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Cartel?
- Thread starter davylloyd
- Start date
Ah... I'd tell you to do a search, but they are a bunch of dealers who apparently banded together to try and control rep prices. They are trusted dealers on another forum. But for their aforesaid business practice, they are otherwise pretty well regarded dealers.
The cartel has influence with some repmakers and sometimes have first or better access to reps from such factories.
Thats the cliff's notes of things.
The cartel has influence with some repmakers and sometimes have first or better access to reps from such factories.
Thats the cliff's notes of things.
O.K., now it makes sense.
I tried searching 'cartel', but I just got endless threads referring to cartel watches.
Thanks, guys
:The Cartel tried to band together to fix and hike prices--which is why they are banned on RWI and RWG. They are still TD's at RepGeek. To be fair, Josh and Andrew both seem to be the same person/company that just runs to websites to capitalize on cross shopping and comparison shopping. One shop will always appear to have a much better price than the other--giving people the impression they are getting a good deal. He/they tried to get other dealers to participate in this scheme to jack prices on us. I appreciate the fact that forums like RWI stepped in to defend us, the customers, from this type of predatory pricing scheme.
Unless I can't find a watch from any other dealer (and none of them can source that watch), I wouldn't consider buying from the Cartel. With that caveat, I did recently purchased a watch from the Cartel. The transaction was fine and smooth. I had no problems on payment, with QC or delivery. Communication was also good. They aren't "scammers" in the sense that they are going to take your money and not ship the advertised product like some of the scam sites, but they are schemers. It's too bad those guys had to get greedy.
If you can, please try to support RWI's TD's. I really have had a great purchasing experience with Trevor--great, product, prices, communications and free EMS shipping on purchases of two or more watches. If you're in the CONUS, WBK is also awesome.
Unless I can't find a watch from any other dealer (and none of them can source that watch), I wouldn't consider buying from the Cartel. With that caveat, I did recently purchased a watch from the Cartel. The transaction was fine and smooth. I had no problems on payment, with QC or delivery. Communication was also good. They aren't "scammers" in the sense that they are going to take your money and not ship the advertised product like some of the scam sites, but they are schemers. It's too bad those guys had to get greedy.
If you can, please try to support RWI's TD's. I really have had a great purchasing experience with Trevor--great, product, prices, communications and free EMS shipping on purchases of two or more watches. If you're in the CONUS, WBK is also awesome.
Don't spread false information if you don't know, even if they are not trusted dealers here. It just isn't helpful. They are two different guys, operating two different sites, but they are indeed friends and have many of the same offerings. This has been covered ad nauseum over on RG. Not all of their offerings are the same, though, and in the case of many items they offer different versions of products. Vintage subs are a great example of this. Andrew has some offerings that Josh does not, and vice versa so it's always wise to go through the rounds when trying to source something you want.
If you are CONUS and WBK happens to have what you are looking for, then absolutely Stan is your man! A real pleasure to work with. Angus is also a great dealer.
If you are CONUS and WBK happens to have what you are looking for, then absolutely Stan is your man! A real pleasure to work with. Angus is also a great dealer.
Good solid informaton here but here is THE story as it happened in 2007.
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/andrew-trusty-you-29857
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/showthread.php/andrew-trusty-you-29857
I remember reading this when I first joined the forums.... good read for anyone that stands up for them.
Believe it was more than just J & A that made up the Cartel
Say what you will bad about them but fast forward or rewind x number of years and they are still here providing good products and good service
How many other dealers can you say that about
Many of the smaller dealers that many trusted at the same time as the Cartel name was created have disappeared and worse yet some scammed people out of money
Say what you will bad about them but fast forward or rewind x number of years and they are still here providing good products and good service
How many other dealers can you say that about
Many of the smaller dealers that many trusted at the same time as the Cartel name was created have disappeared and worse yet some scammed people out of money
A bit of disclosure...
I was a Perfect Clones guy for many many years....many many..never got scammer, ripped off or anything but what you would expect froma trusted dealer BUT....its a different world today and 90% of the time it's a matter of principle. However, there are times with the direction I am going that I need a particular rep from a cartel dealer..just do. But remember, the RWI TD's are way to go and the staff here has your backs when you use TD's.
