- 9/9/07
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Greetings everyone! Back for another installment of dealer interviews, I present Sora of ShineWatch, here to tell us how it is done! Thanks Sora!
(Green comments are me, P4GTR chiming in...)
How old are you?
between 25 to 30
Are you originally from China? What is your background?
From Singapore, bred and raised there ( I like my passport, i don't have to apply for visa to most countries, most people from Singapore tend to take this for granted ) . sometime during the 1900s, grandparents or great grandparents migrated here or to south east asia.
What is your favorite food? Do you like to cook?
My favorite food is some kind of chinese hand torn pasta in an anchovies based soup (think korean sujebi) . I browse chowhound forums sometimes, when im planning to go on an overseas trip, looking at what people have to say about various restaurants or places to eat, also like to see what people have to comment on various michelin restaurants in another country or some local eateries etc.
I cook sometimes when i am not busy or lazy. I'm sorta foodie type of person that did slightly consider getting in to the food business, but it really is hard work and it really requires tremendous passion in order to stay in this industry( because the working hours are insane and the pay is pathetic)
What is your native language? Are you bilingual?
Bilingual , i speak a mixture of chinese + english at home and to some of my friends.
learnt some japanese, proficiency should be that of a 6 year old now. (used to study up till the level of JLPT3)
Are you married? Any children?
Not married, no children.
(Lucky you!)
What about you is the most important that people should know?
I need support from our forum brethrens and sistas by buying more watches from me haha. Actually I hope to get the best watches for everybody, but sometimes i can't get it perfect, may be due to watch quality , shipping issues etc. I try my best to satisfy everyone and those who have poor experience in purchasing from me, i can only say sorry but maybe next time i can try to make it better.
Also it is only a 2 man operation currently at shinewatch
(Hey, I'm a supporter. I actually have my 1st order in with you right now for a BP classic SD, and some other stuff! Hopefully this interview grants me special treatment! :lol
What is your favorite watch brand right now?
Omega
How did you get into this business?
Never thought of going into the rep business. Not really into watches in the past, i still don't wear any watches currently .. but i have learnt to appreciate some watches.
Was on a long holiday trip in Guangzhou sometime 2-3 years ago and some friends asked me to bring some reps, of course i bought the cheap ones in the beginning, after that i realised the cheap reps had different AR even thou it was the same model. So i decided to google and thus that brought me to rep forums, and then i began to learn more. Started going to the watch market , hung out for a couple of weeks looking for a particular watch which i was sourcing for my friend. then i knew who and where the good watches are sold, and from then on i saw some people posting rep watches at chinese ecommerce site(taobao) and at prices higher than local dealers, so i thought i just put up a few and i started selling, and this was how it began.
Is what you do dangerous? Do you have a lot of stress due to the legalities of what you do?
Yes its dangerous, especially if you are selling to another guy in China, whom you do not know.
There is this relatively big online dealer (not as big as the ones on our forums) in china that got busted at the beginning of this year(2013) with cops pointing guns at him and his wife, Reason being was that he sold a rep to this rather well connected guy in another province and was not happy with the watch etc, so the buyer decided to make this dealer fall, eventually the dealer spent loads of money, lost everything and also owed money to get out of jail, he is already out from what i heard, I heard this from an industry veteran who was close to the dealer.
I also get a lot of stress when my paypal tries to "question" my account.
(Yep. It's too bad we haven't found a full-on solution to PP yet. At least nothing the masses have taken to.)
Is business lucrative for you? Are you wealthy?
I would say it pays me slightly more than what an average fresh university grad in my country would make. i would be happy if my annual income is above the 100 grand mark.. and i am selling both sides in china and on forums and i am already kinda busy with a 2 man operation, my income is about only a tenth(i think) of what the biggest dealers on the forums make.
(I'd be happy if my income was about the 100k mark too. Maybe i'm in the wrong business with these watch straps...)
What do you think peoples biggest misconception is with high-end replicas?
