In this post, we’ll discuss the essential steps to take to help you identify great deals, evaluate the item for sale, vet the seller, and ultimately buy the watch you want at a fraction of what it would cost retail.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Don’t Get Duped By Counterfeit Watches
I was 12 years old when I got introduced to the world of counterfeit goods. In the middle of the Little League season, I got tired of wearing damaged shades from Wal-Mart. I begged my parents to buy me a pair of Oakley M Frame sunglasses. Unfortunately, they weren’t remotely interested in footing the bill. But I wasn’t concerned. My local filling station had a massive rack of Oakley sunglasses at a fraction of the cost. So, I saved up four weeks of allowance money and paid $20 for a fresh new pair of M Frames. Within three days, the glasses had paint flaking off, and the frame eventually snapped in half. The moral of the story – I was duped.
When you buy watches on eBay or any other item of value, for that matter, there’s a risk of counterfeit goods. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the timepiece you’re purchasing is authentic.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Closely Inspect the Photos for Authenticity
eBay allows sellers to upload numerous photos of the items they’re listing to help the buyer decide whether they would like to purchase the item. Like with a watch, sellers will typically use as many photos as possible to accurately represent what is for sale with higher value items.
When I buy watches on eBay, I look specifically at the following components and compare them to photos that the manufacturers provide:
- The strap/bracelet
- The lug ends
- The bezel
- The case
- The watch face (numbers, second markers, minute and hour hands, etc.)
If any of these components seem off, I don’t strongly consider the possibility of dealing with a counterfeit item. If I can’t tell whether or not there is any inconsistency, I will reach out to the seller to get additional photos of the area in question. An eager seller with nothing to hide will typically follow-up promptly with the requested pictures. The eyeball test is one of the most critical standards to use when buying a watch on eBay.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Look at the Description and Item Specifics
Another good litmus test for authenticity is in the Description and Item Specifics information. If something seems fishy here, you may want to reconsider purchasing. For instance, if you’re looking to purchase a Tag Heuer watch, famous for being “Swiss-Made,” you wouldn’t expect the timepiece to be coming from a factory outlet in China.
You can familiarize yourself with the actual product description and details by looking at the model specifics on the manufacturer’s site or a known retailer of the item. Being informed about precisely what you’re looking for is the best defense against fraud.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Review the Seller’s Profile, Feedback, and Communicating with Them
If you’re on the fence, doing a deep dive on the seller may be in order. Look at their feedback score and time on eBay. Do they have staying power, or do they appear to be a fly-by-night seller? Do they have any negative feedback? If so, what for? Anytime I buy a watch on eBay or anything of significant value, I put the seller under an electron microscope. If anything leaves me feeling like they might offer a suboptimal buying experience, I don’t buy.
Lastly, the seller is ultimately your last chance to determine the authenticity of an item. If it is an individual seller, you can ask them for proof of purchase, original packaging, warranty card, etc., to show that the watch they’re selling is genuine. If they cannot furnish you with that information, it is up to you to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
eBay’s Buyer Protection
One of the great things about buying watches from eBay is the buyer protection they offer. They offer the eBay Money Back Guarantee, which covers the purchase price and shipping cost for eligible purchases on the site (which is virtually all items). The guarantee allows you to have peace of mind knowing that you’ll be able to evaluate the watch in-hand after purchasing for authentication. My personal experience with the Money-Back Guarantee is that eBay will side with the buyers unless there is clear fraudulent intent from the buyer to rip off the seller. Buying through eBay offers a layer of protection often not seen on the secondhand market.
Plus, eBay offers an Authenticity Guarantee on luxury timepieces over $2,000! That means if you’ve got your eye on a high-end watch and are concerned that you might get duped, eBay takes the guesswork out. If you find a watch with a blue checkmark, you can rest assured that experts have assessed all of the watch’s components using state-of-the-art technology and have deemed it authentic. If you’re looking to spend serious money on a timepiece, shopping for one with verified authenticity makes sense.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Evaluate the Condition of the Watch
While some watches you buy on eBay may be new, it’s a great place to go for even deeper bargains on pre-owned watches. Of course, when shopping for a used item, being sure about the condition crucial.
