Question about Chrono24 seller/recommended seller (possible scamwarning?)

[Suprageex]

MODS: I'm posting this in a separate thread, seeing as the 'List of vintage watch dealers'-thread doesn't get that much traffic. If this is inappropriate in any way, please delete/move.


I'm just wondering if anyone knows if "Ralle aka rallepeng (www.vintage-watches-international.com)" has a legit Chrono24 account?

Reason I'm asking this is bc I'm looking for an Omani DD & I spotted one on Chrono24. I noticed the (verified) seller's name was Vintage Watches International, a Green Star status seller on this forum.

I emailed him about the watch last week, because I had a couple of q's regarding B/P, to which he responded immediatly. I respond this morning, asking him how I can be sure it's not just a redial with an engraved caseback & if it'd be possible to get a confirmation via Asprey (I'd gladly take his word for it being genuine, but confirmation's always a plus, ofc).

What followed really baffled my mind (I'm copypasting the convo. Again, mods, if this is innapropriate, lmk)

Originally Posted by Vintage Watches International

Suprageex, please... you answered after 1 week with such questions? :-)
you are not really interested to buy such a watch i think...
further, you always buy not just a watch, you always buy the seller!!
i'm one of the well known rolex vintage specialist in the world and these kind of questions bored me!
check the caseback, there is stamped ASPREY outside and that is the proof of original oman watch with original dial of course,
all the best to find nice watch!

So I responded:

Originally Posted by me

Mr. XXX

I was not aware of the fact that the time it takes for one to respond to a mail, stands in direct correlation with the ability to buy something. Does it not occur to you that I might have been busy this week, thus making it impossible for me to respond properly?

Furthermore, I know good and well who you are. That doesn't take away the fact that the possibility of the watch being a simple DD with a dial swap exists. Engravings aren't that hard to fake either. I hope you do understand that I did not want to insult you or insinuate that you did such things, as my question was solely whether or not it'd be possible to verify the authenticity (for resale purposes).

I am in the process of finding a Qaboos DD, but from the tone of your message I understand that you don't wish to sell it to me, or be of any help to me. Therefor I'll refrain from asking you anymore messages and will contact other dealers.

All the best

To which he responds:

Originally Posted by Vintage Watches International

that was my intention sir, you'll not be my client!
all the best!

I talked this over with a couple of friends & they think the Chrono24 account may be a scammer. I've dealt with a couple of other dealers before and none of them reacted like this. Seeing as he's a trusted seller on this forum, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe even warn him.

[Mark020]

I don't think this is a scammer... Ralle has indeed one for sale (also on ebay) and is- what one could call - pretty direct ;-)

[Beelzy]

Lol!.......that's the real deal partner.

Blunt is the correct word that I believe the above poster was searching for.......it was a week after all.

[jvo300]

Nothing bothers me more than a seller with an attitude. It's as though he is doing you a favor by taking your hard earned cash. You're better off searching elsewhere.

[greekbum]

I have done several deals with Ralle and he is 100% solid and 100% trustworthy. Dont understand why you thought he was a scammer? After reading the correspondence you posted I dont see how he tried scamming you?

[Suprageex]

Originally Posted by Beelzy

Lol!.......that's the real deal partner.

Blunt is the correct word that I believe the above poster was searching for.......it was a week after all.

That's it, it's only been a week. Last time I checked he had the watch for +3 months. If I were him, I'd be glad to get inquiries.

Originally Posted by jvo300

Nothing bothers me more than a seller with an attitude. It's as though he is doing you a favor by taking your hard earned cash. You're better off searching elsewhere.

Exactly. I don't know where I went wrong but I have a hard time understanding how some of you are defending him. Is it too much to ask to answer a couple basic questions? We're talking about 10kUSD here, the least he could do is be a bit courtious?

Originally Posted by greekbum

I have done several deals with Ralle and he is 100% solid and 100% trustworthy. Dont understand why you thought he was a scammer? After reading the correspondence you posted I dont see how he tried scamming you?

Because I simply could not believe a seller would respond like this. His answers are aching to those of a scammer trying to sell something as quick as possible, no questions asked.


Eg. I contacted mr. Bui from Honolulutime a week or two ago regarding a 1680/8. He immediately sent +10 pictures, with all the extra he had. Big difference!


Seems as though Ralle/Vintage Watches International only wants mute buyers.

[Lgear080]

Scam or not - would never send a clearly difficult person any money.

