Very bad experience with Trustytime

[kalantz]

Ok. This was my first order from Trustytime. A VSF Rolex SeaDweller 126600. It was placed on Febrary 5, 2024. Andrew sent me QC photos, but no videos. I assumed that the watch was in perfectly working condition and I gave my GL. The watch arrived DOA

Here's the timeline of events. There is evidence for everything I describe if needed or asked.


February 21: I was provided with the tracking number from Andrew

March 6 (11:53 local time): The package was delivered to me and after the joy of unboxing, I found out that the watch was not working properly. You could unscrew the crown, you could wind the watch, you could pull the crown into the first position (although there was no "click") to set the date, but there was no second position to set the time. I made a video clearly showing the watch was not working properly and prepared an email to Andrew.

March 6 (14:38 local time): Within 2.5 hours after the package was delivered to me, I finally sent the email to Andrew. I tried to do it as fast as possible in order to show that the watch had arrived broken (DOA).

Andrew replied with a suggestion to take the watch to a local watchmaker to check it before sending it back to China. After some arguments we had regarding coverage, warranty, costs, shipping, repairing, replacement, etc, I could forsee I was in a very big trouble. In order to avoid entering into this trouble I decided to follow Andrew's suggestion and take the watch to a local watchmaker having in mind the chance of a potential simple fix. The watchmaker opened the case and found out that the setting lever pin was broken. The repair was too expensive as he had to tear down the whole caliber + the cost of the part. We discussed various options with Andrew and after some pressure I put to him he agreed to cover all the shipping costs back and forth and cost of the cost of whole watch in case it was held at the customs or it was lost. He accepted covering everything and also to reimburse me the shipping cost from Greece to China, as it would initially paid by me.

March 11: The watch was on its way back to China. I sent an e-mail to Andrew with the tracking number, also suggesting that instead of reimbursing me for the shipping cost from Greece to China, I would prefer the watch to be waterproofed after it was repaired. Andrew replied with a description of WS002 waterproofing without denying or agreeing with my suggestion. Thought he was ok with it (keep this for later).

March 29: The package was delivered to the address Andrew had provided and I sent him an email asking for confirmation. He replied that he would check with his watch guy. I sent him another 2-3 emails the next days but he never confirmed.

April 17: Almost 3 weeks after the watch was delivered, he sent me an e-mail informing me that the watch had reached his watchsmith and the repair would take another 21-28 days. I replied arguing with this statement as the watch had arrived there 3 weeks ago. He replied that his guy is already working on the watch

April 24: He sent me an email informing me that the factory denied a replacement as the wrappings were removed and the watch would only be repaired and serviced. I replied reminding him about the waterproofing (instead of reimbursing me the shipping cost)

April 30: He denied the waterproofing by telling that he never agreed with my proposal.

(Took me some time to realise in what trouble I was in with this guy and think of my reaction).

May 4: Is was already 3 months after I paid for a NEW watch and 5 weeks after the watch was delivered to Andrew and still it was not repaired and I had nothing in my hands. Best case scenario I would receive a repaired watch (although I paid for a new one) not earlier than June. I told him that my patience was over and I didin't want the watch anymore. I demanded a full refund. He replied that the watch was sent back to the factory in order to be checked and he had no news yet. I insisted that I wanted a refund.

He never replied.

I undestand that he is just a reseller of replica watches and he is trying to make a few $$$, therefore we the buyers shouldn't have huge demands. On the other hand I paid $533.70 for a working product and it arrived in DOA condition. I cannot accept that the "poor" seller is more significant than my money. Business is business. I also run a business and I know that when I don't deliver what I have agreed with the customers, I have to take full responsibility even if I will have a loss at the end.

 

[LupoVF84]

Thank you for your report. Your experience is of course very regrettable and is a warning for me to be careful, even with a trusted dealer. I actually registered here to reduce this risk. So thank you once again for the warning. I hope that you still come out of this okay.

