Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at January 7, 2017 at 4:37 AM

José Sotto's re-listed eBay auction for that 7A38-6000 fitted with a nylon bund strap ended in the early hours this morning.

This time around it only made $134.50 after 26 bids - and again the reserve price was not met. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371825410704

With zero-feedback Italian eBay seller' Federico's 7A38-6000 finally out of the way, it left the field clear for José Sotto to re-list his lesser example. As you can see from the quote I've carried forward from the previous page, it last previously failed to sell in the first week of January, bid to only $134.50, with the reserve price not met. Prior to that it had been bid to $177.50 in December (same outcome) and before that, since the end of November last year, had been listed as a Buy-it-Now, with various 'pie-in-the-sky' asking prices of $580, $490 reducing to $450 (see previous page for details). So he's still pushing his luck, now asking $290. 

Although the head-on views of the watch (and the case-back) fitted with the nylon bund strap are the same as José had used in his original eBay listing (and subsequent re-listings), there are two new additional photos embedded in the description of this latest one - showing what appears to be the original Seiko p/n G1157S stainless bracelet:

Seiko7A38 at May 9, 2017 at 10:29 AM

Checking my eBay watching page, I was surprised to see that inept Italian eBay seller Federico's latest re-listing for his misrepresented 7A38-6000 had ended yesterday evening, apparently sold for the 450 Euros Buy-it-Now asking price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262957731574

I think somebody is going to be disappointed. 

Something obviously went badly wrong with that transaction because eBay have since completely removed all evidence of it.

It's clearly my own fault for having written: With zero-feedback Italian eBay seller' Federico's 7A38-6000 finally out of the way .... 

Needless to say, it's back once again - re-listed yesterday afternoon. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262995262108

Once again, Federico is using a 'borrowed' photo for his primary image (same source as before). In this re-listing, there are three other photos of what is presumably the 7A38-6000 he actually has for sale. He'd used the first one in his previous re-listing.

I'd been trying to figure out what was wrong with the bracelet in the previous listing. It's obvious from the above photo - it's fitted with one non-original end piece. Note the much smaller locating tabs and absence of G1157 stampings. Another reason to avoid ....

That's apart from being grossly over-priced and offered by a patently dishonest Italian eBay seller with Zero feedback.

I had to have a snigger to myself when I noticed his recently changed eBay ID had reverted back to what it was before. 

I hadn't bothered to post any updates to my last comment (at the top of this page) on José Sotto's eBay listing for his 7A38-6000.

But I had noticed he'd been gradually reducing the Buy-it-Now price: from $290 to $260 to $230 and yesterday down to $200.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&item=352053264935

For which price it finally sold earlier this morning:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352053264935

A bit different to his original 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now asking price of $580, back at the end of November last year. 

Seiko7A38 at March 23, 2017 at 8:50 AM

I notice that the alleged European expert eBay seller has listed another NOS 7A38-6000 bezel this morning - once again supposedly 'the last one'.  This time the Buy-it-Now price has been greedily increased again to $129.99 - more than double the reasonable $59.99 they were originally asking at the beginning of last month. Some people might say it's 'just business' or 'supply and demand'. Me ? I call it like I see it - downright blatant profiteering. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122411671233

Just checking my eBay watching page, I noticed someone had finally caved in, earlier this evening and paid the borderline extortionate $130 Buy-it-Now asking price for that last NOS 7A38-6000 bezel. 

A bit of a late spot on my behalf. This 7A38-6000, fitted with a blue NATO strap, and it  has to be said in dire need of some TLC, was listed last week by an Italian eBay seller. Bidding is still only at 5.50 Euros, with less than two days of the 7-day auction to run.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222553612351

SEIKO SPORT 100 CHRONOGRAPH UOMO, con giorno e data, Crono, analogico in discrete condizioni, cinturino Nato in tessuto, misura cassa 38mm corona ed anse escluse, funzionante.

Gli orologi posti in vendita sono tutti di secondo polso, sono puliti e resi funzionanti ma, se volete un orologio perfetto basta andare in orologeria ed acquistarlo al prezzo di vendita.

