Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at May 29, 2020 at 4:29 AM

Very early this morning, Brad listed his 're-coated' 7A38-7140 on eBay with a highly optimistic 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $550 and currently without the option to make an offer. There is some 'poetic license' in his glowing description. Note that in some of his photos you can see the evidence of stretch and lateral slop between bracelet links, indicating it was probably quite well worn before getting its respray makeover back in 2017. The wear to the crown and pushers, which oddly weren't re-finished, is also visible in his side on views.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383566617842

To my surprise, Brad's resprayed ('re-coated' whatever) 7A38-7140 appears to have sold earlier this morning for his 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $550.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383566617842

This 7A38-7140 in average / well-worn condition, was listed earlier this evening, by an Italian eBay seller as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 199 Euros or the option to Buy-it-Now for a reasonably sensible 279 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203012072346

L'orologio è in buone condizioni e revisionato completamente in data 27 maggio 2020. Il quadrante, le lancette, i tasti e la corona sono tutti originali. Normali segni di usura sul cinturino e sulla cassa. Il cristallo e la batteria sono nuovi. Tutte le complicazioni sono correttamente funzionanti, ovviamente cronografo compreso. 

Le foto sono parte integrante della descrizione e provano l'esatto stato di conservazione dell'oggetto in vendita e che riceverà chi si aggiudicherà l’asta. 

L’orologio è perfettamente funzionante e marciante. 

GUARDA LE ALTRE MIE ASTE. 

ATTENZIONE! Formula di esclusione della garanzia: 

La legislazione CE vigente prevede che anche i privati siano tenuti a dare garanzia sugli oggetti venduti, a meno che tale garanzia non sia esplicitamente esclusa al momento della vendita. L’oggetto in vendita è fornito così' com'è con esclusione esplicita di qualsiasi forma di garanzia. Chiunque farà delle offerte accetterà quindi l'esclusione della garanzia per l'oggetto stesso ad eccezione della garanzia implicita sulla veridicità della descrizione dell’oggetto e delle fotografie. 

The watch is in good condition and completely serviced on May 27, 2020. The dial, the hands, the keys and the crown are all original. Normal signs of wear on the strap and case. The crystal and battery are new. All complications are functioning properly, of course, including the chronograph. 

The photos are an integral part of the description and prove the exact state of conservation of the object on sale and who will receive the winner of the auction. 

The clock is fully functional and running. 

LOOK AT MY ALL AUCTIONS. 

WARNING! Warranty exclusion formula: 

Current EC legislation provides that private individuals are also obliged to give guarantees on the items sold, unless this guarantee is explicitly excluded at the time of sale. The object for sale is provided as is, with the explicit exclusion of any form of guarantee. Anyone who makes offers will therefore accept the exclusion of the guarantee for the object itself, with the exception of the implicit guarantee on the truthfulness of the description of the object and the photographs.

That Italian eBay seller was evidently in a hurry to sell his 7A38-7140. Earlier this evening, he revised his listing, reducing the opening bid price to 150 Euros and the Buy-it-Now price to 230 Euros.

It sold soon afterwards for the reduced Buy-it-Now price of 230 Euros:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203012072346

Meanwhile, I've just received a saved search notification from Subito.it - and guess what's at the top of the results ? Another well-worn 7A38-7140 with a risible asking price of 450 Euros !! 

http://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-accessori/seiko-originale-7a38-7140-crono-daydate-1986-lucca-340248096.htm

No great surprise, really, the above well-worn 7A38-7140, which was listed on Subito.it at the weekend, appeared on eBay (again*) this afternoon, presumably listed by the same Italian eBay seller, with a slightly less ridiculous 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of 390 Euros and without the option to make an offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233613287841

Seiko

Abbastanza raro questo Seiko 7A38-7140

cronografo cassa in acciaio con trattamento PVD

di 41 mm escluso corona, fondello a vite con iscrizioni e numero seriale Giugno 1986,

bracciale originale logato,

quadrante sportivissimo e molto racing giallo e nero, tre contatori e daydate al 3

movimento della famiglia del mitico 7A28 il primo crono analogico al quarzo della storia dell'orologia. 

Solo oggetti originali…!

*Note 'again'.  I hadn't made the connection before (from the previous somewhat smaller Subito advert photos), but this is yet another instance of Déjà Vu. 

Checking its case-back serial number (660045), reveals this is the marginally better of the two well-worn 7A38-7140's, which were re-listed several times by Italian eBay seller ervin.pepa last month:

.... before eventually being ended because of a glaringly obvious error in the listing. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124199424365

Here's yet another instance of very recent Déjà Vu. 

