Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at May 13, 2020 at 6:34 AM

Over the last two days, an Italian eBay seller ervin.pepa listed a number of 7A's. He appears to be selling off a collection. Generally speaking, they're all typically speculatively over-priced for their condition, regardless. His favourite price point appears to be an exceedingly ambitious 600 Euros. Yesterday evening, among other 7Axx watches, he listed this 7A38-7070, in no better than average condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124185082626

I'm have trouble keeping up with Italian eBay seller ervin.pepa and his antics.

Earlier this afternoon, he appears to have ended his remaining unsold Buy-it-Now listings for 7Axx's (there were about 20 in total, IIRC) as being allegedly no longer available and subsequently re-listed them all as 7-day auctions, halving their prices in the process. So the majority - those which were priced @ his favourite (often unrealistic) price point of 600 Euros now have opening bid prices of 300 Euros.

Before I'd realized what he was doing with all his speculatively over-priced listings (en masse), his 7A38-7070 had already gone that way.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124185082626

Now much more likely to attract a bid or two @ 300 Euros:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124190023798

This afternoon, a Bulgarian eBay seller listed this well-worn 7A38-7070 head only as 'for parts or repair'. The badly discoloured lume points to it having suffered from moisture ingress, rather than having succumbed to acid attack by a leaking battery.

In fact, he listed it twice, firstly as a Buy-it-Now for £169.99 ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324174143990

Then 15 minutes later, in parallel, as a Buy-it-Now for $199.99:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/324174157356

for parts or repair,the traces of use can be seen in the pictures

Italian eBay seller ervin.pepa's re-listed 7-day auction for his average 7A38-7070 ended a few moments ago, selling for a respectable 394.77 Euros after 17 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124190023798

This 7A38-7070 in average worn condition was listed earlier this evening by a German eBay seller, with a Buy-it-Now price of 375 Euros or the option to make an offer. Seems to be getting a fair bit of interest (going by the number of views).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264741892140

Seiko 7A38-7070 Chronograph vom Jun. 1984 mit Service vom 10/2019 (reinigung des Werkes und ölen an den relevanten Stellen laut Seiko-Serviceplan mit Möbius 9000 Quartzöl)

Die Uhr läuft demnach perfekt und sollte für die kommenden Jahre quartzgenau arbeiten.

Getragener und voll funktionsfähiger Zustand mit leichten Tragespuren an Gehäuse / Boden / Lünette und Armband.

Edelstahlarmband original Seiko B1241 mit einer geschlossenen Länge von ca 18,5cm.

Drücker mit sehr guten Drückpunkt und einwandfreier funktion. (wurden auch zerlegt, gereinigt)

Glas ohne Kratzer

Batterie Silberöxid neu

Bodendichtung neu 

Alle funktionen der Uhr arbeiten einwandfrei. (Uhrzeit, Chronograph inkl. Reset auf 12 Uhr alle Zeiger)

Großer Reset (Drücker unten rechts 2 Sek.) natürlich auch mit einer Zeigerdrehung der großen,-kleinen Sekunde und kl. Minute auf 12 Uhr. 

International bidders are welcome. Shipping worldwide insured and trackable. Please feel free to ask me any question about the watch. 

Seiko 7A38-7070 Chronograph in used but good condition.

The watch working perfect in every way. Service from 10/19

Bracelet Seiko B1241 and aproxx. 18,5cm lenght.

Crystal no marks.

Battery Silveroxid new

Gasket new.

Not quite sure what's going on with his other parallel listing, but earlier this morning the Bulgarian eBay seller ended his original listing for that well-worn non-running 7A38-7070 head only as allegedly no longer available.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324174143990

The 7A38-7070, in average worn condition, listed by a German eBay seller on Sunday evening, sold five minutes ago for the 375 Euros Buy-it-Now price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264741892140

The eBay Purchase History reveals the seller had declined all the previous offers:

Seiko7A38 at May 12, 2020 at 1:17 AM

That 7-day UK eBay auction for a pairing of 7A28-7040 and well-worn 7A38-7070 ended late yesterday evening, not surprisingly without any bids placed - Unsold. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283867995163

I noticed this stubborn and deluded eBay seller had since made a couple more revisions to his listing, including adding this to the description at the weekend:

***HI JUST TO BE CLEAR AND ANSWER QUESTIONS I WILL NOT SELL INDIVIDUALLY OR RELIST IF IF NOT SOLD THEY ARE A FAR BETTER INVESTMENT THAN IS AS OR SAVINGS AT THE BANK> IF I DID RELIST INDIVIDUALLY IT WOULD BE AT THE GOING RATE OF AT LEAST £500 EACH SO GET A BARGAIN AT LESS THAN £400 ***

So if he stays true to his word, that might have been the last we've seen of him. 

Well that didn't take long for him to change his tune ! 

