Previously doing business as Watch International, Mary has been in the replica watch industry since 2008. She is not a TD on RWI but is a TD "next door" at RWG. She used to be in business with a partner, "Rochest" but they've parted ways. Mary sees dissolution of that partnership as a very positive development.
But enough of the past.
I'll speak to my recent experience with her operation and, as with my review of Lawrence last week, stick with the facts for the most part and let you draw your own conclusions.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at around 1:30 PM I emailed Mary regarding a vintage-style Sub that interested me, asking her if she could source it. Mary lists what she has in stock over on her RWG TD thread, but (for me at least and maybe for new customers too) she will "go to the market" and find what you are looking for if you send her a link or a photo with description of maker/model/mvmt etc.
By 9:30PM that same day, Mary responded to my email and said she could get what I wanted, gave me a price with shipping, and said she would accept western union, moneygram or paypal. I have a history with Mary so I am not sure if the paypal option is available to new customers. Most sellers today hesitate to offer the paypal option to new customers because of chargeback and protest risk from nervous-nellies. That, and notes in paypal, are how dealers r PP accounts are frozen - often with a loss of $$. They have to be careful.
By 11:00pm that night I made up my mind and purchased that watch, sending Mary payment via PP along with an extra 5% to cover PP fees on her end. Alternatively PP gift is an option, but if you send it as an eCheck know that can result in a delay on her end that will be reflected in your shipping date as she needs your cash on hand to pay her supplier, then ship. Because I'm comfortable with Mary and enjoy the convenience of PP, these things do not bother me - but it is something you should be aware of. If you want quicker shipping, use WU or fund PP with your credit card (additional fees to you) and she will get access to the PP money right off.
Anyway, by the 26th (two days later) I had QC pictures in my email to review, which I studied and approved. Because I'm a pain in the ass customer, I added a second watch to my order on the 26th (a vintage-style manual-wind "pre-Daytona" chrono). Mary and I decided to hold the Sub until the chrono was ready to ship with it as, in addition to being a pain in the ass, I'm also a cheapskate and wanted to save another $28 in shipping by combining. Know that if you combine and ship 2 reps in one packet, your Customs risk escalates a bit. Thats on me.
On the 31st I was advised that Mary had sourced the chrono but when she put it on the Timegrapher she found problems with it and did not think I would be satisfied. While she was testing it, her source left Guangzhou a few days so there was a delay in exchanging it. I'd rather be patient and get a good product so I waited. With her 1st source out of town, Mary found a second aesthetically identical chrono from someone else and it tested fine. So with all well and good, the watches shipped to me via China Post on September 02. I received my tracking number on September 03.
I'm not one to fuss over tracking numbers, so just went about my business and waited. Most of the time, tracking numbers don't work anyway, right?
On September 12, 2016 the watches arrived - hand delivered by USPS. Packaging was good. Both watches were wrapped separately in plastic to keep them from rattling, then had thick bubble wrap coiled over them individually, taped tightly together and placed in a brown cardboard envelope, and that envelope put in a padded China Post e-Packet. There was no sign of movement in transit, damage or tampering.
Both watches were clean, clearly brand new, run fine, and each show around a 2sec gain per day, amplitude of 260 on one and 315 on the other, and no beat error per my Timegrapher - more than adequate IMO. I'd speculate that Mary adjusted them as I consider it unusual for reps to 'graph that well direct from the Maker.
One small issue that I found, which Mary could have every easily missed, is that one of the adjustment screws on the bracelet of one of the watches is stripped and spinning freely. It so happens that I wasn't planning to use metal on that one anyway so just plopped the bracelet in my parts drawer. It would be laughable to expect a dealer to manually check every screw on every bracelet though. I worked for a Rolex AD and we didn't even QC at that level with $10,000 gens! I did not bother to mention that to Mary at all but mention it to you because "the key to happiness is appropriate expectations".
