Question about wearing a rep to AD

[ayubgantz]

My experience is that sales folk at ADs are just that. Sales persons. I've got more knowledge about Rolex watches than the specialist Rolex guy at the only AD in my town. He appeared "shellshocked" according to my friend (who was observing his face) when I started talking about the Rolex movements on the watches my mate tried on and was looking to buy. Retrospectively, I laughed at the lady standing in the reception who said "please take a seat in the Rolex area. Our Rolex expert named Mr.Orange will be with you shortly".

Expert my ass.

I'm just overwhelmed at the amount of I've learned from a REP forum. Who would have thought? Based on comparisons between myself and my mates, I say we rep enthusiasts probably (and I say probably) know more than the gen enthusiasts. May well be wrong though.

 

[sumiter7]

I understand what you are saying, however, to carry that to an extreme, it is like saying to bong smokers, don't do it in public, if you get caught, it makes it harder for us to buy...people are going to do what they want, the risk is theirs, no matter what you do. I agree with you that there is absolutely no need to wear a rep to an AD or most places but some will do that regardless...it is their watch and it is their reputation...

I agree that there's no doubt some people will do whatever they would like to do, no matter what others say.
However, there's a difference between "some people will do it anyway", and "screw others and do whatever you want". I don't think people at this forum should tell others to do whatever they feel like, especially knowing what's at stake here.

 

[Goodgood]

I agree that there's no doubt some people will do whatever they would like to do, no matter what others say.
However, there's a difference between "some people will do it anyway", and "screw others and do whatever you want". I don't think people at this forum should tell others to do whatever they feel like, especially knowing what's at stake here.

What is at stake, exactly? They are destroying tons of watches, hand bags, sunglasses, cologne, golf clubs, etc.. every other week. A couple of guys wearing reps walking into an AD is like adding a suitcase on the QE2 will make it sink. Sure it is not cool, whatever...Being new does not mean that I am totally unaware.

 

[sumiter7]

What is at stake, exactly? They are destroying tons of watches, hand bags, sunglasses, cologne, golf clubs, etc.. every other week. A couple of guys wearing reps walking into an AD is like adding a suitcase on the QE2 will make it sink. Sure it is not cool, whatever...Being new does not mean that I am totally unaware.

The reason why PayPal has been enforcing harsher on crackdown isn't because they just wanted to all of sudden; it's because the watch company pressured them to do so, after a fool bragged about fooling an AD with his Hublot. People that have been buying reps for years will tell you that it's getting harder to buy reps as years go by.

You've said there's nothing good about it; there only can be negative consequences. What we're doing is illegal; why aggravate the watchmaker?

 

[Rogerthat]

What is at stake, exactly? They are destroying tons of watches, hand bags, sunglasses, cologne, golf clubs, etc.. every other week. A couple of guys wearing reps walking into an AD is like adding a suitcase on the QE2 will make it sink. Sure it is not cool, whatever...Being new does not mean that I am totally unaware.

Everyone knows there are replica watches
Most of the general public does not know just how good they are
The thought process is if more knew the crackdowns would get more serious

 

[aksingh]

In the UK and most countries it is not illegal to own a rep and wear it even in an ADs, but it is disrespectful to the brand and to the watch hobby both gen and rep. I only think guys on here without any gens and therefore a little insecure would try to fool an AD. If it never leaves your wrist in the AD you will never be called out its virtually impossible, but if you take it off and they inspect it, just a glance at your face would tell them in a heartbeat that you are wearing a rep and the shame you would feel would probably make you stop buying reps altogether. So don't do it... for your sake.

 

[Goodgood]

Everyone knows there are replica watches
Most of the general public does not know just how good they are
The thought process is if more knew the crackdowns would get more serious

I have been following the reps business for a couple of decades. As a matter of fact, I still have a Rolex TT Date Just with a cheap battery that some one gave me back in 1986.... It is the same thing with golf clubs. There used to be cheap copies from China that one can spot right away. Now, all the foundries are located in China and Japan, all the clubs are made over there. Nothing is made in the US. Maybe Ping, that is it. The foundries that make Callaway, Taylormade, etc...are the ones producing the copies. They are almost identical, exempt for the illegal serial number and the price. The watch reps are still a long way. One only has to remove the case back to see the difference. As long as there are buyers, the market will thrive. I believe Paypal has a lot more restrictions that watch reps, like guns, DVD copies, copies of software like Windows, porn, anything copies...that Hublot has nothing to do with. And as usual, people always find a way around it...it is a sub-industry that existed since the beginning of time...and will still be there long after we are gone.

