Noob to Noob: welcome and getting to know the rep culture...

[Biscuittin]

My eyes hurt a little while reading the "Quote" but superb read indeed! thanks for the thread! learned as a newbie.

 

[TheDarkChild]

This was a good read. I’ve Been buying reps for a while now and had been burnt a few times, but have now found a reliable dealer who is great. Ryan at InTime is a true gent and a pleasure to deal with.

it’s also nice to see there is a flame free zone as I have read a lot of threads on here but never commented or posted as hadn’t felt the need. some people can be really quite rude and sarcastic. Not sure why that’s allowed to be honest maybe someone can answer that for me ????????

im not really one to enjoy sarcasm or rudeness when I’m asking a question. The reason you’re asking the question is to get help the last thing you need is some one on their soap box talking to you like a child as that doesn’t help anyone.

so thanks looking out for the new guys

 

[mharroch]

Very well said , Noob to noob! Collecting these watches can be addictive, taking your time is super important! Thank you for that!

 

[HerbD]

I almost fell for the ‘Swiss movement’ kinda scam sites a while back.

Which is why I tried to find a bit of a community to help with the watch hunt.

Safe to say I think I’ve found a home for life. The amount of info on here I mind boggling.

But as a wise man once said, with great power, comes great responsibility…

 

[intransit]

That was definitely worth the read to keep in mind all the things not to say when working with a dealer, or any seller! The process here doesn't feel too different than the other used goods websites I've frequented. The understanding of value and relationships which the exchange of "semi-precious" goods is definitely something I've come to appreciate in private forums, whether or not it be watches, audio gear, computer hardware, or even a car.

 

[ThootBear]

I'm essentially new to this forum, having initially spent most of my time at rwg2 which was the first place I stumbled into. I'm also a relative noob to the rep world as well, yet in a rather short time I've come to a certain realization that most noobs perhaps haven't yet discovered: you have no idea how lucky you are to have found rwi or one of the other good rep fora. before i bumbled into this place, i was independently doing my own research into reps & rep dealers, and i almost pulled the trigger a couple of times due to various "neutral review boards" and the innumerable slick and polished websites out there. but something just never felt right, so i'd wait. And then my research started turning up consumer board after consumer board of screwed buyers who've lost hundreds, if not thousands, of $$$'s buying and randomly testing the market, hoping to get lucky. There were nightmare buyer stories of months wasted fruitlessly chasing shadow numbers and downed websites, and subsequent credit card fraud and phishing (some of those poor victims find their way here, and they sure as s**t know the value of this place ever after). i myself just about walked away entirely from reps until a buyer i PM'd on youtube wrote me back and said "GO HERE". i signed up, skeptical as s**t now, and started reading and reading...and reading. well, actually, first i stomped in and on my first post basically said, "hello, i'm new, who's the best dealer?, cuz i'd like a swiss grade A+++++ 1:1 rep tomorrow please", like practically every other noob. then i started reading dealer reviews and rep reviews and movement reviews, and all the 'intro to the rep world for noobs' threads, until i finally caught on that all of this is well-travelled territory: everyone once was and understands what it's like to be a noob and skeptical and anxious about what to buy and from whom and is it safe and when will i get my watch?!

you just gotta take your time, read the reference resources, use the 'search' function first (it's staggering just how many answers you'll find for just about every question) and then, if no luck, ask. i, and every similar thread i've ever read, have never gotten anything less than the most courteous, helpful, and thorough answers from some of the most ridiculously knowledgeable watch people, regardless of how obscure or cherry my question was. and all that knowledge, expertise, and experience is found here, in one place.

and what's even more ridiculous is that this forum n others have their very own list of long-tested, reputable dealers, with volumes of buyer history to review and rely on. all of which means you can buy with confidence in an illegal trade. UNREAL. will there be some shipping issues?, possibly. will there be some customs issues?, maybe. will there be some eventual product issues?, almost certainly (i own some gens and it's not like those issues don't happen on that side either). but do you have to worry about being scammed out of your money and wasting months chasing down ghosts and worry about your identity being stolen?, nope. no. nuh uh. So step back, breathe, and take that peace of mind to the bank. every dealer here is accountable, very publicly, with many past, present, and future clients watching intently. Even if you don't believe they're good people, then believe that they're not going to risk their overall business just so that they can screw you out of a couple of watches. take note: ALL the reps come from the same factories; it's themselves they're selling to us as dealers.

Now I've personally taken my time and purchased only a small number of reps thus far. Each time, it's a little less nerve-racking, you're more sure of the process, and it gets more and more to just be that great anticipation you rarely get as an adult - like a kid waiting for Xmas to come. The anticipation, I believe, is just damn good for you and should be sort of enjoyed and savored in our world of immediate gratification and expectations.

and my fellow noobs, try to remember who/what you're dealing with on the other side. these are not corporations with customer service personnel routed throughout the world 24/7. it's just some dude, 15 timezones away, who eats and sleeps and plays sometimes, trying to lead his/her own life, usually working 7 days a weeks most of the year (or at least, way way harder than i work!). they're fielding dozens upon dozens of emails each day, many of them frantic and increasingly unpleasant, often regarding issues they have absolutely no control over. if you want the quicker and more polished operation, then buy from one of the dropshippers here. but if you want them to handle YOUR rep, or source something different or less common, making sure you approve prior to shipping, then that requires time and attention, and you're not the only guy in the world buying, brother.

i got the following quote from an old post from Eddie Lee, a legendary dealer now retired, who was very respected for his client service, his product, and his integrity. i wish i'd gotten the chance to know him and buy from him. from what i read about him, it would've been fun to be his friend and a client...

Eddie Lee:

Same boat. When I first found this forum I almost hit the “post thread button” and asked the infamous “which ones the best” question.

Glad I read, and continue to read before pulling the trigger on a purchase.

 

[Pogranec]

I wish everyone who joining the forum would read all this info before making stupid things..

 

[noise]

Hello.
This is my first time commenting.
It's fun to increase your knowledge.

 

[shomfo_8005]

Thanks for the great post, very well written. I am very lucky to have landed in RWI when trying to research for a rep in the first place, not surprising since RWI always come on top at every google search I've done, the vastness of valuable information gathered from years of hands on experience from the seniors who have been in this game for a long time have been extremely helpful for me to manage my expectations and make more educated decision before purchasing.

 

[Wyld1]

A good read, I landed here just before pulling the trigger and being scammed of some random FaceBook ad, Now buying with a lot more confidence

 

[Nightwatchman67]

A great read, plenty to think about

 

[Roscoe75]

I’m new here but not new to getting scammed and so far I’ve been doing bad like over 13 years off and on I’m a disabled adult I’m my 50’s and I’m actually ready for a good dealer or someone who has the same interest every one of you have the love and respect for what you do

 

[Robertst108]

It is apparent that anytime anything is priced very high, it leaves room for a replica. Besides quality watches what other high priced items have there own replica marketplace?