This familiar-looking 7A38-7140, in average worn condition, was listed at lunchtime today, by another would-be profiteering Italian eBay re-seller, nicolpier_0, with a greedily marked-up Buy-it-Now price of 400 Euros, or the option to make an offer.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353103704710

SEIKO 7A38 7140 GIUGIARO.funzionante in tutto.tenuto in ottime condizione non presenta usure rilevanti e il colore nero e' ancora presente su tutto l'orologio e leggermente scolorito sulla clasp(vedi foto).fatto revisionare di recente(ho il video dell'orologio smontato,da poter mandare via email o whats app).dial e sfere in perfette condizioni come nuove. 

VENDITA

Si tratta di una vendita da parte di individuo privato collezionista (non commerciante professionista) perciò non è prevista alcuna forma di scontrino, fattura o garanzia per quanto riguarda il bene venduto. 

Proveniente dalla mia collezione privata-garantisco la lecita provenienza ed il funzionamento, 

La formula di vendita è da considerarsi VISTO E PIACIUTO in caso di dubbi e prima di fare offerte, potete contattarmi e risponderò a qualsiasi richiesta. 

L’orologio si presenta come da foto, su richiesta posso inviare altre fotografie più dettagliate. 

Il pagamento dovrà avvenire entro due giorni dall'aggiudicazione. 

comunico il numero della ricevuta della spedizione per la tracciabilità, qualunque disguido dopo la spedizione dovrà essere risolto dall’acquirente con l’ente spedizioniere, la mia responsabilità cessa al momento della spedizione. 

Acquirenti con feedback 0 sono pregati di contattarmi prima di fare offerte. 

La restituzione è possibile soltanto se l’oggetto non è conforme alla descrizione e dovrà avvenire entro 2 giorni dal ricevimento con le stesse modalità di spedizione e nelle medesime condizioni in cui è stato inviato. A ricezione avvenuta e dopo averlo controllato rimborserò il prezzo dell’oggetto. 

failing to enter European shipments. Notice for those who buy from a European Union country the shipping price is 15euro. 

This is of course, the same 7A38-7140, in average worn condition, which sold on eBay Italy, less than a week ago, for a reduced Buy-it-Now price of 230 Euros. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203012072346

Needless to say, the case-back serial number 580035 matches.

Not content with 400 Euros, I notice that greedy would-be profiteering Italian eBay re-seller nicolpier_0 has subsequently revised his listing, increasing his already heavily marked-up 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price to 500 Euros - more than double the price he paid for it a week ago. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353103704710

Meanwhile, the other Italian eBay re-seller of the ex-ervin.pepa 7A38-7140 ended his listing yesterday afternoon as allegedly no longer available.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233613287841

Earlier this afternoon, would-be profiteering Italian eBay re-seller nicolpier_0 ended his revised listing for the 7A38-7140, because of an error - presumably in his highly over-ambitious pricing strategy.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353103704710

He's since re-listed it as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 123 Euros:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353105852693

I won't bother re-quoting any of my previous posts on the subject of the re-sprayed 7A38-7140, recently sold on eBay by Brad Urani (and many other previous owners, starting with Christian Eichstädt), other than this short paragraph from last month:

Originally posted by myself on May 28, 2020 at 5:43 PM:

Whereas Brad never did reply to my question (about whether he agreed that the watch had been re-sprayed), his comment against the 7A38-7140 is 'Re-coated'. 

The saga of this much re-sold 7A38-7140, case-back s/n 560452 begins on page 4 of this thread and is summarised (including Brad's purchase) on the previous page.

It resurfaced again yesterday here on Instagram.

Despite its not so fresh coat of paint, the slop in between the bracelet links, which I've mentioned on a few previous occasions is clearly visible in the second photo.

I'm beginning to find commenting on the antics of would-be profiteering Italian eBay seller nicolpier_0 a little tiresome (understatement). On Monday afternoon, he ended his most recent 7-day re-listing for a 7A38-7140 because of another error.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353105852693

He simultaneously re-listed it once again, this time as a 10-day auction, with an opening bid price of 181 Euros and a different set of photos.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353107772884

The above latest re-listed 10-day auction for a 7A38-7140, by Italian eBay re-seller nicolpier_0 ended a few moments ago, selling for 208.01 Euros after 9 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353107772884

I was sincerely hoping that was the last we'd seen of the profiteering Italian eBay seller nicolpier_0 and his much re-listed 7A38-7140. Apparently it seems not. Earlier this evening, he re-listed what I'm assuming, for now, is the same watch, case-back serial # 580035. He's uploaded 8 different new photos to this listing.

Unfortunately, one of them has failed to upload properly. Sod's Law dictates that the missing image is a photo of the case-back, so for the time being, I'm unable to state conclusively that it is definitely the same watch - but the wear patterns on the black chrome coating look very similar.

When he first listed it, the 'pie-in-the-sky' asking price was originally 300 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/353152136040

By the time I finished composing / editing this post, he'd already revised the listing, increasing his Buy-it-Now price to 330 Euros ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353152136040

Seiko 7a38 7140 Giogiaro Quartz. La condizione Usato.perfettamente funzionante stato revisionato da poco.condizioni quadrante perfette,anche la cassa senza grosse scoloriture del nero(vedi foto)...coevo del tempo in ogni sua parte.

