Most of us have had both pleasant and unpleasant experiences with buying goods from online stores. It is very easy to buy something online when you know exactly what and where to buy it. The difficult part comes when you like a certain good, but you are not sure of its source.
Things are even more difficult when we talk about the replica watch industry. All the watches look so good in the pictures, and all the conditions seem to be very clear and simple. But more than once the users of the online environment have complained about the inferior quality of the replica watches. Why do these cases happen? And how can they be avoided? Today, I will try to answer these questions so that you can have a pleasant experience with your next replica watch.
In this article, I’m not going to talk about replica watch models you should have in your watch collection. And I won’t even suggest exact sources. Rather, I will help you understand the potential risks in the process of buying a replica watch. Once you can identify them, you will avoid the risky source and look for a safer alternative. Keep in mind that you, as a buyer, have some responsibility for the timepiece you buy, whether you like it or not. And it is better to be armed with information to prevent risks than to complain about disappointment after the purchase.
Introductory notes
When you find a replica watch that seems to meet your expectations, it’s not enough just to research its price. You can certainly find a Rolex Daytona replica watch for $150 in one store, and $1,500 in another. Do you think the only difference is the price?
Even if you have the $1,500, believe me, it’s not always worth paying for a replica watch (even if sometimes it’s really worth it). What I’m trying to tell you here is that, whether you like it or not, you have to dig deeper into the watch industry, than just orient yourself by their price.
The biggest mistake made by replica watch hobbyists is that they go for either the cheapest or the most expensive imitation, believing that the price is the absolute criterion for analysis. No, it is not! The absolute criterion for analysis is always the RESEARCH that you must do before buying a replica watch. Otherwise, don’t complain about disappointment.
As I mentioned before, I will not talk about replica watch models. I want to predominantly focus on How to Do 90Correct Research to find a replica watch worthy of your budget and appreciation. You probably know that the replica industry offers different levels of quality, from A-grade to 1:1 Clones. And often, it seems that the price is directly proportional to the proposed quality. BUT, the truth is that some dealers will try to sell you an A-grade replica watch at the price of a 1:1 Clone. How can you be sure that you are not deceived?! You can never be sure, especially if you avoid the research step.
Our case study
Before writing this article, we dared to do a little experiment with our team at the AAAReplica store. We wanted to see how many online sources propose the Rolex Daytona replica watch. We have identified approximately 150 stores. The biggest problem of the experiment is that all these sources propose absolutely different prices for the same watch. We concluded that this watch is available in approximately 30 price categories.
At the same time, almost all of them are sold “in the best quality” with a 904l stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, and Swiss mechanism. I want to ask you: do you really think that a similar quality product can be sold with such a big price difference from dealer to dealer?!
Obviously not. It is clear that certain dealers try to camouflage the poor quality of replica watches with professional photos and descriptions, asking for inflated prices. How do you detect such cases?! We’ll talk about it right away.
Forget about pictures and descriptions
The visual perception of the public is the main tool of those who sell something. Visual advertising is a very powerful marketing channel that convinces more than 80% of the public to buy something. The same is true for the replica watch industry. 80% of online replica watch stores show perfect images, shiny, attractive, and hard to ignore. Once we see such images, we get the impression that the watch we are buying will look exactly as it looks in the site’s images. We no longer dwell on our thoughts and buy “with our eyes”, pressing the “add to cart” button and paying immediately…
I’m sure you’ve gone through this at least once in your life, and not necessarily with a replica watch. The idea is that you have to be smarter than this marketing strategy and think consciously. Are you sure that the dealer’s watches look in reality exactly as they look in the pictures? You can’t be sure about that. Then why are you rushing to buy it?
What you have to do is to abstract yourself from the information placed on site, and talk directly with the dealer. And you should not only dare to discuss but also ask him to send you REALISTIC pictures of the watches he sells. I assure you that these will not seem as “tasty” as the ones on the website. However, they will show you the reality. You will see in these pictures the real condition of the replica watch, its finish, the execution of the dial, etc… Of course, this does not guarantee the flawless quality, but at least, you will be one step closer to reality.
In the same context…
You will be able to distinguish the tone of the dealer’s communication. During the conversation, you will be able to identify his professionalism (or lack thereof), his willingness to help, and the knowledge he has about this replica watch. As a result, you will be able to check his customer-oriented attitude and his willingness to offer a quality watch.
I remember how by chance, I came across a site of quite expensive replica watches. Reading the “About Us” section, I discovered that the dealer advises its customers NOT to ask for additional photos of the replica watches. The reason would be that the dealer did not have time for such tasks and sending the pictures distracted the team from more important tasks. What impression does such a dealer give you? And how does he dare to sell expensive replica watches without even convincing the public through a direct conversation?
