Ficotime

[snick]

Haven't seen any mention of Ficotime here on RWI.

I'm considering going with him since his answers via whatsapp were very straightforward, direct and completely understood my request of an addicitonal strap with a specific size, which 2 TD's here didn't.
The prices are also very competitive and I've read some good reviews of him on another subreddit.

Website is https://ficotime.com/ but I've only dealt with him via whatsapp.

If anyone has any experience buying from him share here.

 

[Jossé]

Why, just why? You have a whole list of good TDs here…

 

[316lad]

I don't get it? - why do people come here to ask if it's okay to go off-piste and ski down a ravine with a potential black run half way down?
Sure - do it if you want but I don't see the logic or reasoning behind asking here when we have a collection of tried and tested TDs waiting to trade with you.

 

[snick]

Well,
First of all, every TD here has been a non-TD somewhere in the past, they all start somewhere.
Second, the prices are different, and for me, 200$ is a lot of money, hence why I'm buying reps instead of gens.
And lastly, like I said, the TD's here probably have a lot more work and less time to be understandable and go the extra mile towards new costumers. I've messaged two of them, which seemed experienced in shipping, with more affordable prices and corteous, and they still haven't fully understood my order, nor have they given me the full price, all of which this non TD did in less than 5 hours.



I thought this section of the forum was exactly to discuss new Dealers that might some day become TD's. This was not a "should I buy from this dealer" post, but more of a discussion about the dealer. If this is not really welcomed here, feel free to delete this topic, no hard feelings.
Sorry if I'm being, in any way, disrespecteful towards this great community, which I'm deeply grateful for all the help.

 

[R2L]

If you want to buy from a non-TD, the old saying is still true - "The fool and his money are soon parted."

 

[TESLA760]

I'm going to send you my Whatsapp #. Just call me Big Tony from Noob. I'll be extremely courteous with you, and answer every question within 5 minutes. I'll even offer you 75% off what TDs charge. Just send me the money !

 

[Hesekiel]

I'm with you, although a friend of mine had bad luck in a somewhat related situation. See, most hookers in the government-controlled whorehouses were required to have a health certificate, to be updated frequently. So my friend wanted to save a few bucks, and hooked up with one of them freelancers. Sadly, what he saved on the initial price faded compared to the cost associated with his STD and HIV he contracted.
But who wouldn't want to save a buck or two?

 

[Bearmarketrader]

I agree skiing "off-piste", as 316lad put it, can be a gamble. Therefore, if you don't have the funds to wager I would steer clear of non-trusted dealers. However with that said, as you asked this question within the Non-Trusted dealers section of the forum I will tell you what I know about FICOtime (Mark).

Disclaimer: For all we know, as he isn't a trusted dealer from this forum, he could be a fly by night dealer and gone tomorrow. However, this was my personal experience.

I am also happy to provide support of my purchase.

Last week I received a watch from him in about 7 days from ordering it (China to East Coast, America).

*8/15: Inquired via Whatsapp, paid via PP F&F, was told 3-5 days for QC

*8/17: QC pics received which subsequently resulted with me GL'ing

*8/19: Shipped via Fedex to the East Coast (New England)

*8/22: On my doorstep

 

[snick]

I agree skiing "off-piste", as 316lad put it, can be a gamble. Therefore, if you don't have the funds to wager I would steer clear of non-trusted dealers. However with that said, as you asked this question within the Non-Trusted dealers section of the forum I will tell you what I know about FICOtime (Mark).

Disclaimer: For all we know, as he isn't a trusted dealer from this forum, he could be a fly by night dealer and gone tomorrow. However, this was my personal experience.

I am also happy to provide support of my purchase.

Last week I received a watch from him in about 7 days from ordering it (China to East Coast, America).

*8/15: Inquired via Whatsapp, paid via PP F&F, was told 3-5 days for QC

*8/17: QC pics received which subsequently resulted with me GL'ing

*8/19: Shipped via Fedex to the East Coast (New England)

*8/22: On my doorstep

This is the reason I made this thread and I appreciate your complete answer.

 

[Bearmarketrader]

This is the reason I made this thread and I appreciate your complete answer.

