What are the top 10 buying mistakes?

[Castor]

Originally Posted by Clay

Browsing the For Sale Forums after 3 Martinis...

So true!!

[zen watch]

Relying on pictures alone, and not going to the AD to try it on, and see it in person.

[Franks07]

Stay away from refinished dials "professionally" and "faithfully" refinished dials are still just that...refinished dials. All Original all the time :)

[fishingbear]

- Don't let the salesperson pressure you (they will, it's their job).

- Try on the models you have narrowed it down to, sometimes the pictures look awesome but on the wrist it's just not for you.

- Research, research, research: Understand the model watch you are interested in.

- Research, research, research: Understand the price of the model you are interested in.

- When not buying from an authorized dealer; Reasearch and KNOW the person you are
dealing with can be trusted.

- Utilize the great folks and knowledge on this forum; they are a world of knowledge when it comes to your researching.

[Psmith]

1. taking too much notice of other people's opinions
2. not spending 10-20 mins carefully checking a watch before purchasing (or rejecting)
3. not getting the watch you really want
4. believing that you are making a financial investment
5. purchasing something that causes you more worry than it gives you pleasure
6. allowing yourself to be pressured into a purchase
7. paying too much
8. insufficient research
9. getting too hung up on one brand
10. believing that other people will care about what watch you wear

[FTE2014]

Originally Posted by Metalheart

1. Buying a watch because it is popular (the Sub is an exception )
2. Buying an oversized watch for your wrist
3. Buying 2 or 3 watches that you like 80% instead of saving up and buying the one watch that you like 110%
4. Buying a watch just so you can show off
5. Buying a watch from bad grey market dealers just because it is cheap
6. Buying a watch without trying it on
7. Buying multiple watches in a short period of time (if you can't actually afford, that is)
8. Buying a watch thinking of its resale value above other characteristics

Been there, done almost all of that. Learnt all along the way and now I have the two, and only two most wonderful watches that I've ever bought: the DJ and Sub.

I fully agree with (3) buying 2 or 3 watches rather than saving up for smth you love 110%.

I think for the new collectors / enthousiasts the other deadly mistake is getting too excited and try to build up a collection really fast. I am very new at this, I got into high-end watches over the past year. After buying my first +$1000K watch, I ended up buying 6 other watches over the following 3 months, spending considerable amount of money in the process. Funny thing is your preferences evolve through the process as your knowledge of horology expands.

I am now 110% happy with 3 of my watches, quite content with 1, and not entirely happy with 3 of them where my choices are either to (a) keep part of non-core / secondary portfolio (b) sell at the secondary market taking a large haircut for a brand new piece (3) give one or two of them to my brother who seems to really like those particular pieces.

All the best

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Metalheart

1. Buying a watch because it is popular (the Sub is an exception )
2. Buying an oversized watch for your wrist
3. Buying 2 or 3 watches that you like 80% instead of saving up and buying the one watch that you like 110%
4. Buying a watch just so you can show off
5. Buying a watch from bad grey market dealers just because it is cheap
6. Buying a watch without trying it on
7. Buying multiple watches in a short period of time (if you can't actually afford, that is)
8. Buying a watch thinking of its resale value above other characteristics

Been there, done almost all of that. Learnt all along the way and now I have the two, and only two most wonderful watches that I've ever bought: the DJ and Sub.

7. I made a similar mistake. I bought my first rolex 1680 sub with just enough cash to get by. Not a great choice for a 26 yr old with a child on the way and a new house purchase. Long story short I had to take a slice of humble pie and sell it to fund the house and upgrades. I had been on the hunt since I was 13 for a rolex. My mentor bought his first when I was a kid and I wanted nothing more than to have my own. The feeling was not what I expected. Instead months later I realized that I should have used the money on our first home. I'm on the hunt again and hopefully will be able to get another in the next year or so.

[SUBversive]

#319 reading this forum

[applebook]

IMO, impulse purchases are the worst because they almost never work out, and you usually end up taking a sizable loss on the resale.

[leicashot]

Biggest and MOST EXPENSIVE mistake I ever made was buying the blue Black Bay. I felt it really has poor wrist presence and looks somewhat cheap compared to the red, which I should have bought, and because I bought it, it made me realise what I really want is a Rolex and I should spend 3x extra to get it even though it's not necessarily 3x better.....yes a post is average without a picture. I have to say its very photogenic but did disappoint me in person, yet would make an excellent daily beater.