[Suprageex]

Originally Posted by Lgear080

Scam or not - would never send a clearly difficult person any money.

Not going to.

[rallepeng]

now i'm here and thanks guys for letting my know in couple of emails that such type of "client" like the threadstarter here bother me and others again...
mr., all people in the rolex vintage world knowing me as helpfull, correct, fast and straight in answering emails, find solutions, find watches, parts, help in cases of originality even when nothing bought from me etc.
your kind of asking & asking & asking i know very well and it wastet my time! thats reason to kick off very fast but friendly out off my "upcomming clients"!
i have some watches they are rare and nice, some watches they are to find 1000 times in the world. you asked me to a very special watch silly questions AGAIN but you know who i am and what i do! it wastet my time SIR and i decide who is buying from me or not!
i have nothing against you but i dont want to do business with you!
nothing more to say as: all the best and good buying!
ralle aka rallepeng / vintage-watches-international

[Suprageex]

Originally Posted by rallepeng

now i'm here and thanks guys for letting my know in couple of emails that such type of "client" like the threadstarter here bother me and others again...
mr., all people in the rolex vintage world knowing me as helpfull, correct, fast and straight in answering emails, find solutions, find watches, parts, help in cases of originality even when nothing bought from me etc.
your kind of asking & asking & asking i know very well and it wastet my time! thats reason to kick off very fast but friendly out off my "upcomming clients"!
i have some watches they are rare and nice, some watches they are to find 1000 times in the world. you asked me to a very special watch silly questions AGAIN but you know who i am and what i do! it wastet my time SIR and i decide who is buying from me or not!
i have nothing against you but i dont want to do business with you!
nothing more to say as: all the best and good buying!
ralle aka rallepeng / vintage-watches-international

"Asking and asking and asking"?

I asked you two questions, ask you can see in the convo posted in the OP:
1- regarding the presence of box & papers
2- whether it'd be (purely for resale purposes) possible to get some kind of confirmation

Neither of those questions seem weird, aggressive,... in any way to me & are questions every & any seller should expect to receive. I don't care who you are, I would (and I WILL) ask the same q's to every seller, regardless of how well they're perceived in the collector's world, whether it's Bob Maron, Jed, Jacek, Kirill, or John The Amateur Rolex Enthusiast...

As you may know, I've posted the exact OP on a couple other forums, and nowhere has anyone taken offense to any of the q's.

All in all, if this is the way you do business, if you like mute clients, then good for you. I will not be buying from you, and IMO this deserves to have it's place on the internet for potential future buyers.

[rallepeng]

Originally Posted by Suprageex

"Asking and asking and asking"?

I asked you two questions, ask you can see in the convo posted in the OP:
1- regarding the presence of box & papers -
2- whether it'd be (purely for resale purposes) possible to get some kind of confirmation

you sure sir?
here is complete conversation to clarify situation and you never asked about box and papers, because written in description already:

1) 3/10/2013 bernard.....@hotmail.com:
Hello
I'm interested in the watch. Can you tell me more about, eg. this particular one's background, etc.
Thanks

3/10/2013 me:
hey Bernard, what do you want to know? all important is written in description and of course all parts are original etc.

2) 3/10/2013 bernard.....@hotmail.com:
What about service history?

3/10/2013 me:
nothing known but my watchmaker checked all. my experiences are 1803 day date is robust watch and runs always smootly.

3) 12/10/2013 bernard.....@hotmail.com:
And is there any way to know for sure that's it's an actual omani DD & not just a redial?

12/10/2013 me:
bernard, please... you answered after 1 week with such questions?
you are not really interested to buy such a watch i think...
further, you always buy not just a watch, you always buy the seller!!
i'm one of the well known rolex vintage specialist in the world and these kind of questions bored me!
check the caseback, there is stamped ASPREY outside and that is the proof of original oman watch with original dial of course,
all the best to find nice watch!
---------------------------------
what are you expecting from me? we dealers got this kind of mails 40-50 each week and we are always helpfull and friendly but sometimes is enough... your next question comes may be again 1 week later with confirmation is 18kt gold and then 2 weeks later may be: "ok sir, i'll take the watch for 2000 less the in your offer..."
you are timewaster and that you ot this straight as answer, friendly but directly! ...and then here start to f**k me up???
i like to sell watches but not to guys like you!

[Suprageex]

Still don't see the problem. Valid q's.