towcat

I read recently that the watch markets at Guangzhou have declined in size or disapeared alltogether.

Does anyone know what the situation is?, only I am going to be there in Feb. 08.

I am assuming that the traders deal in the local currency and not $ or English pounds.?

Will be on the look out mainly for the Swiss ETA watches.

Any help or advice would be most welcome, as , apart from what is going to be an exiting trip, I would love to take advantage of the things which hopefully will be on offer.

If you're looking for gen ETA's, I wouldn't be doing it in China. But that's my opinion. I spend about six months out of the year in GZ and the outlying areas, HK and Macau also. I haven't found anything that comes close to the quality you can find in the forums but I've found many that will satisfy the curious. Deal in local curency, you are already a marked man for being a westerner, you don't want the locals giving you their form of an "exchange rate". Even though I am chinese, I don't look like a local due to a diet of cow's milk and beef over the years. This too puts me at a disadvantage when dealing with the locals.

good luck!

Conditions in Chinese factories improve day by day - everytime I go on factory inspections I see big improvements in working conditions and standard of living. Their salaries are low by western standards - but so is their cost of living.

You nailed the good and bad of standard of living/cost of living. There's a place I go to for lunch, they have the best claypot rice compared to anywhere else I go to. two years ago, my rice with lap cheung and lap yuk(big sp here) and a 750ml bottle of Haizu (12%) beer set me back 5yuan. Today, its 7yuan. Compared to USD its dirt cheap...8yuan=1usd...but the avg factory worker made 400-600yuan/mo two years ago and today they make700-800 yuan/mo. Honestly, they really don't care what it says on the watch, the workers just put the darn thing together....as many as they can and as quick as possible. The owners aren't dumb either, they are more than happy to sell seconds, but if you want first rate quality? Be prepared to spend a little more. Oh yea, stateside, the seconds are sold at "factory outlet" stores. Doesn't matter what culture you are, money is good as long as product is moved!

Hi everyone. I was wondering what eveyone's opinions were on this topic. There are two different scenarios:

# 1. A dealer sells you a new watch. How long of a "warranty" do you expect to have on it? IE: if it stops working after 2 days, you obviously expect a replacement, but what about after 1 month? 2 months? 3 months? How long should the seller be liable for replacing or repairing your watch? What is fair?

# 2. You buy a used watch on this or another board. It stops working after 2 weeks. Do you expect some kind of refund or return? So you expect any grace period at all with a used watch? Are you going to file a complaint with paypal? What kind of liability do you expect the seller to assume?

looking forward to hearing what people have to say about this.

I'll take a "stab" at this.....

1)I figure if it hasn't quit in a month, it "should" be OK. then again, I don't go for the high $$$ stuff either. here's my experience....although I do buy quite a few watches overseas when I am on travel, I have bought a few from dealers and members on the board(s). I did have a "modified" asian auto GMT go bad in a week and I did contact the seller for what to do. he did offer up a replacement in the next shippment but he got into legal troubles about the same time the shipment arrived. Oh well, I wrote it off and took it overseas with me to get it fixed. About a year later the seller resurfaced and did go out of his way to contact me to find out what he could to do "make it right". In my book, just the effort and the offer was good enough. heck, it was a $75 watch, I sure as heck was not going to drag him through hades for another watch. I got no clue what my feelings are if I spent big $$$ on a rep. In light of the fact that we are dealing with contraband, the less attention from outside sources is good for me. If you bought a baggie of bad weed, would you call the cops to report the sale of bad pot? Rep watches are no different.

2)Once again, it really depends of the amount of money spent and the attitude of the seller. I wouldn't be putting down the large $$$ on contraband especially on the secondary market.

As far as the 39/46mm debate, I tried on a B&R gen. It's one big honking watch. Would have mindeda slightly smaller version. keep im mind I don't have to size my watches. My PAM and my 45mm PO pumpkin fit me right out of the bag. I don't think my wrists are very big at all but my watchbands tell me differently.

If you are a slicer and a foodie...bring you golf bag and appetite to Zhongshan. 7 golf courses, and just about everything imaginable for food. Extremely reasonably priced too! I had a bad case of sticker shock of what I could buy in HK but my $$$ went alot farther in China. 1.5hr ferry ride from Tsim Sa Tsui terminal. $180hkd one way. Even there the reps are not up to the standards here but still great bang for the buck. If you need more details, PM me.

and the wrapup........

Well...the first rep watch norcal lunch meeting was attended by Chicken Manny and I. I am quite sure the waitress didn't care for us hogging a table for a few hours, but I think she got over it. In short, the best of the rep watch world has to offer was shown as well as the worst examples(somewhat) of what canal street had to offer was there too. Those of you who could show up really should next time. Chicken Manny has some of the most incredible pieces to show. Pics don't do these watches justice. You just have to see/touch and feel them just to appreciate just how well built they are. His PAM 187 is a must see and feel! As far as the Rolexes goes, in order to be really appreciated, they should be put side-by-side and the differences are incredible. I had my black bezel China special, pepsi Klink special and Manny's LV gmt put nexto to each other and the differences were very obvious(outside of the bezel color). Final agreement....the best reps were a true work of art and the canal street specials were still solid deals.

As long as I am in town, I don't mind setting up a monthly or bi-monthly get together, I think its a great way to see the stuff you wouldn't normally buy and it might even convince you to go after one. I know that a PAM 29 and a 187 is on my list of "must buy" in the near future. Also, for those of you who want to do something a little more than just eat and drool at watches, possibilities of heading to the range to kill some paper targets is a definite possibility too. Bottom line....show up and have fun!

Here's what I propose.....