Earlier this afternoon, deluded would-be UK eBay seller farmseller1 re-listed his well-worn 7A38-7070 separately, as a 10-day auction, with a laughably optimistic opening bid price of £450 - and another fairly absysmal set of pink hued photos. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283893253159

Rare vintage SEIKO 7A38 -7070 divers watch with day /date ( days shown in english and black . or french and in colour),all functions work correctly . one owner from new (me purchased 19/1 /1987 with all books ) serviced every 10 years at seiko (batterys last 10/12 years , via origional supplying dealer earnest jones cheltenham, up to jan 2020 ( new battery and rear seal fitted 19/1/ 2020 ). A Vintage seiko divers chronometer 7A series multi function split timing 5/100 sec tacho divers watch 7A28-7070. only made from 1980 to 1989 .. some marks due to age worn almost every day from new . now vintage 33 years old . origional seiko strap. all 3 buttons ,bezel and winder move smoothly and all functions operate exactly as they should. japanese made seiko stamped on case . **note a new battery and a rear case seal fitted **, please note as with any vintage divers watch i cannot guarantee waterproof depth, new button seals winder seal and case seal fitted in 2010 and pressure tested, has been used since january 2020 swimming /showers/ and hot tub but not diving, was used to time rally stages . included is a soft storage bag**Guarantee book /Instruction book/ some paperwork/ Spare strap links and 2 Seiko strap pins and a replacement seiko bezel (not fitted) **. sent to seiko in january for new origional bezel via earnest jones but seiko no longer have any due to age so replacement sourced , you can collect in person and inspect and try the watch yourself with pleasure ,or i will post it by royal mail special delivery insured signed for. if you have any questions i have not covered do please call 07989708804 PLEASE SEE SELLERS other items other vintage seiko divers watch thanks

I see he's already reduced the opening bid price, earlier this evening, to £400. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283893253159

Checking my eBay watching page, I see that deluded UK eBay seller farmseller1 ended his 10-day auction for his well-worn 7A38-7070 earlier this afternoon - as allegedly no longer available, after further lowering the opening bid price to £375 this morning.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283893253159

You didn't really expect it was going to end any other way, did you ?

To my surprise, earlier this evening, UK eBay seller farmseller1 listed what at first appeared to be 'another' well-used 7A38-7070, in marginally better condition than the previous. Again, it's a 10-day auction, with a risibly over-optimisic opening bid of £480 and another set of fairly lacklustre photos. If nothing else, however, they were clear enough to discern that this watch had less graunches on the bezel insert.

Initially, it didn't register exactly what he'd done. That was to swap the complete bezel from his 7A28-7040 (which was the other watch in his original job lot pairing and uses the same insert) over onto his 7A38-7070. The original bezel shell from the 7A38-7070, which is of slightly different dimensions / profile is now fitted to his 7A28-7040 along with the 'Feiko' generic aftermarket bezel insert, which he was previously supplying loose with the 7A38-7070. See my further comments about that at the bottom of this post.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283895673403

vintage SEIKO 7A38 -7070 divers watch with day /date similar to speedmaster ( days/date shown in english and black ). (or in french & colour),all functions work correctly . serviced jan 2020 ( new battery and rear seal fitted ).Vintage seiko divers chronometer 7A series multi function split timing 5/100 sec tacho divers watch 7A28-7070.made from 1980 to 1989 ... . origional seiko strap. all 3 buttons ,bezel and winder move smoothly and all functions operate exactly as they should. japanese made ****, please note as with any vintage divers watch i cannot guarantee fully waterproof ** origional supplied numbered Guarantee book /Instruction book/ service book & Spare strap links , sent to seiko in january via local jeweller , you can collect in person and inspect and try the watch yourself with pleasure ,or i will post it by royal mail special delivery insured signed for. if you have any questions i have not covered do please call 07989708804 PLEASE SEE SELLERS other items other vintage seiko divers watches thanks thinning out my collection.

He may have improved the appearance of his 7A38-7070 slightly, albeit by fitting the wrong bezel, but in doing so, he's managed to ruin his 7A28-7040, which was previously the better of the two, cosmetically. Here's a couple of side by-side photos from his previous 'job lot pair' listings showing the comparative condition of their bezel inserts. Note the scratches to the right of the '55' mark on the 7A28-7040's bezel inlay in the upper photo, now visible in the primary image of his most recent 7A38-7070 re-listing.

Here's how his 7A28-7040 looks now, in his latest re-listing fitted with the slightly larger diameter 7A38-7070 bezel shell and that 'Feiko' generic aftermarket insert.

Naturally, according to this deluded semi-literate botcher, it's all 'origional'. 

I think I'd be justified in adding the tags: deceitful / devious / dishonest to 'deluded'.

