Need some help, and suggestions

jsj11 · Post by **jsj11** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:09 pm

Hi Gents (and of course ladies)

I need some help on what I am missing. I bought this BNIB Limited Edition (one of only 400 Race for Water watches) Alpina Chrono 4 a few months back, however before it came I earmarked the money from a sale to something else. So I promptly put it up for sale when it arrived. Trouble is nobody has shown any interest in buying it. Had a few trade requests and ludicrous offers but not a sniff from anyone else.

Here is the ad http://forums.watchuseek.com/f29/massiv ... 778?page=1

The retail on these are over three and a half grand and I was willing to let it go for $1500 just to release some capital - any lower and I just keep it as I still think it's a great quality and lovely looking watch......my question is what am I doing wrong here? Have tons of references having sold a lot of watches so it's not like I am an unknown quantity.

I get that Alpina isn't such a well known brand to many and there maybe a lot of other options out there at this price, but I am really baffled by the complete lack of serious interest as when it came out last year I really fell for it as a cheaper alternative to the Omega Gray Side of the Moon.

Would really welcome comments and suggestions on what I may be missing here.

Thanks so much in advance and apologies if I have broken some rules here by doing this but I genuinely would like to know what others think.

hoppyjr · Post by **hoppyjr** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:16 pm

My opinion, which is worth what you paid for it...

Alpina makes a decent watch and many, like yours, are very nice looking. That said, they can often be found at 30-40% off when new, even lower when found on close out or a jeweler going out of business. I realize you have an "LE" model and it looks great, but it's the old saying "price cures all". It's also a bit slow in the 1000-2000 market right now, from what I can tell.

blowfish89 · Post by **blowfish89** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:23 pm

Sales are always hit or miss at times - can't really predict or conclude anything.. not too many people know of Alpina
Have more patience I guess, someone will come around

so many left-field brands have inflated MRPs and sudden pricing swings/sales.

deepcdvr · Post by **deepcdvr** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:25 pm

Nice watch at a great price!

To be honest, I pass on all sales posts that aren't CONUS, and I suspect a lot of other people do too, shutting you out of a huge market. I'd restart the thread and emphasize the ease with which a CONUS buyer will get the watch. Good luck!

dnslater · Post by **dnslater** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:22 am

I agree with all of the suggestions above....

-You are not located in North America - which automatically drives a lot of buyers off, unfortunately
-Watch is an obscure brand and the LE of this obscure brand is probably meaningless to most.
-Many folks looking for Chronographs in this price range have specific tastes/brands they are looking for.

Simplify the sales post and maybe throw in express shipping to the U.S.? Also I would keep the bump commentary limited to "bump". Off-putting when the seller tells you on the 15th bump how crazy great the deal is.

I've sold several watches in this range lately, and they are not moving fast. Also, when you buy a watch that is not one of the popular WUS brands, you need to make sure you really like it.

That being said, it just takes one buyer.

93 Turbo · Post by **93 Turbo** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:32 am

^^^^ Paul's nailed it. If your mailing address was CONUS, you'd have moved this by now or easily traded it for something you wanted.

As you have stated, pull the watch for now. Re-list in about 8 weeks, and price something like FedEx International priority into your price. That will increase your price, but add the security of a reliable (more importantly, fast) courier service to the US.

Cut the waffle in your post, especially about how much of a hit your taking $ wise.

Add - 'postage to US, Australia, UK, Canada and Europe will be by XYZ (FedEx) carrier' - I often do a watch recon search by country, e.g. Being in Australia, I have a alert option in watch recon set to 'Australia'. Yeah most of the watches listed are shit, but I'm curious to see what's being listed. Your watch will be listed in any search by country within recon.

Good luck, and it's a good looking watch. J

jimyritz · Post by **jimyritz** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:30 am

Solid advice---unfortunately, someone who is thinking about buying it knows it will be hard to sell so he is going to want it dirt cheap.
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Get rid of ---FINAL FINAL PRICE REDUCTION $1500. I will include PayPal and registered trackable shipping. (Insurance and couriers are extra). No trades and this is my final price as I am losing over eight hundred bucks on this, so you don't have to - Retail on these are three thousand five hundred - so this really is a steal - I challenge anyone to find it cheaper worldwide. If no takers, I will just keep it as it is a great looking watch and sell something else.

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Clarify how you will ship and payment methods---I would be prepared to pay for shipping, etc...

Might not be bad to throw some info on Alpina --owned by Frederic Constant ( known to be solid and a good value)

I would put Asking $1500 ---Offers welcome....Would you take $1350 or $1280??? Easier for me to say but maybe better to take the hit and move on..

Good luck
Mike

jsj11 · Post by **jsj11** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 6:10 am

Thanks Guys, some really good advice here, it is very much appreciated.

I knew that my location would put off a lot of Conus buyers, but I have sold everything else previously - mostly to the States, so hoped it wouldn't be too much of a factor.

Have decided to keep it and wear for it a bit so I at least get some value out of it, and will probably sell at some other point in the future.

I guess buying it when I was a little drunk, bored and with money in my paypal account is not the best recipe for a wise purchase

Cheers all - I knew you would be the best people to ask - love the atmosphere on this forum.

If anyone has any other comment, would gladly hear them.

Mr_Pacman · Post by **Mr_Pacman** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:13 pm

It's just like trying to sell an Eterna. Fantastic watches but they sell at a massive discount (just look at the Eterna Tangaora chrono on watchreon for $1,000) and it's hard to re-coup any money unless you bought it for 75% off MSRP. It's just a matter of being patient. Eventually, someone will be looking for that watch and yours will be the only one for sale.

Post by **CGSshorty** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:50 pm

Alpina makes a nice watch, but their MSRP should probably be 50% of what it is.

carlodwc · Post by **carlodwc** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 1:51 pm

It seems to me that what works is to lower the price until someone buys the watch. As for the value you can check the past Alpina Chronos and see how much they were sold for on WUS and go from there... chances are that in the reduction of price process, you will hit a price agreeable to someone who can or will be a buyer and then you can do the deal.

But it is has not sold yet, it simply means that whoever saw your post was not interested or did not agree to buy it for what you are selling it for.

HapaHapa · Post by **HapaHapa** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:30 pm

Its a slow time for sales. Gotta be patient.

jsj11 · Post by **jsj11** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:20 am

More good points, guys, thanks. When do you think is a good time for sales - just before Xmas?

mikeylacroix · Post by **mikeylacroix** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 7:57 am

i think brice wants it

blowfish89 · Post by **blowfish89** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:05 am

Mr_Pacman wrote:It's just like trying to sell an Eterna. Fantastic watches but they sell at a massive discount (just look at the Eterna Tangaora chrono on watchreon for $1,000) and it's hard to re-coup any money unless you bought it for 75% off MSRP. It's just a matter of being patient. Eventually, someone will be looking for that watch and yours will be the only one for sale.

The guy who bought the Tangaroa bought my Kontiki as well, and I made a good profit from what I had paid. Otoh, I'm losing a bunch on my Damasko resale because I bought it new (not pre-owned).

foodle · Post by **foodle** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:35 am

mikeylacroix wrote:i think brice wants it

Only if you'll trade for a lightly-used Pelagos.

The Dive Watch Connection