Ebay insanity

[LittleWatchShop]

Some people think ANYTHING related to watches must be worth a fortune

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Granted, there are 2350 fancy crystals, but 2349 will never be used

[RichardHarris123]

This was originally £60 or so.  After many months I felt sorry for the seller and politely told them it wouldn't sell, I  got a passive/aggressive reply.  It's been listed at £9.99 for months, it still won't sell. 

[Endeavor]

Why policing eBay?

Isn't it the free-market who determines the prices?

And if it gets sold for a ridicules price, who's is the stupid one, the seller or the buyer?

Edited February 28, 2024 by Endeavor

[VWatchie]

44 minutes ago, Endeavor said:

Why policing eBay?

I really don't think anyone is. I sometimes am interested in items where the seller believes they're sitting on a fortune whereas I know they are not. Letting them know the truth hopefully leads to a deal, but as Richard experienced more often than you might think it just annoys the seller. I even had an experience where the seller became very rude and threatened to block me for just very politely suggesting and explaining (linking to historical selling prices) that his asking price was way too optimistic.

[eccentric59]

I think the Lutheran prayer says it best.

 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the watches I cannot buy,
the courage to buy the watches I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

[JackH]

I am amused by the Ebay listings that have a very expensive watch with 20+ photos of the case including a measurement for each side of the case but no photos of the movement and a no returns statement.

[Endeavor]

58 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

I even had an experience where the seller became very rude and threatened to block me for just very politely suggesting and explaining (linking to historical selling prices) that his asking price was way too optimistic.

If we were to stop interfering with other peoples life, there would be a whole lot less wars.

[tomh207]

I have and still do see ludicrous asking prices on eBay, however I have seen recently lower winning prices for watchmaker tools. I just snagged a JKA Fientaster for less than half price and about a third of what they were going for. With the current belt tightening we will hopefully see something more sensible on pricing.

 

Tom

[Neverenoughwatches]

In most cases if folk are buying then they want a bargain, if they are selling then they want as much as they can get. The difference between the two figures for the same thing can be vast. Some quite specialised tools i have bought over the last 2 years are noticably more expensive. I cant answer how much of a sudden change it has been because i haven’t been in this long enough to speculate the market. But it seems its happened and interest in the hobby has grown very quickly. I'm pleased i got in when i did, it will be interesting to monitor how it goes over the next few years, it might become a rich man's hobby  ??

[rehajm]

It’s expensive for sellers on eBay, buyers are often resellers trolling for bargains, international listings sometimes lead to interesting pricing…and that’s just the legit stuff. The crystals looks like the all too common ‘hail mary’…

My fav scam is selling the pdfs from AWCI or free places online…including here…

[oldhippy]

My advice with ebay if you are not sure leave it. Some of the clocks that pass through what the sellers say are nothing but porky pies. The Chinese are the worst buggers. 

[watchweasol]

Hi Guys. Old Hippy is correct. The old adage .  Buyer beware.  People have the conception that EBay is cheap it’s not. If it’s too good to be true back off and look twice before parting with money. Do your research.

[oldhippy]

I should have added which is only fair to ebay and that is their money back guarantee, but then you have the fuss of wrapping it up and posting it back not easy if its a large item and sometimes the packaging or box is not fit to post back.  

[LittleWatchShop]

13 hours ago, Endeavor said:

Why policing eBay?

Pardon me.  Is "policing" equivalent to "observing?"

 

The marketplace is just fascinating.  You have the person who happens upon these crystals for watches that most people do not care about, but he does not know it.  He gets on ebay and finds somebody selling a Mido crystal for $30 (those are a pain in the @ss...I have had to buy a few) and thinks OMG, I have 2000 crystals!!!  That is $60,000.  I will offer a bargain at $1000!!!  It is just funny.

Then you have the case, in real time, where some dude gets a storage locker full of clock repair tools and takes no effort (I suppose) to search ebay and sells them to me for 1/4 the ebay value.  Probably less than 1/4 because I have cataloged the collets in the deal--65 total of which 36 are Levin.  That is at least $700.  Add the Bergeon bushing tool plus bushings and the lathe with collet-holding tailstock...prolly $2000.  This does not include the misc stuff.

The market determines the winner.  That is why I love capitalism.

[Endeavor]

3 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

Is "policing" equivalent to "observing?"

No, it is not

In my perception it becomes "Policing" when people start to give the seller unasked advice what, in their opinion, the price should be or whether the item will be sold for the asking price.

Observing is just observing and indeed, like you are, one can wonder.

When a person likes to ask a million for his Rolex, he asks a million and he's free to do so. That's entirely up to that person. Are those people, who like to point out the "correct" price, also going to tell the seller if he decides to sell his Rolex for 1 $, or would they quickly hit the "Buy it Now" button?

I observed many items on eBay, or other market places, which makes me wonder, but I will never contact the seller.

 

 

 

Edited February 29, 2024 by Endeavor

[Klassiker]

3 hours ago, LittleWatchShop said:

The market determines the winner.  That is why I love capitalism

Off topic, but I guess you mean the free market. It has nothing to do with capitalism.

[Neverenoughwatches]

14 hours ago, rehajm said:

It’s expensive for sellers on eBay, buyers are often resellers trolling for bargains, international listings sometimes lead to interesting pricing…and that’s just the legit stuff. The crystals looks like the all too common ‘hail mary’…

My fav scam is selling the pdfs from AWCI or free places online…including here…

My least favourite scam is the one I'm experiencing at the moment,  after accepting an offer i made the buyer removed the item i was specifically after from the job lot i received to compensate himself .

