Request for assistance in buying PW to trade and resell

[Jon Miller]

Hmmmm. If I knew where to buy at bargain prices and sell at a profit, I think I would buy and sell, not tell.

[Rick White]

I think many of us would like to do the same, rip the cost and sell higher. I very rarely sell stuff, I have traded a bit so here is my 2 cents worth. Join the NAWCC. You can learn a lot about watches from other members , the publications, and occasionally pick up some decent deals at the meetings and the local Marts or regionals. Rememeber knowledge is power. Learn some simple repairs, this could enable you to pick up some watches that may just need a cleaning or a mainspring replacement or a crystal or something easy. The trick is to be able to recognize when a watch needs one of these simple repairs that cost little but can save you some bucks. Another cost saver is to buy off the same dealers once you are satisfied with doing business with them. They will sometimes be willing to dicker a bit if you purchase from them regularly. Advertise in the NAWCC MART as a buyer, or even in local news papers. I don't know your finacial situation but buying whole collections or in bigger volumes tends to save money also. I hope I've helped somewhat, I don't sell for a living maybe some dealer types can contribute more.

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Rick White
Pocket Watches Moderator

[doug sinclair]

PWcollector,

If you have been buying from established dealers, you can only improve your buying power by buying where they buy. And there is no such a thing as a "source" where the established dealers buy. Successful dealers have spent years building their businesses by networking, prospecting, and learning to recognize what is rare and collectible. Knowing when an item is priced well and that it will be saleable at a margin. Learning to judge condition, and when an item will not be saleable at a margin because of the cost of making it saleable. Successful dealers very often have long lists of the needs of potential buyers, and are always on the lookout for items to fill those needs. Successful dealers also maintain contact lists of potential sellers who contact them when an item becomes available. Part of networking. These items dealers often find at NAWCC Marts, on ebay, from want ads placed in the NAWCC Mart publication, on the NAWCC electronic Mart available through the NAWCC website, collectibles shows, and through extensive networking. In short, when you aspire to join the leagues of successful dealers, you are on your own! Anyone who knows where there are items available that are under-priced relative to what they will bring in the retail collectibles market is going to have these items for himself!

Some dealers specialize. Wrist watches, pocket watches, clocks, etc. When a dealer picks up an item that is outside his specialty, he will often work a trade with another specialist dealer who is in the same position with an item that is outside his specialty. This is part of networking.

So, you will have to get busy and learn how to become successful, starting from the ground up, just like every other successful dealer has had to do.

Regards,
Doug S.

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[Ray Fanchamps]

Hmmm, I am with the others, if there were such a place I am not sure I would reveal its location.
The simple truth is that it is what you know not where you go that counts. If you are not knowledgeable about what you are looking at the price is meaningless. All of us had to learn and we have bought (or will buy) "silk purses" that were "sow's ears".
We jokingly call it "tuition", money paid to receive an education, not too positive but its true.
You can improve the learning curve and cut "tuition" costs by reading up on the items of interest, understand the importance of originality, salient features of each item, learn what to look for, understand what gives these items their value, follow auctions and other sales venues for like items.
When you become a knowledgeable buyer you will also be a knowledgeable seller. There is "value" to dealing with knowledgeable dealers. People seek out knowledgeable dealers, hence the possibility as such a dealer to command a higher price for their items.
Some of my best purchases were made when I did not know what I was doing but consistency and longevity come from knowing what you are looking at and understanding the marketplace.

Ray Fanchamps

[Rick White]

Wayne, You are turning into a sceptic in your old age :smile: There are many dealers whose morals are just fine. I tend to agree with Ray and Doug thoughts. The dealers I know personally are very honest with all. Maybe you have been watching too many " rare" watch auctions on Ebay.

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Rick White
Pocket Watches Moderator

[rleegabe]

You can start by contacting this person,I have had very good luck with him,he is honest and truthful,accurate in his describtions,and is a member of the NAWCC!!!!!!!!!!

[Rich]

Hmmmm...

Okay Gentlemen, I admit that for this old codger, the passage of time has brought with it increased cynicism ? mea culpa! Therefore, allow me to confess that I took PWcollector's appeal with a large grain of salt. Maybe the appeal was made with tongue pressed firmly in cheek...? The fact that other contributors to this thread have also prefaced their remarks with "Hmmmmm..." leads me to the conclusion that perhaps I was not alone in my assumptions...

Nevertheless, the thread proceeds apace, we are almost chasing our tails and the discourse has widened to include ethics and morals. The debate has so far been lively and good-natured ? I await further developments with interest. Meanwhile, disappointingly, there has been no further participation by the topic's author.

http://www.nawcc.org/ubb/confused.gif

I have already admitted to "cynicism and old age." To this catalog of failings, allow me to add confusion and the inability to see the wood for the trees. For example, the comments posted by rleegabe
leave me totally perplexed?

"You can start by contacting this person,I have had very good luck with him, he is honest and truthful,accurate in his descriptions,and is a member of the NAWCC!!!!!!!!!!"

Forgive my confusion, but who is "this person" referred to above? Have I missed something? Please help.

The reference to "the NAWCC (!!!!!)" is interesting as it links up with earlier comments in this thread (and recently in other PW Board topics) about what may be referred to as "In-House" trading, i.e., deals between one NAWCC member and another. Several contributors, far more more knowledgeable than I, have expressed their misgivings about the assumption that dealing "in-house" guarantees one a fair deal. In my humble but considered opinion, an opinion based upon my own bitter experience, that assumption is a fallacy.

:frown:

'Rich'
NAWCC #149591

[cmedsker]

For my 2 Cents, FWIW. Join the NAWCC. As a 25 year member, my best buys are at NAWCC Regionals. Always a good selection and many dealers are good to deal with, and prices usually better than any other venue, but you won't buy a mint Illinois 163A for $100.00 and sell it for $2000.00. It doesn't work that way. The price spread in PW's is usually pretty close, and most dealers know that spread.
When I stop at a garage sale, I usually discover that all I'm doing is wasting gasoline. Auctions are excellent, if you know your watches and/or do your homework first. I once went to an auction here in Indianapolis, and bought an 18-S Waltham Railroader with a mint, marked dial. One of the supposed to be knowledgeable antique dealers, (who just happens to be very arrogant), walked up to me and asked me, "How come you paid so much for that watch?" I couldn't help but smile and answer, "Oh, I just needed the dial for another watch!" He looked at me like I was crazy, but I was the only one there who recognized that it was a rare watch. I more than doubled my investment on that watch within 2 weeks. Now, if you haven't lost interest, and have more time, I can tell you about some of the bad deals I've made.

[John Cote]

Boiz,

The best way to get good deals on watches is to work as hard, know as much, and be as honest as my friend Charlie Medsker in the above post. The second best way is to hang around people like Charlie and learn from them. Join the NAWCC and go to all the Regionals you can!


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JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC

http://www.interstatetime.com

[BUZZ BAZARNICKI]

Keep an eye on the obituaries....Hit your local Flea markets....Check out your neighborhood garage/yard sales......Wheel,deal,& steal at the local Marts......Let me know what ya found and I might take it off your hands....For a reasonable fee!!!!.... :biggrin:

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BUZZ BAZARNICKI
ANTIQUARIAN HOROLOGIST
HAMILTON SPECIALIST
MEMBER #120851 NAWCC
PAST V.P.CHAPTER # 52

[Jon Hanson]

"Wheel, deal and steal"-I love it!

Jon

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Jon Hanson, moderator