 

[sumiter7]

I have been following the reps business for a couple of decades. As a matter of fact, I still have a Rolex TT Date Just with a cheap battery that some one gave me back in 1986.... It is the same thing with golf clubs. There used to be cheap copies from China that one can spot right away. Now, all the foundries are located in China and Japan, all the clubs are made over there. Nothing is made in the US. Maybe Ping, that is it. The foundries that make Callaway, Taylormade, etc...are the ones producing the copies. They are almost identical, exempt for the illegal serial number and the price. The watch reps are still a long way. One only has to remove the case back to see the difference. As long as there are buyers, the market will thrive. I believe Paypal has a lot more restrictions that watch reps, like guns, DVD copies, copies of software like Windows, porn, anything copies...that Hublot has nothing to do with. And as usual, people always find a way around it...it is a sub-industry that existed since the beginning of time...and will still be there long after we are gone.

You've gone off-topic. It's not about how good the rep watches are, but about wearing reps to an AD here. You don't need to mention how good rep golf clubs are, because it's irrelevant. What Rogerthat was saying is that because rep watches can be spotted with ease at an AD, don't bring it in.

Also, in terms of Paypal, you're bringing up stuff like guns etc that serve no apparent purpose to your argument. Hublot pressured Paypal to be harsher on rep WATCHES, not guns, porn, or other copies. That's what we're talking about here.

 

[Goodgood]

Hublot pressured Paypal to be harsher on rep WATCHES. That's what we're talking about here.

How do you know that? Do you know someone from Paypal? or at Hublot?
Please share your info. Thanks.

 

[sumiter7]

How do you know that? Do you know someone from Paypal? or at Hublot?
Please share your info. Thanks.

I should have mentioned it was circumstantial evidence.

Even if this was circumstantial, it doesn't change the fact that wearing a rep to an AD only has negative consequence. Is it absurd to think that the watch companies' taking measures to fight counterfeit? I don't think so. Why bring a rep into an AD that, when spotted--which is likely--will draw more attention to rep buyers and fora like this? So, trying to stick to the point, it DOES matter that people shouldn't wear reps to an AD.

Please don't try to blur the point that people are making by using false analogies like golf clubs.

 

[Rogerthat]

I think we can all agree that change is coming, of course the trade will continue and find new ways to get around any changes
Have witnessed this hobby go from secretive and risky to purchase to be wide open and easier than shopping for perfectly legitimate goods
Now this past 8 months or so we are see a change in the enforcement on many levels
I only see that trend continuing, the hobby became too well known and that caused heat
Mr Biver (or whatever his name is) the CEO at Hublot has been a leader in pushing for tighter enforcement worldwide after he was multiple tunes personally fooled by reps of his own watches
Attention to our hobby is not good for the health of the hobby, the low prices and easy ordering we currently enjoy and the quality we are getting used to seeing

 

[Goodgood]

There is a multitude of things that Paypal prohibit and reps are a minute portion.

Rolex is the most copied watches ever and why aren't they complaining? Because the more people try to copy them, the more envious people are of owning a gen, it gives them a special cachet. For each Hublot that is sold, there are thousands of Rolex. Then why does Hublot have such clout that top level paypal execs are running scare? Do you think people use paypal to pay for a Hublot? Maybe on Ebay...

This is what Paypal says:

Prohibited Activities
You may not use the PayPal service for activities that:

violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation.

relate to transactions involving (a) narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances or other products that present a risk to consumer safety, (b) drug paraphernalia, (c) items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity, (d) stolen goods including digital and virtual goods (e) items that promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or the financial exploitation of a crime, (f) items that are considered obscene, (g) items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction, (h) certain sexually oriented materials or services, (i) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (j) ,certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.

