Is it a red flag if the seller refuses to do a face to face transaction

[Watchflair]

Doesn't make sense. So pass.

Why would a seller not being willing to meet in a secure public place agreed to by both parties. Most police stations allow you to meet in their parking lot or lobby as safe havens.

[brandrea]

Pass

[daveathall]

Would you tell someone who you don't know that at a certain time at a certain place you will be carrying a watch worth thousands of dollars? (Probably in a bag rather than on a wrist) It doesn't matter if it is a public or secure place, the person that is supposed to be meeting him can just watch the place of the meeting, not show but follow the owner back to his car (or follow the car) and then jump him or bag snatch.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by bluerolex

No reference here.

seem to sold some pieces here.

Sold pieces here but no references here?

Strange.

The guy's just too busy, it seems.

Maybe not too busy to check his account to see if he's received the funds, but then too busy to dispatch the watch and too busy to respond to your messages asking WTF is going on.

[Danny83]

Im sure you can get whatever he is selling you here on TRF.

[returntorolex]

Huge red flag!! Trust works both ways in a transaction...too much risk on your part IMO.

[andromeda160]

I just had a friend meet someone and pick up a watch for me in Cali off the forum. Seller didn't have a problem and drove around 30-45 minutes each way for a FTF, he was extremely busy too, but we coordinated a 2 hr window on a sat morning lol

[watchwatcher]

Kind of understandable...but the words "too busy" would be the deal breaker for me.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Would you tell someone who you don't know that at a certain time at a certain place you will be carrying a watch worth thousands of dollars? (Probably in a bag rather than on a wrist) It doesn't matter if it is a public or secure place, the person that is supposed to be meeting him can just watch the place of the meeting, not show but follow the owner back to his car (or follow the car) and then jump him or bag snatch.

When you put it this way, it sounds like a fair point.

I wouldn't get bent out of shape over it if I lived in the US though, not with the amount of trusted sellers kicking about.

[997.2]

My dad was going to buy a longines from a guy who was local. My dad is the CEO of a hospital and has a beautiful hospital and office. He invited the guy to his office for the transaction, a nice face to face, with coffee and a nice networking opportunity but the seller was 'not comfortable' meeting in a 'non public' place. Seller asked, 'how about a Starbucks?' Dad told him to suck it.

Point being every situation is different. Feel it out and if it seems sketchy, maybe it is. Don't be over sensitive though, you may meet an interesting person..

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

I wouldn't get bent out of shape over it if I lived in the US though, not with the amount of trusted sellers kicking about.

Yes, I very much agree, I think that the trusted sellers is the "safe" way to go.

[azguy]

Silly to even consider a transaction like this....

[cornerstore]

[Kingair]

Maybe he is really shy . . . .

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[AK797]

Pass. Meeting at a bank is pretty safe so should always be agreeable if both are local.

[rozyd]

Pass, without a doubt. And more and more of the police departments in my area are establishing "safe havens" for face to face transactions. Have him meet there. Lol. Scammers won't show there...

[james1787]

Run Forrest run... Totally pass. To me is smells like a scam. All the reasons above sound like weak excuses trying to part you with your money and leave you nothing. Won't allow you to authenticate? Doesn't want to meet in public? Only wire transfer? All the telltale signs of a scam. His is too busy to meet and his word is good? Lol... Wow.

Buy the seller.

A lot of people here like davidsw, a trusted seller here on TRF. I am relieved to hear you have not gone through with the deal.

[GoingPlaces]

Take a pass. Forget it.

[T. Ferguson]

Move on. If you want a face to face and are in SoCal then you should contact OCROLEXGUY or justrolexes. Both are power sellers here with beaucoup references and will be glad to meet you.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Would you tell someone who you don't know that at a certain time at a certain place you will be carrying a watch worth thousands of dollars? (Probably in a bag rather than on a wrist) It doesn't matter if it is a public or secure place, the person that is supposed to be meeting him can just watch the place of the meeting, not show but follow the owner back to his car (or follow the car) and then jump him or bag snatch.

