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greg_r

A brief word about QC photos

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greg_r

QC Pics

 

Many of our dealers provide QC photos before shipping, but it appears that there may be some confusion about exactly what they are for.

 

QC Pics are for:

 

Making sure that the watch is the same as originally ordered

Making sure that the hands haven’t fallen off

Making sure that the dial is printed correctly and fitted the right way up.

Making sure that the watch hasn’t had a close encounter with a hammer or belt sander (or a bus, for that matter wink.png ).

 

i.e. they’re purely for ensuring that the watch is what you ordered and is what you would expect of a new watch - hence the term ‘Quality Control’. biggrin.png

 

QC Pics are NOT for:

 

Checking whether that rehaut is wokky

Evaluating the shape of the CG

Evaluating the typeface used on the dial.

Working out whether the watch will look ‘gay’ on you.

Deciding whether this is really what you want to buy or whether you should have gone for a different version / a different dealer / something else instead.

 

i.e. QC pics are provided AFTER you have placed the order - if there’s an obvious flaw or the QC pics show differences between this and the watch you ordered, then you’re well within your rights to request a replacement. Otherwise you should simply accept the watch and go ahead with the transaction.

 

Note also that QC pics are for YOU and YOU ALONE. Please do not attempt to post your QC pics on the forum - due to problems caused by continual misunderstandings about their purpose we have had to disallow the posting of QC pics and they will be removed if posted.

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nuker

wow u made it G, lol. THis must be added to the -newbies must read- directory.

Did not caught ur drift about Omega

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kan3

Thank you Greg.

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greg_r

Good point, nuker. Moved to New Members

 

"omega" comment removed so's not to confuse nuker :)

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KeNnY

didn't mulder wanted extra section for QC pics ? :)

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HWG
Good point, nuker. Moved to New Members

 

Thanks, Greg. I agree.

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dingle

added to the newbie thread. thanks G :)

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Cynikal.Mindset

what about posting them just because?

 

sometimes being excited about getting a new watch you miss something obvious like misspelled words like on a Tag Monaco 24 rotor. I agree on completely picking a watch apart since they are all basically the same but a few sets of eyes see more than one and can help in the end.

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KeNnY

btw line "Working out whether the watch will look ‘gay’ on you." is best :)

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greg_r
what about posting them just because?

 

sometimes being excited about getting a new watch you miss something obvious like misspelled words like on a Tag Monaco 24 rotor. I agree on completely picking a watch apart since they are all basically the same but a few sets of eyes see more than one and can help in the end.

 

 

I've no objections to people posting QC photos in principle.

 

However, that misspelling on the rotor is likely to be the same on every sample of that particular watch (unless, of course, it's a transfer that has just dropped off into the movement :) ). That is generally the kind of flaw that needs to be researched before placing an order - it will normally be visible in pre-sales photos of that model available from sales listings and websites. The sort of thing you're only going to pick up from QC photos are stuff like the dial being mounted slightly askew, the datewheel being out of alignment or damage to the casing - actually Zeller posted an excellent example of what QC photos are for just a few minutes ago in GD.

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Cynikal.Mindset

In the end, I think we all know what they are for and some people abuse the whole system and in Zeller's instance I probably would have missed that sub dial myself and that's what a second look is for. My brother in-law and myself generally trade back and forth QC pics so we can see if either of us have missed anything.

 

90% of the time our dealers here get us the best stuff the factory gives them but they are human too and sometimes things slip past them too.

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greg_r
In the end, I think we all know what they are for and some people abuse the whole system and in Zeller's instance I probably would have missed that sub dial myself and that's what a second look is for. My brother in-law and myself generally trade back and forth QC pics so we can see if either of us have missed anything.

 

90% of the time our dealers here get us the best stuff the factory gives them but they are human too and sometimes things slip past them too.

 

Oh, I have no doubt that you understand, mate, and I agree.

 

The reasoning behind posting this thread is that all the boards seem to be swamped with QC photos at the moment and somehow the message seems to be getting lost. What some newbies don't seem to realise is that the dealer has obtained and paid for the watch before sending the QC photos (as we know, few dealers hold stock) - at which point, if the buyer backs out for no good reason, the dealer is left holding the ball unless they can sell it to someone else. If this continues the end result is either going to be that dealers will stop providing QC photos - or that prices will go up. Either way, we're the ones that lose out.

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KeNnY
If this continues the end result is either going to be that dealers will stop providing QC photos - or that prices will go up. Either way, we're the ones that lose out.

 

yes, this is true +1

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KBH

I've been on record as being opposed to this constant posting of pix from the beginning. I find it totally unfair to the dealers and we all know that all reps have flaws. None are 100% perfect or they'd be gens. It's up to the buyer to do his homework and know what flaws he can live with and which he can't.

