Authentication of high value watches

[sonor64]

Hi, I was thinking of selling my Rolex on eBay but there seems to be a serious flaw in the process. Sending to the authenticator is down the seller ( fair enough, obviously) and proper insurance is down to the seller to arrange. However, I’ve hecked with all the delivery companies including Royal Mail and the maximum insurance they will cover is for £2500. If the watch is worth £2500 upwards ( mine is about 4K ) if the item gets lost or damaged on route to the authenticator the most you can hope to reclaim is £2500. Several parcel senders specifically EXCLUDE items sent to the authenticator. Has anyone found a way round this? If not I'm not taking the risk of sending my warch partially insured which makes the whole process pointless.

[papso22]

Surely that is a serious flaw in selling anything of that value even without the authentication process?

[sonor64]

You're right, it is. But if you specifically offer a service to sell high
value watches and insist it has to go first to a third party, at the
sellers partially insured risk then some people like me will choose not to
take that risk and will sell elsewhere. The question was had anyone found a
way to get adequate cover.

[thesmokingrunner]

You're thinking of selling your Rolex on eBay and you think there's a serious flaw in the process?

There is: you're thinking of selling your Rolex on eBay.

This is how good the Authenticators are: https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Member-To-Member-Support/Fake-Rolex-passed-eBay-authenticity/m-p/782...

I wouldn't for one second consider selling anything of that sort of value on this site but it's your call - and as long as you realise the risks involved and are prepared to lose both the Rolex and any payment you receive then frankly finding a delivery company with sufficient insurance cover is the least of your worries.

Seriously: you're thinking of selling a Rolex worth in the region of 4 grand on eBay? What could possibly go wrong?

[sonor64]

That's the whole point. I'm not thinking of selling a rolex on ebay for the
very reason I've just outlined. Other buyers of high value watches online
offer fully insured collection so until ebay do it's not worth taking the
risk with them. The point of the post is not about my personal choice it's
about the flaw in ebay's authentication policy. If postage was fully
insured as it is when its sent from the authenticator to the buyer then it
would be as safe as selling anything online could be.

[foremark21]

You're right. I'm in the same position. I want to sell a watch on eBay but I can't find a delivery service that will cover its value while in transit to the authenticator. If eBay is serious about being a marketplace for high value goods it has to find a solution.

[christiouk]

Careful with the authentication service!!

I’ve sold my hub lot and sent to them, they gave the okay for the watch but the box (original with all the paperwork) they simple said that couldn’t be authenticated. And didn’t send to the buyer and didn’t returned to me ! They kept it.

still fighting trying to prove the box is original and the buyer wants it and guess what? 
like any other company they rely on their terms and condition and kept my £200 box.

[christiouk]

Careful with the authentication service!!

I’ve sold my hub lot and sent to them, they gave the okay for the watch but the box (original with all the paperwork) they simple said that couldn’t be authenticated. And didn’t send to the buyer and didn’t returned to me ! They kept it.

still fighting trying to prove the box is original and the buyer wants it and guess what? 
like any other company they rely on their terms and condition and kept my £200 box.

[bluewithinblue]

You have at least three options.  One is to specify collection in person, though there's a personal security risk with that, and it will limit the bidders.  The buyer will need to bring an Ebay code  for you to enter onto My Ebay to prove collection took place.

Second option is to use DHL Express for sending to the authenticator.  Their published value limit for jewellery & watches is 10,000 euros, though I was quoted £6000 on the phone by one of their advisers if I don't have an account.   The downside is that it will cost you a lot more than Special Delivery - roughly £14 for a DHL standard small box plus 1.5% of the value for insurance, thus about £74 for a £4000 item.  But on a watch of this value, your buyer may not quibble about that kind of cost - and you could maybe agree to split it with them.   It will be Ebay's  responsibility to insure for the full value when the watch is sent by the authenticator to the buyer.

Third option is to bypass Ebay and sell via a 3rd party reputable auctioneer.  Fellows in Birmingham, and Watches of Knightsbridge, usually get good results.  

[sonor64]

Thanks, useful info on points 2 and 3😁

[plpmr]

"One is to specify collection in person"

As the watch has to go for authentication that cannot be done.

[centrefloater]

The watch DOESN'T have to go for authentication ; it is a voluntary procedure which Ebay can't force people to use.  The seller and buyer are free to agree direct payment and collection in person.  As long as the seller confirms on his My Ebay sold item that he received payment, he will be charged Ebay fees and isn't breaking any rules.  And Ebay can't prevent a buyer and seller from arranging collection in person ; it just means that the buyer doesn't get the benefit of authentication.  But if the buyer knows his watches, that shouldn't be a problem.

The fact that it's not compulsory is why the guidance reminds buyers :

"Even if a listing has the Authenticity Guarantee tick badge, purchases won't be eligible for the programme if :

• The seller sends the item directly to you, instead of to the authentication facility"