That they are flawless? I have customers in china always asking me if they are the same when placed beside the geniune watch etc... and if the movement have real swiss( and they will not buy if it is not swiss, like the A6497 or A7750 movt pams )
Where do you see the replica market in 5 years?
I think it is going to be even harder, the new boss of china is trying to change the way china does business and i think it is going to have an effect on replicas eventually. i hope by the end of 5 years, i have enough money to do other business and to sustain my life on this planet
(If there is any life on this planet in 5 years..)
What other hobbies and interests do you have?
Mainly my interest is in food, i hope to earn enough moolah to start another legit business( which im still trying to think hard) so that i can retire and enjoy my life like travelling and have interesting meals around the world ( think Anthony Bourdain )
Looking at some stock ticker sometimes.. trying to invest in a golden stock and i will retire from this trade..
I like watching Naruto every Thursday
(Hey, I know Anthony Bordain.. He plays the Doctor on an episode of a television show my 2yr old watches called Yo Gabba Gabba! Thankfully my kid doesnt know hes a foul mouthed, chain smoking chef in real life!) :lol:
Are some replicas really just sneaking out of the back door of the genuine factory?
The parts are made by big factories that make for other brands i suppose, i heard something like rolex has got to source parts in guangzhou too. also there was this time , a guy working for rolex i suppose, sitting beside me on the plane, so i peeked into the letter, asking to source some parts, and was flying to guangzhou.
How many Ferrari's does the noobmaker own now? How about you? (joke)
I have no idea, i'd say **** the factories(haha), they are making at least close to 100% on their cost(on my estimation). I am used to public transport. Maybe i'll get a car in China if i really need it. Most probably a japanese car like Nissan. Cars are cheaper in china than in Singapore, can you believe a simple toyota corolla costs 100k usd in Singapore now, and its only for 10 years??
(Nissan! They put the GTR in P4GTR!)
The percent of high end reps made is very small comparatively, right? Why do people take the risk for such a small market, is the profit worth it?
I think it is getting bigger on the internet. most people want high end reps nowadays, so nobody kinda wants to buy the cheap stuff, besides those cheap stuff are sold to noobs and on a retail level , where they can sell cheap shits and incredible prices. Why do people take the risk for such a small market, -> i think its because there is a guaranteed demand for the goods sold and you don't have to worry much about business overheads when they are starting up, also it also grants me some freedom, as least i don't have any superiors to answer to. Also job market scene in Asia or in my country Singapore in this case is highly competitive, where only people who have gone thru an ivy league / oxbridge education get cushy jobs. and the 26 - 30 y.o average joe makes an average of 40-50k per annum and they have to succumb to the shitty corporate culture here, also having more female direct bosses in the corporate world doesn't help either.
(Just you wait. Once married you'll be answering to yet another female boss. Just ask guys like me, and Steelfish..)
Over the past year or two, which highly anticipated release wound up being the biggest flop?
I don't wish to say , but i think its an Omega model that people want their logos fixed.
(With the magically erasing ceramic bezel inserts?)
What is the highest quality replica you have ever seen?
The hublot oceangraphic 4000m, i think the sophistication in the watch case is very high. Maybe its just me.
Do factories really try to make reliable products or is it all superficial? Do they care if their products break a short time after they are sold?
I think they try to make it work to last, because chinese customers will send the watches to fix it occasionally (factories will fix the movement , although sometimes it is never fixed properly, so they have to get the same watch to be fixed over and over again) and i'm sure it is frustrating to both factories and dealers.
Are there any other replica products you are aware of that are made to such high specifications and accuracy? Any other guy toys for us out there? I heard there are high quality replica knives being made in China, for example.
not sure about knives or guns, mostly people want replica luxury goods like bags, clothes , watches etc..
_______________________________________________________
There you have it RWI. Please take a moment to post some comments, and thanks again to Sora for taking the time to let us all get to know him a little better.
You can find Sora's section in "Supporting Vendors --> Watches & Parts." The link follows.
