Update as per 21 Oct: The watch has arrived. I have written a small review in the Rolex section. Just want to thank the forum for the assistance I received here.
I am really sorry to have to write this, but to get straight to the point I have been scammed by a trusted dealer on this forum.
Let me start out by stating that I have had dealings with a number of trusted and non-trusted dealers and members on the fora. I have had complications with some of the deals, but all have worked out in the end.
That was until I decided to try out Time4direct aka Prestige Watch Company. - You know the one with the straight shooting guy you need to please if you want him to supply you.
Well, I tried.
A long time ago I attempted a purchase. I Followed the instructions on how to deal with this dealer to the book and received an order confirmation on July 23.
This was followed by payment straight to the bank (receipt of money confirmed) and a very long communication. - That is a very high no of emails and Pms from me (all of which with Order No in the heading, so easy to trace) and sporadic replies from Robert.
Initially I messaged him because nothing happened at all. Then on 3rd Sep (!) I received a tracking no, which turned out never to be recognised by Parcelforce. And still no watch.
So more messages are sent to Robert. I try to get information about when and where it was shipped from, in order to trace it from my end. But he is not interested in this and refuses to provide any further shipping information.
Instead I am told on 11 Sep:
why are you wasting time chasing this around I gave you the simple solution 2 weeks ago Upgrade to EMS and I will send another for you. If the other turns up then send it back. The post office here and in the UK will take an age to trace this I will register a trace today but expect it to take anything upto the maximum time it can for them
Right. No point arguing. Instead on to the second scam. I pay the upgrade on 16 September – again straight to his bank account so no delay, and confirm by PM the same day.
By now I have paid twice. I have paid directly, so no comeback to CC or PP. Sounds familiar?
Well....
From hereon there is total silence from Prestige Watch Company. I try another 3 PMs to Robert, but get no reply. No watch, no shipping details and no communication.
In desperation on 26 Sep I try to contact him via a thread on Repgeek. After all Robert is quite prolific on the fora, so perhaps he would spot this one and answer me: http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=79019
The thread clearly touched a nerve on the forum and attracted more than 80 responses, of which some are from Robert. However he still does not answer me or addresses the issue of the missing watch. His last posting on the thread is on 29 Sep just saying that enough has been said in this matter.
On 3rd October I contacted a moderator on Repgeek (as I had started there I thought I would end it there), who kindly intervenes on my behalf. This moderator gets one response saying that Robert would look into the matter. But then no more. Also no response when the moderator tries again. So this approach has also proved fruitless. (You may understand that I find it pointless to involve any moderators from RWI. At this stage far too much time has gone into this matter).
The tale may sound like the typical scare story about a Chinese back-room con-artist. But it is a trusted dealer. And a well known one at that.
I would love to be one of those who could write here about how wonderful Robert is, and keep him happy. I have even thought of a nice little bulk purchase from him, which might have made me happy. It all seems so tempting.
That is often the case, I guess. But if it seems too good to be true it probably is...
In my case I guess I was lucky that I was scammed on a relatively small order and did not go for the big bait.
I still hope to receive my watch one day, although my hope has faded considerably.
Now my question is: How safe should anyone feel with the trusted dealers? Certainly this experience has made me question the value of this status.
Hopefully I am wrong to do so.
I am really sorry to have to write this, but to get straight to the point I have been scammed by a trusted dealer on this forum.
Let me start out by stating that I have had dealings with a number of trusted and non-trusted dealers and members on the fora. I have had complications with some of the deals, but all have worked out in the end.
That was until I decided to try out Time4direct aka Prestige Watch Company. - You know the one with the straight shooting guy you need to please if you want him to supply you.
Well, I tried.
A long time ago I attempted a purchase. I Followed the instructions on how to deal with this dealer to the book and received an order confirmation on July 23.
This was followed by payment straight to the bank (receipt of money confirmed) and a very long communication. - That is a very high no of emails and Pms from me (all of which with Order No in the heading, so easy to trace) and sporadic replies from Robert.
Initially I messaged him because nothing happened at all. Then on 3rd Sep (!) I received a tracking no, which turned out never to be recognised by Parcelforce. And still no watch.
So more messages are sent to Robert. I try to get information about when and where it was shipped from, in order to trace it from my end. But he is not interested in this and refuses to provide any further shipping information.
Instead I am told on 11 Sep:
why are you wasting time chasing this around I gave you the simple solution 2 weeks ago Upgrade to EMS and I will send another for you. If the other turns up then send it back. The post office here and in the UK will take an age to trace this I will register a trace today but expect it to take anything upto the maximum time it can for them
Right. No point arguing. Instead on to the second scam. I pay the upgrade on 16 September – again straight to his bank account so no delay, and confirm by PM the same day.
By now I have paid twice. I have paid directly, so no comeback to CC or PP. Sounds familiar?
Well....
From hereon there is total silence from Prestige Watch Company. I try another 3 PMs to Robert, but get no reply. No watch, no shipping details and no communication.
In desperation on 26 Sep I try to contact him via a thread on Repgeek. After all Robert is quite prolific on the fora, so perhaps he would spot this one and answer me: http://www.repgeek.com/showthread.php?t=79019
The thread clearly touched a nerve on the forum and attracted more than 80 responses, of which some are from Robert. However he still does not answer me or addresses the issue of the missing watch. His last posting on the thread is on 29 Sep just saying that enough has been said in this matter.
On 3rd October I contacted a moderator on Repgeek (as I had started there I thought I would end it there), who kindly intervenes on my behalf. This moderator gets one response saying that Robert would look into the matter. But then no more. Also no response when the moderator tries again. So this approach has also proved fruitless. (You may understand that I find it pointless to involve any moderators from RWI. At this stage far too much time has gone into this matter).
The tale may sound like the typical scare story about a Chinese back-room con-artist. But it is a trusted dealer. And a well known one at that.
I would love to be one of those who could write here about how wonderful Robert is, and keep him happy. I have even thought of a nice little bulk purchase from him, which might have made me happy. It all seems so tempting.
That is often the case, I guess. But if it seems too good to be true it probably is...
In my case I guess I was lucky that I was scammed on a relatively small order and did not go for the big bait.
I still hope to receive my watch one day, although my hope has faded considerably.
Now my question is: How safe should anyone feel with the trusted dealers? Certainly this experience has made me question the value of this status.
Hopefully I am wrong to do so.
