Why are we paying astronomical prices?

[Itto]

He said the quality improved as well so we’re good.

I can not confirm this. The quality part.

 

[Zeta7]

I know but it's only this way that it could change. The subreddit 1688time works like this, with many customer reviews. Btw Andiotwatches is one of their sellers.

Just gave andiowatches a try. His prices are better than the others but I’ve got non TD’s that even beat those prices. Things are the way they are and it’s none of my business what anyone pays for their watch. I’ve learned that no good deed goes unpunished several times so there’s no reason for me to repeat that lesson poking my nose into someone else’s business. Just saying

 

[EM9]

I like watches.

 

[millklones]

I like watches.

me too.

 

[TimeRaga]

This has been discussed to death before. This isn't a hidden secret. Many members including myself sometimes turn to non TDs, and use both a mixture of TDs and non TDs.

First of all, I would still strongly recommend new members to use a TD to get familiar with replicas and the process. You are experienced and know what you're doing so using non TDs is fine. But the majority of new members already barely read the FAQs, stickys, or anything.... and you want them to go use a non TD with no structure? That's a recipe for a shit show.

RWI provides a structured environment for purchasing replicas, at the cost of a higher markup. The replica game is the wild west, and despite what you say, the extra price paid by TDs gives you a layer of safety provided by RWI. Some people value that, some people are willing to take the risk.

You are price sensitive. Pricing is important to you. Some members are not price sensitive and are willing to pay a little bit extra for the service, English translation, and other such factors. Even something mundane as good QC. My non TDs are pretty meh at QC and will get a little mad if you ask for more pictures or RL because of a misaligned rehaut. QC is less valued in China apparently, they only accept RLs if the movement is bad or there's a huge obvious defect, but they don't accept shit like "misaligned date" as a reason for an RL.

To say that TDs are "scamming" you and just "ripping" you off is a bit of an exaggeration. "Scamming" means they wouldn't send you any watch or a lower quality watch. TDs, you get what you ordered.

Do I think the markup is high? A little. But these are businesses, the TDs are often multiple people, you don't know the upcost of having to hire multiple people, multiple spaces, the more your business grows and the more volume you do, the more costs you have. Non TDs are often 1-2 people in Guangzhou sourcing and selling watches. TDs move volume, they need more staff and require higher upkeep.

Additionally, it's illegal, and getting arrested in China for this kind of stuff is no joke. I don't think anyone is willing to risk their life for 10-15 years of jail for a measly profit.

Lastly, if you think the TDs get paid too much, I suggest you spend some time in the TD review sections and see what they have to deal with every single day. The sheer amount of complaints and nit picking and bullshit they deal with makes me think I would never want to be a TD, no matter how good the profit is.

Well said mate

 

[TimeRaga]

I like watches.

We all do. I like Turtles along with watches

 

[EM9]

We all do. I like Turtles along with watches

Like Ninja Turtles or just of the regular variety of Turtles?

 

[TimeRaga]

Like Ninja Turtles or just of the regular variety of Turtles?

 

[EM9]

 

[TheBigJS]

859$+60$= 919$
for a watch sold for
550$+30$+27$=607$ that is a 50% price hike.

Am I not seeing the greater picture here?

$312? What's that? A half decent night out?
For the ease of a couple of WhatsApp msgs and the backing of the forum to get 98% of a $10k + watch.
Sounds like a great deal to me, everyone is entitled to make a living, on a good (for me) day, you don't get me through the door for bloody $300.

 

[CutePinkKitty]

We all do. I like Turtles along with watches

I like April more.

 

[Zeta7]

$312? What's that? A half decent night out?
For the ease of a couple of WhatsApp msgs and the backing of the forum to get 98% of a $10k + watch.
Sounds like a great deal to me, everyone is entitled to make a living, on a good (for me) day, you don't get me through the door for bloody $300.

I’ll never buy another Rolex after they allowed their ADs to set up the grey market straw man scam. These reps are amazing and accomplish everything I wanted and more. For a few hundred bucks they have the look I want and I can wear them without worrying about messing them up. All that for a couple of hundred bucks.

 

[Dave2302]

859$+60$= 919$
for a watch sold for
550$+30$+27$=607$ that is a 50% price hike.

The maths is fatally flawed, actually that is a close approximate 33.3 % (or 1/3rd) price increase, for a whole heap of less grief

 

[Endez]

The maths is fatally flawed, actually that is an approximate 33% price increase, for a whole heap of less grief

No he is correct. The price hike is more or less 50% more.

But if you compare the price the opposite way, it is 33% less

Basic maths

 

[Endez]

If you compare 150 to 100, it is 50% more.
But if you compare 100 to 150, it is 33% less. Hope this exemple is clear enough

 

[Dave2302]

There is fuck all wrong with my maths, look at it like this, say it is 900 vs 600, 900 is 1/3rd dearer than 600.

1/3rd happens to be 33.3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333r %

 

[Dave2302]

Hope this exemple is clear enough

I do get what you are saying but the point is it is how much you are saving for a potential bunch of hassle, is that clearer, and I apologise btw, I often don't word shit clear enough

 

[Endez]

I do get what you are saying but the point is it is how much you are saving for a potential bunch of hassle, is that clearer, and I apologise btw, I often don't word shit clear enough

No worries haha I get your point

 

[Nono92]

The maths is fatally flawed, actually that is a close approximate 33.3 % (or 1/3rd) price increase, for a whole heap of less grief

It depends, if you need to use Wechat for the communication with the seller, sometimes it can be boring... But when you have English speaking sellers, it's OK. When 1688 will be working like Aliexpress, it will make a big improvement...

 

[CutePinkKitty]

There is fuck all wrong with my maths, look at it like this, say it is 900 vs 600, 900 is 1/3rd dearer than 600.

1/3rd happens to be 33.3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333r %

The lot of you need to be Asian to do math