US$474 WATCH ORDER:
I placed an order on March 3, 2022, for a BP Factory Explorer 1, Ref 214270, and two Rubber B bands at TrustyTime...
Andrew coordinated with me via email quickly. That was encouraging. I was going to place an order for several watches but decided to test the water with a less expensive, single watch order to establish a rapport and some trust.
I attempted to use a Credit Card but it never worked on several of my CCs. As an alternative, Andrew sent wire transfer information, which I followed explicitly. I have wired funds plenty of times.
The wire transfer was paid in British Pounds to a company called: "Specialist Automotive Parts"
Red flag? Clearly, I'm the stupid one... I understand there is risk in the replica watch world... I had hoped all would go smoothly. We all do...
My bank (Schwab) did the usual telephone follow-up to ensure I knew who the order was going to and double-checked everything on the telephone 20-minutes after I initiated the wire.
I told the bank I knew who the order was going to. Duh... Red flag? Of course, it was.
$474 left my account on March 3, 2022.
I emailed the confirmation info to Andrew on the same day... Here's our dialog since:
MARCH 3, 2022:
I notified Andrew that the funds were sent and was told by my bank the transfer would be received after the upcoming weekend.
No reply.
MARCH 10, 2022:
I inquired about my order. Andrew replied:
"My payment guy has not received it yet. There are some delays on his side as his Wise account needs to undergo some verification."
MARCH 19, 2022:
I followed up again, and Andrew replied:
"The Wise account was closed so all transfers will be refunded. You should have received the refund by now as Wise said it will at most take a week for refunds."
Then he stated, "Let me run a check with my payment guy again"
MARCH 25, 2022
I hadn't heard back, so I emailed... I also double-checked my Schwab account. Nothing received.
Me: "Checking in with you and wondering why I haven’t heard from you. Should I be concerned?"
Andrew: "I did inform you that Wise closed the account and all payments will be refunded by Wise"
I checked with my bank's customer service and had not received a refunded payment. My bank is Charles Schwab, I suspect wire transfers don't go missing at Schwab (unless you guys have experienced them differently). In any case, they didn't/don't have a record of any refunded WISE payments for me.
I got busy and was patient...
APRIL 14, 2022
Andrew replied to another inquiry of mine: "The refund should have reached you by now"
I replied: "No transactions have occurred in my account. I haven’t received anything. Can you send the details about when they were refunded? I have called my bank's customer service and they have no ability to track anything without details."
Andrew: "Wise only replied with the following when my payment guy emailed to check Refund time depends on how you paid for your transfer:
I wrote today:
I have waited months now, I would like your assistance to resolve this issue.
I have not received any returned funds from my bank transfer.
I placed an order in good faith and followed your instructions exactly. You have explained that I would receive my funds back via wise transfer, but I have not.
I have been sufficiently patient in this. What can I expect at this time? I wired my funds on March 3rd.
Andrew:
"Did you try asking your bank on whether they are able to trace the wire?"
Me:
"Absolutely. I also sent confirmation that the funds were transferred."
"I inquired in April about refunds too. They received nothing after 60+ days"
Hoping Andrew will resolve this amicably and I can confirm that TrustyTime is truly a reputable dealer.
After 75+ days, Am I out $474...
LESSONS?
A few things that I have learned or "re-learned" from my experiences to date with Andrew at TrustyTIme:
1) 'Trusted" is only a guideline. Your mileage will vary.
2) Speedy email replies are only speedy email responses. When it comes to cash, possession is 9.9/10 of the law. When the wire leaves your account, it's gone.
3) I have had to initiate a status check throughout this order and process.
4) I typically only receive one-sentence replies, all of which typically suggests that the issues are someone else's fault, usually mine.
5) I should have transferred $20 to confirm it worked and verified the wire transfer process, fees be damned.
6) Don't be surprised if you experience what I have to date. I have been extremely patient and communicative. It feels like the responses to my inquiries are practiced. Just saying.
Caveat emptor!! I am bummed to have to share this.
I will update this topic upon any further changes...
