I went into Weirs today,

Nolimits

I wanted to get some watches authenticated, the only reason I had to doubt is because I bought them from ebay, both from trusted sellers with plenty of feedback and over 99% positive, any negative or neutral was not because of an accusation of selling counterfeit goods. It also came with all the right boxes etc

So all in all I wasn't terribly worried, but as I am going to be selling some soon, and each of them is a contender to be put up for sale I wanted to double check just to make sure.


The first one I handed her was a Tag Heuer professional 2000, I had a battery changed in Fields about a year ago, they used their own guy instead of sending it back to Tag, but I am pretty certain that they would have mentioned if it wasn't legit, as an AD they would probably have refused to work on it at all. Anyway I gave it to her, she spent about 5 seconds looking at it and said it was real but an old model. I wasn't entirely satisfied but reasoned that maybe she really knew what she was doing.

Then I handed her a Maurice Lacroix Miros diver like this



This also came with all the right boxes, so I wasn't too worried about this.She asked if I'm sure Maurice Lacroix ever made a model like that as she didn't recognise it, I said they did I've seen them for sale elsewhere and she seemed to take my word for it. I said to her that I was pretty certain that the movement was right, as I have other 2824-2 watches including the one I was wearing. She asked me what made me think the movements were the same, I said they have the same beat rate, and the way the date clicks over is exactly the same, and also the specs sheet says they should be the same.


She said they couldn't be the same movement as the date is in different positions (I was wearing a Stowa Icarus) I pointed out to her, that the date wheel goes all the way around the face of the watch, and the manufacturer can cut a hole in the dial anyway he wants as long as he puts a date wheel with the numbers aligned correctly. She said oh yeah, (as if she agreed with me) followed by well I've seen differently.

I switched the subject and said that I've viewed pics online from another Authorised Dealer, and the only small issue I'd have the the tip of my second hand is dark, and in other pics I haven't noticed this.

She said she'd need to bring it to someone, I said ok, she came back a few minutes later, and said it was genuine based off the fact that they did make a model like that, and they used dark tips like that on their second hands.


I thanked her and left the shop, was quite disappointed though, I feel it would be very easy to get them to give a fake the all clear. Which is slightly worrying as I always thought if I bought an expensive watch from the likes of Adverts.ie, then I'd arrange to meet there to have it authenticated. Also felt like I'd wasted my time, though I did help out another customer who was looking for an AD for Festina and I was able to help him

Deep Thought

So..she thought that the date wheel was pretty much perpendicular to the face

How big a wheel would you need to put 31 dates rotating perpendicular to the face

Shudders belief...and they would try to sell you a 70K Patek

Funny...

peasant

Seems like the average watch salesperson is as au fait with their subject as the average car salesperson

Wibbs

Went in there once with a 1930's watch looking for a strap and the guy actually asked if I wanted their watch guy to check the seals and battery.

alantul

The fakes are getting So "good" now that alot of the time to be 100% sure you need to open it and take a better look.

Nolimits

alantul wrote: »

The fakes are getting So "good" now that alot of the time to be 100% sure you need to open it and take a better look.

I was happy for them to do that, but she said it would need to be booked in and would be treated as a valuation, with the right tool it would have screwed off in two minutes

Marcusm

bedlam wrote: »

Unfortunately most watch shops in Ireland tend to be staffed by sales people who have been given a catalogue to learn and only want to make a sale rather than enthusiasts who want to go the extra mile.

I'm sorry but you're giving them too much credit. Mostly I have found few selling or sales skills apparent in Weirs staff. 18 months ago (height of the bust, so far) I wanted to buy three Omegas (don't ask) but none of the staff seemed to see any reason to have a discussion on price coming anywhere near a sensible price on any of them not to mind 3 together. 2 of them I subsequently bought in Omega boutiques so you should know that I wasn't trying to drive that hard a bargain!

gerfmurphy

I would not trust anyone who would not take the back off, even at that I would expect some check on the movement.
I went to Sherrans with a grey market omega, they took the back off, (its coax) ided it and checked the freqency, before comfirming anything.
these days with the level of fakes going I would not feel safe with anything less.
I would not sell anything on without being 100% sure what it is.

re sales people, I have always found the people in weirs very nice but with out any love or interest in the pieces they sell.
I have found sherrans to be experts, esp David McMahon who has a keen interest in all watches and brands.
He is definitly someone whos opinion I respect.
btw i am in no way connected to the shop.
I found Dawson jewellers are pretty knowledgeable and helpful too
hope this doesnt break any rules being so specific about individuals if it is please edit accordingly.

Cyrus

gerfmurphy wrote: »

I would not trust anyone who would not take the back off, even at that I would expect some check on the movement.
I went to Sherrans with a grey market omega, they took the back off, (its coax) ided it and checked the freqency, before comfirming anything.
these days with the level of fakes going I would not feel safe with anything less.
I would not sell anything on without being 100% sure what it is.

re sales people, I have always found the people in weirs very nice but with out any love or interest in the pieces they sell.
I have found sherrans to be experts, esp David McMahon who has a keen interest in all watches and brands.
He is definitly someone whos opinion I respect.
btw i am in no way connected to the shop.
I found Dawson jewellers are pretty knowledgeable and helpful too
hope this doesnt break any rules being so specific about individuals if it is please edit accordingly.

Not sure if its the same guy but i was looking at an IWC ingy that was FS in sheerans and had a great 30 min chat about IWCs with the guy in there, really enthusiastic and really knowledgable about IWC and other brands, i ended up not going for the watch itself but id definately buy from the guy.

The lads in BT arent bad either, at least as far as panerai are concerned.

