Steps To Complete A Proper Trade?

[CesarG]

Guys, what should I know about a straight trade involving watches? I want to make sure if or when I do trade a watch, I don't screw it up. Any tips are appreciated.

[ezcheese]

#1 is trusting the person you're doing the transaction with. Do your homework!

[tmw]

First and foremost. Trade with someone you know - or check references. Multiple times.

I have been trading alot lately, and have only been doing with people that I know or friends know directly.

Proceed with caution.

[CesarG]

I think that "know your buyer" is going to be the most obvious. Check. It's the other details I'm wondering about. I don't want to turn this into a WUS-esque thread but is it as simple as mailing the watch and waiting for the incoming?

[craniotes]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

Trust me, you do it this way and you've got nothing to worry about.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Otherwise, the same rules that apply to a sale apply to a trade -- buy the seller (trader) first, and then keep your fingers crossed. That's it.

[tmw]

I do it by making sure (as best I can) that we both send out at the same time - same type of shipping (i.e., USPS express mail). This way we both get the next day - and can discuss as needed asap.

I also make sure it is fully insured (as in all my transactions).

Yes, it could be as simple as packing it up and sending...

[matt.wu]

In addition to reference checks, I always ask for some sort of identification to be pictured with the watch (drivers license or business card at the very minimum), just to verify this person is who they say they are, and to ensure they have a real address. Obviously, you need to be willing to provide the same.

I do a google search on the address to verify it is what they say it is (whether business or residence). I will even google search a person to see what comes up (and can usually find some info on them).

Also, make an effort to talk to them on the phone. Generally, you can at least get a feel for a person by having a conversation with them. I chat them up about their interest in watches and the history behind the watch up for trade. Usually, if they can talk watches with reasonable competence, I feel a bit better.

Other than that, always insist on overnight shipping, and always fully insure.

I've done a ton of trades, and this has worked really well.

[cali kid]

if you're trading with someone who doesnt have many post or references, make sure you receive the watch from him before sending your piece out! If the guy isnt willing to do that squash the deal!! Now if its some vetern of the flipping game he might ask the same if you dont have many references! Talk on the phone, that always puts me at ease but you must do your research!

[dshap]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

Trust me, you do it this way and you've got nothing to worry about.

In addition to reference checks, I always ask for some sort of identification to be pictured with the watch (drivers license or business card at the very minimum), just to verify this person is who they say they are, and to ensure they have a real address. Obviously, you need to be willing to provide the same.

I do a google search on the address to verify it is what they say it is (whether business or residence). I will even google search a person to see what comes up (and can usually find some info on them).

Good idea with the drivers license

[CesarG]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

I can't even pronounce that stuff. I'll stick to a burrito and beer.

Good advice. I love DWC!

[FlyPenFly]

Here's how I got scammed after dozens of other good deals with other people.

He contacted me about a possible trade, it was a decent deal both ways.

We emailed a bunch, sounded like a friendly guy.

We spoke on the phone 3 or 4 times, sounded like a friendly guy.

He provided me five different refs, they were all fake.

We cross shipped, I sent it to a bed and breakfast he was staying at while visiting his kid for graduation in college.

I sent overnight, he sent priority by "accident", that was the first red flag.

We spoke again, he was very reassuring. Then he completely disappeared.

Called the bed and breakfast he was staying at, turns out he scammed them too and they lost $2000 in business when the stolen CC came back with a chargeback.

Got the push back from both my local PD and the locality of the PD where I sent the watch.

Postal inspector was also very aloof.

So yes, be careful out there and if it's a trade, only deal with people with long reputations.

More recently, he came out of the woodwork to scam again and was shut down by Timezone and banned. He is still out there scamming people. TZ is extremely uncommunicative in giving me an IP address or anything so I can send it to the police. TZ is a necessary evil but its run by a bunch of idiots.

[Pasquale]

send me watch for inspection

[CesarG]

Here's how I got scammed after dozens of other good deals with other people.

He contacted me about a possible trade, it was a decent deal both ways.

We emailed a bunch, sounded like a friendly guy.

We spoke on the phone 3 or 4 times, sounded like a friendly guy.

He provided me five different refs, they were all fake.

We cross shipped, I sent it to a bed and breakfast he was staying at while visiting his kid for graduation in college.

I sent overnight, he sent priority by "accident", that was the first red flag.

