fraggle42 Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 From a post in the IWC forum I found this website http://www.taobao.com/ And things like this in it http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.0.137.10HV4o&scm=1007.77.0.0&id=18247787864 Now, if that price is in japanese yen, then that watch works out at about £35. I don't know what movement it is in it, but it's got to be worth that for parts alone. How about a sub for under £17? ttp://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=2013.1.w6627547065.10.lbsRQY&id=18247439243 I'm convinced the images are from gens, for a starter the rotors on the autos are far too good even for quality reps, but I'm curious what sort of movement their reps have? For that price I'm guessing cheap quarts and the end product is something you wouldn't want to strap to a dog, but i'm still curious I've tried Google and Bing translate, Google works best but doesn't translate anything in the frame below the images. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Looking at accessories, a 5 watch box, looks a really nice wood piece; http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.3.w7437295493.9.Shdrl1&id=8499353554& £6.80. Mad. If those prices are real, makes me realise how EBay is stuffed so full of sellers who seem to make a living from it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Aha, I've found the missing decimal point, it's not japanese yen but chinese yen... the difference is multiply by 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archetypal Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Taobao is a great resource. But difficult to use unless you are lucky enough to have a chinese local credit card and a local Chinese friend to purchase, as the vendors have little or no English capability. In this way I've sourced a few bargains, as you have shown in the thread. Although not as cheap as you are saying...I think you are right with the decimal there... Google chrome does translate some mandarin, but it's sketchy at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I've been to TaoBao a few times looking for some Bottega Veneta leather goods, I love the leather cross-weave pattern. Found some very nice stuff in there but have absolutely no idea how to purchase, I feel like a kid locked out of a candy shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archetypal Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 For now that's exactly what you are. Unfortunately. Either taobao goes international, which is unlikely as it relies on vendors English language skills....or you learn mandarin! Or have a friend that speaks mandarin. Id imagine you could negotiate overseas postage with a vendor, if you can get over the mandarin hurdle. I'm sure many do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archetypal Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 In fact if all the Taobao venders were like our TD's you'd be in business. Good english on their behalf, PayPal accounts to boot...good to go...Dream on I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted March 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I see there is an English front end (kind of) where if you can find the goods you want, you paste the URL in and it translates some of it. Doesn't help with shipping or communication though.When I initially thought the prices were in Japanese yen I googled for the exchange rate, 1 Ch yen = £0.01 and my unthinking bit of my brain immediately jumped to "Woohoo, one container load, sell them on EBay! Now how to get it past customs?" Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swdivad Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 First thing to translate is the currency... Those ain't YEN, they're YUAN (Chinese Renminbi), symbol ¥: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_yuan That item is quite expensive for a rep and too cheap for a gen: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=5180.00&From=CNY&To=GBP 5,180.00 CNY = 548.601 GBP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I speak and write good chinese. What kind of help do you need, specifically please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Good luck. I have come upon many items I was interested in in the past but never figured out how to actually buy something. Kind of like Honpo in the early days where you either spoke Japanese and had a local recipient or were out of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSTEEL Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I speak and write good chinese. What kind of help do you need, specifically please? Great to know my friend, I'm sure your help will be called upon in time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted April 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 I speak and write good chinese. What kind of help do you need, specifically please?Thank you legendkiller, but as I got the wrong currency my get rich quick(ish) scheme is dead before the first hurdle!As usual Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek001 Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 Legendkiller, thanks much for your offer to help. I'm just curious - could you please go to TaoBao site, read it and tell us how one could pay for items there? Do they take credit card, PayPal or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB Posted April 1, 2013 Report Share Posted April 1, 2013 It amazes me the lengths people will go to when trying to save a dollar or two. The 6 watch case listed above is $110 USD plus $30 to $40 shipping. So what you get is a basic case, no QC, no guarantee of delivery, no after sales service if there is an issue for approx $150 On the other hand you could get this beautiful walnut 8 watch case for $195 delivered with guaranteed delivery, professional QC and after sales service....go figure Honestly every time someone has a grand plan to get better prices than Bergies they never factor in all the benefits I offer. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legend Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 Legendkiller, thanks much for your offer to help. I'm just curious - could you please go to TaoBao site, read it and tell us how one could pay for items there? Do they take credit card, PayPal or something else? Hi Rek001 The site is not easy to navigate, even for chinese reading users. You have to set up an account, to buy and sell, much like eBay. I am still figuring out if you could pay via paypal or international credit cards, as opposed to only the local chinese ones.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted April 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 It amazes me the lengths people will go to when trying to save a dollar or two.The 6 watch case listed above is $110 USD plus $30 to $40 shipping.So what you get is a basic case, no QC, no guarantee of delivery, no after sales service if there is an issue for approx $150On the other hand you could get this beautiful walnut 8 watch case for $195 delivered with guaranteed delivery, professional QC and after sales service....go figureHonestly every time someone has a grand plan to get better prices than Bergies they never factor in all the benefits I offer.KenErr, thanks Ken but if you had read the thread from the beginning you would have realised that I initially thought all the prices were 10 times cheaper.I.e. that box would have been $15, not $150.Of course I was wrong, and realising the actual prices I'm now not interested at all.Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExtraExtra Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 It amazes me the lengths people will go to when trying to save a dollar or two. The 6 watch case listed above is $110 USD plus $30 to $40 shipping. So what you get is a basic case, no QC, no guarantee of delivery, no after sales service if there is an issue for approx $150 On the other hand you could get this beautiful walnut 8 watch case for $195 delivered with guaranteed delivery, professional QC and after sales service....go figure Honestly every time someone has a grand plan to get better prices than Bergies they never factor in all the benefits I offer. Ken LOL. Good point Ken. I had my share of disappointments from the TaoBao's, DHGate and iOffer trying to get that same one in the picture and only to be surprised that it is a very bad product. Let me say that 9 out of 10 is a disappointment. Trying to get it corrected or refund is like waiting for hell to freeze. Guys, don't waste your time. Reach out to Ken to check if he can get the items you are looking for. BTW - I am not promoting Ken and have not bought anything from him in years. But Ken has a means to that market and is a pillar in our community....and that means a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watchmeister Posted April 2, 2013 Report Share Posted April 2, 2013 Err, thanks Ken but if you had read the thread from the beginning you would have realised that I initially thought all the prices were 10 times cheaper. I.e. that box would have been $15, not $150. Of course I was wrong, and realising the actual prices I'm now not interested at all. Richard When it is too good to be true...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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