Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

So after seeing that beat up one jump to over $300 shipped, I caved and bought it the one in my first post. I had been messaging with the seller all day today, and he was very nice a responsive. He even sent me a picture of the inside. He agreed to close the auction and sell it to me for the minimum. So hopefully I receive it next week.

Shipped very fast, and is in great condition.  I'm pretty happy with the purchase

(other than overpaying a little bit, although I'd pay the $100+ extra again to have one in this condition, as opposed to the beat up one that sold before this one)

Seiko7A38 at February 12, 2018 at 10:52 AM

Correctly and concisely answered, Don. 

That US ebay seller flobaca is what I term a (scumbag) 'profiteering re-seller'.

There are a number of them around at the moment and his activities are becoming more prevalent. In the past, I've managed to find time to document their nefarious activities, but I've simply been too busy lately.

Modus operandi is as follows. He buys cheaply, usually lowballing the seller into a Buy-it-Now, lists it himself using a template, with a fresh set of photos; exaggerates the watch's condition and usually marks up the price by at least $200. Some mug punter eventually falls for it. 

From what I see coming up in my saved favourite searches, he tends to specialize in stainless 7A38-7020's / -7029's, 7A28-7040's and 7A28-7049's. From memory, he's re-listed that particular 7A38-7029 at least three times @ the current ludicrous opening bid price of $445.

Give me a few minutes and I'll try and find where he bought it - and hopefully tell you how much he paid for it. 

I may have failed to provide the back-up evidence on the previous one, which Darren subsequently bought, but I've just caught profiteering US eBay seller flobaca red-handed - up to his usual tricks. 

Late yesterday evening, he listed this 7A38-7029 as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of $450 ! 

PLEASE SEE MY OTHER LISTINGS

NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - USA ONLY !!!

For Sale - SEIKO 7A38 CHRONOGRAPH * * * RARE MODEL IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITIONS

Case - 38mm w/o crown/ pushers X 43mm lug to lug stainless steel ,shows some normal minimal lite wear, very nice and clean.Excellent ConditionS For Its Age

Crystal -as new flat glass scratch free

Dial - grey color raised markers and hands day/ date at 3 mint conditions

Movement - JAPAN Seiko 7a38 quartz 15 jewels ,everything works normal. Sets , resets to " O" keeps perfect time

Battery Is NEW

Back case - stainless steel screw on

Band - original stainless steel buckle signed Seiko fits 7.5 + inch wrist shows some normal wear.

NOTE - I DON'T TEST WATCHES UNDER WATER NOR FOR WATERPROOFING PLEASE BE ADVISED

FREE SHIPPING IS FOR USA ONLY

THE WATCH WILL BE SHIPPED VIA USPS TRACKING NUMBER AND SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION / REQUIRED IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CONFUSIONS OR PROBLEMS WITH DELIVEY. THE NEW OWNER WILL SIGN AND GET THE PACKAGE IN PERSON .

Thank You For Watching And For Your Business

Here's where he bought it less than a week ago for $150 ! 

Seiko 7A38-7029 chronograph sports 100 day date watch.

It is running and not.

The time changes but the seconds hand will not move with out the 1/10S part of the watch going as well.

Seems to change time other wise jut put a new battery in it.

The crystal has scratches and the watch has wear from the years.

Please see all photos for full details on condition.

It is being sold as is.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask at anytime.

We do not accept returns unless there is a problem or damage not mentioned.

In which case please contact us and we will be more than happy to fix the problem or make a full refund with return shipping paid back to you.

We sell a lot of unique jewelry specializing in antique / vintage.

We always try to carry Old Pawn jewelry for sale.

Check out our other items for sale.

We charge 6% sales tax in the state of Iowa to residents of Iowa.

The initial seller is obviously a klutz  who didn't understand how a 7A38 chronograph works. The large centre seconds chronograph hand is of course supposed to move at the same time as the 1/10 second sub-dial.  So he was effectively under-selling it; flobaca saw another opportunity and snapped it up.

