Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Not such a Crazy / Craziest price, per se - just plain stupid ! Yet another example of an Eastern European chancer trying it on. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261342945291

$600  for a fairly common well-worn example of a two-tone 7A28-7020 - and one bereft of its original bracelet.  

Edit: My apologies to the seller, but I'm afraid I didn't get past the B-I-N price screen (for rolling on the floor laughing) to read this:

Included in the sale is the two tone Seiko original bracelet with the G 1032 end link ref. Unfortunately, one end link is missing, otherwise i would have attached it to the watch.

So it might as well be completely missing anyway.

PS - I have it on extremely good authority that the seller has already declined a more than generous offer of $59.99. 

Seiko7A38 at November 14, 2013 at 7:34 PM

What can you say ? 

I guess like most of his offerings this will be auto-re-listed Ad Nauseam until a mug punter with more money than sense comes along:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221317316530

Looks like Kineticsinc2012 didn't have to wait too long for one to come along this time.

The buyer probably thought they were getting a bargain @  £1499.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221317316530

http://www.goofbid.com/ebay_best_offers_tool.html?gbo_username=kineticsinc2012 (note the date on Goofbid isn't showing correctly):

Originally posted by George (garacs1) February 23, 2014 at 3:21 PM in another thread in the Members' Lounge section:

Apparently the Italians are not the only crazy guys in town...

http://www.ebay.de/itm/121281218496

Yes, I saw that myself, over an hour ago George. But I thought I'd leave it and see if anybody else remarked on it first ....

Which of course you did, but not quite where I'd have expected someone to post about it.  Hence I moved your post.

It's quite a tidy example of a 7A48-702A, obviously, but 680 Euros / £560 GBP is taking the p!ss somewhat.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121281218496

Because you posted your link from eBay.de, you're possibly not seeing the additional 60 Euros shipping that the rest of us are. 

Seiko7A38 at May 29, 2013 at 6:04 PM

Seiko7A38 at May 29, 2013 at 4:05 PM

Goffre obviously thinks we're still living in the LOADSAMONEY 1980's. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190848045725

Ahem. I think we now have a NEW ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH CRAZIEST ASKING PRICE for a Seiko 7Axxx .... well almost. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190848045725

Goffre78 (a.k.a. Alberto Ulmi)'s grossly over-priced 7A28 Bishop is still going round in circles 9 months later. Think of a number. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191102261132

Not sure if this qualifies as a 'craziest' price, but in terms of opening bid prices for a 7A28-7040, this one listed on eBay Germany earlier this morning with an opening bid of 900 Euros has certainly got to be well up there with some of the best worst of them. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221410069901

Interestingly (as it's being offered by a German eBay seller), this isn't the usual European export model variant of 7A28-7040, but the JDM version (with the small block capital CHRONOGRAPH font, instead of italic Chronograph script and without SPORTS 100 printed on the dial). Naturally these JDM versions are plentiful on Yahoo Japan, where you'll often see similarly optimistically priced examples.

Edit: Funnilly enough I gust read the seller's description:

Armbanduhr SEIKO ------ Quartz Chronograph ------ analog ------ Cal. 7A28-7040 ------ Sports 100 ------ Ziffernblatt schwarz ------ black dial ------ wassergeschützt bis 100m ------ Gehäusedurchmesser ohne Krone 41 mm, mit Krone u. Drücker 46 mm, Gehäusedicke 11 mm ------ Uhr und Original-Stahlband sind UNBENUTZT und UNGETRAGEN, da Teil einer Sammlung ------ Batterie neu / new battery ------ Original-Etui ------ Bedienungsanleitung ------ In Deutschland Versand NUR ALS VERSICHERTES WERTPAKET für 20,- Euro ------ shipping insured only ------ PRIVATAUKTION. KEINE GEWÄHRLEISTUNG, KEINE GARANTIE, KEINE RÜCKNAHME. ------ PRIVATE AUCTION. NO WARRANTY, NO GUARANTEE, NO RETURN.

Here we have a 500€ bargain 7A28-7040

http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s-anzeige/vintage-seiko-chronograph-7a28-7040-sehr-selten/202622414-156-921

it is with a replacement bezel !

