Selling watches - what are the alternatives to ebay/PH?

[julesGB]

I've decided to cull a few watches that I haven't worn in a long time. Are there any effective alternatives to ebay or is that really my best shot?

Whilst I love PH I checked the Classifieds watch section and can't imagine that would be much use
I'm not registered on TZ UK so can't even see the Sales Corner, let alone post anything for sale.
Chrono24 looks pretty good but seems mainly European - anybody tried it?

I don't have anything high end to sell, Stowa MO is probably the best watch, plus a Chr Ward C3, Seiko J Diver, etc.

Thanks!

[mikeveal]

Have you found Watch-U-seek?

[julesGB]

mikeveal said:

Have you found Watch-U-seek?

Thanks, no I wasn't aware of that site. Looks like an interesting place. Only problem is this, "To post items for sale you must be registered for at least 90 days and have 100 posts on the forum."

It's taken me 13 years on PH to get 247 posts so it may be some time before I can list on Watch-U-Seek

[mikeveal]

Find a mod, explain what you've got and ask them to make an exception. Tis a friendly place. They might help.
You could try the same with TZ, but the site owner has a reputation for not being able to bend his own rules, except for when he feels like it.

[matrignano]

Chrono24

[lambo666]

I am in the same position with 4 Rolex watches to sell. Tried yesterday to list a deep sea - sea dweller watch on ebay - due to being a new ebay member you cannot list a watch above £3,500 due to ebay monthly selling limits. Looked at the watch forums and as said previously you have to of made 100s of posts or have been a member for many months.
tried classified adds on here but the listings keep getting rejected.
I can see why watch dealers are earning a good living.
Only real option is using a friends ebay account that's been around a while - but then they get all the agro of dealing with the silly questions and unrealistic offers

[bigweb]

lambo666 said:

I am in the same position with 4 Rolex watches to sell. Tried yesterday to list a deep sea - sea dweller watch on ebay - due to being a new ebay member you cannot list a watch above £3,500 due to ebay monthly selling limits. Looked at the watch forums and as said previously you have to of made 100s of posts or have been a member for many months.
tried classified adds on here but the listings keep getting rejected.
I can see why watch dealers are earning a good living.
Only real option is using a friends ebay account that's been around a while - but then they get all the agro of dealing with the silly questions and unrealistic offers

Mailed

[hilly10]

mikeveal said:

You could try the same with TZ, but the site owner has a reputation for not being able to bend his own rules, except for when he feels like it.

Good luck with that. The clique members would have a field day and they would bury you. Some unsavoury people on there that like to do their own policing

[mikeveal]

hilly10 said:

mikeveal said:

You could try the same with TZ, but the site owner has a reputation for not being able to bend his own rules, except for when he feels like it.

Good luck with that. The clique members would have a field day and they would bury you. Some unsavoury people on there that like to do their own policing

Sick-o-eddie-phants.

[Adam B]

lambo666 said:

I am in the same position with 4 Rolex watches to sell. Tried yesterday to list a deep sea - sea dweller watch on ebay - due to being a new ebay member you cannot list a watch above £3,500 due to ebay monthly selling limits. Looked at the watch forums and as said previously you have to of made 100s of posts or have been a member for many months.

try Dom Hackett - sold a couple of mine and a pleasure to deal with

[lambo666]

offered similar amount to my local dealer.... would prefer to sell to a private individual who wants the watch at a discount rather than give it away to a dealer to mark up over a grand.

Moderator edit: no advertising on the forums please.

Edited by jeremyc on Saturday 13th August 08:53

[audidoody]

I sold a Cartier on Chrono 24 for £750 more than a dealer offered. It was sold within 48hours of the ad appearing. Buyer paid by PayPal and I sent the watch Recorded Delivery. Easy peasy.

[lambo666]

Paypal is ripe with fraudsters with hijacked accounts etc, brother defrauded out of £100.00 - no big deal but i would simply not post a 5k + watch only for when it gets received to be told buy the buyer/fraudster that the box was empty or a fake watch inside etc. Then your paypal balance is minus 5k with them passing on the debt to a debt collection company which leads to a ccj / ruined credit rating etc. I would rather wait to meet in person or at a jewellery store so both parties are happy.

[audidoody]

lambo666 said:

Paypal is ripe with fraudsters with hijacked accounts etc, brother defrauded out of £100.00 - no big deal but i would simply not post a 5k + watch only for when it gets received to be told buy the buyer/fraudster that the box was empty or a fake watch inside etc. Then your paypal balance is minus 5k with them passing on the debt to a debt collection company which leads to a ccj / ruined credit rating etc. I would rather wait to meet in person or at a jewellery store so both parties are happy.

Fair points. Good thing I didn't read that before I did the deal! Thankfully the transaction went without a hitch.

I suppose you could apply those risks to any online transaction whether through eBay, Amazon, or PayPal.

A private buyer can't just pass the debt on to a collection agency. They'd have to sue you in court which, if you were innocent, you would undoubtedly defend and probably win.

The personal meeting on mutual ground is ideal but then you are restricting yourself to local buyers. I doubt there is any 100 per cent risk-free way to do a private sale. Not many people are prepared to go to a strange location with cash. Or to meet strangers who have come for a high-value item.

[Adam B]

lambo666 said:

Paypal is ripe with fraudsters with hijacked accounts etc, brother defrauded out of £100.00 - no big deal but i would simply not post a 5k + watch only for when it gets received to be told buy the buyer/fraudster that the box was empty or a fake watch inside etc. Then your paypal balance is minus 5k with them passing on the debt to a debt collection company which leads to a ccj / ruined credit rating etc. I would rather wait to meet in person or at a jewellery store so both parties are happy.

doesnt help with hijacked accounts, but telling buyer to mark payment as gift avoids the "the box was empty or a fake watch inside" issue I think?

[CMJ]

Sold several watches via eBay without issue but once sold an iPhone where the seller kept hold and eBay refunded her in full. Eventually got it back but highlighted. To me the risk of selling high value watches. I try for collection but if not possible I decide based on buyers emails / comms and previous eBay history if I am going to sell them my watch or not. Has so far worked for me without any pain. But it's defiantly a case of being very clear with your description developing a good level of comms both pre and post sale and seller beware !!!!

[leginigel]

I have sold and purchased a number of watches on ebay , my tip is to do very thing though ebay make sure all comms go though the contact seller/buyer pay and get paid via paypal.I like my buyer/sellers to have over 100 feedback and check their feedback is it all low value or do they spend fair amounts of money now and then.Good luck with the sale and remember the better the pictures the better the price.

[lambo666]

Just to update this thread, ebay experience is 90% timewasters and idiots offering to buy a 4-5k watch for 3k etc, so you have to sift through the 'whats your best price bruv' clowns and engage the sensible 10%. Bit more time and effort etc but still worth it to avoid the dealers fairly large margin in my opinion. Have heard good reports about the watch forums, but you would have to be a member for 3 months plus and made lots of posts.
Was surprised to find the number of people who want to spend 4k plus on a sports Rolex who do not know the difference between the models though!

[200Plus Club]

Rather than waste my time on eBay I've just sold 2 watches to Blowers in Hull who as usual gave really good value (not px just outright purchase)and did not try to chip me down in any way from their emailed valuations.
Beat other like for like dealer quotes and paid straight to my bank within 5 mins. The JLC I'm selling wasn't something they wanted at this time as they have an identical one in stock but otherwise I'd have probably let them take all 3.
I haven't enough time to build up posts on the various watch forums. I did get someone interested via my advert on PH classified but I don't think it's as well known for watches as cars unfortunately.