[Advice] Buying from internet

[Yaz]

Hi guys,

I have a question for you. Usually I am buying my watches face-to-face or from Chrono24 (UK, France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany) where I can also meet the seller and have a chat before buying the watch.
I am interested by buying another watch via Chrono24 from Taiwan.

So the seller looks legit and after a chat, I want to buy the watch...but...because there is a but (oops), the seller ask to do it without involving Chrono24;

What does it mean ?

He says he will send and invoice and do all the right way but why this request ?

I am a bit confused...
Any advice ?

Thanks a lot.

[lx384]

To save on the 6.5% commissions C24 charges.

[Chewbacca]

If you can afford to lose the money and it doesn't impact your day to day life, go for it.

If not, keep doing what you've been doing locally. But respect your gut feeling on this one.

Personally, I'm not a C24 fan for transactions. Only as an info source.

[healer]

Kiss your money goodbuy:)

[edweather]

Can you use paypal, and credit card?

[GradyPhilpott]

Don't do it.

[Liquid Snake]

Stay away. If you don't feel right, it is best to walk away.

[GGGMT]

Really? really??


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[Paullife]

Buy the seller before you buy from him/her

[Paullife]

Buy the seller before you buy from him/her

[Humble michael]

If he will cheat C24 , you can bet he will cheat you :-(

[locutus49]

This is such a true insight.

Originally Posted by james272

If he will cheat C24 , you can bet he will cheat you :-(

[Fredette]

Ive personally bought and sold watches on chrono24. All transactions have been off the platform. Paypal only charges a 3% commission compared to chronos 6.5. My agreement with the buyers and sellers was basically this: if you want to go through the escrow service for your peace of mind, thats fine, but paypal would save money.

Another note, as a buyer you pretty much have all the protection when doing business through paypal.

All that being said, there are scammers on every platform, so make sure you vet the seller. This doesn't mean that they have to have loads of feedback. There are some collectors out there with barely any feedback simply because they dont buy and sell too often. If they are able to have a logical conversation about watches they probably arent out to screw you. I would make sure there was a timeframe worked out in the agreement where you were able to take the watch to a jeweler and have it authenticated or your money back. Again, if youre going through paypal you can easily get your money back if you have somthing from the jeweler saying the watch isnt real.

I personally prefer face to face and the ability to see the watch, but having done business online, I can say from experience that its a viable option to buy a luxury watch.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Yaz

So the seller looks legit and after a chat, I want to buy the watch...but...because there is a but (oops), the seller ask to do it without involving Chrono24;



What does it mean ?



He says he will send and invoice and do all the right way but why this request ?

That sounds like a great offer...Not!!!

But in the lemons to lemonade motif, tell him yes!!! Have him email the invoice along with his bank info.

Print the invoice, sign it with FOB (insert your city name) and COD (his banking info). Then send him the signed invoice.

That’d be the only way I’d do that deal.




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[Harry-57]

If there is a doubt, there is no doubt. It just isn't worth the potential risk.

I found a seller on C24 and researched the hell out of them. I was 100% convinced that they were the real deal and so I bought the seller. Which enabled me to buy the watch - at less than the asking price in exchange for a wire transfer.

I would not have even contemplated this, let alone proceeded, if I was only 99% convinced. It might take longer but it's probably worth it.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by lx384

To save on the 6.5% commissions C24 charges.

Yes 6.5% but isn't the 6.5% fee capped at $299.00? If so there is really no big incentive for the seller to have the transaction OFF Chrono24, it is just safer for both parties at the end of the day and $300 flat fee is worth it for that.

[Merkaholic]

Originally Posted by myporsche

Yes 6.5% but isn't the 6.5% fee capped at $299.00? If so there is really no big incentive for the seller to have the transaction OFF Chrono24, it is just safer for both parties at the end of the day and $300 flat fee is worth it for that.

From memory, there is no cap for business sellers.

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[Laszlo]

Walk.

[lx384]

Originally Posted by myporsche

Yes 6.5% but isn't the 6.5% fee capped at $299.00? If so there is really no big incentive for the seller to have the transaction OFF Chrono24, it is just safer for both parties at the end of the day and $300 flat fee is worth it for that.

I may be wrong on this. But it seems like there was a recent change. Comms are no longer capped at $300. In fact, they have a calculator on their website showing how much comms the seller will need to pay. Do check it out. I know some people pulled their watches off c24 because of this change.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by lx384

I may be wrong on this. But it seems like there was a recent change. Comms are no longer capped at $300. In fact, they have a calculator on their website showing how much comms the seller will need to pay. Do check it out. I know some people pulled their watches off c24 because of this change.

That's odd I sold a watch on there only weeks ago and paid $300, thought it was a pleasant experience. I am no longer seeing the $300 cap in the FAQs.

[lx384]

I’m guessing it’s probably a recent change. OR it only applies to watches listed after the change. I do remember the $300 cap. But from what I’ve seen recently, c24 may have stealthily changed their policy.

[joli160]

Seller trying to dodge a hefty fee in consultation with you does not mean he is trying to scam you.

Besides the Chrono escrow service does not provide protection as you would expect in case there is a dispute about the watch.
The term trusted seller on Chrono means nothing, everybody is

Rely on yourself in checking out any seller prior wiring money.
I paid all my watches and wired upwards of 30K upfront and never had an issue buying from real vetted trusted sellers.

[Robtayham]

He may be the most honest person in the world. Doesn’t matter.

If you’re not comfortable, don’t do it.

[Calatrava r]

I have bought twice on Chronos 24 with no issues. Both sellers, one in Italy and one in Taiwan were big watch re-sellers with a website and clear hours of operation. Both afforded great communication. I preferred to just deal directly with the stores rather than go through Chronos 24 and pay all the escrow fees as a purchaser. Its what you are comfortable with. With a private seller I would have to use any service of protection Chronos24 offers.

[othertbone]

Run!!

[Humble michael]

Don’t ever wire money to someone you don’t know! Would you bundle up 300 $100 bills and mail them out , hoping he will send you the timepiece and it will be as described??? That’s what you are doing with a wire . Use AMX .