Since receiving this order I've already placed another with Mary Watch and am considering a third.
While, again, Mary is not a RWI TD, I'd recommend without reservation.
But enough of the past.
I'll speak to my recent experience with her operation and, as with my review of Lawrence last week, stick with the facts for the most part and let you draw your own conclusions.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at around 1:30 PM I emailed Mary regarding a vintage-style Sub that interested me, asking her if she could source it. Mary lists what she has in stock over on her RWG TD thread, but (for me at least and maybe for new customers too) she will "go to the market" and find what you are looking for if you send her a link or a photo with description of maker/model/mvmt etc.
By 9:30PM that same day, Mary responded to my email and said she could get what I wanted, gave me a price with shipping, and said she would accept western union, moneygram or paypal. I have a history with Mary so I am not sure if the paypal option is available to new customers. Most sellers today hesitate to offer the paypal option to new customers because of chargeback and protest risk from nervous-nellies. That, and notes in paypal, are how dealers r PP accounts are frozen - often with a loss of $$. They have to be careful.
By 11:00pm that night I made up my mind and purchased that watch, sending Mary payment via PP along with an extra 5% to cover PP fees on her end. Alternatively PP gift is an option, but if you send it as an eCheck know that can result in a delay on her end that will be reflected in your shipping date as she needs your cash on hand to pay her supplier, then ship. Because I'm comfortable with Mary and enjoy the convenience of PP, these things do not bother me - but it is something you should be aware of. If you want quicker shipping, use WU or fund PP with your credit card (additional fees to you) and she will get access to the PP money right off.
Anyway, by the 26th (two days later) I had QC pictures in my email to review, which I studied and approved. Because I'm a pain in the ass customer, I added a second watch to my order on the 26th (a vintage-style manual-wind "pre-Daytona" chrono). Mary and I decided to hold the Sub until the chrono was ready to ship with it as, in addition to being a pain in the ass, I'm also a cheapskate and wanted to save another $28 in shipping by combining. Know that if you combine and ship 2 reps in one packet, your Customs risk escalates a bit. Thats on me.
On the 31st I was advised that Mary had sourced the chrono but when she put it on the Timegrapher she found problems with it and did not think I would be satisfied. While she was testing it, her source left Guangzhou a few days so there was a delay in exchanging it. I'd rather be patient and get a good product so I waited. With her 1st source out of town, Mary found a second aesthetically identical chrono from someone else and it tested fine. So with all well and good, the watches shipped to me via China Post on September 02. I received my tracking number on September 03.
I'm not one to fuss over tracking numbers, so just went about my business and waited. Most of the time, tracking numbers don't work anyway, right?
On September 12, 2016 the watches arrived - hand delivered by USPS. Packaging was good. Both watches were wrapped separately in plastic to keep them from rattling, then had thick bubble wrap coiled over them individually, taped tightly together and placed in a brown cardboard envelope, and that envelope put in a padded China Post e-Packet. There was no sign of movement in transit, damage or tampering.
Both watches were clean, clearly brand new, run fine, and each show around a 2sec gain per day, amplitude of 260 on one and 315 on the other, and no beat error per my Timegrapher - more than adequate IMO. I'd speculate that Mary adjusted them as I consider it unusual for reps to 'graph that well direct from the Maker.
One small issue that I found, which Mary could have every easily missed, is that one of the adjustment screws on the bracelet of one of the watches is stripped and spinning freely. It so happens that I wasn't planning to use metal on that one anyway so just plopped the bracelet in my parts drawer. It would be laughable to expect a dealer to manually check every screw on every bracelet though. I worked for a Rolex AD and we didn't even QC at that level with $10,000 gens! I did not bother to mention that to Mary at all but mention it to you because "the key to happiness is appropriate expectations".
Since receiving this order I've already placed another with Mary Watch and am considering a third.
While, again, Mary is not a RWI TD, I'd recommend without reservation.