Seiko7A38 at October 15, 2013 at 5:22 AM

And yet another speculatively over-priced offering from our favourite (not) Italian eBay seller Goffre78 - an allegedly NOS 7A38-7080.

But this latest listing of his is slightly more interesting (for the wrong reasons):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190927710489

It's easier to spot what I'm getting at from a screen dump of the US version of the eBay listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190927710489

Now apart from being greedy and incompetent, Goffre78 is obviously lazy - particularly in the way he composes his eBay listings. 

Often there will only be one grainy out-of-focus photo of the watch. Here's his first image from this listing. Pretty good by his standards.

There's a couple of things 'wrong' with that photo. First of all, for a watch that is supposed to be 'New with tags', note the wear to the black chrome coating - particularly the chips to the bottom R.H. corner of the watch case. Reason is - that isn't Goffre's photo. 

The original was taken by Derek Bartle on 07/09/2009 - of his then recently restored 7A38-7080 (sold on TZ-UK in November 2012).

Derek's photo can still be found in a photo album on his blog: http://derekbartle.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=8249634

Note that this watch has the earlier style 'polished edge' hands.

The other 5 photos in Goffre's eBay listing have also been 'borrowed' - much more recently:

Note this watch (which does look in NOS condition) has the later style white painted hands.

In case they look familiar, they've been lifted from that other Italian eBay seller's listing in my previous post, which ended a week ago:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261301148308

That seller had declined two offers (of $350 and $500). A forum member I'd been trading emails with about that 7A38-7080 was on the point of making the seller an offer of $600, when the listing was suddenly ended early, after two days - before he had the chance. 

So what is Goffre78 actually selling (or attempting to re-sell) for the inflated price of $2100 ? Is it the same watch as the other seller ?

Caveat Emptor, Gentlemen - particularly if you're considering dealing with Goffre78 .... all I can say is: GOOD LUKE  

He'd made a few minor reductions to his stupid asking price and it had come down gradually from $2100 to 'only' $1850. 

.... the much lower offer which he finally accepted was $900 ! 

I suspect Goffre78's eventual 'success' may have been what prompted this other would-be Italian eBay seller to re-list his 7A38-7080 yesterday. Though it's obviously not in the same league (condition wise) - nothing like, with well-worn black chrome coating and fitted with a rubber strap. MEGA RARE and NOS, it's certainly NOT ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281329336531

You notice I say 're-list', because although the eBay ID is 'new' (and Zero-feedback), I knew straight away I'd seen this one before. 

Here's where I previously wrote about it in the Yet another 7Axx on an undisclosed non-original bracelet thread 6 weeks ago ....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by myself March 22, 2014 at 6:08 PM

I wasn't quite sure where to post this one. The Craziest Prices thread or George's 'Are Italians Crazy?' thread in the Members Lounge.

Or here - because although the seller has done his best to obsure the fact in his photos, the watch is clearly fitted with a non-original rubber strap. Listed on eBay Italy earlier this week, with some lunatic bidding already, given the overall condition - certainly NOT NOS:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111303996148

GUARDARE MEGLIO LE FOTO BASTA FARE DOPPIO CLICK SULLA FOTO

TO WATCH THE PICTURES JUST DO DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PICTURE

""""""""SEIKO """"""""""

GIUGIARO 7A38-7080

GHIERA GIREVOLE

FONDELLO A VITE

MISURA ESCLUSA LA CORONA 43,12X40,11 MM

VETRO MINERALE OTTIMO

SUPER RARO DA TROVARE

FUNZIONANTE

CASA IN PVD

CHI CONOSCI QUESTO SA IL SUO VALORE

IN REGALO UN SEIKO 5

PER GUARDARE MEGLIO LE FOTO BASTA FARE DOPPIO CLICK SULLA FOTO

BUON ASTA A TUTTI

X-X-X--X-X-X--X-X-X-X--X-X-X-X-X-X-X--X-X-X-X-X-X--X-X-X-X-X-X--X-X-X--X-X-X-X--X-X-X-X-X-X-X--XX----GORGEOUS AND RARE

"" "" "" "" SEIKO "" "" "" "" ""