I was a Perfect Clones guy for many many years....many many..never got scammer, ripped off or anything but what you would expect froma trusted dealer BUT....its a different world today and 90% of the time it's a matter of principle. However, there are times with the direction I am going that I need a particular rep from a cartel dealer..just do. But remember, the RWI TD's are way to go and the staff here has your backs when you use TD's.
Mendota, you're free to defend the Cartel, but don't tell me I am spreading misinformation about them when you are lacking all of the facts. The fact that this was all hashed out on RG is lovely, but that forum (which I do like and visit from time to time) also happens to be the only one of the three major forums that continues to support the Cartel and benefit from the Cartel's patronage. So, forgive me if I take some of the information about the cartel published on that forum with a pound or two of salt. For the record, I picked RWI as my primary "rep" home for a good reason. This forum has a solid record of sticking up for its members and doing the right thing.
In any case, your claim that Josh and Andrew are two separate people is silly. How would you know whether "Josh" and "Andrew" even exist, let alone that those names refer to two separate people. Have you ever met or spoken with "Josh" or "Andrew"? Has anyone that you know spoken to both of them separately or met them them both? No, I didn't think so. Josh and Andrew could be the same person, they could two different people, they could be ten different people and we would be none the wiser.
Chances are there is no "Josh" or "Andrew". Both of those names are just nicknames names that were given to the person operating the two websites that we also refer to as TT and PC (I won't use the actual names because I have no interest in promoting them). TT and PC are clearly operated by the same people and are one in the same business enterprise. The sites are set up to intentionally appear different and allow cross-marking and comparison shopping (with each site carrying a few different unique differentiating pieces). This is an old ecommerce trick (that is also illegal in the US, UK and EU unless the common ownership is disclosed).
One business is clearly behind both Cartel websites. Don't take my word for it, look at the QC pictures. They are both using the exact same exact machine to test and calibrate the watches. I don't mean just the same model of machine, but if you look at pictures taken the same day/week you can see the same dirt smudges on that machine. The only way it would ever make sense for them to use the same piece of equipment for every QC photo is if they operated out of the same space, with the same inventory and staff. Those aren't competitors in my book. I'll admit that I have no special inside info here, but I am a critical thinker and I know this scam well and have seen it used in various ecommerce markets. They didn't invent this trick and, they actually don't even know how to do it well.
I have no inside info on this, so feel free to examine both sites for similar Why don't you take a critical look at their sites and examine the QC pictures from both sites for yourself. After you do that, you come back and explain to me why I am wrong. While you're at it, explain why your so loyal to the Cartel when the Cartel clearly isn't looking out for your best interest her. Don't be so quick to drink their Cartel Cool Aid and check out the link posted earlier in this thread!
It wasn't my intention to stir up a hornets nest here with my original question.
I had seen the term 'cartel' used in threads where members were talking about where a watch had come from, where to buy certain models etc.
For myself, I've never used PC or TT, and having read the original thread that explains what happened, I'm even less likely to.
I had seen the term 'cartel' used in threads where members were talking about where a watch had come from, where to buy certain models etc.
For myself, I've never used PC or TT, and having read the original thread that explains what happened, I'm even less likely to.
Davey, a little debate every now and then stirs the blood. . I would buy from the cartel again, but only if they are absolutely the only source for a watch I absolutely must have. .
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. I would buy from the cartel again, but only if they are absolutely the only source for a watch I absolutely must have. . Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Quite a thread on the 'cartel'.
Cartels are present in many Chinese industries, 'tho some are not as obvious to the customers' views. There are even manufacturing cartels. As an Asian, if I'm not getting big dough from it, I'd rather leave it alone. That's not my business. My business is the ones that makes me happy, and RWI is one 'em. I'll stick it out here.
Cartels are present in many Chinese industries, 'tho some are not as obvious to the customers' views. There are even manufacturing cartels. As an Asian, if I'm not getting big dough from it, I'd rather leave it alone. That's not my business. My business is the ones that makes me happy, and RWI is one 'em. I'll stick it out here.
Cartels are never good for business or consumers.. Just the very few that are behind the cartel. This isn't an Asian/western thing...it economics and the issues are as universal as the laws of physics.
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No one says it's an Asian thing, but what's being discussed here are more of the specific Chinese ones...
Interesting thread, have seen lots of references to the Cartel on the forum, but didn't quite understand what the deal was .