 

[GingerBubba]

I don't mean to be flippant, but I don't think replica watches are for you. You've definitely been unlucky, but things do go wrong with these watches, it's the nature of the beast. You're still going to get a perfectly good watch at the end of all of this, but sending watches back is a time consuming process which is why many people warn against doing it. And I can see why you'd have issues with parts of the transaction, but don't forget you've not ordered this watch from a reputable high street store. If you buy a load of cocaine on the dark web, do you think the seller will take it back if the purity isn't what you'd hoped for? Expectation levels need adjusting my dude.

 

[Kerbus]

I thought TDs had knowledge of local repair people one could send a broken watch to. It’s advised not to send one back to China due to customs risks,let alone huge amounts of time it takes to repair. I do hope the situation is finally resolved ….one day

 

[kalantz]

I don't mean to be flippant, but I don't think replica watches are for you. You've definitely been unlucky, but things do go wrong with these watches, it's the nature of the beast. You're still going to get a perfectly good watch at the end of all of this, but sending watches back is a time consuming process which is why many people warn against doing it. And I can see why you'd have issues with parts of the transaction, but don't forget you've not ordered this watch from a reputable high street store. If you buy a load of cocaine on the dark web, do you think the seller will take it back if the purity isn't what you'd hoped for? Expectation levels need adjusting my dude.

I did not expect to receive a high end product that would never have issues. Even thougjh it was very sad for me to receive it in DOA condition, I never blamed the factory or the seller. Sh@t happen. Besides, it was not a problem for me sending it to China and waiting 10-15 days (and another 10-15 to get it back) since the seller accepted to cover all costs including the risk in case it was lost or held at the customs. My problem is the behaviour of the seller since the watch was delivered to him. BTW, you can't compare a cocaine dealer on the dark web with a seller that is included in the TD's list. The reason the TDs list exists, is to protect us (the buyers) from such behaviours and generally scams. By justifying their bad attititude, you end up encouraging them to behave like this.

 

[kalantz]

I thought TDs had knowledge of local repair people one could send a broken watch to. It’s advised not to send one back to China due to customs risks,let alone huge amounts of time it takes to repair. I do hope the situation is finally resolved ….one day

No, the seller did not suggest a local or EU repair shop. He left me with no choice other than to send it back to China. The local repair shop I visited asked 200€ for labour + the cost of the part which was unknown at that moment as he couldn't tell if it would be genuine or aftermarket.

 

[golfa]

I don't mean to be flippant, but I don't think replica watches are for you. You've definitely been unlucky, but things do go wrong with these watches, it's the nature of the beast. You're still going to get a perfectly good watch at the end of all of this, but sending watches back is a time consuming process which is why many people warn against doing it. And I can see why you'd have issues with parts of the transaction, but don't forget you've not ordered this watch from a reputable high street store. If you buy a load of cocaine on the dark web, do you think the seller will take it back if the purity isn't what you'd hoped for? Expectation levels need adjusting my dude.

Unless there is a "Trusted Dealer" list on a forum on the "dark web" for cocaine dealers, your comparison is inane.

The TA has had a shitty experience with a TD and hopefully, the moderators can resolve things.

 

[tripdog]

The repair was too expensive as he had to tear down the whole caliber + the cost of the part.

This is nonsense. The setting lever is in the keyless works, easily accessible. If the 'watchmaker' needs to dismantle the entire moveemnt to get to the setting lever he should stick to changing batteries on quartz watches.

May 4: Is was already 3 months after I paid for a NEW watch and 5 weeks after the watch was delivered to Andrew and still it was not repaired and I had nothing in my hands.

You sent the watch to China, it is inevitably going to be a very long process - unless you actually live in China yourself.

The local repair shop I visited asked 200€ for labour + the cost of the part which was unknown at that moment as he couldn't tell if it would be genuine or aftermarket.

As stated previously, this 'watchmaker' hasn't got a clue. Does he seriously think that there's a genuine Rolex setting lever inside a watch made in China ?
200 euros to reset the keyless works and replace a setting lever ? LOL.
Andrew may be the slower method but at least he isn't stealing your money, as the 'watchmaker' would.

The TA has had a shitty experience with a TD and hopefully, the moderators can resolve things.

Why ? Because the TD took back a defective watch, agreed to cover all associated costs but it didn't happen at the speed you hoped for ?

