clifton
Guest
Since: May 5, 2024 18:55:25 GMT -6
|
Post by clifton on Nov 3, 2005 16:25:39 GMT -6
So I go into this meeting today where I’m meeting some managing directors from other departments and I notice that one gentleman has on a black/red GMTII. He sits to my right, which was perfect for my WIS vision to admire his watch. After a 5 second side glance it hit me. "FAKE". A higher end fake, but a fake non the less. How crappy must this guy feel to wear a watch that not only is fake, but he probably paid a little more so that it looked less like a fake? To make it worse, he wore his fake loose and he buttoned his dress shirt on the second button so the cuff was drawn tight. It was obvious that he wanted to keep the watch outside of the sleeve for public display. In a way I felt cheated because at the close of the meeting I wanted to talk to him about his watch. But knowing it was a fake, I looked at him in a different light as if it revealed his true character. Fact of life people like this exist out there. But I still can’t help being bummed by it. How can a person feel good about wearing something they are trying to deceive others into thinking is real? What a poser!!! **** RANT OFF ****
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Nov 3, 2005 16:32:14 GMT -6
Pretty ironic that the same guys that would give you hell for spending 4 grand on a Sub would turn around and spend close to a grand for a "swiss" fake Rolex. So how did you spot this one as being a fake?
|
|
CHIP
WWF Founder
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Posts: 37,799
Name: Chip
Location: Dallas
Since: Oct 8, 2005 17:08:57 GMT -6
|
Post by CHIP on Nov 3, 2005 16:43:37 GMT -6
Yeap.
I had a meeting a while back with a very high power person in my company and he had a solid gold Sub. He handed it to me and asked me "I hear you are the watch guy here. Let's see how good you are. what can you tell me about this watch?"
And I knew that it was a fake (a high end one but still fake) as soon as I had it in my hand and inspected it.
It sucked because I was surrounded by people when he asked me that so I was stuck between between lying and keeping quiet about knowing that it's a fake, or telling the truth and pissing off a high power exec.
|
|
|
Post by mike on Nov 3, 2005 16:59:47 GMT -6
I had a Sgt. on my Dept. proudly show me his fake Sub. I walked over to the water cooler and stuck it under the fountain. Talk about getting Bi*ched at.
|
|
Ben
WWF Veteran
Glash?tte Original
Posts: 1,579
Since: Oct 31, 2005 18:54:08 GMT -6
|
Post by Ben on Nov 3, 2005 17:14:38 GMT -6
Interestingly, several of my clients, all physicians, proudly sport fake Rolex watches. They will gleefully tell you, too, that they are fake. No posing. They get some sort of perverse kick out of telling people about their fake Rolex and where they got it - and these are folks that could most likely afford a real Rolex without batting an eye. Takes all types, I guess. -Ben
|
|
|
Post by rambler on Nov 4, 2005 7:00:38 GMT -6
So what did you do Chip? Mike, I don't think some of these people are being awful. I think to a WIS a fake has become somwhat taboo; partly because they know more about what's going on here. But to the man on the street; sometimes they just buy it for a laugh (they're not necessarily actively deceiving anyone). Often they are just pleased to have something that purports to be somehting of much higher value that they couldn't afford, or wouldn't want at that price. It's different if people are flaunting them, and know full well etc. etc., especially the more well heeled; because they are supporting ripping off peoples trade marks. But I know of a least one person who had a fake Rolex, who just kind of wore it as a curio; and no malice was intended (not me). Of couse they say with fakes that the money can't be traced easily, because they're not retailing as legitimate businesses. Therefore, you could be supporting terrorism or any other kind of nefarious activity - so all in all, best avoided. I just think that this probably doesn't cross the minds of some people - and they don't mean anything by it. They just like it because it says Rolex or whatever. Jusy MHO. Rambler
|
|
|
Post by atomic on Nov 4, 2005 7:34:43 GMT -6
Good reply Rambler. I recall a time years back when a female colleague came into the office on a Monday a.m. all happy because her husband bought her a TT ladies DJ. I got cornered as the office 'watch guy' and was forced to inspect. It was an obvious fake... too light in weight, colour of the gold was wrong, dial font wrong.. So I quietly said it was nice and faked having to run to a meeting. I didn't say anything, but I'm sure she'd have found out eventually cuz I moved on from that place of employ soon after. I guess the deal with fakes is that they're everywhere. Some people have no idea they've purchased fakes, others take pleasure of pointing out they're fakes and a very small miniority (I think) will try to present them as genuine. But this also applies to Louis Vuitton bags, Prada bags, etc. I think it's a sadder statement on society that people buy these things to be seen as better off than they are, or projecting a 'more sophisticated' image of themselves. The prevalance of fakes, watches, purses or otherwise, show that in society, we all want to be judged as more important than we really are (some of us). If I was in your shoes, I would have talked to the guy after the meeting to feel him out. Then do a comparison with my own Rolex and call a few others around to hold them or try them on... Let the others raise the questions.
|
|
|
Post by maccars on Nov 4, 2005 9:01:52 GMT -6
I've got a better story . . .
