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22 July 2021, 05:15 AM | #1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: US
Posts: 308
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Would it be safe buying from a TRF member?
Hi,
There is a watch that I really like on TRF, but the seller seems to have no transaction history and he would only prefer wire transfer. Is there any for me to know if seller is legit? If he's a pledge member, does that mean that he is a legit seller? |
22 July 2021, 05:18 AM | #2 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Real Name: Desh
Location: in a car driving
Watch: ing the numbers..
Posts: 1,223
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always trust your gut- no references or history is a red flag
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Instagram: wristkink |
22 July 2021, 05:21 AM | #3 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: United States
Watch: Rolex and Patek
Posts: 11,075
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The seller is wise to request a wire transfer. Its the best way to ensure a proper payment. I would not view this as a red flag.
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22 July 2021, 05:22 AM | #4 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: US
Posts: 59
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No way would I do a wire transfer. No way to get your money back if something goes wrong…..
I only do PayPal or credit card. |
22 July 2021, 05:25 AM | #5 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: New England
Posts: 3,709
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You still need to vet the seller. The wire will protect them, but how do you protect yourself with no references?
Get a photo of their drivers license. Ensure the name and address match the account details provided by the wire. Worst case scenario, if they didn’t send the watch after payment, you have all their personal info to contact their local authorities on a wire fraud case. You can also get their work contact info and LinkedIn profile info in addition to their drivers license. Just another way to potentially hedge risk Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Current watches: 116718ln, 116500 black dial, 40mm Breitling Chronomat MOP dial “A man with one watch always knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.” |
22 July 2021, 05:27 AM | #6 |
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: United States
Posts: 1,533
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All buyers need to protect themselves and get the information from the seller to involve the local authorities if there is fraud.
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22 July 2021, 05:29 AM | #7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: Rick
Location: Texas
Watch: 15 and counting!
Posts: 3,521
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I would never do a transaction without references. Too much money at stake.
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22 July 2021, 05:37 AM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Online
Posts: 77
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Because you felt you should ask, you've answered your own question
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22 July 2021, 05:42 AM | #9 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: USA
Watch: All of them
Posts: 728
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I am all for new members listing their watches. We have all been there at some point. Simply ask the seller to do a call or facetime to view the watch and talk with the seller. If they do not want to talk with you, red flag. As mentioned, grab a copy of photo id and make sure it matches bank account or business account. Do not send to wife's account, friend account, etc.
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22 July 2021, 05:43 AM | #10 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 41,652
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Quote:
All sellers must be a pledge member to offer a watch in the classifieds. Therefore that isn’t a guarantee of legitimacy in and of itself. Next… Look for the name of the seller in Who’s Who or WatchOut sections to learn more about the seller. You can use the search function to speed up your efforts. That’s the best way to know if a seller is legit - but be sure any references are from legit members and not new members without a history of their own. Lastly… Wire transfers are commonplace among trusted sellers and trusted buyers. But if you can’t vet the seller, don’t wire funds. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Does anyone really know what time it is? |
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22 July 2021, 05:43 AM | #11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Northern CA
Watch: SD4K
Posts: 701
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Is the sale across state lines? I'm no expert, I'm just married to one, but federal wire fraud charges sound like no joke to me. He's not wrong to ask for a wire transfer though. Get all the sellers information verified (you'll need most of it for the wire transfer anyway), ask for references in other areas of sale, possibly write a simple purchase agreement to prove intent, and go with your gut from there.
I'd honestly rather do an interstate wire transfer than a face to face cash sale with an unknown party, no chance of getting knifed on top of losing the money/watch and getting a local recently defunded police department saying "well that sucks for you" with no real recourse. |
22 July 2021, 05:45 AM | #12 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Mike
Location: New York
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 22,143
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No reference no sale
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Oh, look at the time... Official Member: 'WIS-CON' Las Vegas International GTG 2019 |
22 July 2021, 05:47 AM | #13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2017
Real Name: Louis Nick Ric
Location: Michigan, USA
Watch: Blnr, Expll, Subs,
Posts: 10,172
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I wouldn't do a wire transfer or pay by any friends and family type purchase without a guarantee of funds unless you really know the seller. You should have more than one or two references as well being some scammers work together. This happened to me recently on a vintage car forum trying to buy parts. Scammers are everywhere so do your due dillegance..
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk |
22 July 2021, 05:52 AM | #14 | |
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member
Join Date: Sep 2018
Real Name: Bill
Location: Indiana
Watch: Explorer 214270
Posts: 6,656
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Quote:
Also, wire fraud or not, you will likely never recover any money lost via a single fraudulent watch purchase based on police involvement. There is way too much online fraud going on today, so law enforcement generally focuses on the larger fraudulent transactions.
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“The real problem of humanity is we have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology.” -Edward O. Wilson |
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22 July 2021, 06:01 AM | #15 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,495
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If he's a new seller, he needs to suck it up and accept that he's going to get less for his watch than a well established seller. And if that means eating the PayPal fees, so be it.
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22 July 2021, 06:04 AM | #16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Real Name: Chris
Location: .
Watch: Daytonas/Subs/GMTs
Posts: 12,609
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I dont buy a watch I dont see in the metal .New,used,doesnt matter .
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22 July 2021, 06:28 AM | #17 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: tyo nyc fla ack
Watch: all the good ones
Posts: 1,007
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No.
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22 July 2021, 06:37 AM | #18 | |
TRF Moderator & 2024 SUBMARINER Patron
Join Date: May 2007
Real Name: Larry
Location: Mojave Desert
Watch: GMT's
Posts: 43,389
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Quote:
Sellers with a proven track record can apply for a spot on the TRF Boutique sub-board that we hope can be helpful to members in their research efforts.
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(Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member |
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22 July 2021, 06:53 AM | #19 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Real Name: Mo
Location: Dubai
Watch: 1675 GMT, DRSD
Posts: 1,452
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When checking references , make sure they are legit..... Many happy transactions here by members but also many gone wrong. Good luck ;)
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22 July 2021, 07:17 AM | #20 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2020
Location: NV
Posts: 268
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Quote:
How can a buyer leave positive feedback for somebody that's never listed a watch for sale? |
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22 July 2021, 07:25 AM | #21 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Real Name: Mo
Location: Dubai
Watch: 1675 GMT, DRSD
Posts: 1,452
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Quote:
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22 July 2021, 05:01 PM | #22 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,605
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Check his posts and you know soon enough who the seller is.
I would have no problem wiring money to some of the members here
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Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711. |
22 July 2021, 09:22 PM | #23 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Carolina
Watch: Rolex/Others
Posts: 46,794
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When in doubt, don't.
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22 July 2021, 10:20 PM | #24 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Maui
Posts: 352
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A while back I was a "first time" seller on TRF. I and my eventual buyer went thru many iterations of messages, telecons, photos, copies of IDs, sales/service receipts, etc., all toward attaining a necessary level of mutual trust and confidence. Once this was achieved, he wired all money and I packaged the watch for shipment...but then I decided to catch a flight and deliver the watch to the buyer in person at his local airport. It was a great experience for both of us.
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23 July 2021, 04:59 PM | #25 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 244
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While I'm sure they majority of sellers on here are reputable and honest, 20 years of posting on internet forums has shown me that you should NEVER pay to an unknown person over the internet without the ability to claim it back if there is an issue. Paypal or no sale for me.
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25 July 2021, 09:51 AM | #26 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2017
Real Name: Matt
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Watch: 5512
Posts: 1,432
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Unless it's some rare and unique watch, many trusted sellers will have a similar model available.
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