TDs are just that: Trusted Dealers. They have gone through a process to be a TD here.
Having TDs is a great benefit to the members of this community. Most rep sites you find online are scams. With a TD, there is a substantially increased level of protection for us.
That does not mean things can’t or won’t go wrong. There can be any problems in a transaction with any type of merchant for any type of good or service. Most of the time, the process works fine. Some members haven’t had any significant issues despite buying many watches over many years. Other members have had an issue come up on their first purchase. If that happens to you, don’t let it get you down. Problems do occur from time to time.
Here are some examples of issues people have had from time to time:
- The watch arrives DOA (dead on arrival)
- The watch stops working shortly after arrival
- The watch is seized by customs
- The TD is not responding to your communications as quickly as you expect
- The watch has been shipped but has not arrived as quickly as you expect
- [Fill in the blank with your concern.]
Step One: Review the TD's terms and conditions
While the process of buying a rep is very similar in general across all TDs, each TD has their own specific terms and conditions. Before doing anything, review the terms and conditions you agreed to when you bought your watch to see whether, and how, they address your issue. Remember, that is the agreement that both the TD and you made when you bought the watch, and both you and the TD should respect that agreement.
For example, if you opted to buy a watch at wholesale to get a lower price, you agreed in exchange that the TD would not be responsible if your watch is seized by customs or arrives DOA. That doesn’t mean the TD won’t do anything for you if that happens but it does mean that they are absolutely not required to do anything for you. That is what both parties agreed to.
Step Two: Contact the TD to work it out
Step Two: Contact the TD to work it out
The next step is to contact the TD privately to politely address and work out the issue.
Please read this next sentence carefully. The next step is not to write a public email, a public review, or to contact a Mod or Admin.
Most issues are worked out through communication.
If your issue is about how long something is taking, remember that patience is important in this hobby.
If your issue is how long the TD is taking to respond to you, remember that TDs are busy, may not work weekends, and have a life just like we all do. Don’t expect same-day response.
If your issue is how long it is taking for shipment, remember that shipment from China and going through customs can take weeks or months.
If your watch is not working or breaks shortly after you get it, try to figure out what’s wrong and what it will take to fix the problem. Even if you bought at retail with a warranty, you might be better off getting your watch fixed locally rather than spending the time and money to ship it back to the TD, and then waiting weeks to get it back. There is alos the risk of sizure in Chinese customs on the way back tot he dealer this NOT covered by a dealer's customs guarentee. The TD might offer you a credit for what you spent to get it fixed locally.
If your issue is worked out Step Two, skip to Step Four.
Step Three: If your issue is not resolved in Step Two, contact a Sales Moderator
Step Three: If your issue is not resolved in Step Two, contact a Sales Moderator
If your issue is not resolved in Step Two, then and only then, should you contact a Sales Mod for assistance.
Please read the next sentence carefully. Posting a negative public message or review of a TD is not proper for Step Three.
The Mods or Admins will review what happens and try to resolve the issue.
Step Four: Feel free to post a fair and accurate review
Step Four: Feel free to post a fair and accurate review
You can post a fair and accurate review of the TD only after you have gone through the previous 2 or 3 steps. Posting a factual review of what occurred is beneficial for the community.
Remember, over the course of many transactions, it is statistically certain that there will be some issues with some transactions. What you should consider in reviewing a TD is not whether a problem occurred, but how the TD responded to the problem.