Per qualsiasi domanda sono a vostra disposizione.

Spedizione nella Comunità Europea € 25,00

esclusa Gran Bretagna: € 30,00

Fate offerte solo se seriamente interessati.

Vendita da privato esente da ogni garanzia, diritto di recesso, cambio o reso secondo le norme europee.

Accetto anche pagamenti con Bonifico Bancario, Vaglia Postale e altro.

Spedisco anche in contrassegno con maggiorazione del 10%.

Accetto la restituzione quando seriamente motivata, tra persone serie non c’è alcun bisogno di un ente terzo che mi costringa o peggio mi obbliga.

Spedisco solo con posta tracciabile, in Italia, nella Comunità Europea e nel Mondo, ma solo nei paesi che offrono questo servizio, nessuna eccezione.

Sono su ebay dal 2004, i miei feedback sono una garanzia, per voi e per me.

The above Italian eBay auction for a poor example of a 7A38-6000 ended a couple of minutes ago, selling for a surprisingly high 103.94 Euros after 45 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222553612351

So no great surprise then, to see it back on eBay again, re-listed less than 2 weeks later. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222576817828

The above re-listed Italian eBay auction for a poor example of a 7A38-6000, fitted with a NATO strap, ended a couple of minutes ago, selling this time around for a somewhat lower 66 Euros after 29 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222576817828

This reasonably decent looking 7A38-6000 fitted with a horrible non-original stainless bracelet, was listed earlier this evening by a German eBay seller, as a low start auction with an opening bid price of 1 Euro.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263161368867

Aus Nachlass Sammlung : Seltener SEIKO Chronograph Sports 100 , Vintage in sehr gutem Zustand. Altersgemäß kleinere Gebrauchsspuren, nichts Gravierendes. Alle Funktionen arbeiten einwandfrei, eine neue Batterie ist eingesetzt worden. Das Glas ist ohne Kratzer. Das Armband ist nicht original, stammt aber aus der Zeit der 80er Jahre. Armbandlänge ca. 18 cm . Die Bilder gehören zur Beschreibung. Da Privatverkauf keine Garantie, Gewähr oder Rücknahme ! Beim Bieten viel Spaß und Erfolg !

The above German eBay auction for a 7A38-6000 fitted with a non-original bracelet ended yesterday evening, selling for a remarkably strong 205 Euros after 30 bids. Still, I concede the watch head was fairly decent, compared to some other used examples. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263161368867

This well-used 7A38-6000 listed an hour or so ago by a German eBay seller certainly isn't TOP RAR as he claims - as can be seen from the number of examples offered for sale in this thread over the last 5 years. Nor is it in the best of cosmetic condition. That said, his Buy-it-Now price of 170 Euros isn't as stupid as many we've seen asked. However, be careful - I nearly missed it myself. The Seiko bracelet fitted to this watch is not original to this model. The 5-hole adjustment (and non SQ logo'd) clasp being the first giveaway clue. Then look at the link profile. Zooming in on the smaller than usual ears of the end pieces in the 4th photo reveals they're stamped B1687.E - indicating this bracelet is a Seiko p/n B1678S, rather than the correct p/n G1157S. Regardless of how long it may have been fitted to this watch, it correctly belongs to a Seiko 5 auto, like the 7S26-0464, etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302451512548

Verkaufen hier eine Vintage SEIKO Quartz Chronograph Sports 100 80er

Gehause und Armband sind komplett aus Edelstahl

Werk Seiko 7A38A 15 Jewels

Alle Funktionen der Uhr sind TOP

Die Uhr ist gebrauht und hat normale tragenspurren im glas und Gehause(siehe Fotos)

Privatverkauf,keine Garantie oder Ruckhnahme

Nur PayPal.

I didn't think that 7A38-6000 would hang around very long - regardless of its worn condition and the incorrect bracelet fitted.

It sold earlier this afternoon for the 170 Euros Buy-it-Now asking price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302451512548

There was evidently quite a bit of interest, as shown by the number of declined offers in the Purchase History.