We spoke again, he was very reassuring. Then he completely disappeared.

Called the bed and breakfast he was staying at, turns out he scammed them too and they lost $2000 in business when the stolen CC came back with a chargeback.

Got the push back from both my local PD and the locality of the PD where I sent the watch.

Postal inspector was also very aloof.

So yes, be careful out there and if it's a trade, only deal with people with long reputations.

More recently, he came out of the woodwork to scam again and was shut down by Timezone and banned. He is still out there scamming people. TZ is extremely uncommunicative in giving me an IP address or anything so I can send it to the police. TZ is a necessary evil but its run by a bunch of idiots.

send me watch for inspection

Sounds like I found your scammer!

[SCM64]

I've only traded with DWC family, Jason (suddha) and Roar (el presidente). It was nice having no worries.

[citizenfox]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

Trust me, you do it this way and you've got nothing to worry about.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Otherwise, the same rules that apply to a sale apply to a trade -- buy the seller (trader) first, and then keep your fingers crossed. That's it.

Burger au cheval and a Peroni at Balthezar - cuter girls

[jimyritz]

Great advice...be thorough, no shortcuts--check for feedback on the various forums...

If it sounds to good to be true it most likely is.... (Had to throw in a cliche)...


Mike

[River Rat]

I have done one trade and bought a few on sells sections on the forums.First thing he should have a shit load of post and been around the forums never had a bad one there was one that had a low post count and Jack at IWW he posted in another ad of another watch the seller was selling that he could be trusted so if they got a good reference I will trust a seller with low post count that watch I got in one day from NY to Ca that was fast shipping.And when I did the trade both watches they were shipped on the same day with tracking so each of us knew what was going on.It's kind of like fleabay if he has good feed back just like post count at a forum and at some forums they will have a section that if you were good to trade with or it was a bad one check that out if there is any thing there about the forum member your are trading with or buying from.

[lilhoody]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

Trust me, you do it this way and you've got nothing to worry about.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Otherwise, the same rules that apply to a sale apply to a trade -- buy the seller (trader) first, and then keep your fingers crossed. That's it.

We need to start a "Patrician" forum for some of these bourg'ei MF'rs around here. Their watches and diet are into the stratosphere!
Cheeze, can you handle this?

[drster]

with a few guys here. In any trade if I have any question I have the guy send first. I never had a problem when I required that. People understand if their references are not very solid. Mine are solid. Even if I'm dealing with someone with solid references I make sure that is the real person. I will send PMs. I might go on ebay and send a message to their ebay account and get a response. I usually will speak on the phone. When I do I expect to talk to someone with knowledge about various watches. Face to face are always good of course. Then you both get to see the condition of the watches and can back out if necessary.

[ezcheese]

Do what I do -- meet the guy (who also happens to also be a good friend) at Pastis for lunch and make the exchange over Le Feu Rouge (Absolut Peppar, Ricard, lemon juice) and foie gras mousse.

Trust me, you do it this way and you've got nothing to worry about.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Otherwise, the same rules that apply to a sale apply to a trade -- buy the seller (trader) first, and then keep your fingers crossed. That's it.

We need to start a "Patrician" forum for some of these bourg'ei MF'rs around here. Their watches and diet are into the stratosphere!
Cheeze, can you handle this?

Maybe I should create a "TZ-lite" forum.

[moishlashen]

Whats his name Luke?


I mean Jae-now that I comprehended it was you and not Luke I remember the guy.

[mattcantwin]

Any tips are appreciated.

If you have any questions in your mind about the watch,

accuracy, paperwork, repair history, if any, etc.,

be sure to ask them before agreeing to the trade.

[DMB]

TZ is extremely uncommunicative in giving me an IP address or anything so I can send it to the police.

Screw asking TZ. First of all, it's not your job. It's your local law enforcement's job. You are the victim, they work for you. If it were my case, I'd fire off a search warrant to TZ ordering them to provide the IP address and all available subscriber information for the scammer. Your local PD could/should have done that. It's cop 101 stuff.

[Kuretime]

Check references
Get name and address (will need this to do the trade anyways)-make sure it is not a PO box
Phone number-Talk to the other guy
Google, google, google

actually check his references out


There is always a leap of faith if trade is not local

[CesarG]

There is always a leap of faith if trade is not local

What if it's from Nigeria?