Another fat profit (200%) for greedy scumbag profiteering reseller flobaca. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352333287195

Seiko7A38 at February 12, 2018 at 10:52 AM

That US ebay seller flobaca is what I term a (scumbag) 'profiteering re-seller'.

Modus operandi is as follows. He buys cheaply, usually lowballing the seller into a Buy-it-Now, lists it himself using a template, with a fresh set of photos; exaggerates the watch's condition and usually marks up the price by at least $200. Some mug punter eventually falls for it. 

From what I see coming up in my saved favourite searches, he tends to specialize in stainless 7A38-7020's / -7029's ....

With apologies for the partial quote of my post from the previous page. I'd forgotten I'd already quoted it in full, higher up this page. 

I'm not going to bother copying and pasting his 'standard' description, because it is just that. One thing that he conveniently omits to mention in it, is that this particular 7A38-7029 is fitted with the wrong case-back off a gold-tone 7A38-7289 - and an over-polished one at that. It was he who fitted it in place of the original correct case-back, possibly in a half-arsed effort to cover his tracks. Notice also in the last photo, the butchery to the lower underside of the watch case - particulary those two nasty deep scratches near the 4 o'clock pusher. Because that's the clue to the original identity of this 7A38-7029. 

Here's where he bought back-doored it - less than a week ago. It was originally a 7-day US eBay auction listing with an opening bid price of $5. But on the second day, it appears that scumbag flobaca saw another opportunity and messaged the seller asking them to end it early. If you check the bidding history, he didn't even have the decency to place a bid himself - leaving the 4 existing bidders wondering what happened.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253588662884

Here's the original US eBay seller's listing photos:

As you can see, the original correct 7A38-7029 case-back had been engraved (or stamped) with the words: JOHN I LOVE YOU MAX. That may be one of the reasons he replaced it. The engraving / stamping doesn't look too deep and quite possibly would have 'buffed out' with a little effort. How can I be so certain this is the same watch ? Check out the last 4 photos - particularly the 4th one down. If you zoom in on the area of the 4 o'clock pusher, those same two deep graunches, just below the case-back joint, are clearly visible.

The reason I'd delayed posting this, is that I'd messaged the original seller, enquiring how much they actually sold it for. No reply from them as yet. 

Before I continue my exposé of the 'Scumbag From Skokie', I need to write a few words of explanation. Although it was comparatively easy to correctly identify the watch, I made one small error of judgement along the way. A pretty basic mistake at that. I had wrongly (and naively) assumed that flobaca had used the same eBay ID to 'back door' the watch from the original US eBay seller. Hence my previous incorrect statement, for which I make no apology:

 he didn't even have the decency to place a bid himself.

Thinking back, over the years, most profiteering eBay re-sellers I've encountered (and documented on this forum) have used a different eBay ID for buying, to that which whey sell with, in an effort to cover their tracks. Flobaca is another such. His other eBay ID, which he also uses for selling is Zenodass44. That eBay ID has a feedback of 758 ( same as the high bidder @ $14.50 on the previous auction ), whereas Flobaca currently has a slightly lower feedback of 728. I guess it was that discrepancy that threw me a curved ball.

Although Zenodass44 has previously received little mention on here, I certainly remember that eBay user ID from 2009 - 2012 - as a purveyor of cheap junk, generally mis-represented and franken watches.

So, when after 24 hours, I still hadn't received a reply from the original seller of this 7A38-7029, enquiring politely as to how much he'd sold it for, I sent sagechick a follow-up message, including a link to this thread. That certainly did the trick ! 

By around this time yesterday, I'd received a dozen separate eBay messages from him in reply !! 

Although he'd left zenodass44 a positive feedback on the original sale, I think it's now safe to assume that he's not impressed by his alter ego flobaca's activities.

At the time, I did specifically ask the seller sagechick (Eric) if it was OK for me to quote some of his replies in this thread (verbatim). He kindly agreed. So here's cut and pastes of just half of them. They're shown in chronological order.

