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Hi guys, I'm not too sure whether this is the correct forum to post this experience of mine, but I do hope to get it off my chest and seek the opinions of you people here. This is regarding a watch exchange experience I had with one of the forumers here, whom I do not wish to mention the name.
The deal is that we are to do a 1-for-1 exchange of a certain brand of watch (my watch and his is of the same brand). It was agreed that we meet up for a no-obligation viewing of the watches before doing the exchange (though we have seen the photos of each other's watches in the forum).
So once we met up, we did a check on the watches and we seemed to be please with them (or at least I am). His only issue is that my watch is fitted with a NATO strap, which he do not like. So I told him that I can get the original strap fitted back at the AD, which he agreed to close the sale if the original strap is replaced and it fits his wrist size. The AD was closed on that time, so we agreed to meet the next day once the original strap is fitted.
Come the following day, I went to the AD to get the strap fixed and we met again. This time, he tried on the watch and it fits him perfectly. This is where the issue started. He began micro examining the watch and kept commenting that there is a scratch on the sapphire crystal face. I know that I kept the watch in pretty good condition (it's about 3.5 years old anyway) and I'm pretty sure there isnt a scratch before. Worse still, he tried to polish off the so-called scratch with a MacDonald's serviette even before showing to me or telling me that there is a scratch. God knows whether the "scratch" is caused by him using such an unsuitable material.
All the time while this "polishing" is happening, he did not even have the courtesy to show me his watch for examination. So basically, i sat there for almost 1 hour looking at him fiddling my watch and asking me stupid questions about the warranty card, why the manual is in German, and why the bezel is unidirectional, etc. These questions are strange coming from someone who apparently owns Speedmasters and Rolexes, and the same brand of watch that we are exchanging.
So after all these fiddlings, we conclude that the scratch may be due to the wearing off of the protective coating, which can be easily replaced or touched up by the AD (as I've verified on a call to the AD right in front of him). After all these, he still deliberated by telling me he needs to consult his friend and another shop owner who is an expert at watches (or so he claims). And he proposed to meet up the 3rd time after consulting his friend.
Seriously, I'm not desperate to close the deal and I've an appointment to catch. Fancy spending more than an hour examining the watch when in the first place, the examination should be done on the first day. Worst thing is that he said that the strap is the issue and now, it is the apparent scratch (which when i examined it, it is hardly more than 1mm and not really visible) which may be caused by him. So after that, I just packed and walked off, feeling very pissed off.
Sorry for the long story, and some of you guys may think I am pretty unreasonable. For that matter, the worth of each watch is abt 2k only, and the way the examination is conducted, it is as if for a half million dollar watch. The part where i am most cheesed off is the promise that the deal will be closed after the original strap is fitted, which did not happened at all though I made the effort to get it done.
Just hope to hear a second opinion for you people. Thanks for the time!
The deal is that we are to do a 1-for-1 exchange of a certain brand of watch (my watch and his is of the same brand). It was agreed that we meet up for a no-obligation viewing of the watches before doing the exchange (though we have seen the photos of each other's watches in the forum).
So once we met up, we did a check on the watches and we seemed to be please with them (or at least I am). His only issue is that my watch is fitted with a NATO strap, which he do not like. So I told him that I can get the original strap fitted back at the AD, which he agreed to close the sale if the original strap is replaced and it fits his wrist size. The AD was closed on that time, so we agreed to meet the next day once the original strap is fitted.
Come the following day, I went to the AD to get the strap fixed and we met again. This time, he tried on the watch and it fits him perfectly. This is where the issue started. He began micro examining the watch and kept commenting that there is a scratch on the sapphire crystal face. I know that I kept the watch in pretty good condition (it's about 3.5 years old anyway) and I'm pretty sure there isnt a scratch before. Worse still, he tried to polish off the so-called scratch with a MacDonald's serviette even before showing to me or telling me that there is a scratch. God knows whether the "scratch" is caused by him using such an unsuitable material.
All the time while this "polishing" is happening, he did not even have the courtesy to show me his watch for examination. So basically, i sat there for almost 1 hour looking at him fiddling my watch and asking me stupid questions about the warranty card, why the manual is in German, and why the bezel is unidirectional, etc. These questions are strange coming from someone who apparently owns Speedmasters and Rolexes, and the same brand of watch that we are exchanging.
So after all these fiddlings, we conclude that the scratch may be due to the wearing off of the protective coating, which can be easily replaced or touched up by the AD (as I've verified on a call to the AD right in front of him). After all these, he still deliberated by telling me he needs to consult his friend and another shop owner who is an expert at watches (or so he claims). And he proposed to meet up the 3rd time after consulting his friend.
Seriously, I'm not desperate to close the deal and I've an appointment to catch. Fancy spending more than an hour examining the watch when in the first place, the examination should be done on the first day. Worst thing is that he said that the strap is the issue and now, it is the apparent scratch (which when i examined it, it is hardly more than 1mm and not really visible) which may be caused by him. So after that, I just packed and walked off, feeling very pissed off.
Sorry for the long story, and some of you guys may think I am pretty unreasonable. For that matter, the worth of each watch is abt 2k only, and the way the examination is conducted, it is as if for a half million dollar watch. The part where i am most cheesed off is the promise that the deal will be closed after the original strap is fitted, which did not happened at all though I made the effort to get it done.
Just hope to hear a second opinion for you people. Thanks for the time!
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