[Waggy]

51 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

after accepting an offer i made the buyer removed the item i was specifically after from the job lot i received

Do eBay step up to help in this situation?

Edited February 29, 2024 by Waggy

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, Waggy said:

Do eBay step up to help in this situation?

In the past i have had them land on my side with seller issues, but this is the first time i have had something missing from a lot. Impossible for either of us to prove ( i should have recorded the unwrapping which i have done in the past with expensive buys.  The seller has just told me that the complete listing was there when it was sent,  asked if the parcel was damaged and has no idea how just one watch could be missing. Hmm i know exactly why it's fooking missing . Ebay is nearly always on the buyer's side, i spend a lot of money on ebay, so helping me out should be important to them.  To add the seller's feedback isn't squeeky clean so i expect a good outcome. 

Edited February 29, 2024 by Neverenoughwatches

[VWatchie]

17 hours ago, Endeavor said:

If we were to stop interfering with other peoples life, there would be a whole lot less wars.

I couldn't agree more! That said, letting a seller on eBay know what you, as a buyer, think is a reasonable price, I don't consider interfering but negotiating. However, I wouldn't get in touch with a seller if I didn't have at least some personal interest in the item being sold.

When I politely initiate a negotiation and let the seller know what I think the item is worth and why, I expect the seller to be cordial and respectful in his reply. 

I treat buyers the same no matter their offer, even if it's a crappy offer. Even in these cases, I thank the buyer for his interest and offer. Then I offer the buyer the price I can currently think of accepting and close with a friendly greeting. How hard can it be? 

Although I always try to be friendly and respectful, I have had buyers become aggressive and rude when I politely declined their offer.

When sellers get angry and rude about an offer, I think it's because they have a hard time accepting that their item isn't worth as much as they hope. The strange thing is that they react as if someone tried to steal their money. Why not just politely decline?

Unfortunately, money has a personality-changing effect on some people, and unfortunately never for the better.

[Neverenoughwatches]

17 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

I couldn't agree more! That said, letting a seller on eBay know what you, as a buyer, think is a reasonable price, I don't consider interfering but negotiating. However, I wouldn't get in touch with a seller if I didn't have at least some personal interest in the item being sold.

When I politely initiate a negotiation and let the seller know what I think the item is worth and why, I expect the seller to be cordial and respectful in his reply. 

I treat buyers the same no matter their offer, even if it's a crappy offer. Even in these cases, I thank the buyer for his interest and offer. Then I offer the buyer the price I can currently think of accepting and close with a friendly greeting. How hard can it be? 

Although I always try to be friendly and respectful, I have had buyers become aggressive and rude when I politely declined their offer.

When sellers get angry and rude about an offer, I think it's because they have a hard time accepting that their item isn't worth as much as they hope. The strange thing is that they react as if someone tried to steal their money. Why not just politely decline?

Unfortunately, money has a personality-changing effect on some people, and unfortunately never for the better.

Nothing wrong with a bit of tactical bartering watchie, keeps the sellers on their toes,  happens in every town, in every city the whole world over. Its what they might do afterwards to console themselves that really really really pisses me off. 

[VWatchie]

17 hours ago, rehajm said:

My fav scam is selling the pdfs from AWCI or free places online…including here…

"Including here"? That makes me worried to hear. Being involuntarily involved in a scam feels scary. Did you really see this?

4 hours ago, Endeavor said:

Are those people, who like to point out the "correct" price, also going to tell the seller if he decides to sell his Rolex for 1 $, or would they quickly hit the "Buy it Now" button?

I would hit the "Buy it now" button! The seller determines the price. However, if the price was a million dollars I would politely and respectfully let the seller know the price I'm willing to pay (provided I'm interested in the item). If the seller then decided to go ballistic over my offer it is not my responsibility.

Edited February 29, 2024 by VWatchie

[AndyHull]

I have in the past pointed out actual glaring errors in listings, but generally these days I don't bother. It generally just results in a rude reply.

If they want to tell me that a 17 jewel mechanical watch "just needs a new battery", or that an item is "untested, may work", when the pictures show it is obviously damaged, who am I to interfere.

Move on to the next listing. There are plenty of other less dubious items to look at.

Edited February 29, 2024 by AndyHull

[Neverenoughwatches]

17 minutes ago, VWatchie said:

"Including here"?

Steady watchie we are very greatful for that contribution buddy. 

[AndyHull]

I haven't actually encountered anybody selling data from this site, but I do encounter people who are selling non existent electronic components, and flogging free PDF datasheets, so it wouldn't surprise me to find my ramblings from WRT wrapped up in a PDF and offered for sale on the "free market" internet.

Don't get me started on the so called "free market" and all its pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo.

A near infinite number of euphemisms for "greed" dreamed up by the "Loadsa-money" generation.

Don't worry that we are poisoning the planet, killing ourselves with corn syrup and cheep ass food and lining the pockets of the already rich, the "market forces" will fix everything, and "trickle down economics" will make us all rich.

Everything else, we can fix it all with technology we haven't invented yet... and probably never will...  carry on and consume, consume, consume!



We won't be able to breath the air or drink the water, but we will be rich I tell you RICH!!

 Give me a moment, I think my  medication might be wearing off..