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/forumdisplay.php/shinewatch-349?f=349
:RWI:
(Green comments are me, P4GTR chiming in...)
How old are you?
between 25 to 30
Are you originally from China? What is your background?
From Singapore, bred and raised there ( I like my passport, i don't have to apply for visa to most countries, most people from Singapore tend to take this for granted ) . sometime during the 1900s, grandparents or great grandparents migrated here or to south east asia.
What is your favorite food? Do you like to cook?
My favorite food is some kind of chinese hand torn pasta in an anchovies based soup (think korean sujebi) . I browse chowhound forums sometimes, when im planning to go on an overseas trip, looking at what people have to say about various restaurants or places to eat, also like to see what people have to comment on various michelin restaurants in another country or some local eateries etc.
I cook sometimes when i am not busy or lazy. I'm sorta foodie type of person that did slightly consider getting in to the food business, but it really is hard work and it really requires tremendous passion in order to stay in this industry( because the working hours are insane and the pay is pathetic)
What is your native language? Are you bilingual?
Bilingual , i speak a mixture of chinese + english at home and to some of my friends.
learnt some japanese, proficiency should be that of a 6 year old now. (used to study up till the level of JLPT3)
Are you married? Any children?
Not married, no children.
(Lucky you!)
What about you is the most important that people should know?
I need support from our forum brethrens and sistas by buying more watches from me haha. Actually I hope to get the best watches for everybody, but sometimes i can't get it perfect, may be due to watch quality , shipping issues etc. I try my best to satisfy everyone and those who have poor experience in purchasing from me, i can only say sorry but maybe next time i can try to make it better.
Also it is only a 2 man operation currently at shinewatch
(Hey, I'm a supporter. I actually have my 1st order in with you right now for a BP classic SD, and some other stuff! Hopefully this interview grants me special treatment! :lol
What is your favorite watch brand right now?
Omega
How did you get into this business?
Never thought of going into the rep business. Not really into watches in the past, i still don't wear any watches currently .. but i have learnt to appreciate some watches.
Was on a long holiday trip in Guangzhou sometime 2-3 years ago and some friends asked me to bring some reps, of course i bought the cheap ones in the beginning, after that i realised the cheap reps had different AR even thou it was the same model. So i decided to google and thus that brought me to rep forums, and then i began to learn more. Started going to the watch market , hung out for a couple of weeks looking for a particular watch which i was sourcing for my friend. then i knew who and where the good watches are sold, and from then on i saw some people posting rep watches at chinese ecommerce site(taobao) and at prices higher than local dealers, so i thought i just put up a few and i started selling, and this was how it began.
Is what you do dangerous? Do you have a lot of stress due to the legalities of what you do?
Yes its dangerous, especially if you are selling to another guy in China, whom you do not know.
There is this relatively big online dealer (not as big as the ones on our forums) in china that got busted at the beginning of this year(2013) with cops pointing guns at him and his wife, Reason being was that he sold a rep to this rather well connected guy in another province and was not happy with the watch etc, so the buyer decided to make this dealer fall, eventually the dealer spent loads of money, lost everything and also owed money to get out of jail, he is already out from what i heard, I heard this from an industry veteran who was close to the dealer.
I also get a lot of stress when my paypal tries to "question" my account.
(Yep. It's too bad we haven't found a full-on solution to PP yet. At least nothing the masses have taken to.)
Is business lucrative for you? Are you wealthy?
I would say it pays me slightly more than what an average fresh university grad in my country would make. i would be happy if my annual income is above the 100 grand mark.. and i am selling both sides in china and on forums and i am already kinda busy with a 2 man operation, my income is about only a tenth(i think) of what the biggest dealers on the forums make.
(I'd be happy if my income was about the 100k mark too. Maybe i'm in the wrong business with these watch straps...)
What do you think peoples biggest misconception is with high-end replicas?
That they are flawless? I have customers in china always asking me if they are the same when placed beside the geniune watch etc... and if the movement have real swiss( and they will not buy if it is not swiss, like the A6497 or A7750 movt pams )
Where do you see the replica market in 5 years?