I recommend taking the following steps to assess the condition of the watch:
- Evaluate the photos. Make sure the seller isn’t just using a stock image if the watch is pre-owned. Ideally, you’ll want the pictures to be well-lit and close enough to look for any imperfections in important places, like the case, bezel, strap, etc.
- If there few images or pictures with shadows or glares that make it difficult to get a fully informed look at the watch, reach out to the seller for more information or additional photos.
- Read the item description thoroughly. Sometimes, the photos might look great, but the information in the item description details something else that may be notable about the watch (i.e., mechanical issues).
- Don’t be shy about reaching out to the seller. If anything gives you pause about the purchase, but you are still interested, it’s worth reaching out to the seller to get your questions answered. You’ll feel better knowing you exhausted all channels for information, and you’ll build more robust supporting documentation in the event the watch isn’t in the specified condition.
Make Sure You’re Finding the Best Deal
Getting trigger happy when buying a watch on eBay happens to the best of us. You find the timepiece you’ve wanted for a long time at a reasonable price, and you want to act before someone else does. If you’re looking for something exceedingly rare, the price is excellent, and it checks all of the boxes, it might make sense to act fast.
However, in most instances, you have time. eBay is a community of over 180 million users, so odds are, it won’t be the last time you see the item. Being well-informed and fully utilizing eBay’s search tools can help you find the best watch to buy at the best price. Moreover, you won’t get caught up in the moment and overpay.
So, how can you search to make sure you’re getting the best deals?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Use Advanced Search to Look at Sold Listings
The most effective, cost-saving tip I’ve used to make sure I’m getting the best price on anything is to use the “Sold Listings” tool. This tool will allow you to see what items have recently been sold, their closing price, and how frequently the watches are selling.
I look at eBay as a pseudo-stock market. Prices fluctuate daily, and you want to ensure you’re not overpaying based on the current market conditions. If the listing you see is below recently sold items and in a comparable state, you might be finding a good deal.
One additional tip is if you see a large number of watches listed as active auctions but no recently sold items – you have room to negotiate. I will often reach out to sellers, compliment their auction, and offer a lower price than is shown – citing no watches have recently sold for that price. [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Use Search Terms that Help You Narrowly Pinpoint Your Desired Watch
Searching “Rolex,” “Shinola,” “Seiko,” or “Timex” can be helpful in the discovery phase of finding a timepiece you like but is an inefficient way to pinpoint a search. The more granular you can be in your search, the better. For instance, using words like “chronograph,” “quartz,” or “smartwatch” combined with the brand will get you closer to more specific search results.
The way I recommend searching is by entering the exact brand/model/color/condition you are looking to purchase. This detailed search will allow you to see the number of listings, the different types of listings and give an overall sense of what you can get the watch for and which one will be the best deal.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Use Filters and Sorting Options
Finally, the “advanced search” options allow you to filter which type of listing you want to view, item condition and will allow you to sort by many different dimensions, including price. This strategy can help serve up the most cost-effective options first, saving you time searching for watches with a more significant number of results.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Final Thoughts Before You Buy A Watch on eBay
I’m not bashful about it – eBay is one of the first places I go to source a watch for my collection. While it may not be as easy as going to your local jeweler or retail outlet, the cost savings can outweigh the effort it takes to find and vet items.
Plus, eBay does a fantastic job of taking care of its buyers. When I buy a watch on eBay, I do my research to make sure I’m not getting hosed. But, if there is an instance where a seller is dishonest, I can be sure that eBay will make it right in a hassle-free manner.
So, if you’re looking to dip the toe and have your first experience buying a timepiece of eBay, have fun with it! You’ll be perusing a vast selection of watches – many of which are no longer sold in stores, and able to find the perfect fit for your collection and your wrist.
Enjoy![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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