Checking my eBay watching page, I see that deluded UK seller farmseller1 ended his latest re-listing for his well-worn 7A38-7070 this morning, because of an error. More like a Comedy of Errors ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283895673403

This nice well-cared for example of a 7A38-7070 was listed earlier this afternoon, by a German eBay seller as a 7-day auction with the option to make an offer. However I suspect many potential buyers will baulk at the highly over-optimistic opening bid price of 799 Euros. It will most definitely sell, but I'd opine it's far more likely to be against an undisclosed best offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224032138918

Armbanduhr SEIKO SPORTS 100 Chronograph --- QUARTZ ------ Modell 7A38-7070 AO ------ analoge 12-Stundenanzeige ------ über 3 Drücker steuerbare Stopuhr mit Intervallschaltung und Nachlauffunktion ------- Datum+Wochentag ------ Tachymeter ------ Ziffernblatt schwarz mit Leuchtindizes ------ wasserdicht bis 100 Meter ------ Gehäusedurchmesser ohne Krone 40,5 mm, mit Krone und Drücker 45 mm, Gehäusedicke 12 mm ------ Glas ohne Kratzer, am Gehäuse höchstens minimale Gebrauchsspuren ------ Original-Etui und Bedienungsanleitung ------ PRIVATAUKTION. KEINE GEWÄHRLEISTUNG, KEINE GARANTIE, KEINE RÜCKNAHME. ------ PRIVATE AUCTION. NO WARRANTY, NO GUARANTEE, NO RETURN.

Perhaps I should have predicted the other equally probable possible outcome ....

Earlier this afternoon, the German eBay seller ended the above 7-day auction listing for a decent looking 7A38-7070 two days early - as allegedly no longer available.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224032138918

Seiko7A38 at May 30, 2020 at 9:25 AM

Checking my eBay watching page, I see that deluded UK seller farmseller1 ended his latest re-listing for his well-worn 7A38-7070 this morning, because of an error. More like a Comedy of Errors ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283895673403

I see it's back on eBay again - now fitted with a comedy bezel insert.  

This 7A38-7070 in decent cosmetic condition was listed in the early hours of this morning, by a US eBay seller, with a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $599 and currently without the option to make an offer. The seller's description seems rather understated, compared to some. The bezel insert is remarkably unscathed - almost pristine. Makes me wonder if it's actually the original insert or a Yobokies' repro'. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353110570097

1984 RARE SEIKO 7A38-7070 SPORTS 100 CHRONOGRAPH - ORIG BAND RUNNING WELL. Condition is Pre-owned.

This well-worn 7A38-7070, fitted with a non-original generic replacement bracelet, was listed this afternoon by a UK eBay seller, with a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of £325 and the option to make an offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164252845267

Seiko Quartz Chronograph Sports 100 7A38-7070 AO Day/Date Rare Vintage New Battery. In original condition. All complications work perfectly. Never repaired only serviced. Please see pictures for wear. Comes on the Jubilee bracelet pictured. A rare chance to own this vintage 1980s classic in original condition. New Bezel inserts are available should you want to replace it. Not to be confused with other non day/date models. I have purposely overexposed the pictures in order to show detail clearer. 

Please look at my other listings. I’m moving abroad, so new listings daily.

(<--------- Large chunk of irrelevant dross from original description omitted --------->

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. Many thanks, Ade. 

I wasn't planning to add another update to the sorry saga of deluded UK eBay seller farmseller1's well-worn 7A38-7070 - at least not until he had re-listed it once again. Hardly surprisingly, his last re-listed 7-day auction ended a couple of days ago, with it still unsold - even after he'd reduced the opening bid price to 'only' £335.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283913248469

Earlier this evening, to my amusement, he listed the graunched original bezel insert that he'd removed from it, as a 5-day auction, with an opening bid price of £30 ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283924222188

GENUINE 7a38 series chronometer divers watch BEZEL ONLY dead flat used with some marks ,fits 7070 7040 7049 speedmaster and 100 models now unobtainable from seiko .posted recorded royal mail taped to something unbendable , find another genuine one any where?

Since I took my screen print, earlier this evening, he's already reduced his laughably over-optimistic opening bid price down to £20. Do I hear a Tenner ? 50p anybody ?

Belated Edit: As predicted, another revision to the pricing followed soon afterwards:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283924222188

Edit: Yet another revision - his earlier delusion looking more like desperation. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283924222188

Edit: The outcome was fairly predictable - no bids were placed and it ended unsold.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283924222188

Seiko7A38 at June 19, 2020 at 12:46 PM

This well-worn 7A38-7070, fitted with a non-original generic replacement bracelet, was listed this afternoon by a UK eBay seller, with a 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of £325 and the option to make an offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164252845267

That well-worn 7A38-7070, fitted with a non-original generic replacement bracelet, sold this afternoon. Not for the reduced Buy-it-Now price of £299, but ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/164252845267

As revealed by the alternative 'true selling price' link, for a best offer of £275.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewitem&item=164252845267

The 7A38-7070 in evidently decent condition, listed by a US eBay seller 3 weeks ago, sold in the early hours of this morning, for the $599 Buy-it-Now price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353110570097

This 7A38-7070, in average / well-worn condition, fitted with the wrong case-back off a stainless two-tone 7A38-6080 (and hence the erroneous title), was listed this morning, by a German eBay seller, as a 7-day auction with a low start opening bid price of 1 Euro. After 4 hours, the bidding is currently just over 150 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114293539998

Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph 

7A - 38 - 6080 Herrenuhr Rare 

Chronograph, Seiko Quartz, Day & Date 

Guter gebrauchter Zustand 

Uhrwerk läuft gut, alle Funktionen Ok 

Durchmesser ohne Krone 40 mm 

Box / Papiere: keine