1pm at the Hopyard rest. I am thinking at this moment a table for three...maybe four if a friend of mime wants to show up too. He just got bit by the rep bug. Why 1pm? the bulk of the lunch rush should be over and we won't be as hurried. any other thoughts?

nebakanezar-

since you're the one with a time constraint, what time for the get together will work best for you?

I'll be there!

Two locations have been scouted out.

Here are the choices...

http://www.blueagaveclub.com/ ......mexican food, full bar.

http://www.hopyard.com/ .....good food, beer but no full bar.

Starting time? what works for you guys? I am pretty easy as far as start time.

Unlike many others, I like Canal St. reps. as long as they are cheap. I've been to the watch market in Guangzhou but found the atmosphere to be way to chaotic. When in China, I am based out of a "small" town in Zhongshan and I do know of one place that has "good grade canal st. reps" for roughly $20usd a piece. My rollie GMT beater has been running for three years and is still pretty accurate. When "in country" I spend about a month or two there and clothes shopping has no interest for me since nothing they sell fits me. So, junk rep shopping is the next best timekiller second to eating. Besides, there's nothing better than bringing back a pocketfull of watches and watch the office descend into chaos for the day. What else could get a bunch of guys excited outside of a nice chinese girl? My biggest problem when I first went rep shopping was I look like a LEO and my "tourguide" is a actual Captain in the town police dept. Good was he knew where to find the reps...bad, it took a little while convincing them I was there to buy and not bust them.

how about pyramid brewery in berkley? or is that too far from pleasanton?

few things...first, in consideration for the central valley people, Pleasanton is not a harsh of a run compared to going in the SF or Berkley. I'd like to make this one as acessable to as many who would like to show up. second, parking in berkley for large vehicles sucks. third, ideas for where was put forth already and has been agreed upon. Chicken Manny has ideas on locations but he needs to scout out the most suitable for potential rain or not. Perhaps the next gathering could be held there, but I'd like to stay with the first choice for this gathering.

A shameless BTT and a rollcall for those showing up. May 6th norcal lunch get-together somewhere in downtown Pleasonton. Stand up and be counted!

That is the area I live in so very easy for me. Plus no worries about parking for the large vehicle guys.

If that local is good with others than I would be happy to come up with some meeting spots.

Unless anyone else has another date in mind, May 6th in the east bay is the idea. I'm not very familiar with decent eating establishments in that area so.....Chicken Manny is the man to pick a spot that has decent parking, good food, and alky. Any naysayers? Speak up now and be counted or hold your peace.

I can't attone for what has happened in the past, I've put together events for other interests where the turnout was two people and some had over 30 show up. I know if we do agree on a date and place, I will be there.

Right now, I am thinking of a place in the East bay maybe as far as San Ramon/Pleasonton area to make it fair for the Sacto travelers. Dates? Last two weeks of april to end of May. thoughts?

Both are South of Market

Momo's is across the street from the ballbark- Good food drink and a nice patio if the weather is warm. It is a quick muni connection off BART.

Thirsty Bear is between 2nd and 3rd on Harrison I think. It is a short walk from BART. They have great beer and tapas.

I know quite a few restaurants in the Bay Area so I can pick a good place in most areas.

As far as a timeframe I can do most weekends other than May 13th.

Cheers,

CM

I'd like to find a place that would be more "large vehicle" parking friendly but if the consensus is these two places I will go along. Any suggestions for the East bay anybody? If in the south bay, Original joe's would be my choice. Open pour bars are really good when the waiters and bartenders know you

Anytime in April is good for me. I may be deployed overseas for a short time in May or June.

A couple locations to think about.

Momo's (last location decided on)

Thirsty Bear

All serve cocktails so we are safe.

I'm in the East Bay (680) so anything on that side would work too.

another +1 on the alky

you have a location to both locations? I got no problems with either place you mentioned but sure like to know where they are at and how much lead time everybody needs.

...... before this thread gets completely hijacked

I may be interested, just if it is in SF make it close to bart because there's absolutely nowhere to park there whenever I go lately Actually last time I did find parking (which actually was free), someone clipped my rear fender a little bit and I had to get the dent worked out. Ah well...

What does one bring to this kind of function? Not sure which watch I want to wear a lot of the time Maybe a TOG. There's a lot to talk about a TOG

Unless there's a overwhelming desire to have the "event" in SF, my vehicles aren't "parking space friendly" either. So far three respondees.... any thoughts on where you would like to hold it? One of the criterias for sure is "parking friendly"

As far as reps goes, most of mime are good "low grade" reps. I can bring them for everyone to have a good laugh. Its cheap fun though. That's what really counts.

spot the rep from China.....

answer...both are. One is from WW2 the other is from a year ago.

The fantasy Rolex GMT Master-II LV:

Don't care if it is a fantasy or not. Outside of the Pepsi GMT, the fantasy LV GMT is my next favorite. Besides, there aren't that many people out there in the real world who can figure out that it isn't a real rollie.

Thanks Esc my man!

....indeed.....I, "Dutchy"......"the Dutch"......also known as "The Hammer" and "The Wrench" and "T Bone", am rightful owner of that picture, she is my girlfriend, and wife to be. So... change it now or ill beat the crap outta you!

juuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding ....although it would be better if ya change it since I and many others assume who we're talkin to without lookin at the name...just the pic!

All the best and thanks for the shout E!

Dutchy (the real one)

Didn't know you have a monopoly on Tila Nguyen's pics. Its is amazing how such a simple question in a thread could get thrown into the weeds over an avi. No worries. Point made and dealt with. I do urge you to be very careful on who you make threats to. TTK may be mean and surly on the 'net and a great guy to have a pint with in person, I otoh, make a living out of being mean and surly.

Seeing that the socal lunch is such a hit, anybody in the sf bay area want to do the same? I'd like to put foward the idea and see the interest level.