Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Believe me, I'm as sick and tired of bitching about the ridiculous prices being asked for stainless 7A38-7020 / -7029's on the back of the 'Royal Oak' hype, as no doubt you are reading my tirades. Here's the latest prime example, listed by a newly created Zero-feedback Dutch eBay seller which appeared this morning. It's in no better than average condition, with a highly over-optimistic opening bid price of 1000 Euros and an absolutely ridiculous Buy-it-Now of 1750 Euros !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7A38-7 ... 4503808554
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7A38-7 ... 4503808554
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Remiss of me, with everything else going on I'd overlooked posting an update. Common sense appears to have prevailed. The 7-day auction ended at the June and no bids were forthcoming; the Zero feedback seller hasn't re-listed it since.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154503808554
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154503808554
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
What reminded me was this pertinent post on Instagram yesterday by seiko.club1, who's something of an 'influencer'.
Note his choice of words 'ridiculous prices', something I've been saying for a long time.
Note his choice of words 'ridiculous prices', something I've been saying for a long time.
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
There have been loads of them listed on eBay in the last few months, the majority ridiculously speculatively over-priced for their conditions. I was amused by the Instagrammer citing the figure of 700. Funnily enough, our favourite Italian eBay seller had listed a no better than average worn re-finished example a couple of days ago, asking 700 Euros.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4289919246
In his usual manner, he's uploaded the customary raft of amateurish hand-held camera phone head-on shots (note the tarnished SEIKO dial logo in his primary image), but a few of the side-on views are worth a second look, for amusement.
Hard to credit that someone has fitted such a ridiculously thick replacement crystal. It stands proud of the bezel by about 1.5mm, pointing to it being 3.0mm thick overall. That exposed edge is just begging to get caught on something.
Despite being heavily re-brushed, the fact that there are still scratches visible on the clasp shows the level of wear. Note also the distorted concave section of a couple of links visible in this photo (and also at top of the primary image).
I had to chuckle at the way Giuseppe has obscured the case-back serial number with something that resembles a big cock and balls. I'm sure with a little effort I could find a photo of the original watch and serial number (where he bought it). But it's Sunday morning and apart from having better things to do, I really can't be arsed.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4289919246
In his usual manner, he's uploaded the customary raft of amateurish hand-held camera phone head-on shots (note the tarnished SEIKO dial logo in his primary image), but a few of the side-on views are worth a second look, for amusement.
Hard to credit that someone has fitted such a ridiculously thick replacement crystal. It stands proud of the bezel by about 1.5mm, pointing to it being 3.0mm thick overall. That exposed edge is just begging to get caught on something.
Despite being heavily re-brushed, the fact that there are still scratches visible on the clasp shows the level of wear. Note also the distorted concave section of a couple of links visible in this photo (and also at top of the primary image).
I had to chuckle at the way Giuseppe has obscured the case-back serial number with something that resembles a big cock and balls. I'm sure with a little effort I could find a photo of the original watch and serial number (where he bought it). But it's Sunday morning and apart from having better things to do, I really can't be arsed.
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Checking my eBay watching page, I noticed that Giuseppe ended his eBay listing yesterday evening, in a time honoured manner, this time because of an unforced error. Maybe he's decided to get that stupidly over-thick crystal replaced.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384289919246
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384289919246
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Or maybe he's going to try flogging it on the Italian classifieds site Subito, where he posted this advert yesterday.
https://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-acc ... 501953.htm
https://www.subito.it/abbigliamento-acc ... 501953.htm
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
I suppose I should add a postscript to the tale of Giuseppe's three speculatively over-priced 7A38-7020's. He did, as I'd half expected, go on to list the other two on eBay at the end of July, both with typically over-optimistic Buy-it-Now prices of 799 Euros. Neither were in any better than average worn condition; both showed signs of lume degradation and evidence of stretch in their bracelets.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4301798756
Less than 24 hours later, he ended the listing in his usual manner, as allegedly no longer available, presumably having accepted a 'back door' offer from a mug punter buyer, suffering from 'Royal Oak' fever.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384301798756
Less than 10 minutes after he'd ended that one, he listed the third, using an old Instagram photo as his primary image. Note the difference in condition of the hands and dial baton lume, between that and as shown in his other photos. Indeed, the primary image was obviously of a different watch, because it has an English / Spanish (or possibly Italian) day wheel, showing DOM, whereas subsequent images showed an English / Arabic day wheel and الجمعة. Not only that, but comparing the small ding in the top RH corner of the case, he also appeared to be mixing them up with photos of the watch in his previous listing. Sloppy Giuseppe !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4303187431
Hardly surprisingly, that one took a little longer to shift (and a reduction in the Buy-it-Now price to 'only' 699 Euros), before he ended it in the usual manner yesterday afternoon.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384303187431
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4301798756
Less than 24 hours later, he ended the listing in his usual manner, as allegedly no longer available, presumably having accepted a 'back door' offer from a mug punter buyer, suffering from 'Royal Oak' fever.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384301798756
Less than 10 minutes after he'd ended that one, he listed the third, using an old Instagram photo as his primary image. Note the difference in condition of the hands and dial baton lume, between that and as shown in his other photos. Indeed, the primary image was obviously of a different watch, because it has an English / Spanish (or possibly Italian) day wheel, showing DOM, whereas subsequent images showed an English / Arabic day wheel and الجمعة. Not only that, but comparing the small ding in the top RH corner of the case, he also appeared to be mixing them up with photos of the watch in his previous listing. Sloppy Giuseppe !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-Quartz ... 4303187431
Hardly surprisingly, that one took a little longer to shift (and a reduction in the Buy-it-Now price to 'only' 699 Euros), before he ended it in the usual manner yesterday afternoon.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384303187431
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
Devious and greedy he may be, but Giuseppe isn't the only eBay seller asking ridiculous prices for sometimes less than average condition stainless 7A38-7020's and 7A38-7029's - not by a long way. Italian classified site Subito has also been flooded with them recently. At the time of writing, there are actually only three of them on there, with typical risibly over-optimistic asking prices of 750, 799 and 800 Euros. The oldest of them is also currently listed in parallel on eBay.