No, not a chance, no Moderator intervention.

 

[golfa]

This is nonsense. The setting lever is in the keyless works, easily accessible. If the 'watchmaker' needs to dismantle the entire moveemnt to get to the setting lever he should stick to changing batteries on quartz watches.



You sent the watch to China, it is inevitably going to be a very long process - unless you actually live in China yourself.



As stated previously, this 'watchmaker' hasn't got a clue. Does he seriously think that there's a genuine Rolex setting lever inside a watch made in China ?
200 euros to reset the keyless works and replace a setting lever ? LOL.
Andrew may be the slower method but at least he isn't stealing your money, as the 'watchmaker' would.



Why ? Because the TD took back a defective watch, agreed to cover all associated costs but it didn't happen at the speed you hoped for ?

No, not a chance, no Moderator intervention.

So, no reply after asking for a refund gets "no Moderator intervention" ? The TD gets to keep the money and the moderators won't get involved ? This is a joke, right ? What DOES it take for the moderators to GET involved then ?

 

[tripdog]

So, no reply after asking for a refund gets "no Moderator intervention" ? The TD gets to keep the money and the moderators won't get involved ? This is a joke, right ? What DOES it take for the moderators to GET involved then ?

I'm not surprised he's stopped replying to you. Flapping at the mouth hysterically on RWI won't get you anywhere, I suggest you calm down.
You've asked for a refund as part of your temper tantrum because things aren't moving fast enough for you.
He's not going to refund you because it's now a used watch - you removed the protective wrapping, so no refund unless he decides to make an exception.
He's also not keeping the watch, he's going to ship it to you once the repairs are complete.
He hasn't replied therefore it's a scam. You are putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 17.

 

[kalantz]

This is nonsense. The setting lever is in the keyless works, easily accessible. If the 'watchmaker' needs to dismantle the entire moveemnt to get to the setting lever he should stick to changing batteries on quartz watches.



You sent the watch to China, it is inevitably going to be a very long process - unless you actually live in China yourself.



As stated previously, this 'watchmaker' hasn't got a clue. Does he seriously think that there's a genuine Rolex setting lever inside a watch made in China ?
200 euros to reset the keyless works and replace a setting lever ? LOL.
Andrew may be the slower method but at least he isn't stealing your money, as the 'watchmaker' would.



Why ? Because the TD took back a defective watch, agreed to cover all associated costs but it didn't happen at the speed you hoped for ?

No, not a chance, no Moderator intervention.

I hear what you say. I did not ask for an intervention for the moment. I just wanted to report the situation I'm experiencing.

Let me tell you this. You pay for a new product and you expect that it will arrive in perfectly working condition. When it arrives in DOA condition the seller takes the product back and replaces it with a new one or issues a refund. This is a worldwide rule and the definition of DOA. Trusted Dealers should be doing the same in order to deserve a place in the TDs list. Why should I pay extra money to a local repair shop since the watch arrived broken?

Just letting you know that Andrew's initial attitude was to avoid taking any responsibility on the issue. I put him a lot of pressure in order to end up with an agreement and yet, after 1.5 months the package has been delivered to him, he keeps my watch unrepaired throwing me all the excuses he has in his sleeve. Plus that it looks like he doesn't keep his word on certain things. I have evidence for everything I write here.

By what your saying it is clear that your judgement is based on the whole experience you have with Andrew and not by the case. if you keep justifying such behaviours, you only end up encouraging them, lowering the service we get.

Regarding the local repair shop and my decision to send it back to China, I'm just letting you know that I'm not familiar with calibers and the repair costs and it is a misjudgment from your side to compare the local watchsmith -I finally didn't choose to go with- with Andrew's "honoralbe" record. After all, who wants to repair a product that arrived in DOA condition with his own money? No matter how much it would cost. As for my decision to send it back to China, I had no problem with shipping times. I just wanted to make sure that I would be covered in case the watch was lost or held by the customs. And that was my only option that moment

My feeling so far, based on our email exchange, is that Andrew doesn't have an honest behaviour. He did not provide me with the confidence needed to trust hiim. I would probably be giving him much more time if he was crystal clear towards me and wasn't trying to avoid responsibility so much. I cannot make it more clear. He wasn't happy to help.