GIUGIARO 7A38-7080

ROTATING RING

BOTTOM SCREW

MEASURING EXCLUDING CROWN 44,12 X40, 11 MM

MINERAL GLASS GOOD

SUPER RARE TO FIND

FUNZIONANTE

HOUSE PVD

SA KNOW ABOUT THIS ITS VALUE

GIFT IN A SEIKO 5

BETTER TO WATCH THE PICTURES JUST DO DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PICTURE

HAPPY BIDDING

Funniest thing of all is the 'free gift' Seiko 5 (auto) the seller is so generously including in the price. It's a (QUARTZ) fake !! 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The photos used in the re-listing may be slightly different, the eBay user ID new, but the strange format of the listing description, with embedded images is the same - as is the serial number of the watch: 451815. No 'freebee' FAKE Seiko 5 chucked in this time though.

Clearly paiswatch (0) and giacomitowatch (96) - both hailing from Ancona are one and the same Italian would-be scammer ....

To be avoided at all costs.  Caveat Emptor, as always, Gentlemen. 

Moonphaze at November 18, 2012 at 5:00 PM

So what price shall I put one of my mint 7A28-7000's for? I have sold four so far, one of them fetched £1,400.... What do you think Paul? 

I think you're dreaming. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221447875771

Still, at least he's offering free postage. 

For that price I'd expect it personally delivered by chauffeur driven stretch limo with a bevy of Playboy bunnies in the back. 

I'd expect Sigourney Weaver, Giorgetto Giugiaro and HR Giger (from beyond the grave) to be in that limo too...

FFS!!!

You'll like this Daz - not ! 

This may not be a complete watch - in fact it's just a NOS bracelet for a 7A28-6000 Bishop. But I couldn't really post it anywhere else.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221586271388

What I find even more galling about the seller's ridiculous asking price of $545 (which in days gone by would have been enough to buy you a complete NOS 'Bishop') is that these bracelets are, or at least were, until recently still available for a fraction of the price.

Never did get to find out what kineticinc2012's last 7A28-7000 Ripley Aliens sold for (he's since changed his eBay user ID again, to hi-beat), because he ended the listing early - presumably accepting an offer outside eBay thereby avoiding fees and comission.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//221447875771

No matter. Here's another one - again a NOS JDM, similarly stupidly over-priced and seasonally mis-titled as a 'Holly Grail'. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111842108660

A relatively new forum member (who still hasn't got the hang of posting on the forum) emailed me a link to an eBay auction.

It reads (with typo's corrected):

Sorry but unable to figure out where to post this on your site, or if you may have already seen it. 

This is the most ridiculous price I have seen all year for a Seiko 7A watch.

Can you list it and send me a link so I will know where to post in future.

I guess the 'Craziest Prices' thread is as good a place as any. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222157397202

Yup - A 'nearly NOS' 7A28-500A Giugiaro 'Steering Wheel' with a Buy-it-Now asking price of $3650 !! 

I can't be bothered to upload the photos, but the description reads:

Seiko "Giugiaro Motocross" 7A28 - 500A "Made in Japan"

Great Condition! Watch is in working order. All buttons are functioning normal. Comes with original box & Model tag!

This is not a brand new watch, so there are a few scratches around the watch crystal & cosmetic.

Other specific features haven't been tested. Sold As Is! No Return!

No great surprise at the indentity of the Indonesian eBay seller - it's would-be profiteering re-seller fhipe (a.k.a. Jeffry Kartika).

His usual modus operandi (as well demonstrated in the 7A48-7050 Fishing Master thread) is to buy comparatively cheaply on Yahoo Japan and attempt to re-sell on eBay for grossly inflated prices. His 7A38-7110 in January 2015 was another prime example.

So I did a quick search on (closed auctions) on Yahoo Japan to see if I could find where he'd bought it. I didn't find it, but I did find another 7A28-500A in very similar condition (but without case-back sticker) which sold on YJ on 23rd April - for 20,500 Yen:

http://page24.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q113579740

To save you doing the calculation, 20,500 Yen equates to approx. $197 USD / £137 GBP. Not a great deal of money, for what is a comparatively rare watch (but of limited appeal to collectors) - certainly rare to find two of them with their original rubber straps intact. Call me cynical if you like, but if someone were trying to pull off a stunt like this, how much would it cost to get some of those rectangular Japanese text case-back stickers printed up ? 