A couple of years ago, one of our equipment vendors (a major national company that produces bodies for commercial trucks, etc.) held a "Rolex Challenge" sales promotion. The truck dealer with the most total body sales for the year would win a brand new Rolex Submariner.
Well at the end of the year, guess who was the top seller. Sure enough, my prize was delivered by registered mail, all nicely wrapped. Everything was perfect - the box, certificates, the anchor - everything! The watch itself was stunning, and compared to a co-worker's known original (he purchased it [upon my advice] from the local AD]), it was identical - in look, weight, feel - it was perfect. Until it stopped running about a week later.
I take my new prize down to the local AD - who are friends of mine - they just love my Ball pocket watch (the founder of the store once worked for Webb C. Ball). I leave it to be checked out, and don't think another thing about it.
I haven't gotten back to the office before I get a call from my buddy the AD, with the sad news that I have a very nice fake. Sure enough, I get back to the store and there it is in all it's glory - a very nicely gilded ETA 2824 inside my prize. I am sadly informed they cannot give it back to me.
Well, it turns out that the equipment company exec in charge of this promotion in an attempt to save a few bucks, purchases the "Rolex" from an online distributor with an "impeccable" reputation - one with whom he had successfully done business in the past. Everyone, of course, claims they've been duped up the line and that we are all victims of this terrible turn of events.
I almost let them get away with it, until my dealer (the coworker with the Sub) says "nobody's gonna get away with treating one his folks like this", and has the company attorney fire off one of those classic letters with liberal use of the "F" word - no, not that one; this one rhymes with Maude.
Sure enough, the equipment company offers to pay for an authentic version at the AD of my choice. I accept, and soon select my Omega Railmaster from Adler's, in New Orleans. I couldn't be happier with my watch, but sometimes shiver when I think about what can happen to you when you don't know exactly whom you are dealing with.
Just goes to show you.
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Nov 4, 2005 9:05:52 GMT -6
Pat....that's a CRAZY story. Just goes to show how "good" some of the fakes are these days.
|
|
clifton
Guest
Since: May 5, 2024 18:55:25 GMT -6
|
Post by clifton on Nov 4, 2005 9:09:24 GMT -6
Pat I am shocked!!! I think I would go absolutely ballistic if that happened to me. Glad it worked out for you and you took it all in stride.
|
|
|
Post by Warren on Nov 4, 2005 9:14:30 GMT -6
Great story Pat and a good decision to pick the Railmaster over the Sub.
|
|
|
Post by mike on Nov 4, 2005 9:17:27 GMT -6
Wow Pat! Glad it worked out. Just shows how good some of these fakes are and the potential to lose thousands of dollars if your not careful.
|
|
|
Post by bruces on Nov 4, 2005 9:23:26 GMT -6
Wow some good stories guys. Man I would've really been pissed off had that happened to me!
I think the worst are the guys in Clifton's story. Those guys just make my skin boil (kinda like it feels now, lol).
|
|
|
Post by maccars on Nov 4, 2005 9:31:22 GMT -6
Guys - You know, that watch was perfect. My AD friend and I pulled it apart - it had a factory dial on it, so it had every cue of a real watch. It also had a factory Oyster bracelet. The hologram was accurate, and the S/N's were stamped and in the proper location. A visual inspection of this watch would give you no clue that it was not original. I think the reason that I was not boiling over from the beginning was that I didn't have my own cash invested in the watch. But then, I would have acquired from an AD. I'm sure the equipment guys were just as appalled as I was - but, they were the ones out $3800.00.
|
|
clifton
Guest
Since: May 5, 2024 18:55:25 GMT -6
|
Post by clifton on Nov 4, 2005 9:37:09 GMT -6
Guys - You know, that watch was perfect. My AD friend and I pulled it apart - it had a factory dial on it, so it had every cue of a real watch. It also had a factory Oyster bracelet. The hologram was accurate, and the S/N's were stamped and in the proper location. A visual inspection of this watch would give you no clue that it was not original. I think the reason that I was not boiling over from the beginning was that I didn't have my own cash invested in the watch. But then, I would have acquired from an AD. I'm sure the equipment guys were just as appalled as I was - but, they were the ones out $3800.00. Guess it makes sense. I’ve heard of this type of swap out. Take a real sub and a high end fake sub, take the movements out and swap them. Sell both at a discount and make money on both. Stinks!!! Mean people suck!
|
|