 

I would personally like to prohibit posting of any QC picture except those asking a specific question relating to the watch pictured.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, I don't expect this to happen.................

 

:)

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tsomers

Changed my mind =) after Greg's last post. It makes sense to me now. The reason we use the dealers we do is because we trust them. So in blind faith we send money and hope for the best.

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solkryssare

Wise words form a........well a designer who works in a botanical garden. Agreed 100%

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pfcdre

Oh i didnt know showing qc pics was a prob,i only put mine[seamaster pro]up because i wanted to share my excitement,not for members to slag it off,or indeed pick holes,as correctly stated i had already bought it.I noticed other members listing qc pics and assumed it was ok.In fact if i said just ordered a seamaster pro,i would have had members saying wheres the pics.

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Scavolas

Frequently, dealers work with one set of photos of a rep model that is long replaced by a newer version with subtle or not so subtle differences. So pre-sales photos may or may not be identical to the actual model available for purchase. QC pictures can reveal such a difference and a noob may or may not notice it. Any change from the original pre-sales photos could alert the potential buyer for any invisible changes as well, for example a hard caseback model may or may not have a movement that is not pristine so to speak.

 

Obviously, it is a different story when somebody starts to tear apart an ordered watch based on QC pictures and ends up nitpicking every detail...

Edited by Scavolas

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KBH

Hey, using your QC pics to show off your new watch is quite acceptable. That's not the problem at all. That's just more watch porn.

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David543
Hey, using your QC pics to show off your new watch is quite acceptable. That's not the problem at all. That's just more watch porn.

 

Absolutely. This hobby is all about sharing the experience and the excitement of a new purchase through to delivery! :lol:

 

Nice post Greg and everyone. :finger:

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myaz

I understand about the repercussions if the trend to tear apart QC photos continues.

Nevertheless, it is fascinating reading and it is part of my homework. But it should never happen to justify buyer's remorse.

 

Hell, after flaws are pointed out, I still have a hard time finding most of them on a screen picture magnified several fold. Much less on a wrist from 4 feet away. But I greatly enjoy the process and the knowledge. It doesn't make a difference to me because, like, what's the deal about the lume being a liitle wider on the hand of a gen?

 

It was sad that I could see a poster gradually trying to talk himself out of a watch after asking to have the QC photos "torn apart" over uneven printing of "SWISS" on the dial among others. This was a good way for him to learn reps are not for him. But at the wrong time. And at the expense of a hard working dealer's time and reputation.

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powderfreak

Very good post, good idea, Greg!

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Luthier
I've been on record as being opposed to this constant posting of pix from the beginning. I find it totally unfair to the dealers and we all know that all reps have flaws. None are 100% perfect or they'd be gens. It's up to the buyer to do his homework and know what flaws he can live with and which he can't.

 

I would personally like to prohibit posting of any QC picture except those asking a specific question relating to the watch pictured.

Of course, I don't expect this to happen.................

 

:colsdinner:

+1M

 

Posting QC pics is a very bad habit. You should know the watches, before you order yours.

Get pictures from the dealer, inspect it, accept or ask the dealer to find better watch, because of this or that obvious flaw, THEN post the pictures of recieved watch, brag, show wrist shot, we'll applaud.

Imagine - if everyone will post QC pictures...??? Nightmare!!!

 

DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST!!!

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narikaa

Lets face it

 

The current innovation of QC pics is merely a sop to assuage discontent over past misdoings (Wrong watches, fakked watches, partial watches, etc being dropshipped by our Eastern friends)

 

As always with not thinking through quick fixes they invariably then tend rise up to bite you in the ass :D

A minutes reflection on the train spotter mentality out there would have predicted the advent of the new breed of photograph collectors and the online 'show us how clever you are' C.S.I. autopsy competitions

 

 

.

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slylex

I hate to say, I disagree with this, I respect Greg, and everyone else.. but honestly, I think by at least posting the QC, you are able to really show which dealer is getting the "goods" and the "bads" why should someone have to wait all the way till the watch is in there hands to say OH wow, I didn't notice that, when you have a open forum of 10k+ members who can help you spot thing that once you get the watch you wont be happy, and getting it back to the seller (from the US to china) is not that easy. I am sorry and I'm not trying to cause a problem, but i just think, maybe we should be allowed to post these QC pics, I can understand not mentioing dealer names, or such, as to keep it fair game, but I look at it as a tool, hey we all have different eyes and can spot a serious flaw, or something that can make you angry to the hills if you had to wait the week or so to get the watch in, then you have to risk seeing if you can get another one, when the dealer is minutes from getting you another one And i really hope that a dealer didn't email greg complaining that his or her items were being shown off and beaten up on a forum, i think if you want to be a trusted dealer, you have to not only be good for the sale, but good on the quality, otherwise we might as well test our luck with the scammers.

 

thats my 2 cents.

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