Let me know if you will intervene if the watch is lost or held at the customs on its way back to me and he is not covering me. He has agreed on this. And I will show our email exchange in such case.

 

[GingerBubba]

I did not expect to receive a high end product that would never have issues. Even thougjh it was very sad for me to receive it in DOA condition, I never blamed the factory or the seller. Sh@t happen. Besides, it was not a problem for me sending it to China and waiting 10-15 days (and another 10-15 to get it back) since the seller accepted to cover all costs including the risk in case it was lost or held at the customs. My problem is the behaviour of the seller since the watch was delivered to him. BTW, you can't compare a cocaine dealer on the dark web with a seller that is included in the TD's list. The reason the TDs list exists, is to protect us (the buyers) from such behaviours and generally scams. By justifying their bad attititude, you end up encouraging them to behave like this.

I've returned a watch to China twice (I also received a DOA on my very first purchase)! You're talking several months for it to be sorted, not a couple of weeks. You keep going on about getting scammed - there is no scamming going on here. The reality is you got unlucky with a DOA, the TD is sorting it and you'll get a crackung watch at the end of the process. That's all.

 

[Reaps]

RWI Recommendation: DO NOT RETURN YOUR WATCH TO CHINA - A caution to the wind

Members, while this has been said for years, it begs to be refreshed. RWI fully recommends that you DO NOT SEND YOUR WATCHES BACK TO A TD. If your watch is broken, the wrong watch, or anything, I suggest the following: If it is broken, we have a whole section of trusted Watchmakers section...

forum.replica-watch.info

Should have kept it and bought a VR3235 for $100, movement swap for $50, and ask for $150 discount or refund part of that cost from Trusty.....

I've had DOA watches and the only one I sent back was the 1055 Panerai P900 clone movement which had 0 spare parts - and that one took 4.5 months for it to come back to me.

 

[Kerbus]

I also find it a bummer when you get a new watch and something is broken on it. Happened to me recently. The only remedy offered to me was to have to buy the new part too.

the more often you buy something like a rep the higher the likelihood something will be broken. Thats why I’m probably putting a cap on my rep spending for this year

 

[Andrew_watchlist]

World wide whatever you think your rights are does not apply, we are buying fake goods, I am not expecting anything. I bought from a U.K. seller with stock on hand. That is probably how I will continue to buy. I count myself fortunate to buy now rather than 10 years ago, the reps are better than ever and if mine ever breaks down, I shall weigh up cost of repair versus buying a new movement.

 

[domiffm]

Years ago I shipped a broken watch back to a TD in China and the whole process took 7 months. I didn’t like it but learned after reading for years here, this is just the usual turnaround. Hence the recommendation all over RWI to not send a watch back in China and get it repaired locally.

 

[Kerbus]

I have a gen watch that was repaired,soon broke, and I returned it for repair again, still waiting on the part. I haven’t really been able to enjoy the watch since October. Wish I could do a simple movement swap like on many reps.

 

[Calamar19]

Years ago I shipped a broken watch back to a TD in China and the whole process took 7 months. I didn’t like it but learned after reading for years here, this is just the usual turnaround. Hence the recommendation all over RWI to not send a watch back in China and get it repaired locally.

I'm not surprised he's stopped replying to you. Flapping at the mouth hysterically on RWI won't get you anywhere, I suggest you calm down.
You've asked for a refund as part of your temper tantrum because things aren't moving fast enough for you.
He's not going to refund you because it's now a used watch - you removed the protective wrapping, so no refund unless he decides to make an exception.
He's also not keeping the watch, he's going to ship it to you once the repairs are complete.
He hasn't replied therefore it's a scam. You are putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 17.

Now it makes more sense to buy a used watch Locally here in the forum, right? Because buying a TD can be a kind of lottery ... it can go well or badly for you.. if it goes wrong, the veterans of the forum criticize you and tell you that you are a fool because you trusted to buy a TD and they sent it to you broken... fuce and repair it you....

