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Originally Posted by Firebird I always wonder how easy or difficult to get hands on a good pre-owned luxury watch and hence decided to buy new Omega.
How did you manage to get this one? |
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Originally Posted by trammway I will write more about my Panerai deal in a day or two. |
After careful investigation of my watch in ebay and few email / ebay messages with the seller with the guarantee that if the watch is found to be fake I will return it for refund agreement. By this way I have established good records for future issues if any for which I need to fight the seller.
I have purchased my watch on ebay (first time for huge sum)
Here is what to be considered in USA if you are purchasing a product through ebay.
1. Ebay provides buyer protection - 95% of the time buyer wins if all the records are correct
2. Used my credit card to process payment through paypal - Paypal also got a buyer protection and credit card got some protection too.
3. Since the law enforcement is very strict, it is not easy for someone at USA to play with fakes and get away with it. examples:
a. All the ebay purchases are delivered through USPS or other couriers and if any fraudulent activities are subject to mail fraud claim (federal offence), and I have seen it worked in the past. The only down side it takes an year to get the claim.
b. If fake is sold through ebay and both buyer and seller are in US region (i will explain how this could be proven), this is subject to FBI compliant and strong case against the seller.
As we use paypal for payment and both are address verified accounts, you know you are dealing with USA based seller.
With all the supporting law enforcement and guarantee from ebay, I took the step forward to buy the watch.
Once the watch delivered (retained the box (with return address) and ebay invoice), I have taken the watch to Hamilton Jewelers in Princeton NJ who are authorized dealers for panerai for authentication of the watch.
Since this watch is very rare (remember 399 only produced in the entire world), Hamilton Jewelers couldn't identify the watch by look so they have to open the case back and check all the movement and do a pressure test of the watch.
Post all their test, only today evening they confirmed with a written paper that my watch is authentic Panerai PAM168 Luminor Regatta Chrono special edition watch. ( I have to pay total of $69.55 for the testings), now the watch will also get appraisal done for insurance as knowing it is authentic watch.
As mentioned, it is kind of Gamble but if you are buying it with a estimated risk I guess it will turnout well.
I'm still skeptical doing ebay purchases for higher value items from vendors of the world.
As far as the purchase is affordable to fortify, I believe it is ok.
Hope this explains my new purchase.