Caution with warranty cards when buying gray

[Santiago32]

In one of the groups I’m part of there is a dealer bragging how he takes the cards and soaks them in chemicals to erase the date on the card. Then fills it in with a newer date.

FWIW, he mentioned a few people on the facebook dealer groups do this.

https://imgur.com/a/bUdSeIQ

[JTL31]

Thanks for sharing! Pretty stupid of him to brag about this online, let alone mentioning other sellers that do the same.

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by JTL31

Thanks for sharing! Pretty stupid of him to brag about this online, let alone mentioning other sellers that do the same.

Absolutely! I'm just a collector and looking out for fellow collectors

[Bizcut1]

Originally Posted by JTL31

Thanks for sharing! Pretty stupid of him to brag about this online, let alone mentioning other sellers that do the same.

No shortage of stupid these days. Plenty to go around.

[rob495]

Thanks for the heads up, he should be arrested.

[Trailboss516]

Ah, fantastic. Regardless if this is true or not, but another thing to consider when deciding where you make your purchase.

[Harry-57]

If it's less than five years old it needs a warranty card and the original sales receipt or a copy of it. Or at least it does if I'm buying it. These things are not negotiable.

[amphr1]

Thanks for the heads up. Would it be even more helpful if you report him to the fb group admin?

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by amphora001

Thanks for the heads up. Would it be even more helpful if you report him to the fb group admin?

yep, already did.

[skipstar]

I investigate financial crimes at work and this practice happens all the time with checks. Criminals fish the checks out of the mailboxes and then they wash them in a chemical solution that allows them to rewrite the amount.
Morale of the story and the OP is be careful out there.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Santiago32

In one of the groups I’m part of there is a dealer bragging how he takes the cards and soaks them in chemicals to erase the date on the card. Then fills it in with a newer date.

FWIW, he mentioned a few people on the facebook dealer groups do this.

https://imgur.com/a/bUdSeIQ

Originally Posted by skipstar

I investigate financial crimes at work and this practice happens all the time with checks. Criminals fish the checks out of the mailboxes and then they wash them in a chemical solution that allows them to rewrite the amount.
Morale of the story and the OP is be careful out there.

Thanks for sharing !


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[travisb]

Ya unfortunately it’s a fact. Shady to say the least.


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[rpstrimple]

Name and shame

[amh]

Originally Posted by rpstrimple

Name and shame

Yes please!

Not that it matters - MODA appears to be a very closed group. (Requirements: Must be on FB for a "long time", not sure how long. Must have a profile picture. Must have friends on FB...)

[Chester01]

Newsflash, stickers can be sourced, hang tags sourced, and watches polished. Too much incentive these days to be crooked.

[Santiago32]

Originally Posted by Chester01

Newsflash, stickers can be sourced, hang tags sourced, and watches polished. Too much incentive these days to be crooked.

Yep and now we can add fudged warranty card to the list.

[Calatrava r]

So this is just a used dealer. As I have stated, the term “grey” is misleading and can lull buyers into thinking they are buying new watches instead of stuff other people bought, wore somewhat and then sold to the used watch dealer. Where the watch has been, how it was worn and what refurbishing are all unknowns. We have added opened case backs and now paperwork alteration. Even if you buy from a reputable dealer, who knows what a dealer before him did. When buying used watches, there is no grey area, it’s buyer beware and buy the best seller you can and ask questions. Even with a short return period, so much of this stuff can show up much later, than it’s a swearing contest as to who did it.

[the dark knight]

When buying preowned, I've only purchased from Hodinkee and 3 (mostly 2) of the very well known TSs here.

In the case of the TSs, they've been around and built up reputations way way prior to the recent watch craze. I feel like they've built up businesses and reputations they aren't willing to risk by doing random shady crap. I also trust them to vet the watches they get in.

As far as Hodinkee, my experiences have been a bit more mixed, but nothing shady has occurred. I am banking on them being a huge well-known (even more so than the TSs) business.

I also feel like I do have a legit issue with any of these sellers, I could post it here or other forums and get serious replies other than "well you shouldn't have trusted that guy".

And if I read about an actual incidence of shadiness done by those sellers or any others, they are immediately off my potential buying list going forward.

[Santiago32]

How can any preowned dealer ensure that a date hasn’t been chemically erased and rewritten?

Can one contact Rolex and confirm the sales date based on the serial?

[Star Ferry]

it’s totally cool, he is a Trusted Soaker and a Trusted Forger

[GGGMT]

Wow what a great idea!


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[Screwly]

Could explain those low prices on Moda hahaha


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[yanks995]

I was about to pay for a hulk when I realised the date on the card (the card prior to the all green) had been tampered with. It was quite obvious that the date had been erased and changed to a more current date. Look the price of the hulk dated 2020/2021 and you'll know why some unscrupulous sellers commit such fraud.

[garyk]

Just one more reason to stick with the long waitlists at the AD. Sad…

[Vince M.]

Another reason I'll never buy from a grey.