VENDITA

Si tratta di una vendita da parte di individuo privato collezionista (non commerciante professionista) perciò non è prevista alcuna forma di scontrino, fattura o garanzia per quanto riguarda il bene venduto.

Proveniente dalla mia collezione privata-garantisco la lecita provenienza ed il funzionamento, 

La formula di vendita è da considerarsi VISTO E PIACIUTO in caso di dubbi e prima di fare offerte, potete contattarmi e risponderò a qualsiasi richiesta. 

L’orologio si presenta come da foto, su richiesta posso inviare altre fotografie più dettagliate. 

Il pagamento dovrà avvenire entro due giorni dall'aggiudicazione. 

comunico il numero della ricevuta della spedizione per la tracciabilità, qualunque disguido dopo la spedizione dovrà essere risolto dall’acquirente con l’ente spedizioniere, la mia responsabilità cessa al momento della spedizione. 

Acquirenti con feedback 0 sono pregati di contattarmi prima di fare offerte. 

La restituzione è possibile soltanto se l’oggetto non è conforme alla descrizione e dovrà avvenire entro 2 giorni dal ricevimento con le stesse modalità di spedizione e nelle medesime condizioni in cui è stato inviato. A ricezione avvenuta e dopo averlo controllato rimborserò il prezzo dell’oggetto.

Understandably, by the time I made my last post above, I'd become sick and tired of commenting on Italian eBay re-seller nicolpier_0 shenanigans with his 7A38-7140.

On 10th August, he created yet another listing, which briefly ran in parallel to the previous one, but with a slightly reduced Buy-it-Now price of 280 Euros. I was by then so nonplussed, I didn't bother to take a screen print. Two days later he ended the earlier duplicated listing because of an error.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//353152136040

It eventually sold earlier this evening for the reduced Buy-it-Now price of 280 Euros.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353166562688

Yesterday evening, US collector Robert Lambert (a.k.a. power90801) posted this 7A38-7140, showing wear to the black chrome plating, as For Sale on Instagram. No price is stated.

Remiss of me, I'd forgotten that Robert had hinted back in the first week of June, in a post on Instagram he had a 7A38-7140 coming up for sale. I cheekily commented: Let me guess, Robert. That's the one you're planning to move on. LOL !

Comparing the wear patterns to the black chrome plating, it seems my prediction was correct. This morning, US eBay seller power90801 (a.k.a. Robert Lambert) listed the same well-worn 7A38-7140 that he posted FS on Instagram a couple of days ago, with a Buy-it-Now price of $385, with the option to make an offer. Some of the eBay listing photos appear similar to those from his earlier Instagram posts.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284024675535

This is a June of 1985 Seiko "Sports 100" Chronograph, Model 7A38-7140. It has a new crystal and a new battery and is fully functional. It shows the usual wear to the PVD surfaces of watches of this vintage. I should add it comes on it's original bracelet which is an achievement in itself as half of them tend to be long gone when these watches are posted for sale. 

Any questions let me know.

Looks like my Halfords rattle can could make this like new again, I'm tempted.

In parallel, Robert had also advertised his 7A38-7140 FS on SCWF Trading Post.

He subsequently made a couple of revisions to his eBay listing:

Reducing the Buy-it-Now price from the original over-optimistic $385 down to $300:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284024675535

Checking my eBay watching page, I see he ended the listing in the early hours of this morning, as item no longer available.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284024675535

This NOS condition 7A38-7140 was listed on the Italian classifieds site Subito this afternoon. No price is stated and the 'aptly' named vendor will sell or exchange.

http://www.subito.it/hobby-collezionismo/orologio-seiko-giugiaro-design-anni-70-nos-pavia-358610117.htm

Seiko7A38 at April 19, 2020 at 1:00 AM

I had a sneaking suspicion that was too good to be true. In the early hours of this morning, the Bulgarian eBay seller re-listed his well-worn 7A38-7140, fitted with a non-original bracelet, at the same 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of $349 USD.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184259030127

Here's a real 'blast from the past'.  That heavily worn 7A38-7140, fitted with a non-original replacement bracelet, re-listed by the Bulgarian eBay seller in April (which he'd actually first listed over a year ago, in early October 2019) appears to have sold (again) in the early hours of this morning, not for the $349 Buy-it-Now price, but for an undisclosed best offer. Hopefully that's the last we've seen of it.

Well, not quite the last of it, as it transpires. Yesterday evening, I ran a search on '7A38' on WatchUseek and this post in an 'Incoming' thread, by US-based member Jody1Kenobi came up as the most recent result. Seems he may be suffering from Buyer's Remorse before it even arrives.