In fact, it was listed last week, half an hour after the seller posted it on Subito, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid of 780 Euros. Not surprisingly it failed to attract any bids or offers. The Italian eBay seller re-listed it yesterday evening:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7a38-7 ... 4893018308
It may have a clean dial (and has also possibly been fitted with a replacement crystal), but as can seen in the close-up wrist-shots, otherwise the case, bezel and bracelet are in anything but the claimed 'ottime estetiche condizione'.
In fact, it was listed last week, half an hour after the seller posted it on Subito, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid of 780 Euros. Not surprisingly it failed to attract any bids or offers. The Italian eBay seller re-listed it yesterday evening:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7a38-7 ... 4893018308
It may have a clean dial (and has also possibly been fitted with a replacement crystal), but as can seen in the close-up wrist-shots, otherwise the case, bezel and bracelet are in anything but the claimed 'ottime estetiche condizione'.
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
So what is one of these evidently highly desirable Seiko watches actually worth in sensible real world money terms ?
The Italian eBay seller is asking 780 Euros for his 7A38-7029, but it comes supplied with box and papers. So let's play them at their own game. Another Italian eBay seller, who listed this Seiko presentation box, 7A38 user instruction manual and warranty booklet in mid-June, is asking an equally ludicrous 230 Euros for them.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7a38-B ... 4227941476
(Check out the amateurish home-made printed paper label in the bottom RH corner of the seller's 5th listing photo. )
780 Euros minus 230 Euros equals 550 Euros. But then we also need to remove the 'Royal Oak' hype value-adding factor. So dividing that by 2 gives a more realistic price (for the watch alone) of 275 Euros. I'm basing that on this example ....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372306316192
Here's an 'as received' photo I posted in the old forum's Show and Tell - Your newest incoming 7A thread at the time.
On the previous page of that thread, I posted another example of the stainless 7A38-7020, in almost as good little worn condition, which I picked up off eBay UK in June 2017 for a mere £100 Quid. But admittedly that was a lucky find. That said, checking my records, the most I've ever paid was $299 off eBay in the States for an almost mint 7A38-7029.
The Italian eBay seller is asking 780 Euros for his 7A38-7029, but it comes supplied with box and papers. So let's play them at their own game. Another Italian eBay seller, who listed this Seiko presentation box, 7A38 user instruction manual and warranty booklet in mid-June, is asking an equally ludicrous 230 Euros for them.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-7a38-B ... 4227941476
(Check out the amateurish home-made printed paper label in the bottom RH corner of the seller's 5th listing photo. )
780 Euros minus 230 Euros equals 550 Euros. But then we also need to remove the 'Royal Oak' hype value-adding factor. So dividing that by 2 gives a more realistic price (for the watch alone) of 275 Euros. I'm basing that on this example ....
I bought that almost mint example just over 3 years ago in May 2018, winning the German eBay auction for 226 Euros:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372306316192
Here's an 'as received' photo I posted in the old forum's Show and Tell - Your newest incoming 7A thread at the time.
On the previous page of that thread, I posted another example of the stainless 7A38-7020, in almost as good little worn condition, which I picked up off eBay UK in June 2017 for a mere £100 Quid. But admittedly that was a lucky find. That said, checking my records, the most I've ever paid was $299 off eBay in the States for an almost mint 7A38-7029.
Re: Yet another stupidly over-priced 7A38-7020 'Royal Oak' on eBay
So, it's not inflation, but sheer unadulterated greed on the part of speculators and profiteering re-sellers, that's driving up the prices. There's certainly no shortage of decent secondhand (and NOS) examples to justify describing rampant price hiking as 'Supply and Demand'. Possibly it could be termed 'Market Forces', but 'Racketeering' is probably closer to the truth. Problem is there appears to be an never ending stream of gullible punters, with more money than sense, just waiting to be mugged for an over-priced relatively common Seiko 7A38.
Still, I guess I should be grateful to Giuseppe and his ilk for their efforts. Based on their asking prices, this small selection from my 7A38-702x collection (not all of them by any means), has got to be worth north of FOUR GRAND !
Still, I guess I should be grateful to Giuseppe and his ilk for their efforts. Based on their asking prices, this small selection from my 7A38-702x collection (not all of them by any means), has got to be worth north of FOUR GRAND !