I think it is going to be even harder, the new boss of china is trying to change the way china does business and i think it is going to have an effect on replicas eventually. i hope by the end of 5 years, i have enough money to do other business and to sustain my life on this planet
(If there is any life on this planet in 5 years..)
What other hobbies and interests do you have?
Mainly my interest is in food, i hope to earn enough moolah to start another legit business( which im still trying to think hard) so that i can retire and enjoy my life like travelling and have interesting meals around the world ( think Anthony Bourdain )
Looking at some stock ticker sometimes.. trying to invest in a golden stock and i will retire from this trade..
I like watching Naruto every Thursday
(Hey, I know Anthony Bordain.. He plays the Doctor on an episode of a television show my 2yr old watches called Yo Gabba Gabba! Thankfully my kid doesnt know hes a foul mouthed, chain smoking chef in real life!) :lol:
Are some replicas really just sneaking out of the back door of the genuine factory?
The parts are made by big factories that make for other brands i suppose, i heard something like rolex has got to source parts in guangzhou too. also there was this time , a guy working for rolex i suppose, sitting beside me on the plane, so i peeked into the letter, asking to source some parts, and was flying to guangzhou.
How many Ferrari's does the noobmaker own now? How about you? (joke)
I have no idea, i'd say **** the factories(haha), they are making at least close to 100% on their cost(on my estimation). I am used to public transport. Maybe i'll get a car in China if i really need it. Most probably a japanese car like Nissan. Cars are cheaper in china than in Singapore, can you believe a simple toyota corolla costs 100k usd in Singapore now, and its only for 10 years??
(Nissan! They put the GTR in P4GTR!)
The percent of high end reps made is very small comparatively, right? Why do people take the risk for such a small market, is the profit worth it?
I think it is getting bigger on the internet. most people want high end reps nowadays, so nobody kinda wants to buy the cheap stuff, besides those cheap stuff are sold to noobs and on a retail level , where they can sell cheap shits and incredible prices. Why do people take the risk for such a small market, -> i think its because there is a guaranteed demand for the goods sold and you don't have to worry much about business overheads when they are starting up, also it also grants me some freedom, as least i don't have any superiors to answer to. Also job market scene in Asia or in my country Singapore in this case is highly competitive, where only people who have gone thru an ivy league / oxbridge education get cushy jobs. and the 26 - 30 y.o average joe makes an average of 40-50k per annum and they have to succumb to the shitty corporate culture here, also having more female direct bosses in the corporate world doesn't help either.
(Just you wait. Once married you'll be answering to yet another female boss. Just ask guys like me, and Steelfish..)
Over the past year or two, which highly anticipated release wound up being the biggest flop?
I don't wish to say , but i think its an Omega model that people want their logos fixed.
(With the magically erasing ceramic bezel inserts?)
What is the highest quality replica you have ever seen?
The hublot oceangraphic 4000m, i think the sophistication in the watch case is very high. Maybe its just me.
Do factories really try to make reliable products or is it all superficial? Do they care if their products break a short time after they are sold?
I think they try to make it work to last, because chinese customers will send the watches to fix it occasionally (factories will fix the movement , although sometimes it is never fixed properly, so they have to get the same watch to be fixed over and over again) and i'm sure it is frustrating to both factories and dealers.
Are there any other replica products you are aware of that are made to such high specifications and accuracy? Any other guy toys for us out there? I heard there are high quality replica knives being made in China, for example.
not sure about knives or guns, mostly people want replica luxury goods like bags, clothes , watches etc..
_______________________________________________________
There you have it RWI. Please take a moment to post some comments, and thanks again to Sora for taking the time to let us all get to know him a little better.
You can find Sora's section in "Supporting Vendors --> Watches & Parts." The link follows.
http://forum.replica-watch.info/vb/forumdisplay.php/shinewatch-349?f=349
:RWI:
