Just wanted to share my experience, hope it might benefit others, especially newbies.
After about a week's worth of browsing through the forum and various TD's dedicated topics, I found a watch I liked on Steve's website (.ru at the time) and contacted him via whatsapp to place the order. He said he can source it from the factory and off we went. He told me I can pay a USD 50 deposit upon placing the order and pay the rest later, but I paid the full amount for some reason.
About two weeks later (we also communicated in the meantime), he informed me that the factory was not going to produce any time soon the exact model I wanted. I was disappointed, but I assumed it wasn't Steve's fault, so I just started thinking of what could I take instead. I inquired about several other models and Steve replied to each of my inquiries promptly and clearly. In the meantime he went through the whole ordeal with his .ru website and temporarily being taken off the TD list, but this didn't affect our communication at all. Also in the meantime he had launched a special offer (additional discount) for new customers and, of course, let me take advantage of it, even though my initial order was made over a month earlier at the time.
Eventually I made my choice and ordered other two watches. My initial payment served as the deposit (and some) and I paid the difference to the full price after GL-ing the QC pics.
A few days after the QC GL, I received the tracking info. It took around a week before Steve confirmed the shipment took off and another week until the tracking info started showing updates. I was patient and, sure enough, after around 3 weeks, I received the package. And I couldn't be happier!
So, my point is - don't panic, be patient, and communicate. Throughout the process Steve communicated with me promptly and clearly, both via whatsapp and email. It took almost two months in total and there were several points in time in which I could have panicked and come to the forum fuming about delays and imaginary problems, but I didn't and neither should you.
Everything will be all right in the end; if everything is not all right, it's not the end.
After about a week's worth of browsing through the forum and various TD's dedicated topics, I found a watch I liked on Steve's website (.ru at the time) and contacted him via whatsapp to place the order. He said he can source it from the factory and off we went. He told me I can pay a USD 50 deposit upon placing the order and pay the rest later, but I paid the full amount for some reason.
About two weeks later (we also communicated in the meantime), he informed me that the factory was not going to produce any time soon the exact model I wanted. I was disappointed, but I assumed it wasn't Steve's fault, so I just started thinking of what could I take instead. I inquired about several other models and Steve replied to each of my inquiries promptly and clearly. In the meantime he went through the whole ordeal with his .ru website and temporarily being taken off the TD list, but this didn't affect our communication at all. Also in the meantime he had launched a special offer (additional discount) for new customers and, of course, let me take advantage of it, even though my initial order was made over a month earlier at the time.
Eventually I made my choice and ordered other two watches. My initial payment served as the deposit (and some) and I paid the difference to the full price after GL-ing the QC pics.
A few days after the QC GL, I received the tracking info. It took around a week before Steve confirmed the shipment took off and another week until the tracking info started showing updates. I was patient and, sure enough, after around 3 weeks, I received the package. And I couldn't be happier!
So, my point is - don't panic, be patient, and communicate. Throughout the process Steve communicated with me promptly and clearly, both via whatsapp and email. It took almost two months in total and there were several points in time in which I could have panicked and come to the forum fuming about delays and imaginary problems, but I didn't and neither should you.
Everything will be all right in the end; if everything is not all right, it's not the end.
