members experience when looking at a nice watch.

Other people have a passion for making money. When they see a nice watch, they only see how much money can be made out of it.

For the first group, certain moral rules like honesty, transparency and respect are a solid part of the scale of values. For the second group, this values impede the financial maximum win, which is their ultimate target. So for them these values are a weaknes.

Appearently, other people's scale of values are SO MUCH different from ours, that there is no way anybody here has a realistic chance to make them understand what we mean.

Explorador · May 3, 2020

Oh, sorry Bill, I was still writing as your post came.

Dan S · May 3, 2020

Explorador
Oh, sorry Bill, I was still writing as your post came.

You can edit and delete posts if you choose. Use the OPTIONS menu below the post.

I agree with @Bill Sohne, and I'll go a step further to say that it's bad form to pile on when someone can't respond. Better to discuss the original topic.

UncleBuck · May 3, 2020

Dan S
I agree with @Bill Sohne, and I'll go a step further to say that it's bad form to pile on when someone can't respond. Better to discuss the original topic.

Total agreement, Dan, I think @Explorador missed Bill's meaning being somewhat newer.

Why we are happy when a watch stays in the OF family

Eve

Shabbaz

Walrus

JwRosenthal

steelfish

tyrantlizardrex

chichi

chichi

w154

JwRosenthal

jsducote

vintage hab

ZIELSZIEK

Widows Son

Paulomega

Bill Sohne

Explorador

Explorador

Dan S

UncleBuck

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