The buyer who is carrying the cash is far more at risk and they're typically the victim in these types of scams, not the seller. If you wear a Rolex, its available to be stolen every time you step out your door.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Move on. If you want a face to face and are in SoCal then you should contact OCROLEXGUY or justrolexes. Both are power sellers here with beaucoup references and will be glad to meet you.

Yes, two class gents.

[toneafficianado]

If he's too busy to personally take the amount of money that a Rolex costs then i would run a mile asap away from there. plenty of sellers who welcome face to face as it is obviously better for both parties..

[dddrees]

There's always that chance he could be honest.


Ask yourself, are you willing to take that chance?


I wouldn't.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by AK797

Pass. Meeting at a bank is pretty safe so should always be agreeable if both are local.

I've done this once before and it worked out perfectly. Buyer had me meet him at his bank, we walked up to the teller and he had her make out a certified money order to me. I handed him the watch and we both left happy.

No need to worry about getting mugged or exchanging large amounts of cash

[AK797]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Would you tell someone who you don't know that at a certain time at a certain place you will be carrying a watch worth thousands of dollars? (Probably in a bag rather than on a wrist) It doesn't matter if it is a public or secure place, the person that is supposed to be meeting him can just watch the place of the meeting, not show but follow the owner back to his car (or follow the car) and then jump him or bag snatch.

Yes, this is a possibility for both sides. One way to cover yourself is to do and also tell the other party that you will leave your watch at the bank or the cash and will be leaving with nothing if other side is a no show. Might have to clear it with your bank first to hold your watch.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by AK797

Yes, this is a possibility for both sides. One way to cover yourself is to do and also tell the other party that you will leave your watch at the bank or the cash and will be leaving with nothing if other side is a no show. Might have to clear it with your bank first to hold your watch.

Cash goes in the account or leave with a certified check, watch goes in the safe deposit box.

[Maess]

If the seller won't meet you at a bank or an AD, then its a huge red flag.

[James K]

Maybe he's trying to sell one of the many watches that gets ripped off here in Cali?

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

The buyer who is carrying the cash is far more at risk and they're typically the victim in these types of scams, not the seller. If you wear a Rolex, its available to be stolen every time you step out your door.

Yes, possibly, if it is cash the buyer is carrying, but why is one more at risk than the other? Perhaps you have statistics? My illustration works both ways and could apply equally to buyer or seller. When stepping out of one's door wearing a Rolex one is not advertising the fact or detailing one's movements to an interested party as I was suggesting, so a moot point on your behalf don't you think? A wallet is available to be stolen anytime one walks out of the door as is anything one carries on one's person including watches, jewellery or money.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Yes, possibly, if it is cash the buyer is carrying, but why is one more at risk than the other? Perhaps you have statistics? My illustration works both ways and could apply equally to buyer or seller. When stepping out of one's door wearing a Rolex one is not advertising the fact or detailing one's movements to an interested party as I was suggesting, so a moot point on your behalf don't you think? A wallet is available to be stolen anytime one walks out of the door as is anything one carries on one's person including watches, jewellery or money.

While your illustration may go both ways, its heavily weighted to one side, but not the side you're arguing. The seller is avoiding meeting in person, not the buyer. While I don't have statistics, there are plenty of stories in the news where crooks places an ad on craigslist. A buyer goes to meet the seller and is robbed of the cash. That is how it works. It's counter intuitive for a would-be thief to respond to a for sale ad and robbing the person of the item that they would in tern, have to sell for cash.

Your point abut a wallet is hardly the same as jewelry to watches because you can see the goods before stealing and target high value items such as gold and diamonds. A wallet is not the same at any level. First, you have no idea is there is any cash inside and second, the average person carries less than $50 - hardly a score. Best case it may be a few hundred bucks. But, if a guy is carrying enough cash to buy a Rolex, like in this scenario, who's the easy target here? A watch is insurable. Cash is not. The potential victim in this thread is the OP.