I found this later - another used example of a 7A28-500A Giugiaro 'Steering Wheel' sold on eBay less than a week ago for $500.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172240235898

OK so it might have been missing a pin from the strap, buy like the previous YJ example, it puts fhipe's ludicrously hyped asking price of $3650 into perspective - i.e. totally out of whack. 

This thread is long overdue for a bump. I guess 'this is where we came in' is as good a reason as any. 

Here's a straight copy and paste of the post I made in the 7A38-7140 model specific thread earlier this morning:

Struggling to believe my eyes this morning  and the crass stupidity of some people. 

Yesterday evening, Italian eBay seller angeli_65 listed a NOS 7A38-7140, with a ridiculous Buy-it-Now price of $2500 !! 

But it's not just their 'pie-in-the-sky' asking price - it's the 4 photos they had the gall to use for this listing that gobsmacked me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272439317254

MEGA RARE SEIKO 7A38 - 7140 CHRONOGRAPH WATCH SPORTS 100 "BY GIUGIARO DESING"

stock fund

never worn

fully functional

For those who don't remember the photos, they're the same images they used 4¾ years ago, back in January 2012 ....

.... In their listing (one of four similarly sky-high priced 7Axx's) which started off the eBay Craziest Prices to date thread.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270900021867

VINTAGE SEIKO CHRONOGRAPH SPORT'S 100 CALIBER 7A38 - 7140 "BY GIUGIARO"

Asking Price - $2350 (approx. £1500)

Amazingly, their original listing still exists in eBay history (though the photos have long since disappeared).

With so many speculatively (sometimes spectacularly) over-priced Seiko 7Axx's on eBay, lately - particularly, it has to be said once again, those offered by would-be profiteering Italian eBay sellers, it hardly seems worth mentioning this one. 

The only reason I'm bothering, is that is probably the all-time record asking price for a used 7A28-7050.

Unless you've seen one crazier, that is. Yours (if you're stupid enough) for a mere 3200 Euros !! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272463119253

Of course, if you really want one of these slightly quirky models, designed by Giugiaro for cyclists, the best place to look is Yahoo Japan auctions. They were a JDM model (SSAY038) and regularly crop up on there. Here's a couple of current listings:

See: http://page16.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/u123536935

and: http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b197052750

I suspect that's probably where the one on eBay Italy came from - and rather cheaper too. 

It looks like Indonesian eBay seller fhipe (a.k.a. Jeffry Kartika) is determined to wrest the crown from Italian seller Alberto Ulmi.

Here's his latest listing for another 7A28-500A, which appeared a couple of days ago - with a Buy-it-Now price of  $4450 !! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222599804083

Just reading back through this last page, I'll concede I haven't always made the effort to follow up, by posting the eventual sales results for some of these ludicrously over-priced eBay listings. I'm going to make an exception in this case, because it is exceptional. I hadn't actually bothered adding the above listing to my eBay watching page - there's already plenty of other over-priced crap on there, which I have absolutely no intention of buying.  But yesterday evening, something else prompted my return to this thread and out of curiosity I clicked on the link in my previous post. It appears Indonesian eBay seller fhipe's ludicrously over-priced 7A28-500A Giugiaro had sold a week or so ago.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222599804083

I assumed it must have sold against a best offer, so I entered the item number into WatchCount.com's look-up tool. 

According to that it sold for an incredible $2600 !!  

As confirmed by the eBay Puchase History: http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBidsLogin&item=222599804083

If true, then this surely must be a record selling price for a Seiko 7Axx - higher even than those sought-after Ripley Aliens. 

But this model isn't particularly rare nor IMO desirable (far from it). So can anybody really have been that stupid ?  

Seems like the last few decent to good 7AXX ebay listings sold finally for US$300-400. Not sure if I'm prepared to fork out that much, but... should one learn to accept that norm and just bite the bullet?

Still watching a few listings that are of decent pricing. But I doubt they'll stay that way as auction end approaches.