I placed an order on March 3, 2022, for a BP Factory Explorer 1, Ref 214270, and two Rubber B bands at TrustyTime...
Andrew coordinated with me via email quickly. That was encouraging. I was going to place an order for several watches but decided to test the water with a less expensive, single watch order to establish a rapport and some trust.
I attempted to use a Credit Card but it never worked on several of my CCs. As an alternative, Andrew sent wire transfer information, which I followed explicitly. I have wired funds plenty of times.
The wire transfer was paid in British Pounds to a company called: "Specialist Automotive Parts"
Red flag? Clearly, I'm the stupid one... I understand there is risk in the replica watch world... I had hoped all would go smoothly. We all do...
My bank (Schwab) did the usual telephone follow-up to ensure I knew who the order was going to and double-checked everything on the telephone 20-minutes after I initiated the wire.
I told the bank I knew who the order was going to. Duh... Red flag? Of course, it was.
$474 left my account on March 3, 2022.
I emailed the confirmation info to Andrew on the same day... Here's our dialog since:
MARCH 3, 2022:
I notified Andrew that the funds were sent and was told by my bank the transfer would be received after the upcoming weekend.
No reply.
MARCH 10, 2022:
I inquired about my order. Andrew replied:
"My payment guy has not received it yet. There are some delays on his side as his Wise account needs to undergo some verification."
MARCH 19, 2022:
I followed up again, and Andrew replied:
"The Wise account was closed so all transfers will be refunded. You should have received the refund by now as Wise said it will at most take a week for refunds."
Then he stated, "Let me run a check with my payment guy again"
MARCH 25, 2022
I hadn't heard back, so I emailed... I also double-checked my Schwab account. Nothing received.
Me: "Checking in with you and wondering why I haven’t heard from you. Should I be concerned?"
Andrew: "I did inform you that Wise closed the account and all payments will be refunded by Wise"
I checked with my bank's customer service and had not received a refunded payment. My bank is Charles Schwab, I suspect wire transfers don't go missing at Schwab (unless you guys have experienced them differently). In any case, they didn't/don't have a record of any refunded WISE payments for me.
I got busy and was patient...
APRIL 14, 2022
Andrew replied to another inquiry of mine: "The refund should have reached you by now"
I replied: "No transactions have occurred in my account. I haven’t received anything. Can you send the details about when they were refunded? I have called my bank's customer service and they have no ability to track anything without details."
Andrew: "Wise only replied with the following when my payment guy emailed to check Refund time depends on how you paid for your transfer:
- by card: 3–10 working days
- by bank/wire transfer: 2–3 working days
- by bank debit/ACH: up to 90 working days"
I wrote today:
I have waited months now, I would like your assistance to resolve this issue.
I have not received any returned funds from my bank transfer.
I placed an order in good faith and followed your instructions exactly. You have explained that I would receive my funds back via wise transfer, but I have not.
I have been sufficiently patient in this. What can I expect at this time? I wired my funds on March 3rd.
Andrew:
"Did you try asking your bank on whether they are able to trace the wire?"
Me:
"Absolutely. I also sent confirmation that the funds were transferred."
"I inquired in April about refunds too. They received nothing after 60+ days"
Hoping Andrew will resolve this amicably and I can confirm that TrustyTime is truly a reputable dealer.
After 75+ days, Am I out $474...
LESSONS?
A few things that I have learned or "re-learned" from my experiences to date with Andrew at TrustyTIme:
1) 'Trusted" is only a guideline. Your mileage will vary.
2) Speedy email replies are only speedy email responses. When it comes to cash, possession is 9.9/10 of the law. When the wire leaves your account, it's gone.
3) I have had to initiate a status check throughout this order and process.
4) I typically only receive one-sentence replies, all of which typically suggests that the issues are someone else's fault, usually mine.
5) I should have transferred $20 to confirm it worked and verified the wire transfer process, fees be damned.
6) Don't be surprised if you experience what I have to date. I have been extremely patient and communicative. It feels like the responses to my inquiries are practiced. Just saying.
Caveat emptor!! I am bummed to have to share this.
I will update this topic upon any further changes...
