I guess it's simply because, if I'm honest, I'm addicted to bidding on online auctions. Nowadays, I manage to ignore most of the over-priced, misrepresented junk listed on eBay, though occasionally a low start auction may spark my interest, it's rare for me to follow through to the last second snipe-fest. This watch came to my attention, courtesy of a saved search notification from the-saleroom.com in the last week of August. It was listed by McTear's auction house in Glasgow, in their watch auction sale on 4th September as lot # 828. The auctioneers' estimate was £150 - £200.
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auct ... d600c382fb
- 7A38-7000-Stainless+Black-the-saleroom.com-Sept2024-McTears-Lot#828.jpg (103.28 KiB) Viewed 124 times
I didn't initially take a screen print of the listing, just saved the single photo (above). I added it to my watchlist and entered a bid for the minimum amount (£60). I should probably have left it at that. But the reminders from the-saleroom.com made sure I wouldn't miss it. The auction started at 3:00 pm on Wednesday 4th. Ignore the lot number (#828) there were only 44 lots in this particular auction, starting with #800. By the time the auction went live, lot #828 had 24 watchers, so just prior to the auction going live, I increased my maximum bid to £150 (the lower estimate), but resolved not to bid any higher than that. There were a couple of other bids placed, but the bidding stopped @ £130.
- 7A38-7000-Stainless+Black-the-saleroom.com-Sept2024-McTears-Lot#828.png (149.6 KiB) Viewed 118 times
So I won the auction fairly easily.
- 7A38-7000-Stainless+Black-the-saleroom.com-Sept2024-McTears-Lot#828-Hammer-£130.jpg (182.81 KiB) Viewed 116 times
Of course £130 wasn't the end of it.
By the time they'd added on the buyer's premium, commission and VAT, etc., McTear's invoice total came to £175.17. But that still didn't include shipping. After I paid McTear's invoice, I received an unsolicited quote from their 'preferred delivery partner', Collin Moran & Son Ltd., for £36 which frankly I considered to be taking the p!ss !! 
I subsequently received another quote for £28.59 from Mailboxes (via the-saleroom.com).Then I looked again at the shipping page on McTear's website: https://www.mctears.co.uk/shipping/
- McTears-Shipping.png (52.71 KiB) Viewed 111 times
I noticed their statement:
More than mildly annoyed that they'd tried to fob me off with their 'preferred delivery partner', I phoned McTear's and enquired about their postage option. £12 + VAT = £14.40. Rather more reasonable. The watch was safely delivered in a jiffy bag, wrapped in plenty of bubble-wrap, by Royal Mail RMSD on Saturday morning.McTear's may be able to post small items within the UK and Northern Ireland for buyers upon request and subject to size and fragility.
I'd opine that the watch is in better condition than described. 'Ticking at present' actually meant fully functional. The chronograph pushers have that nice 'clicky' feel to them. The bracelet is admittedly stretched, but not what I'd call 'heavily'. The fact that it is (stretched) full length, including the full complement of ten adjustment links, has allowed me to 'steal' three of them for use on my 'beater', which previously needed a clasp extender to be wearable.