How to pay for a watch?

[ColeTR2]

Shopping for a watch in the classified section and wondered what the best form of payment is to have some sort of protection. In case of the watch not being what was represented or even fake. It kind of worries me to wire thousands of dollars to a complete stranger and not having any recourse. I figure a lot of you on here do quite a bit and must have a safe way to do business. Anyone ever been bitten before?

[TudorSnowflake]

PayPal via credit card. You get credit card protection and PayPal protection.

Have not been bitten but as someone here said before... buy the seller not the watch.

Also use reverse imagine search on all photos to make sure they don't appear from someone else.

[THC]

Hopefully you mean the TRF classified section..... ? Paying is easy if the seller is legit

[locutus49]

I use Paypal, and have it linked to a bank credit card that I opened just for use with Paypal. I keep a certain balance in the Paypal account, and can transfer more money into it from the bank if i need to.

PP now has an option where you can buy without money currently in your PP account and they will transfer that money from your designated bank (buy now, pay later), but that is giving PP a lot of discretionary authority, IMO.

But many want wire transfers and, so far, I used it once without a problem, and no fees from the bank.

[Welshwatchman]

Never wire funds to a complete stranger.

[ColeTR2]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Never wire funds to a complete stranger.

That's what I was thinking.

If I use Paypal which is linked to a Visa I could cancel the payment thru Visa and they would deal with Paypal? If so this seems like the safest way to go about it, right?

Oh and yes I was shopping in the TRF classified section.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Never wire funds to a complete stranger.

For me better yet never buy a watch from a complete stranger or unknown. There are plenty of great sellers with tons of feedback to avoid mistakes and end up in the Watchout section posting a thread about how you were scammed,

[ColeTR2]

Paypal it is. Thanks all!

[hosam112]

I feel as though there are some very reputable sellers here that you can completely trust with your money and can wire them. You can do PayPal but there is 3 % charge and that 3 % becomes big when buying a watch for couple of thousands.

I never bought a watch from here yet but when I do decide to buy one for example, there is a very reputable seller such as DavidSW.....he is very well known and has many references. I'm sure there are many others here just as reputable.

Not trying to defer you from using PayPal but maybe if you use a very reputable seller in here, you can save the 3 % and be worry free!

[Wesley Crusher]

Originally Posted by hosam112

I feel as though there are some very reputable sellers here that you can completely trust with your money and can wire them. You can do PayPal but there is 3 % charge and that 3 % becomes big when buying a watch for couple of thousands.

I never bought a watch from here yet but when I do decide to buy one for example, there is a very reputable seller such as DavidSW.....he is very well known and has many references. I'm sure there are many others here just as reputable.

Not trying to defer you from using PayPal but maybe if you use a very reputable seller in here, you can save the 3 % and be worry free!

Reputable seller or not, why not protect yourself if you have the option? Yes, 3% adds up when we're talking about watches that cost thousands, but the peace of mind that it offers is well worth it.

For what it's worth, I have bought two watches here from very reputable sellers. The thought of them scamming me never crossed my mind, but I still like the comfort of knowing that I am protected.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by ColeTR2

Paypal it is. Thanks all!

Only if the seller accepts it. Each seller will have details of what they will and will not accept as payment so it's best to contact the one you want to deal with.

[locutus49]

Also, this is not a binary proposition. Put simply, you are not locked into one or the other. You can open a PP account, but still use wire transfer with selected trusted sellers like DavidSW if he prefers it. Good to have more than one option.

Originally Posted by Tools

Only if the seller accepts it. Each seller will have details of what they will and will not accept as payment so it's best to contact the one you want to deal with.

[colpol]

Originally Posted by HL65

For me better yet never buy a watch from a complete stranger or unknown. There are plenty of great sellers with tons of feedback to avoid mistakes and end up in the Watchout section posting a thread about how you were scammed,

100% agree. After more than a few years of coming on here\ TZ\ Vintage Rolex forum - I had a short list of dealers with impecable reputations that I regularly visited their sites. When I eventually bit the bullet that research paid off with a non hassle transaction.

No references\ no knowledge of a person - I wouldn't risk it

[Wesley Crusher]

Paypal, for sure. There is a 3% charge, but it's totally worth it. If your Paypal account is linked to your bank account, you have two layers of protection.

[azguy]

Seriously, if you are dealing with high volume TRF sellers you have zero worries. I've bought at least a 1/2 dozen watches on TRF and everything has been smooth and exactly as described.

Also, many people that have said "wire" only have done PP deals with me after checking my references...

I know a great local guy that deals in watches if you'd rather do a face to face, let me know...

[bombardior]

how accepting of sellers of certified check? my bank unfortunately does not do wire but can overnight a certified check for me. why is that frowned upon or often not accepted?

[azguy]

Originally Posted by bombardior

how accepting of sellers of certified check? my bank unfortunately does not do wire but can overnight a certified check for me. why is that frowned upon or often not accepted?

It's about the seller and YOUR reputation. I once had a seller here on TRF tell me I'm gonna put the watch in the mail this afternoon, mail me a check, which I did. It was a $3k transactions, that's trust

I've had a few sellers say "wires" only and they did PP for me, because they know it would be an easy transaction and BS free transaction.

If it's your first of second deal, you'll have to play buy the sellers rules.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by bombardior

how accepting of sellers of certified check? my bank unfortunately does not do wire but can overnight a certified check for me. why is that frowned upon or often not accepted?

Of course it's accepted if you're willing to wait as a cashiers/certified check takes a while to clear.

[bombardior]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Of course it's accepted if you're willing to wait as a cashiers/certified check takes a while to clear.

ahh perfect then. i don't mind waiting a bit while it clears.

[vitalsignsrn]

There are many ways to pay, use the method you are most comfortable with. I bought my Sub from Sohail & didnt think he would scam me, I paid by wire. He has a great reputation & many transactions that back up his character. He even commented to me during one of our initial conversations that I seemed pretty comfortable buying a watch from him. I was actually. I know that if anything negative had been written about him, I wouldn't have bought my watch. I have experience buying diamonds/gems & jewelry online from trusted sellers on another forum. Not once have I been bitten. To me, a seller's reputation is everything. Those that are ligit, rely on that reputation. Word travels fast on the internet. ;-)

[TopNotchChach]

Only wire to trusted sellers/people you trust.

Paypal with credit card... (protection and points!) hahah

[SpecialK29]

Not the OP but I'll thank all of y'all for the info. Looking into getting my first soon, so all this is very helpful.