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Skip Greenwade · 30 August 2010, 04:28 AM

Just back from Los Angeles on what has to qualify as one of the impulsive things my wife and I have done in a long time...here's the story.

Just over a week ago, I did a search of the TRF For Sale forum for a TT Yachtmaster with a black MOP face. I have been looking to add one to the collection for about a year and just missed one a couple of months back, so I thought maybe it was time to check again. The search turned up exactly one watch. It was a beauty, full box set, warranty card, booklets, tags (to include the price tag!), and extra link. To make it even better, the price was right. I contacted the seller, INXTCY (or Ferdi) to make sure the watch was still available - it was.

Ferdi preferred to handle the payment for the watch via wire transfer, which was understandable - fast, secure and no fees. The only problem with that was I got hosed for almost $8K a couple of years ago in a deal gone bad involving a Daytona, a wire transfer and - it turned out - the Russian mafia. After that, I made a promise to myself and my wife that I would not do another wire transfer deal for a watch with a seller I didn't know personally. I checked references, etc. and was assured that Ferdi was "100% legitimate", so I was comfortable doing the deal when my wife, always one to think outside the box, suggested that we just make a quick, weekend trip to LA to pick up the watch. We had more than enough frequent flyer miles and a militaria collector friend who has told me numerous times that, should we ever find ourselves in LA, we had a place to stay and a pair of ready, willing, and able tour guides. So here's the deal - the exact watch I was looking for at a teriffic price, a weekend getaway at virtually no cost, and a chance to visit old friends and make a new one. The die was cast.

I contacted Ferdi on Sunday to make sure he was okay with a face-to-face transaction, called my friend, and hit the Continental Airlines website. Everything fell in place perfectly! Thursday afternoon rolled around and we headed for the airport. The flight was delayed for about an hour, but after a gate and aircraft change we were off to Tinseltown. We arrived at our friends' house - a really cool 1920's Craftsman bungalow in West LA - and did some catching up over a bottle of wine. It turned out that Ferdi's bank had a branch within easy walking distance of my friends' home. Right after breakfast on Friday, he called to let us know he was on the way and that we could meet up around 11:00 AM, do the deal and then grab lunch. Once again, everything worked out as planned. By 11:30, I had my YM and Ferdi, my wife and I were settled in at Pink Taco with a pitcher of Pink Cadillac margaritas and three huge plates of food. An hour or so later, Ferdi dropped us off at our friends' house. Get this; in a city the size of LA, it was about a block and a half down the street from his business partner's home. We spent the rest of the day Friday and most of Saturday seeing the sites - Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and a lot more. The best part is that, a week before, the farthest from my mind was a trip to LA!

I thought the story - even if it is a little long - was just too good not to share. Add me to the list of people who have done business with INXTCY and would definitely do so again.

Ferdi, thanks for everything

Best,
Skip

TheVTCGuy · 30 August 2010, 04:32 AM

PICS! Or it didn't happen....

sleddog · 30 August 2010, 05:15 AM

Great Skip...I'm glad things worked out for you,and what a great watch to boot!!!

dddrees · 30 August 2010, 05:28 AM

Congrats, its always nice when things work out.

You know the saying, post the PICs or it never happened.

DCgator · 30 August 2010, 06:01 AM

Congratulations on the new watch Skip!

dysondiver · 30 August 2010, 06:09 AM

i love it when a plan comes together ,,, oops , someone else said that
PICS
PICS
PICS lol , guess wha im waiting for

kcmo · 30 August 2010, 08:34 AM

Now that is a fantastic story!!!!

What a weekend....a new watch and a new friend! Well done! Hope to see your photos soon!

BarkMaster · 30 August 2010, 08:42 AM

That would be a really cool story... IF it happened.

Skip Greenwade · 30 August 2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777

That would be a really cool story... IF it happened.

Can't believe you would doubt a fellow Texan

Seriously, here are a couple of pics of the 16623. My wife and I take very few travel and vacation pictures and we didn't bring a camera along when we went to meet Ferdi. I suppose we could have used a cell phone camera but, honestly, I don't think it dawned on any of us that we needed to capture the moment for posterity.

Maybe Ferdi will weigh in and back me up

Best,
Skip

sleddog · 30 August 2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Greenwade

Can't believe you would doubt a fellow Texan

Seriously, here are a couple of pics of the 16623. My wife and I take very few travel and vacation pictures and we didn't bring a camera along when we went to meet Ferdi. I suppose we could have used a cell phone camera but, honestly, I don't think it dawned on any of us that we needed to capture the moment for posterity.

Maybe Ferdi will weigh in and back me up

Best,
Skip

Such a great looking dial.....Congrats again!

BarkMaster · 30 August 2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Greenwade

Can't believe you would doubt a fellow Texan

I was kidding, but FWIW, most people that have ever lied to me have been my fellow Texans...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleddog1000

Such a great looking dial.....Congrats again!

X2!!

INXTCY · 30 August 2010, 01:40 PM

Skip,

It was such a great pleasure meeting you and Gabby. Wish you guys could stay longer. Thank you for a smooth transaction, couldn't get any better than that

Hope you guys had a wonderful time in L.A. I am certainly looking forward to your return to Tinseltown.
This is what being a TRF member is all about. Cheers to our new found friendship.

Brushpup · 30 August 2010, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777

I was kidding, but FWIW, most people that have ever lied to me have been my fellow Texans...

X2!!

Yea, mee tooo!

Brushpup · 30 August 2010, 09:57 PM

Nice story Skip and congrats on the new watch. I'm sure there's more, but this makes two of those I know of on TRF.