I am the guy who purchased this example. I had been looking for a 7A38-6000 for quite some time now. I guess this completes my collection (6138-0011, 6309-7040, 4823-8000 KQ, SNDA57P1, SBDX001). Concerning the condition and bracelet: I wasn't after something immaculate. I am a person who likes to wear these watches and treat them as they were intended to be treated. I used to have some spotless Omegas, but they didn't make me happy. Over the past nine months, I have taken a MM300 from factory-fresh to well-worn. Still runs accurate and looks even better with a few scratches on it!

I guess I'm going to do something about the bracelet and maybe give the watch some new seals some day. But for now, it's absolutely fine for me. I just wanted a working example that is all original in terms of dial, hands, crown. And the lume on this one is white, which is always a good sign on these. Maybe I will post some pictures once this beauty has arrived. 

This 7A38-6000 was listed by an Italian eBay seller a couple of days ago, with an over-optimistic Buy-it-Now price of 450 Euros and no 'Make Offer' option. It might be in half-decent condition, but it's difficult to tell from the seller's single photo.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172943875238

The seller's very brief description (and notes in quotes) tell you little more:

Cronografo quarzo anni 70.

"Condizioni buone sia di cassa che di ghiera, perfettamente funzionante".

Well it looks like someone was prepared to gamble on that single photo, because the above 7A38-6000 sold this morning for the full 450 Euros Buy-it-Now price. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172943875238

In case you hadn't noticed, it's back again ! 

Earlier this afternoon Zero-feedback Italian eBay seller federiccurz0 re-listed his 7A38-6000 again. Still using borrowed photos of another watch (in much better condition) as his primary image (and 2nd photo). Still asking 450 Euros, but this time as a Buy-it-Now with a 'make offer' option. My comments higher up this and on the previous page still apply - Caveat Emptor.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263329562916

It looks like that 7A38-6000 re-listed umpteen times by the Italian zero-feedback seller federiccurz0 may have finally sold yesterday lunchtime.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263329562916

Not for his pie-in-the-sky Buy-it-Now price of 450 Euros, but as revealed by WatchCount.com's Look-up tool for a more reasonable 285 Euros.

As confirmed by the eBay Purchase History:

It's that time of year again - 'Tis the Silly Season apparently. 

Anyone who has read all the way through this thread cannot fail to have noticed the numerous mentions of a certain 7A38-6000 listed by an Austailian eBay seller marcspix, who asked various silly 'pie-in-the-sky' prices for it between 2015 and 2016. It was last seen in February 2016, when it theoretically sold against a best offer of $750 Au, to a member of this forum. I guess that sale must have fallen through, because it's back on eBay once again today, this time with a Buy-it-Now price of $1499 Au. - double the figure it supposedly sold for. If you don't want to read back through the whole thread, just see some of the previous posts, run a search on marcspix 7A38-6000. That brings up a good few. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302547139411

I'm not going to bother re-uploading the same old photos or copying and pasting the description (the Specification and Buyers Guide part is a blatant crib from this forum, anyway). I haven't even bothered to check and compare whether the rest of the wording is the same he used before. Instead, I'll just follow this with a quote of my post from February 2016 - when it last theoretically sold. 

Seiko7A38 at February 1, 2016 at 5:21 AM

Hello David and welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing your purchase of this 7A38-6000 with us. 

I'd already picked up that it had been sold overnight, against a Best Offer, from checking my eBay watching page.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301858504707

I didn't expect this Aussie eBay seller would let it go cheaply after all this time, but it's good to see it's found a new home at last.

Although you've kindly told us how much you paid for it ($750 Au), just out of interest I still ran the Goofbid eBay Best Offer History tool to see what other rejected offers had been made against the various re-listings over the last 30 days:

Compared to some 'lowball' offers made (and rejected) you may have overpaid for it - but that's always a buyer's perogative (I've done it a good few times myself over the years). As long as it meets your expectations and you're happy with it - that's all that matters. 

So, David .... perhaps you can enlighten us as to what actually transpired.