ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

mikkibarry · 27 January 2013, 08:43 AM

Soon I will test out the Ebay "buyer protection" for the first time. I've been on Ebay likely since its inception, both buying and selling. In all that time, this will be my first invocation of the protection plan. I bought what looked like a really good 14k vintage watch that was advertised as "fully restored." Stupid me thought that this would let me save a few bucks in follow up work unless I saw a problem. Well oops.

It was advertised as an "ESTATE ANTIQUE WRIST WATCH ROLEX REDDBURG 14K WHITE GOLD CASE 6" FULLY RESTORED." It had a "seal" on the back so that the seller would know if it was opened. Well gee, I HAVE to open the damn thing to verify it is what he said it was. No, it was not. No "Rolex" on the wheels. No markings that would tell where the movement was from. No "Rolex" on the hallmark. And a couple of screws missing in the movement. This was not starting out well. There was an "LP" on the crown, definitely not Rolex. I wrote to the seller who told me his watchmaker was the greatest and really old and sick wife, and all that stuff. Today I figured I'd like to know a bit more about what might be happening here, so I took it to my local master jeweler for a look see while I was picking up some jewelry he'd repaired.

"This movement doesn't belong in this case." He showed me the dents on the inside where the movement was forced into the case. He said that the screws that were missing in the movement were meant to hold the watch into the case, which was NOT this case. Yes, it's nice 14k white gold. Yes, the case is nicely decorated. No, this is not the movement that belongs in it, and likely the LP (for Lucien Picard) was from a screw on crown that doesn't match the movement or the dial or the hands or....

So now I am an unhappy camper. It is likely that this seller didn't know that this was such a mess. However, if it went to a watchmaker, the watchmaker WOULD have known immediately. I bought some other pieces from this seller, and they were correct, so I don't think it was deliberate on his part.

Another "use trusted sellers" echo from me. Any trusted sellers here into pre-1930s vintage?

vkychoo · 27 January 2013, 11:44 AM

sorry to hear about this :( Hope it gets resolved quickly and amicably

springer · 27 January 2013, 03:23 PM

Sounds like a bad deal for sure. I'd let the seller know what you found out about the watch and send it back ASAP. How about posting some pics and a link to the auction.

crowncollection · 27 January 2013, 03:43 PM

Sorry to hear your story. I hope it works out

Kingair · 27 January 2013, 08:13 PM

Ebay . . . . hope you are with the lucky ones and get a refund . . .

Good luck !

HAGS

NCD1979 · 27 January 2013, 08:52 PM

Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I hope it all works out in your favor.

SUBversive · 27 January 2013, 10:19 PM

Good luck. Post an update.

gold lexes · 28 January 2013, 04:19 AM

good luck

mikkibarry · 28 January 2013, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUBversive

Good luck. Post an update.

I posted more info and photos for opinions on Watch Out. If the experts there agree with me, and if the other two transactions I stupidly made with the seller before receiving this one, that should arrive on Monday are also bad, I'll post the seller name.

Fiat5513 · 28 January 2013, 07:01 AM

Good luck, eBay = crap

harry in montreal · 28 January 2013, 10:35 PM

eBay isn't all crap. However it's a gamble. I am SO way ahead that I take chances and hope I get what I buy. When legit, you can sav a ton of money below retail. However there is a lot of risk

swish77 · 29 January 2013, 01:17 AM

Thanks for the Ebay warning. I have bought mostly successfully on Ebay, but was burned badly once, simply because I didn't do my homework properly. In addition to all the other thorough vetting now, I won't buy anything unless there are also photos of the movement. That not only shows whether the movement is correct for the model, but it also shows possible corrosion around the case back seal area. A lot of listings don't show the movement. I won't even consider those.

mikkibarry · 29 January 2013, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swish77

Thanks for the Ebay warning. I have bought mostly successfully on Ebay, but was burned badly once, simply because I didn't do my homework properly. In addition to all the other thorough vetting now, I won't buy anything unless there are also photos of the movement. That not only shows whether the movement is correct for the model, but it also shows possible corrosion around the case back seal area. A lot of listings don't show the movement. I won't even consider those.

That's a great rule of thumb and I really should have followed it.

harry in montreal · 29 January 2013, 02:44 AM

MIKKI,

did you simply try to work it out with seller to return it claiming that it was not described adequately?

powerfunk · 29 January 2013, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

When legit, you can sav a ton of money below retail. However there is a lot of risk

Quote:

Originally Posted by swish77

I won't buy anything unless there are also photos of the movement. That not only shows whether the movement is correct for the model, but it also shows possible corrosion around the case back seal area. A lot of listings don't show the movement. I won't even consider those.

I agree with these gentlemen. It's all about risk/reward -- eBay presents a high potential for both. And I also refuse to consider watches without movement pics.

Aside from looking at the seller's feedback as a seller, I also recommend taking a glance at their feedback as a *buyer* and see if they've bought anything from shady sellers. A lot of counterfeit/Frankenwatches are hobbled together from pieces that came from eBay to begin with, and on more than one occasion I've removed a seller from consideration based on having been a customer of a shady seller. I'm more scared of fake cases these days than anything. Good luck Mikki!

mikkibarry · 29 January 2013, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

MIKKI,

did you simply try to work it out with seller to return it claiming that it was not described adequately?

Of course, Harry. Bonjour by the way. The seller is either clueless or intentionally being difficult. I won't pass judgment until the other two watches I stupidly bought from him arrive. If the movements are also suspect, I will think deliberate. He told me that his watchmaker would never make such a mistake, as he is God's gift to watchmaking, almost 90, and caring for a sick wife. If true, of course I wish the watchmaker all the best, but truly wonder at the statement. I will try again with the seller once I have more information about the movement.