Personally, I closed the site and never returned to it. Maybe the dealer did have quality replica watches. But the lack of access to information is an unforgivable aspect of this industry.
So, conclusion number 1 is to ask your dealer for as many details as possible about the watch. See how he talks, what pictures he sends you, and what attitude he has. The sites are all beautiful. but they do NOT display reality, they are just a tool to steal your attention and VISUALLY convince you to buy. Being a wise buyer, you will seek to establish direct contact with the dealer, and not just with the interface of a website.
Are you sure you can return the replica watch?
It is very curious and funny to discover that the dealers who offer “the best replica watches” oppose resistance in accepting a return and refund. Why would they, if their watch is supposed to be high quality and shouldn’t let you down?
You must know that you have every right to return a replica watch. Even if the reason sounds trivial “it doesn’t suit me”. You have every right not to like how the watch sits on the wrist. Likewise, you have every right to simply not resonate with it, once you receive it. Regardless of the reason, you must make sure that you can return the replica watch without encountering difficulties in the process. A professional dealer, with confidence in his product, and with a professional attitude toward the job he does, will respect your right.
Your responsibility, in turn, is to do homework and to buy from a dealer that offers you this right. For this, you have to do WHAT? Correct, research before purchasing the replica watch. The process may seem stressful, boring, time-wasting, or whatever you want. But it is a mandatory process.
Therefore…
You can never be sure of the replica watch you get until you put it on your wrist. A responsible dealer will understand this and accept the return if you are not satisfied. It is absolutely absurd to deprive a client of this right.
A dealer confident in the quality of the replica watch will not be afraid to return your money. First of all, he is sure that he will sell the watch to someone else (being a qualitative one). Second, he wants to build a relationship of trust with you, giving you the right to return and refund.
On the other hand, a dubious dealer will want to “get rid” of the low-quality watch or replica, depriving you of the opportunity to return it. I mean, even if the watch doesn’t suit you, for whatever reason, those are your problems, not his. Do you understand the subtlety of the matter?
Read all the policies on the dealer’s website. Make sure all the criteria suit you or not. Confirm the uncertainties directly with the dealer, preferably by email, so that you have proof, just in case. Only after you confirm the seller’s availability to accept the watch back can you complete the purchase process.
Forums and store reviews
Most online customers never confirm the authenticity of a store through forums or store reviews. I do not claim that they are a reliable source of confirmation. But, at least, these can give you a general impression of the store from which you intend to buy the replica watch.
Would you buy a watch from a store where 80% of the reviews are negative? Not likely. But from a store about which the forums confirm the dealer’s responsibility and quality? More than sure.
So, while these sources do not guarantee the quality (or lack thereof) of the replica watches, they are one piece of the whole puzzle. Based on the reviews and opinions on the forum, you can shape your expectations for a replica watch. Consequently, you can order it (or not) depending on how promising the dealer seems to you from the words of those who have already interacted directly with him.
Do not exclude this step from your research. Sometimes, you find much more relevant information in forums than in any other source. Also on the forums, you can compare the price proposed by the dealer in relation to the quality profile of the replica watch that the dealer proposes.
Many people have already become professionals in the matter of replica watches. They know subtle differences between Asian vs. Swiss mechanisms. At the same time, they will suggest how to check the watch from the perspective of water resistance, and many other secrets that dealers do not openly write on their websites. Consequently, do not underestimate the power of the communities in the forums because they can be a reliable guide for your replica watches.
Price is not the deciding factor
While the price of a replica watch has a value on its quality, it is not the deciding factor. The most expensive replica watch is NOT always the best. And vice versa, the cheapest replica watch is not always exactly the lowest quality.
To make sure of the quality of the replica watch, you must go through all the steps that I mentioned previously, as a whole. If the mentioned criteria are “positive”, you will be able to trust that the price is somehow justified by the high quality. If any of the steps in your research suggest doubts about the lack of quality, you should not pay the exorbitant amount requested by the dealer, because most likely you will not be satisfied with the watch.
For you, the price must be only an element of the puzzle, not the decisive factor. I met many buyers of replica watches who complained about the poor quality, being a very expensive watch. The replica watch industry, being unmonitored by official regulations, comes with a risk of deception, unfortunately. The research before the purchase can dramatically minimize this risk.
Final notes
This article is not meant to scare you somehow. Rather, it is meant to prepare you. Rest assured that responsible dealers and quality replica watches undoubtedly exist. It is important to know how to recognize them in “the crowd”.