Now, please send me that PM on some of your WWII Stuff!

dddrees · 30 August 2010, 09:59 PM

We believe you, its just that we like to look at the watches.

Beautiful watch, Congratulations.

TRW · 30 August 2010, 10:25 PM

30 August 2010, 04:28 AM	#1
Skip Greenwade "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Crosby, Texas Watch: Too Many to List! Posts: 201	My "Yachtmaster Weekend" Just back from Los Angeles on what has to qualify as one of the impulsive things my wife and I have done in a long time...here's the story. Just over a week ago, I did a search of the TRF For Sale forum for a TT Yachtmaster with a black MOP face. I have been looking to add one to the collection for about a year and just missed one a couple of months back, so I thought maybe it was time to check again. The search turned up exactly one watch. It was a beauty, full box set, warranty card, booklets, tags (to include the price tag!), and extra link. To make it even better, the price was right. I contacted the seller, INXTCY (or Ferdi) to make sure the watch was still available - it was. Ferdi preferred to handle the payment for the watch via wire transfer, which was understandable - fast, secure and no fees. The only problem with that was I got hosed for almost $8K a couple of years ago in a deal gone bad involving a Daytona, a wire transfer and - it turned out - the Russian mafia. After that, I made a promise to myself and my wife that I would not do another wire transfer deal for a watch with a seller I didn't know personally. I checked references, etc. and was assured that Ferdi was "100% legitimate", so I was comfortable doing the deal when my wife, always one to think outside the box, suggested that we just make a quick, weekend trip to LA to pick up the watch. We had more than enough frequent flyer miles and a militaria collector friend who has told me numerous times that, should we ever find ourselves in LA, we had a place to stay and a pair of ready, willing, and able tour guides. So here's the deal - the exact watch I was looking for at a teriffic price, a weekend getaway at virtually no cost, and a chance to visit old friends and make a new one. The die was cast. I contacted Ferdi on Sunday to make sure he was okay with a face-to-face transaction, called my friend, and hit the Continental Airlines website. Everything fell in place perfectly! Thursday afternoon rolled around and we headed for the airport. The flight was delayed for about an hour, but after a gate and aircraft change we were off to Tinseltown. We arrived at our friends' house - a really cool 1920's Craftsman bungalow in West LA - and did some catching up over a bottle of wine. It turned out that Ferdi's bank had a branch within easy walking distance of my friends' home. Right after breakfast on Friday, he called to let us know he was on the way and that we could meet up around 11:00 AM, do the deal and then grab lunch. Once again, everything worked out as planned. By 11:30, I had my YM and Ferdi, my wife and I were settled in at Pink Taco with a pitcher of Pink Cadillac margaritas and three huge plates of food. An hour or so later, Ferdi dropped us off at our friends' house. Get this; in a city the size of LA, it was about a block and a half down the street from his business partner's home. We spent the rest of the day Friday and most of Saturday seeing the sites - Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and a lot more. The best part is that, a week before, the farthest from my mind was a trip to LA! I thought the story - even if it is a little long - was just too good not to share. Add me to the list of people who have done business with INXTCY and would definitely do so again. Ferdi, thanks for everything Best, Skip

30 August 2010, 05:15 AM	#3
sleddog TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Rob Location: Nearby. Posts: 24,931	Great Skip...I'm glad things worked out for you,and what a great watch to boot!!! __________________ He who wears a Rolex is always on time, even when late!! TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Nightclub Patron-Founding Member..

30 August 2010, 05:28 AM	#4
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,253	Congrats, its always nice when things work out. You know the saying, post the PICs or it never happened. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

30 August 2010, 08:42 AM	#8
BarkMaster "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Watch: 18078 YG DD Posts: 7,962	That would be a really cool story... IF it happened. __________________ BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK

30 August 2010, 09:57 PM	#14
Brushpup "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Patrick Location: Texas Watch: what I'm wearing Posts: 5,943	Nice story Skip and congrats on the new watch. I'm sure there's more, but this makes two of those I know of on TRF. Now, please send me that PM on some of your WWII Stuff! __________________ *TRFs "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Patron-Founding Member* PClub # 10 74,592 The safest place for your watch is on your wrist.

30 August 2010, 04:32 AM	#2
TheVTCGuy Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Paul Location: San Diego Watch: 126619LB Posts: 21,540	PICS! Or it didn't happen....

30 August 2010, 06:01 AM	#5
DCgator "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: PNW Watch: DS,BLNR,SubLV,DJ2 Posts: 8,123	Congratulations on the new watch Skip!

30 August 2010, 06:09 AM	#6
dysondiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: tom Location: northern ireland Watch: my fins Posts: 10,063	i love it when a plan comes together ,,, oops , someone else said that PICS PICS PICS lol , guess wha im waiting for

30 August 2010, 08:34 AM	#7
kcmo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Real Name: Karis Location: USA Posts: 19,377	Now that is a fantastic story!!!! What a weekend....a new watch and a new friend! Well done! Hope to see your photos soon!

30 August 2010, 01:40 PM	#12
INXTCY "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: los angeles Watch: like them all Posts: 100	Skip, It was such a great pleasure meeting you and Gabby. Wish you guys could stay longer. Thank you for a smooth transaction, couldn't get any better than that Hope you guys had a wonderful time in L.A. I am certainly looking forward to your return to Tinseltown. This is what being a TRF member is all about. Cheers to our new found friendship.

30 August 2010, 09:59 PM	#15
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,253	We believe you, its just that we like to look at the watches. Beautiful watch, Congratulations. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

30 August 2010, 10:25 PM	#16
TRW Banned Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Tim Location: tennessee Watch: 16623 YM Posts: 3,630

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