UK - Ever bought from socialmedia grey/traders?

[Andygmt2]

Hey Guys,

Just wondered if anyone has purchased from watch traders that seem to be posting/updating stock on social media and your experience through this process? I understand some may be advertising on Chrono24 also etc though seems these guys get a new DaytonaC or hot SS models incoming at least one a month / or will know weeks in advance they will be getting ‘x’ model.

[rootbeer7]

To get the hot models, you may have no choice. Do the right checks and you should be ok. Plenty of bricks and mortar greys.

[JonnyH83]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

To get the hot models, you may have no choice. Do the right checks and you should be ok. Plenty of bricks and mortar greys.

This.

If in doubt you could always go to a large/trusted used watch specialist such as Watchfinder who's prices aren't dissimilar. They have boutiques dotted around. Either way if you are going to be spending thousands on a watch I would be inclined to view it first - try it on etc... Chrono24 seem ok also.

Good luck in your search and keep us posted.

[Fleetlord]

Not all Social Media / Grey Market sellers are created equally.

For example, use caution if dealing with gentleman or "broski" dealers who post lots of lifestyle pics of their "inventory" on Instagram, but don't have a website for their "company"..

What some of these guys do is a post a pic of a "hawt" reference with 'contact me' for the low low price...and go from there...

Well the issue is that they often don't actually have the watch to sell to you...

Then the frantic search begins to fill the "order"...so they hit up guys in the biz with inventory, buy it from them at "wholesale" dealer to dealer, then that gets marked up and sold to you..

There are networks of the dudes on FB and other sites trading watches back and forth to fill the "order"....or unload watches back and forth.

The problem is these guys can get in over their heads, take deposits, use that money to float other watches and not be able to get what you want for awhile....if at all.

There are stories on the watchout section on this site about a few of these "broski" deals gone south...with some expensive lessons learned.


Overall it's better to buy from Greys with websites of their own that are updated daily, have a flow of sale postings on various watchforums sales boards with pics of the actual watch in their possession, or are have a BM location / are affiliated with an AD as a "preowned" department...

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Not all Social Media / Grey Market sellers are created equally.

For example, use caution if dealing with gentleman or "broski" dealers who post lots of lifestyle pics of their "inventory" on Instagram, but don't have a website for their "company"..

What some of these guys do is a post a pic of a "hawt" reference with 'contact me' for the low low price...and go from there...

Well the issue is that they often don't actually have the watch to sell to you...

Then the frantic search begins to fill the "order"...so they hit up guys in the biz with inventory, buy it from them at "wholesale" dealer to dealer, then that gets marked up and sold to you..

There are networks of the dudes on FB and other sites trading watches back and forth to fill the "order"....or unload watches back and forth.

The problem is these guys can get in over their heads, take deposits, use that money to float other watches and not be able to get what you want for awhile....if at all.

There are stories on the watchout section on this site about a few of these "broski" deals gone south...with some expensive lessons learned.


Overall it's better to buy from Greys with websites of their own that are updated daily, have a flow of sale postings on various watchforums sales boards with pics of the actual watch in their possession, or are have a BM location / are affiliated with an AD as a "preowned" department...

Definitely