etiquette at regionals

[stevesaun]

Hi All:

I will be attending my first ever regional this year as a new NAWCC member. What is considered proper etiquette before purchasing an item?

Is it appropriate, for instance, to bring my own loupe to examine a watch? Also, to inquire about a watches history (has it been recased, are the parts origional, etc.)

Your feedback is appreciated. I want to be a good representative of my organization. :smile:

[stevesaun]

Hi All:

I will be attending my first ever regional this year as a new NAWCC member. What is considered proper etiquette before purchasing an item?

Is it appropriate, for instance, to bring my own loupe to examine a watch? Also, to inquire about a watches history (has it been recased, are the parts origional, etc.)

Your feedback is appreciated. I want to be a good representative of my organization. :smile:

[Bob Weinstein]

Hello,

A loupe might not be enough as familiarity with the goods is more important.

I will bet you that most sellers will pay ignorant (play dumb) and state that they do not know the originality of most watches they are offering for sale.

Bob Weinstein, chapter 149 member

[Tom Huber]

Steve, By all means ask questions. Look at purchasing a watch as you would purchasing a car or a house. When I go to a mart or a regional, I carry a small took kit. This includes my loupe, a screwdriver, tweezers, a universal key/winder (to wind movements not in cases), and my reference books.

As a courtesy, I alwalys ask if I may open the back of a watch before doing so. Check the watch out very carefully, and if you have any doubts, you may want to pass--that is unless the watch is rediculously cheap.

Keep in mind that it is your money that you are spending. Look, ask questions, be courteous, and enjoy.

One hint that I learned a long time ago. If you are looking at a gold gilled case or a watch in a gold filled case, always ask to look under the price sticker. I have seen some pretty severe dings, scratches, and gold test marks covered up with a price sticker.

good luck and enjoy,

Tom

Tom Huber

[Kent]

stevesaun:

Most better watches will be in some kind of display box with a lift-up clear plastic cover, or inside of a display cabinet. Some will not have a cover. I always ask if I can see the watch before opening a cover. If the display box is not covered, I feel it is an invitation to pick the watch up, but I ask anyway. I always ask prior to opening a watch, if its not already open. You'll have to ask to see a watch that is inside of a cabinet.

By all means, bring a loupe and any reference books you wish to use. Honest, ethical dealers will not mind if you want to look a watch up. They usually have their own copy of the "Complete Guide ..." and would not be adverse to looking up a watch that you are seriously interested in so as to discuss his/her pricing vs. "book prices."

Do not shy away from asking a dealer direct questions as to whether her/she knows anything to have been switched or if it is unoriginal. Again, honest, ethical dealers will not mind questions about originality.

If you consider youself a novice at buying watches, hang around the dealers who you hear discuss their watches with potential buyers. Listen to how they answer others' questions. It won't take too long to discover several dealers whom you might trust to be honest. Then, talk to them about the watches in which you're interested.

Also, if you can wait until the late afternoon of the first day or the late morning of the second day, dealers will have more time to discuss things, even if yhou're not going to buy a particular watch. Almost all dealers are collectors, and like many collectors, will want to talk about the watches that interest them.

There will be the kind of dealers that Bob has just described, and there might be quite a few of them. You can still do business with them, but you have to know and understand what you are buying.

Come to think of it, if you're going to spend hundreds nay, thousands of dollars on watches, you'd better know exactly what you are getting for your money.

Good luck,
Kent

That guy down in Georgia :smile:

[John Cote]

Steve,

Listen to what the sharpies above have said. I would just add one thing. If a dealer doesn't treat you with respect or tries to brush you off when you ask questions, think hard about doing business with this dealer. Also, don't be afraid to get the advice of someone you trust. Avoiding mistakes is a good thing. Learning from your mistakes is almost as good.

JohnCote
President, Indiana Chapter 18 - NAWCC
Member Chapter 149 (Member #105)
http://www.interstatetime.com

[Jon Hanson]

"Also, don't be afraid to get the advice of someone you trust."

I don't think so--it is far better to get the infor from someone that knows what he is doing rather than some friend (remember the guy on here that had problems with his pals that didn't comprehend/understand after 25 years about GF cases marked 14K???)

Jon Hanson, NAWCC #8801
Founder and President Chapter 149 (http://nawcc-ch149.com), The Early American Watch Club

[Fred Hansen]

A few other random suggestions ...

1. If you have difficulty opening or closing a watch case, hand it to the seller and let him or her do it. I have seen individuals in the past at regionals have difficulty with the threads on a case (which can sometimes be touchy), and rather than let the owner handle it will either set the watch back down with the back loose and walk away or will cross-thread and jam the case shut and walk away. And there is nothing more frightening for a seller than seeing someone that couldn't open a hinged case with a fingernail pull out a knife and go to work at prying it open.

2. If you are interested in a watch don't be afraid to ask if the price is negotiable or to make an offer, but do so respectfully. I have too often seen "negotiations" turn into an insult (whether intentional or not) of the seller and/or the watch.

3. In the beginning be in more of a hurry to learn than to buy (unless of course you are already very comfortable with the price and/or value of the watch you are looking at). Make your way to a lot of different seller's tables and if they are not busy at the moment or involved with another collector talk with these people about what you collect or are interested in. After a little while you will have a much better idea of what and who is at these shows.

4. Have fun and enjoy your first ever NAWCC regional!

Fred

[Greg Davis]

My advice,

1) You will be tempted to spend your money fast and snap up goods at the first table or two you visit, because you will worry that someone else will beat you out. In a shark pool, the chum disppears quickly. Advice #1 is "Unless you are looking at something VERY rare or interesting, look at everything in the Mart before making purchase decisions." This also helps you to avoid impulse purchases that drain your wallet before you find that very special/interesting item you really want (but can no longer afford).

2) Stage your viewing. Don't try to see everything on the first pass. I usually make three passes through the goods. First pass is usually the fast pass, where I'm looking for particular high-end pieces I am willing to invest in. Second pass is where I seek "case fodder" (low end pieces to fill minor holes in the collection, or for possible resale). Third pass is for parts, tools, or other random dross.

3) Haggle.

4) Don't insult someone's goods or prices. If you don't like the goods or are not willing to pay the price, just move along. Standing there carping about the goods or prices signals to the seller that you ARE interested. Walking away shows that you are willing to let others look at it (and possibly buy it).

5) Bring cash. Some sellers take checks... almost none take credit cards.

6) Some sellers barter. If you want to trade goods for goods, have a target value in mind for your goods.

7) Don't expect receipts. Few will offer them.

8) Be prepared to pay sales tax. Increasingly, sellers are forced to pay taxes, so they may feel compelled to pass the joy of tax paying to the customer.

9) Don't be afraid to look in the cheap junk bins. Some of my best finds have been in the dollar bins. Last Friday I snagged a 21 jewel wrist watch in perfect working order from a dollar bin. I even asked the seller, "Is this really just a dollar?" It was. However, I found another watch in a $40 bin, but it had been placed there by a previous customer, so I wasn't able to obtain that one. I find it polite to ask before shoving money in their face and demanding they honor a deal that they never intended to offer.

- Greg

150941
Ch.149 member #77