No worries. Personally, I don't think you did anything wrong as you asked the question in the appropriate part of the forum. There are a lot of scammers out there, so you do need to be careful. As of right now, it does not appear that Mark is one of them. That said, he could be building confidence with buyers so that he can disappear in the future. These are things you need to consider.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

[R2L]

OP if you look at the Trusted Dealers section of this forum you will find 25 vetted and approved entities with testimonials from members who have brought from them:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/forums/trusted-rep-dealers.147/

Their prices vary from low to high, so can meet just about any member's budget. If 25 is not enough for you, feel free to check out "your" guy and share your experience. I (and many others who are posting on this thread) have been here long enough to read posts like yours, followed by bad experience with receiving either a poor quality piece of crap, or nothing at all. Occasionally, members will receive what they paid for.

SO do not be surprised at the comments you have received above. You are better off paying a little extra and getting a watch from a forum Trusted Dealer, than trying to save a few pennies and end up getting cheated. Furthermore, should something go wrong, the forum moderators will reach out to the TD on your behalf to get the issue resolved. Going to a non-TD who cheats you will get you nothing here! However, it is your money and your decision; do whatever you please.

 

[snick]

Thank you to everyone on contributed to this post, and for their opinion.

I ended up not going with Ficotime, although I think in future purchases I might try to condut business with him. Went with a TD for my first purchase, since we were able to come to an understanding.

 

[Bearmarketrader]

Glad to hear that you were able to reach an agreement with someone on the TD list. As the fellas mentioned that is always the safest and preferred method. If in the future you are still debating using a non-td, just ensure you do your due diligence, even on Mark (FICO). As these non-tds can turn on a dime if they want and you have no recourse.

Good luck with your purchase and enjoy your trip down the rep watch rabbit hole .

 

[Psymuun]

I'm new here on this Forum so I don't know if my opinion will matter.

09/16/24 - Ordered two watches from FicoTime
09/21/24 - Received QC for the two watches
9/22/24 - Watches were shipped -- waiting for tracking number (1-3 days according to Mark)

Mark was great to talk to the entire process. Will post an update once I get my watches.

 

[DocNight]

Just ordered last week. Contact was great via Whatsapp. Even though I changed my mind and switched to a different watch, he was super friendly. QC is approved and watch is shipped. I will write a review with pictures as soon as I get the watch

 

[snick]

I decided to share my latest experience with Ficotime.


Mark has been super fast and ready to help with questions or suggestions so I decided to make a purchase from him.


On the 24th of September I approached Ficotime to buy a GO SeaQ from RXW Factory and made payment in full.

I was told QC would be between 4 and 8 days, but I was ready to wait a little longer because it's a somehow rare rep.

On the 17th of October I asked Mark for updates and he said he was having trouble sourcing the watch, he'd recheck.

On the 18th he said the watch was no longer available, factory stopped it's production.
He gave me the choice to switch to another watch or get full refund. I changed to a Tag Heuer from Original Factory on this same day, 18th. He said QC within a week.


On the 29th I inquired and he said he couldn't source the watch, that the manufacturer was out of stock, I asked for a prevision of waiting time.

On the 31st he said the watch was no longer produced as well. I decided to get a full refund and Mark agreed, said I'd get a full refund within 24h.

Around 12h later I got a full refund.


Unfortunately I "wasted" over a month waiting for watches that never came, but tbf my purchases were rather specific, from smaller factories and less common reps.
I believe Ficotime has been having a Lot of purchases and work is pilling up, thanks to his great service and prices , leaving these harder requests unattended.

From my perspective, super trustworthy behaviour. I am very on board with buying from Ficotime again, but only those common models, i.e Rolex's and Omega's from the major factories.

For smaller factories and less known reps, I think I'll have to find someone else, if these watches are even in production!

Hope my feedback is valuable to some of you.

 

[KonKir]

Aren’t his prices higher then Andiot who is a TD or am I using wrong exchange rate?

 

[snick]

Aren’t his prices higher then Andiot who is a TD or am I using wrong exchange rate?

Depends on the model I guess. His shipping is a lot lower than andiot, to my country.

 

[KonKir]

Well, if difference is like 20-30 dollars I really struggle with selection of non TD. (Which I would imagine difference in postage). If it’s like 100-200 might as well worth taking a gamble but for 20-30?

 

[snick]

Well, if difference is like 20-30 dollars I really struggle with selection of non TD. (Which I would imagine difference in postage). If it’s like 100-200 might as well worth taking a gamble but for 20-30?

80$ difference on a specific model I asked Andiot and Fico.