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| Summary Why Collecting Timepieces? |
What Kind of
Timepieces? Where to Buy Timepieces? |
When to Buy Timepieces? Who Helps? |
Where to Buy Timepieces? |
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course here - und everywhere else. ebay is the biggest market place for collectors. The ebay philosophy that everybody is good is of course nonsense, as well as the opinion the all fraudsters of the world are meeting there. It is like in the real world, and only some facts must be taken into account: 1) The offers are as different as the sellers. Somebody who offers a watch, has not automatically the knowledge to describe it correctly, and this bears already a risk. On the other hand the chance of a bargain is overestimated, because in the huge community there are always some who can estimate an item even with a humble description. 2) Professional vendors in Europe must offer a return privilege. This reduces the risks. But some vendors sell cosmetically treated rusty junk, and many customers don't even recognize it - so better have a watchmaker to evaluate your purchases. 3) Always also people join bidding, who believe that things are valuable if they really look old. Accordingly often terms like "charming patina" are met in descriptions, and entirely worn out items are nowhere more expensive than on ebay. 4) Only bid for what you see! If a movement photo is missing, the movement is often rusty junk. Remember, old watches are sold because they are no longer used, or worse: because they can't be used any longer. 5) Don't be too sure that you never have the nightmare described here. Watch fora Almost every watch forum has a trading section. This is essentially similar to ebay with different quality of descripions etc., but usually free of charge. And the forum itself is even some kind of feedback system. But there is a major difference: The familiar interaction in the forum suggests a reliability which is actally not present. Of course this has an influence on prices, in both directions, depending on the activities of the member in the forum. Conventional auctions Here you can take the watch and inspect it, and this can't be substituted by pictures. The descriptions are professionally made, and at least they are consistent within one auction house. And as the the auctioneer does not sell his own watches, there is no reason to write them beautiful. In many auctions you can participate by phone or online. The inspection possibility is then missing, but the objective descriptons, and more or less extended return policy care for a lower risk compared with ebay. However, the auctioneer asks a charge for his job, and therefore higher prices should be expected. But if prices for similar watches are compared, the difference is almost invisible. The reason is that the descriptions are more objective than on ebay, and a nice watch has a higher value than a watch with nice descripton. Markets The Internet decreased their importance, but they will not vanish, because personal negotiations and the possibility to inspect the items can hardly be replaced by the capabilities of the online commerce. Moreover the Internet is a strong competitor, leaving no reasonable margin for higher prices - especially if buyers gain infomations from the Internet. The variety of a local market is of course smaller than in the worldwide online market, and it is more effort to visit markets than pushing a mouse, but it's also pleasure, and the reality can't be substituted by a PC display. |
Boot sale Everything is sold, and scarcely an attractive watch is met. Prices are a matter of accident, but as everybody believes that old watches are valuable, they are usually too expensive. Who ever enjoys flea markets may look there also for watches, but it is not worth while to visit them especially to find a watch. Retailers They are known for the smallest collection with the highest prices. The small collection doesn't matter if you find there a watch you really desire. And refering the price, the counter value should be taken into account: The watches are offered by a specialist, often carefully restored and with quarantee. If later troubles and costs for a cheaply purchased watch are taken into account, a purchase from the specialist may be much better than appearing on the first glance. The retailer does a job, and wants mony for it - that simple. Of course the retailer needs his costs to be payed back and some profit. But often the old watches are taken as payment for a new one. So the dealer had already his profit, and must only care not to destroy it when selling the old watch. Last not least: A business face to face is the best guarantee not to be cheated. Online shops Dealer usually know what they deal with, and a more or less extended return privilege limits the risks. As sales are not coupled to short runtimes like on ebay, the vendor can wait for a customer who desperately wants a particular watch. This raises the price level, and everybody should decide for himself what to pay for higher quality and lower risk. bidfun and Pink Pages These remarks at the end because a small market place like this is forced to merge the advandages of the above mentioned. It runs similar to ebay, but free of charge; so sellers and buyers may share this advantage. Due to the environment with many informations and the biggest online archive for movements, mainly experienced collectors are meeting here. If someone tries to sell watches with average ebay descriptions, he will give up soon. It is earlier appreciated, if work or money was spent on a watch, because this is often backed up by a return privilege and/or guarantee. Therefore watchmakers prefer this place to offer watches which are made ready for use before selling. Offers from Ranfft-Watches (designated by pink background) represent a reasonable part oft the offers. The watches come from collectors or dealers, who leave the selling job to someone else for charge. Hardly a disadvantage for buyers, because low charges and return privilege make it senseless to describe an item better than it actually is. To fill gaps in the movement achive, I also bid on ebay now and then. The good news first: With some care and experience great desasters are rare. But many watches are sold because repairing is not worth while, and it is no surprise that often too much money must be wasted on a watch later. And sometimes it is even worse: Some hobby destructors buy watches on ebay, and don't sell them before they have entirely ruined them - with the specification "recently serviced". |
 ...the alternative - free of charge! |
Dr. Roland Ranfft Im Eichfeld 8 41844 Wegberg-Wildenrath Germany |
phone +49 (0)2432 491604 fax +49 (0)2432 491605 email: info@ranfft.de |
Last update: 06-12-09 |