But my experience of weirs was similar to the above, i was selling a tag and the buyer wanted to meet in weirs which i knew would be a waste of time but was happy to go along with it, a cursory glance and the watch was confirmed as authentic, which it was, but they had no real way of knowing.

gerfmurphy

yes i foung Gio in bt to have good knowledge of watches but the girl assistant are useless.

Cyrus

gerfmurphy wrote: »

yes i foung Gio in bt to have good knowledge of watches but the girl assistant are useless.

agreed

In fairness to GIO he will do reasonable discounts on panerais too which i believe isnt always the case in the UK, added to that they are cheaper here in the first place, it actually makes BT a great place to buy one!

johnthemull

OP. You had expectations that were too high. ADs havent got a clue. They are there to sell watches at over priced rates to muppets with too much dosh

sparrowcar

johnthemull wrote: »

OP. You had expectations that were too high. ADs havent got a clue. They are there to sell watches at over priced rates to muppets with too much dosh

Ouch :rolleyes:

johnthemull

OP. absolutely not calling you a muppet. the comment was general. the worrying thing about the internet is how it brings the snivelling worst out of us.

Colonel Sanders

Marcusm wrote: »

I'm sorry but you're giving them too much credit. Mostly I have found few selling or sales skills apparent in Weirs staff. 18 months ago (height of the bust, so far) I wanted to buy three Omegas (don't ask) but none of the staff seemed to see any reason to have a discussion on price coming anywhere near a sensible price on any of them not to mind 3 together. 2 of them I subsequently bought in Omega boutiques so you should know that I wasn't trying to drive that hard a bargain!

This is my experience of Weir's too. We priced engagement rings in there. We got a FAR better deal in Appleby's. We also asked the guy what he thought of the Weir's quotes and he said if he could sell the rings they showed us for the prices quoted he'd only need to open every 2nd day!

Tried buy a Tag in Weir's and the same thing happened. I'd a large wedge of used 50s in my pocket ready to buy there and then but they wouldn't budge from a 10% cash discount. Tried Sheeran's next which brings me onto this:

gerfmurphy wrote: »

I would not trust anyone who would not take the back off, even at that I would expect some check on the movement.
I went to Sherrans with a grey market omega, they took the back off, (its coax) ided it and checked the freqency, before comfirming anything.
these days with the level of fakes going I would not feel safe with anything less.
I would not sell anything on without being 100% sure what it is.

re sales people, I have always found the people in weirs very nice but with out any love or interest in the pieces they sell.
I have found sherrans to be experts, esp David McMahon who has a keen interest in all watches and brands.
He is definitly someone whos opinion I respect.
btw i am in no way connected to the shop.
I found Dawson jewellers are pretty knowledgeable and helpful too
hope this doesnt break any rules being so specific about individuals if it is please edit accordingly.

I dealt with David myself. A really good sales person. Very knowledgeable, friendly and actually made me feel like a valued customer. We agreed on a price after a few phone calls and I collected later in the day! Have been back a few times to get the bracelet resized and have always found their staff excellent

Nolimits

johnthemull wrote: »

OP. You had expectations that were too high. ADs havent got a clue. They are there to sell watches at over priced rates to muppets with too much dosh

I don't think my expectations were too high, I would expect an Authorised dealer to be able to tell a genuine product. I actually had a Glycine with me as well, but I never bothered to take it out, as they don't sell them so I could tell there was no chance they could help with that one.


And if I'd ever bought something from Weirs I would be quite offended :P

Bluefoam

My recent experience was that Weirs didn't seem interested in my business, they didn't have the watch I wanted in stock and seemed disinterested in getting it in for me.

I then went to Sherans, and while the experience was excellent and the sales guy was really good and attentive, they would not move from a 10% discount and even tried to claim that they were offering me a further 16% as I was entitled to claim VAT back - even though I'm actually entitled to claim 17.25% which they obviously take a commission on...

I ended up getting a better deal, which I came across through the very helpful members here.

Colonel Sanders

Bluefoam wrote: »

My recent experience was that Weirs didn't seem interested in my business, they didn't have the watch I wanted in stock and seemed disinterested in getting it in for me.

I then went to Sherans, and while the experience was excellent and the sales guy was really good and attentive, they would not move from a 10% discount and even tried to claim that they were offering me a further 16% as I was entitled to claim VAT back - even though I'm actually entitled to claim 17.25% which they obviously take a commission on...

I ended up getting a better deal, which I came across through the very helpful members here.

I was originally offered 10% for cash

I told him what I could pay and was phoned back about 2 hours later saying they'd sell at my price

B1gft

The only way to tell if a watch is not a fake, is to see the movement.

In a pass life i was involved in the watch business, for about 15 years. Once when i was in China purchasing parts, the best supplier, of what was known in the trade, as the RX case, (Like the Rolex) showed me copies of Rolex.
Except for the sweep hand ticking I would have thought it was real. Every thing from the winder, bracelet, back, looked like Rolex. The plating was heavy and of excellent quality. At the time he was selling that to the trade for $200. (it was the best copy he had, he had also copies for $10) i said to him anyone who knows watches would notice the second hand not sweeping. he told me that Seiko, under their PC range, were very close to bringing out a sweep hand.

That was 22 years ago. I assume the way of making copies has even improved since then.
My family had a jewellery business, and my late father, would never value or authenticate a watch without looking at the movement. And that was a shop in a small country town.
I am very surprised in Weirs. They have a very good/great reputation, and i am sure the Sales Lady was trying to be helpful, but I think with their name they could justify €20 for the time and expertise to look at the movement.