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Tits McGee

Hey Noob, here's a few things I learned about TD's

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Tits McGee

I've been a member of this forum for nearly 3 years now and have learned a few things about ordering from TD's. Please allow me to impart a bit of what I have learned about TD's, expectations, and this forum.

 

I, like many noobs, jumped right in and began ordering watches from TD's BEFORE I thoroughly educated myself by reading and asking questions. I had many disappointments but in general, I've been pretty lucky. I've never had a DOA but have had a few with problems. I estimate I've ordered nearly 100 (total) new watches from all the TD's listed here. The few (6) I had problems with were ordered from dealers elsewhere. Therefore, I'll list a few of the things I ALWAYS DO now.

 

1) Identify, then RESEARCH the watch I want. RESEARCH means asking questions about the model I want in threads or by PM's, using the search bar on the top of every page is necessary. Establish relationships here and use the membership HERE to ask questions. I do my homework first, THEN once I'm sure I know what I want I contact a TD and inquire. Again, I always ask questions HERE first.

 

2) Contacting a TD and asking a question about availability requires a picture and communicating in a CLEAR and CONCISE manner. I ALWAYS send the TD a picture of what I want. I NEVER rely on their websites. In fact, I sometimes send a picture from a competitors website. I send a picture, ask specifics about the movement I want, case size, bracelet or strap, etc. No matter what your primary language is, ALWAYS send a picture of what you want. If I've done my RESEARCH, and if I've sent my PICTURE, I can almost always expect a clear answer from the TD. I have been told many many times the watch I want is unavailable. I then move on to my next TD and inquire the same way. By communicating in this manner, I have never had a TD accept my payment only to find later the watch is unavailable. Again, I've been lucky. If I've done my RESEARCH BEFORE I contact the TD, I can pretty much know what the status is before I inquire. Not always though, but the membership here is generally more than aware of who has what and is by far my best resource for information.

 

3) I DO NOT rely on TD's websites. Again, I DO NOT rely on TD's websites to be representative of the watch I want. I'm skeptical about QC pics also but that's just me. Have you ever seen a Burger King TV commercial where they show a real tasty burger with all the fixings? Then you go through the drive thru only to receive a cardboard box filled with slop that looks nothing like what you saw on TV. What you see on TV and TD websites is advertising. I tend to frequent restaurants my friends have told me are good. Same with the TD's. If I've done my RESEARCH correctly, I probably won't receive a bad meal.

 

4) I have learned to LOWER MY EXPECTATIONS. Why? Because I essentially have no recourse anyway. A TD here is simply a middleman who has earned a certain amount of trust within this forum. Nothing more. The Admins and Mods have deemed that TD is worthy to be called a TD, simply because the membership here have generally had good experiences with him. The TD's don't make the damn watches. They scoot around in the shadows of shady backstreet illegal businesses and find us higher quality watches than the open air markets. They're middlemen who generally don't carry large amounts of inventory. You ask for it and they go get it for you. Pretty simple. They're not a watch store at the mall. UPS doesn't deliver their inventory either.

 

5) If I have a problem with a TD or a watch I have received, I first take a PICTURE of the issue, take a deep breath, and humbly and appropriately communicate my issue to the TD. I NEVER start a thread whining about my issue. That's just plain stupid. I know that if I do that I'm pretty much on my own. There are people here who will help me IF I follow the forum guidelines. But I generally don't need their help if I've taken a PICTURE and emailed the TD and politely explained why I am not happy. I also realize the TD may not say what I want to hear. THEN I quietly contact a friend or Mod and ask for guidance. I've come to understand that this is not Macy's and I can't return a 30 day old pair of underwear for a full refund. If I have a mechanical issue, I bite the bullet and try to find a rep friendly watch smith. That is just me. Most, if not all TD's, will instruct you to send the watch back at your own expense for repair. But if I had done my RESEARCH properly beforehand I would already have known that.

 

6) I have learned that the TD feedback section is mostly about communication between the TD & I. I NEVER post negative feedback about post office issues. That is out of the TD's control. I NEVER post negative feedback about a TD unless I have already involved a Mod in my issue and he clears me to post. Delays in answering email inquiries after payment has been sent is a legit complaint. But I ALWAYS wait to post feedback until after I have received my watch. I never post order status reports because......who cares. We've all had to exercise patience. It's part of the deal. If I had done my RESEARCH beforehand I would have known that. If I receive a watch that is DOA or broken, I'll leave that in the feedback section (see #5).

 

The most important thing I've found about the rep world and this forum in particular is to establish relationships, make friends, ask questions, take pictures, have thick skin, and try not to be an asshole. Even if I think I know better, I still try this approach because if I spin out of control and get my panties in a bundle....I'll have to go it alone. ;)

  • Like 4

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SSTEEL
:thumbsup:

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bullsvsbears

Great Post! possible sticky for us noobs!

