First of all a disclaimer: I'm not posting this to have a good cry or to seek help. I knew what I was doing and I am fully responsible for it.
About a month ago, I ordered a watch for myself and a watch for a friend from Joshua of Perfect Clones. I had enjoyed ordering from him in the past and had good experiences, but since Brexit his USP, the UK Triangle, is not only pointless but dangerous for EU customers. Unfortunately, Josh is the only dealer who still has a stock of some good "old" HFac-Pams and I wanted to strike.
So I ordered the watches and transferred the money to his Irish bank account. And then he went silent. A week later I asked if everything was ok and he wrote me that he was still waiting for the transfer. Bamm! I called my bank - the transfer went out properly as a "instant transfer" (German: "Blitzüberweisung") and was credited to his account seconds later. The bank told me to make an investigation request. No sooner said than done. A few days later, the official result: the transfer arrived. Joshua stood by his statement that the transfer had not arrived and "proved" this with a screenshot of his account transactions. It was then between us a case of testimony against testimony. If he were an EU trader, I could file a complaint because of fraud. But this is pointless. But I did it anyway and arranged for a chargeback at my bank. But there is only a chance of success if Joshua's bank and Joshua himself agree ... so I can probably write off the money. It's my own fault. The only thing that really annoys me is that the order was not just for me, but also for a friend, who is now understandably annoyed with me.
I don't know if a mod could help in such a case, if I had ordered at a TD. But TDs are TDs for a reason and it is striking that such things happen mostly with traders who are not TDs (anymore).
So: If you are not a "risk seeker" and like to take risks to get rare watches, don't do it. Rather order from a TD and be on the safe side.
Bottom Line: Give Joshua a wide berth.
About a month ago, I ordered a watch for myself and a watch for a friend from Joshua of Perfect Clones. I had enjoyed ordering from him in the past and had good experiences, but since Brexit his USP, the UK Triangle, is not only pointless but dangerous for EU customers. Unfortunately, Josh is the only dealer who still has a stock of some good "old" HFac-Pams and I wanted to strike.
So I ordered the watches and transferred the money to his Irish bank account. And then he went silent. A week later I asked if everything was ok and he wrote me that he was still waiting for the transfer. Bamm! I called my bank - the transfer went out properly as a "instant transfer" (German: "Blitzüberweisung") and was credited to his account seconds later. The bank told me to make an investigation request. No sooner said than done. A few days later, the official result: the transfer arrived. Joshua stood by his statement that the transfer had not arrived and "proved" this with a screenshot of his account transactions. It was then between us a case of testimony against testimony. If he were an EU trader, I could file a complaint because of fraud. But this is pointless. But I did it anyway and arranged for a chargeback at my bank. But there is only a chance of success if Joshua's bank and Joshua himself agree ... so I can probably write off the money. It's my own fault. The only thing that really annoys me is that the order was not just for me, but also for a friend, who is now understandably annoyed with me.
I don't know if a mod could help in such a case, if I had ordered at a TD. But TDs are TDs for a reason and it is striking that such things happen mostly with traders who are not TDs (anymore).
So: If you are not a "risk seeker" and like to take risks to get rare watches, don't do it. Rather order from a TD and be on the safe side.
Bottom Line: Give Joshua a wide berth.
