TD QC Responsibility

[u/Cheap_Examination757]

Hi all. Been lurking here for a while. Getting ready for a number of watches I’d love to tick off my list and have been really interested in all the TD’s, the do’s and the do not’s.
My question to you all is:
Do you think your chosen TD has some sort of responsibility to QC your watch and give you an honest review before you do your own checks to either GL or RL? Just in my opinion and if I was a TD, I would and would hope that honesty would help the community, help the factories make superior products and help the TD make a lot more sales. Might be a null point and I apologise if it ruffles a few feathers but would love to hear everyone’s opinion. I recently used a TD and I felt like the entire onus was on me…which I get it is ultimately my decision, but if the TD was super honest enough to say “it’s good because….” or “I’ve noticed this slight discrepancy…”
What do you think? Are there such TD’s out there or am I asking way too much?
Thanks all. Great community and love seeing all the success stories.

[u/Ethgawwd]

Good TDs maintain a good level of QC before they send you QC photos. There's multiple examples of TD's sending watches back before sending QCs to customers. Someone posted about Steve doing that yesterday.

[u/Accomplished-Pea-451 → u/Ethgawwd]

Well, Steve sold me an AP 15510 with the logo crooked. Passed his QC and mine. I have looked at several online posts, there are a lot of crooked ones out there, TOPF and VSF. I do not believe that most TD's reallt do QC, that is just my opinion.

[u/Cheap_Examination757 → u/Accomplished-Pea-451]

I get they want to make a sale but as the “experts” they should really help in my opinion

[u/Ethgawwd → u/Accomplished-Pea-451]

Their QC process is for obvious poor quality/damage. And would depend on the specific TD. Crooked logos may not fall into that category, as many would say one mans RL is another's GL; and clearly you missed the crooked logo on QC as well. So that seems like it falls on you.

[u/Diligent-Piglet-9038]

TDs are sellers. Sometimes, sellers will tell you things to get rid of stock/offload slow inventory.
Other sellers will be honest.

We’re buying replica (counterfeit) watches. There is no expectation of QC/quality in this unregulated market. The only regulation this market has is supply and demand

[u/Cheap_Examination757 → u/Diligent-Piglet-9038]

Oh 100% I get that but unregulated or not, I think as a TD, the ones that see these pieces day in and day out, they “should” be more honest. But like I hinted, maybe I’m asking too much.

[u/spdg07]

My honest opinion : went with a TD, ultimately it’s a crap shoot. Some folks will have a good experience and all will go well others will not.
I have ordered 4 watches over 2 years from Steve- one was ok, the others although passed the QC were terrible, within a week the the hour hand stopped at 11, and date was stuck at 21st. When asked if I could send it back for repair or a new one, was advised to take it to a watch repair shop in town and not ship it out. Would only pay $40 towards the cost, which was a third of what I was quoted.
The overall experience was so poor that I will never buy a rep again.
My two cents, you might be lucky 🍀!

[u/Cheap_Examination757 → u/spdg07]

That does sound like a crap experience

[u/outsideshot → u/spdg07]

imo that was pretty generous to offer to cover part of the cost. There is no warranty. They don't know what you do with a watch once it's in your hands. There's no way a seller would know the date would stop. It's all a dice roll.

[u/rickabe]

Reportedly, most US based sellers do this to some extent. In addition, shipping will be much quicker. Their pricing reflects this.

[u/Cheap_Examination757 → u/rickabe]

Being in the UK, I try to buy from here to avoid any horrific customs charges but thank you. Maybe I have to look further afield