relate to transactions that (a) show the personal information of third parties in violation of applicable law, (b) support pyramid or ponzi schemes, matrix programs, other "get rich quick" schemes or certain multi-level marketing programs, (c) are associated with purchases of annuities or lottery contracts, lay-away systems, off-shore banking or transactions to finance or refinance debts funded by a credit card, (d) are for the sale of certain items before the seller has control or possession of the item, (e) are by payment processors to collect payments on behalf of merchants, (f), are associated with the sale of traveler's checks or money orders, (h) involve currency exchanges or check cashing businesses, or (i) involve certain credit repair, debt settlement services, credit transactions or insurance activities.

involve the sales of products or services identified by government agencies to have a high likelihood of being fraudulent.
violate applicable laws or industry regulations regarding the sale of (a) tobacco products, or (b) prescription drugs and devices.
involve gambling, gaming and/or any other activity with an entry fee and a prize, including, but not limited to casino games, sports betting, horse or greyhound racing, lottery tickets, other ventures that facilitate gambling, games of skill (whether or not it is legally defined as a lottery) and sweepstakes unless the operator has obtained prior approval from PayPal and the operator and customers are located exclusively in jurisdictions where such activities are permitted by law.

 

[sumiter7]

I think we can all agree that change is coming, of course the trade will continue and find new ways to get around any changes
Have witnessed this hobby go from secretive and risky to purchase to be wide open and easier than shopping for perfectly legitimate goods
Now this past 8 months or so we are see a change in the enforcement on many levels
I only see that trend continuing, the hobby became too well known and that caused heat
Mr Biver (or whatever his name is) the CEO at Hublot has been a leader in pushing for tighter enforcement worldwide after he was multiple tunes personally fooled by reps of his own watches
Attention to our hobby is not good for the health of the hobby, the low prices and easy ordering we currently enjoy and the quality we are getting used to seeing

He was fooled by the reps himself? Haha, I want one of the Hublot reps that fooled him lol

 

[Rogerthat]

This is a pissing contest between which illegal product is worse this is about the hobby of rep watches
As I stated the more attention to our hobby the worse it is and will become for us
And Hublot is part of a much larger brand, so they are a big player

Previously brands may have thought reps gave then free advertising and were so poor it didn't affect their sales
Now the brands fear the quality affects their sales
That is a big change

 

[cheetachrome]

It's beyond what will get 'us' (forums, rep hobby, etc...) into trouble - to me it's a matter of personal responsibility, courtesy, and respect. I think these qualities are well worth having, even in the rep hobby. It's what makes a forum like this so valuable - in an industry rife with thieves and hucksters we have a group of people hell-bent on

We, as watch collectors (rep, gen, vintage, you name it) owe a great debt to gen manufacturers & dealers. Without them we'd have no reps. All the blood sweat and tears that goes into building a brand - incredible talent, resources, energy, untold hours of skilled labor, and the sheer risk of putting that much of anything into a proposition that may not hold water - without that there would be no cache to any brand, and no reason to reproduce watches.

No doubt in my mind that although I don't wear reps of brands I can afford, there is a measure of dilution to any brand when there are so many incredibly high quality reps available, I definitely feel like some respect and sensitivity towards those than put food on the table courtesy of their work for watch brands is in order, too.

 

[Rogerthat]

He was fooled by the reps himself? Haha, I want one of the Hublot reps that fooled him lol

Not in person but in pictures
He was active on one or more gen forums
He was sending out personal letters and promo materials to owners that sent him pics or posted pics
Turned out many were reps, he had no clue these were new v1 ultimate reps
He sent out many signed letters
Once he found out he flipped out and on. Hublots home page was a tutorial on how to recognize the reps flaws
Their website looked like it cares more about fakes than selling gens

 

[Rogerthat]

, I definitely feel like some respect and sensitivity towards those than put food on the table courtesy of their work for watch brands is in order, too.

+1

 

[Goodgood]

+1

 

[Q5?]

 

[Craig88]

Not in person but in pictures
He was active on one or more gen forums
He was sending out personal letters and promo materials to owners that sent him pics or posted pics
Turned out many were reps, he had no clue these were new v1 ultimate reps
He sent out many signed letters
Once he found out he flipped out and on. Hublots home page was a tutorial on how to recognize the reps flaws
Their website looked like it cares more about fakes than selling gens

No wonder he flipped out. Imagine you were the ceo of a company selling $10k plus pieces and the $400 reps were good enough to trick you. Reason why the rep market will always exist.