logo
logo
Sign in

Guide to Buying Discount Watches

avatar
Ayesha Ayoub
Guide to Buying Discount Watches

In the world of wrist watches there is no shortage of options, much like there are many ways to purchase a watch. Most private sales and watch dealers are good people, though there are also a lot of scams and fake watches being sold as "the real deal". This article will cover purchasing from an Authorized Dealer, online, and private sales. Also, some common pitfalls and tips to getting the best discount available.

Buying a watch traditionally through an Authorized Dealer (AD) is always going to have the least amount of risk involved in the purchase. Buying a watch from an AD gives the purchaser the piece of mind that the watch is authentic and has a valid warranty, should there be any issues with the watch. How do you get the best discount from a brick and mortar store when online generally has deeper discounts? First, the brick and mortar store has overhead and generally has to obeyed by the discount parameters given to them from the watch brand itself.

Every brand has their own rules and guidelines for an AD to follow. That said, going online looking up the watch ahead of time and researching the online discounts can help the negotiation process at the AD. Do not expect the AD to match online discounting. Most AD's do not want to lose the sale and will work with the customer to get the business. If online has the watch 30% off, maybe the AD will go 20% off and throw in some goodies to make help make up the difference. The most common item would be an extra watch strap, these are usually a couple hundred dollars or more.

The online watch market is commonly referred to as the gray market. Gray market watches are watches that are sold by non-AD retailers. The watches are acquired through different channels other than the manufacturer themselves. These watches usually do not come with the manufacturers warranty, though many online dealers extend there own warranties. If buying through the gray market make sure the watch:

- has the serial number intact
- includes all boxes, papers, and blank warranty card
- manufacturers protective stickers (helps ensure it is new)

Also, it is important to read the return policy very carefully. Many times once you remove any protective sticker, even if only to examine the watch, the watch is no longer returnable. Call the customer service number provided on the site and ask the any pertinent questions. Check the company out on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, it is quick and easy.

When buying private sale or personal sale, be careful of fakes. The watch industry is loaded with fake watches trying to be sold as authentic. There are also scammers who claim to have a watch that they do not in fact have and once paid disappear. One way to help ensure the watch is real is to buy the watch complete. Complete meaning, the watch, boxes, papers, and warranty are all present. Be very cautious of the "got it at an estate sale" and this is the reason why there is only the watch. Some scammers will use other sellers old pictures of a watch that was for sale and post the pictures as their own. First Copy Watches

A good piece of advice to ensure the seller actually has the watch in their possession is to request a picture showing a specific time and date. If the seller actually has the watch, this request should not be a problem. Requesting a specific date and time will help eliminate this concern. These are usually concerns on more expensive watches to make it worth a scammers time and effort. Paying with a service like PayPal where a credit card can be used is a nice piece of mind. Keep a detailed log of the transaction from the beginning, should there be any major issues there is a good chance the credit card company will protect the buyer.

collect
0
avatar
Ayesha Ayoub
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more