I may be a lawyer, but I truly hate these types of disputes and always try the fair approach first. Maybe I'm just a wuss :-)

nick c · 29 January 2013, 06:35 AM

Sorry to hear best of luck

watchstuff · 29 January 2013, 06:47 AM

Hope you get it resolved soon, if you paid via paypal, you may get another layer of protection.

mikkibarry · 29 January 2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watchstuff

Hope you get it resolved soon, if you paid via paypal, you may get another layer of protection.

Thanks. Yes I did pay via PayPal.

27 January 2013, 08:43 AM	#1
mikkibarry "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Real Name: Mikki Location: Northern Virginia Watch: Your Six Posts: 1,146	FleaBay and the Frankenwatch Soon I will test out the Ebay "buyer protection" for the first time. I've been on Ebay likely since its inception, both buying and selling. In all that time, this will be my first invocation of the protection plan. I bought what looked like a really good 14k vintage watch that was advertised as "fully restored." Stupid me thought that this would let me save a few bucks in follow up work unless I saw a problem. Well oops. It was advertised as an "ESTATE ANTIQUE WRIST WATCH ROLEX REDDBURG 14K WHITE GOLD CASE 6" FULLY RESTORED." It had a "seal" on the back so that the seller would know if it was opened. Well gee, I HAVE to open the damn thing to verify it is what he said it was. No, it was not. No "Rolex" on the wheels. No markings that would tell where the movement was from. No "Rolex" on the hallmark. And a couple of screws missing in the movement. This was not starting out well. There was an "LP" on the crown, definitely not Rolex. I wrote to the seller who told me his watchmaker was the greatest and really old and sick wife, and all that stuff. Today I figured I'd like to know a bit more about what might be happening here, so I took it to my local master jeweler for a look see while I was picking up some jewelry he'd repaired. "This movement doesn't belong in this case." He showed me the dents on the inside where the movement was forced into the case. He said that the screws that were missing in the movement were meant to hold the watch into the case, which was NOT this case. Yes, it's nice 14k white gold. Yes, the case is nicely decorated. No, this is not the movement that belongs in it, and likely the LP (for Lucien Picard) was from a screw on crown that doesn't match the movement or the dial or the hands or.... So now I am an unhappy camper. It is likely that this seller didn't know that this was such a mess. However, if it went to a watchmaker, the watchmaker WOULD have known immediately. I bought some other pieces from this seller, and they were correct, so I don't think it was deliberate on his part. Another "use trusted sellers" echo from me. Any trusted sellers here into pre-1930s vintage? __________________ No Matter Where You Go - There You Are (and so's your Rolex) Card Carrying Chinese Crested Owner

27 January 2013, 03:23 PM	#3
springer 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: jP Location: Texas Watch: GMT-MASTER Posts: 17,217	Sounds like a bad deal for sure. I'd let the seller know what you found out about the watch and send it back ASAP. How about posting some pics and a link to the auction. __________________ Member of NAWCC since 1990. INSTAGRAM USER NAME: SPRINGERJFP Visit my Instagram page to view some of the finest vintage GMTs anywhere - as well as other vintage classics.

27 January 2013, 03:43 PM	#4
crowncollection "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: David Location: australia Posts: 20,159	Sorry to hear your story. I hope it works out __________________ watches many

27 January 2013, 11:44 AM	#2
vkychoo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Real Name: Vince Choo Location: Kuala Lumpur Watch: 5513 '67 Sub Posts: 160	sorry to hear about this :( Hope it gets resolved quickly and amicably

27 January 2013, 08:52 PM	#6
NCD1979 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,041	Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I hope it all works out in your favor.

27 January 2013, 10:19 PM	#7
SUBversive Banned Join Date: May 2011 Location: ri Watch: Sun Dial Posts: 14,346	Good luck. Post an update.

28 January 2013, 04:19 AM	#8
gold lexes Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: the netherlands Posts: 19	good luck

28 January 2013, 07:01 AM	#10
Fiat5513 Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Real Name: Everett Location: The world Watch: 1968 Rolex 5513 Posts: 45	Good luck, eBay = crap

28 January 2013, 10:35 PM	#11
harry in montreal "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Watch: The Habs pick 1st! Posts: 3,589	eBay isn't all crap. However it's a gamble. I am SO way ahead that I take chances and hope I get what I buy. When legit, you can sav a ton of money below retail. However there is a lot of risk

29 January 2013, 01:17 AM	#12
swish77 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Aaron Location: CT/NYC Watch: ing the time! Posts: 6,802	Thanks for the Ebay warning. I have bought mostly successfully on Ebay, but was burned badly once, simply because I didn't do my homework properly. In addition to all the other thorough vetting now, I won't buy anything unless there are also photos of the movement. That not only shows whether the movement is correct for the model, but it also shows possible corrosion around the case back seal area. A lot of listings don't show the movement. I won't even consider those.

29 January 2013, 02:44 AM	#14
harry in montreal "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal Watch: The Habs pick 1st! Posts: 3,589	MIKKI, did you simply try to work it out with seller to return it claiming that it was not described adequately?

29 January 2013, 06:35 AM	#17
nick c Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 26,846	Sorry to hear best of luck

29 January 2013, 06:47 AM	#18
watchstuff "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK Posts: 273	Hope you get it resolved soon, if you paid via paypal, you may get another layer of protection.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)