- 25/10/18
- 510
- 355
- 63
Choc and others are correct - I totally forgot about the QC photos! I'm afraid it is your job to do your own due diligence - especially for a watch feature that was so important to you. TDs will take extra photos for you if requested to do so, but once you greenlight the watch, it is yours. The TDs are just folks that over time have been trusted as middlemen in the whole business to source these watches for us. Fancy websites do not equate to a fancy storefront-type business, don't be fooled. There are going to be times where they overlook something, so that's why they send QC photos to you for approval. There is nothing gained - and a LOT to lose - if the TDs intentionally scam us, so they don't do that - but that is not to say that mistakes don't happen. They source and sell hundreds of watches, so there will be occasions where something slips by them.
Unfortunately comparing these TDs to huge commercial enterprises like Walmart or Ebay is comparing apples to oranges - these rep factories operate under the radar, doing an illegal business, in dirty "factories" that sometimes shut doors and move shop (or are raided by authorities and close!) on a moment's notice. If I understand correctly, because it is an illegal business, the components are often made in separate shops and then put together at a "factory". So depending on what machinery they have at any one time, or what may break down, there may be an unannounced change on any one part. I think some rep buyers don't really get that point, as that is always a risk, and why examining the QC photos is your job, your shot at accepting or denying that watch. If you were unhappy with the watch, perhaps he could have tried to source you one with the black balance wheel.
Consider it a lesson learned, and move on - either sell the watch here to recoup some of your money, and attempt to find the same model with the black balance wheel (maybe use Mary to locate one for you), or forget the rep world entirely, save your money, and buy gen.