That's why now that you see and see the comments of some veterans here the most sensible thing is to buy from members of the forum pieces that are already repaired or with some modifications because you are going to have more guarantees than buying from a TD...

 

[Kerbus]

Well, buying used can be bad too. Last time I did that, I got a water damaged watch that needed a new movement. Used or new, there’s always a possibility of losing when it comes to buying reps. That’s this hobby for you.

 

[tripdog]

I did not ask for an intervention for the moment.

Yes you did - further up in this thread.

Let me tell you this. You pay for a new product and you expect that it will arrive in perfectly working condition.

That is true. But sometimes things happen and they don't arrive in perfect condition.

This is a worldwide rule and the definition of DOA.

There is no such rule. And even less so when it involves the purchase of counterfeit goods.

Trusted Dealers should be doing the same in order to deserve a place in the TDs list. Why should I pay extra money to a local repair shop since the watch arrived broken?

Another common misconception, along with 'the right to receive a replica watch in perfect condition'. It is not up to forum staff to tell a dealer how to run his business. If his/her T&C's do not include a reship after a Customs seizure then that so be it. If the T&C's state no returns & refunds then so be it.
Each dealer on the forum is free to run his business as he wishes, each customer is free to read the T & C's of the dealer before making a purchase, they are equally free to spend some time looking at customer feedback for that specific dealer before making a purchase.
The 'Trusted' part of TD means that the dealer will send you the watch you ordered, it does not mean that the dealer has attained some sort of stamp of approval regarding after sales service, or the speed of his replies to your emails, or anything else - it means you can trust him to ship you the item you ordered.

By what your saying it is clear that your judgement is based on the whole experience you have with Andrew and not by the case.

Seems to be the most logical doesn't - judging the whole experience rather than singling out one part that you don't like and focusing on it obsessively ?

if you keep justifying such behaviours, you only end up encouraging them, lowering the service we get.

More nonsense. You've been on reddit, I can tell.

it is a misjudgment from your side to compare the local watchsmith -I finally didn't choose to go with- with Andrew's "honoralbe" record.

No misjudgment. Charging 200 euros labor to dismantle the keyless works and reassemble it is nonsense, 100 euros would have been more than enough - it's at the very most a 45 minute job.
Andrews record as a dealer goes back over 15 years, he's never scammed or been justifiably been accused of scamming.

My feeling so far, based on our email exchange, is that Andrew doesn't have an honest behaviour. He did not provide me with the confidence needed to trust hiim.

My feelings so far, based on this thread is that you made very little effort to look at this specific dealers reputation/feedback. Andrew has been a TD on several fora for many years, his customer service is 'old school'. He's not going to make you a cup of chamomile tea and offer soothing words when you have issues with a watch from him.

Let me know if you will intervene if the watch is lost or held at the customs on its way back to me and he is not covering me.

Let me know when you've read Andrews T & C regarding lost parcels and Custom seizures - I'm not going to rewrite his T&C's for him, but if he doesn't respect what he wrote himself then I will encourage him to do so.
That's the extent of my possible, future interventions.
Also, let me know when you'll be paying to become a Supporter, instead of sitting there with your hand out, expecting something for nothing, like some street urchin.

Now it makes more sense to buy a used watch Locally here in the forum, right? Because buying a TD can be a kind of lottery ... it can go well or badly for you.. if it goes wrong, the veterans of the forum criticize you and tell you that you are a fool because you trusted to buy a TD and they sent it to you broken... fuce and repair it you....

That's why now that you see and see the comments of some veterans here the most sensible thing is to buy from members of the forum pieces that are already repaired or with some modifications because you are going to have more guarantees than buying from a TD...

Getting criticized by 'senior members' usually happen when someone complains about how long it's taking to get their watch repaired in China.

Try and find a seller in M2M who will reship in case of a Customs seizure - almost all TDs will. Try to find a seller who will accept to repair the watch at his expense as long as you ship it back to him at your expense - that is in the T&Cs of almost all TDs.
You'll also find that almost all watches for sale in M2M are used watches, which is not the case with TDs.

90% of all Helpdesk tickets pertaining to watches that arrive with issues are from purchases made in M2M.