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George.

Sticky?

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onionbag

Someone give this man a bun..........:clap:

 

sticky-bun-detail.jpg

 

Hopefully.....

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Edge22

Fantastic!

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this.

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Ishmael

That is spot on mate. Superb. Especially #6 - nobody gives a fuck about a goddamn order status update. Do a review when the watch arrives people. After all my years of rep collecting, I practice everything you've said, and thus have enjoyed this hobby profusely.

 

Pin this!

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black263

Someone give this man a bun.......... :clap:

 

sticky-bun-detail.jpg

 

Hopefully.....

That definitely looks like a sticky.

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George.

That is spot on mate. Superb. Especially #6 - nobody gives a fuck about a goddamn order status update.

 

 

This, this so many times this. These blow by blow accounts of the order process are becoming more and more common for some reason... It's so very unnecessary.

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machiavegli

Amen, brother.

 

This thread is "sticky" worthy.

 

Humility, research, concise comms, expectation management, always photos. I'd add be reasonable reviewing QC pics, don't "stack" orders (try to add another watch on or change your mind), and don't expect dramatic differences in TDs

 

-Mach

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TheSav

Very very well written. You deserve a gold star.

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D_Chico

Nice job Mach! We're all here to learn! That's why this forum exists! Thanks for sharing that with us :)

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machiavegli
Nice job Mach! We're all here to learn! That's why this forum exists! Thanks for sharing that with us :)

 

Thanks but credit goes to the Tits! (and shouldn't it always? :D )

 

-Mach

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LightGeek

So much text. Something something, have a beer, something something, don't be an asshole. That's what I got out of it :giggle:

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Jaymelia

Totally agree! Wise words.

 

Ive gradually learnt as ive lurked (mostly out of sight) on this forum, that quite rightly research is the key!

 

Within days of signing up id ordered 2 watches for TDs without knowing what im doing in particular... Nice watches, good service, but i forked out a lot of money for a watches that ive probably worn twice. Another thing ive learned since - order a cheapie version first to get a feel for it, unless you know for sure that youll like it on your wrist.

 

Needless to say the purchases since have involved plenty of hunting for info, and asking some daft but necessary questions (credit to all that respond as well, one of the main reasons i hang around this place, a genuinely nice bunch of people who share a common love, and a few strange habits)

 

Another thing ive learned, people on this forum have abit of a thing for PAMs... I didnt at first, but now i do... And now im skint :D

 

Jay

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kromp

You gotta love tits! Well written. Great advice. Strong work, sir.

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zinnboy

Gold star!

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RUSH2112

Very nice. On number 4 I would suggest that a primary reason a TD is a TD is an agreement to work with mods on any issues that do arise to make a fair agreement with the member and a history of complying with that agreement. Ultimately that's what being a member of the forum gives us.

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Jonnybaws

Someone give this man a bun.......... :clap:

 

sticky-bun-detail.jpg

 

Hopefully.....

 

Do you have any without walnuts...

 

BTW Tits, well said, bravo!

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FuzzyCoyote

Top man. Great read that.

 

This should be emailed to new joiners lol.

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ag69

Great write up. Thinking this should be a sticky in the noob section.

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sconehead

 

 

The most important thing I've found about the rep world and this forum in particular is to establish relationships, make friends, ask questions, take pictures, have thick skin, and try not to be an asshole. Even if I think I know better, I still try this approach because if I spin out of control and get my panties in a bundle....I'll have to go it alone. ;)

 

...I always knew you were a panty-wearing type guy Tits...the clue was in the nick... :P

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abs0025

Absolutely superb. This really should be a required read for all the newcomers.

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Tits McGee

 

The most important thing I've found about the rep world and this forum in particular is to establish relationships, make friends, ask questions, take pictures, have thick skin, and try not to be an asshole. Even if I think I know better, I still try this approach because if I spin out of control and get my panties in a bundle....I'll have to go it alone. ;)

 

...I always knew you were a panty-wearing type guy Tits...the clue was in the nick... :P

 

 

You should try it some time Sconey. Very comfortable :lol:

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unaware

 

The most important thing I've found about the rep world and this forum in particular is to establish relationships, make friends, ask questions, take pictures, have thick skin, and try not to be an asshole. Even if I think I know better, I still try this approach because if I spin out of control and get my panties in a bundle....I'll have to go it alone. ;)

 

...I always knew you were a panty-wearing type guy Tits...the clue was in the nick... :P

 

 

You should try it some time Sconey. Very comfortable :lol:

 

Im still confused

Edited by unaware

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