So as I had correctly assumed, flobaca had 'back doored' it (but using his other eBay ID) for $155. Note as Eric pointed out in one of his messages, his auction already has a bidder at the opening bid price of $375. Another mug punter. 

Last night, I did a bit more digging and have come up with a name (and address and phone number) for the 'Scumbag from Skokie'.  He's Florentin Ghinet.

His name is of Romanian origin / descent, so he's possibly an immigrant. That would explain some of the less than perfect English grammar in his listings. 

All it ever takes is one - or in this case, two mug punters. 

Another tidy profit of $230 for flobaca - for the cost of a polishing mop. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352345266710

I had have a little chuckle to myself today. Oh Dear what a shame. It looks like that sale fell through. Or if the winning bidder was foolish enough to pay $380 in the first place, he subsequently decided to return it. Would-be profiteering re-seller flobaca re-listed it in the early hours of this morning:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352378193909

The 6 photos are the same as before. Indeed it looks like he re-listed it exactly as was, but then made a minor amendment to the description. The difference being:

Back case - stainless steel screw on in this re-listing becomes:

Back case - stainless steel screw on may not be original.

Of course he knows it's not original, because he himself swapped it for the original 7A38-7029 case-back which had a personal engraving. Just goes to show what a devious dishonest seller he is. However, going by what the previous seller wrote:

There may be other reasons, besides the wrong case-back, why the sale fell through. Best advice (especially at that asking price) ? In the words of The Bard ....

Unbelievable !  

After a couple of unsuccessful re-listings @ the same opening bid price of $375 (no bids placed), flobaca's 7A38-7029 (fitted with a wrong case-back) sold again in the early hours of this morning for $405 after 5 bids. The mind boggles.  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223035560643

The Scumbag from Skokie is back once again. In the early hours of this morning, would-be profiteering US eBay re-seller Flobaca (a.k.a Florentin Ghinet) listed yet another well worn 7A38-7029, as a 7-day auction, complete with his usual (now instantly recognisable) trademark over-polished bezel and typical greedy, almost laughably over-optimistic opening bid price of $450.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223124480805

PLEASE SEE MY OTHER LISTINGS

NO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING - USA ONLY !!!

For Sale - SEIKO 7A38 CHRONOGRAPH * * * RARE MODEL IN NICE VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Case - 38mm w/o crown/ pushers X 43mm lug to lug stainless steel ,shows some normal wear, very nice and clean. Nice ConditionS For Its Age. There are asome scratches and dings on the back and also on the bezel. Please examine the photos using the enlarge feature .

Crystal -as new flat glass scratch free

Dial - grey color raised markers and hands day/ date at 3 mint conditions

Movement - JAPAN Seiko 7a38 quartz 15 jewels ,everything works normal. Sets , resets to " O" keeps perfect time Quick set working properly.

Battery Is NEW but I don't guarantee its life.

Back case - stainless steel screw on

Band - original stainless steel buckle signed Seiko fits 7.75 inch wrist shows some normal wear.

NOTE - I DON'T TEST WATCHES UNDER WATER NOR FOR WATERPROOFING PLEASE BE ADVISED

THE WATCH WILL BE SHIPPED VIA USPS TRACKING NUMBER AND SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION / REQUIRED IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CONFUSIONS OR PROBLEMS WITH DELIVEY. THE NEW OWNER WILL SIGN AND GET THE PACKAGE IN PERSON

Thank You For Watching And For Your Business

Although his photo of the case-back is conveniently out of focus (possibly a deliberate attempt to obscure the serial number), it's not difficult to figure out where he bought it. From another US eBay seller, only 4 days ago, for $190.50.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153149512088

That seller's photos were rather smaller, but the same serial number 706538 (and the same long tool-inflicted scratch on the case-back) is more clearly visible.

Men’s Wristwatch Seiko

Seiko Quartz Chronograph Sports 100

Model #7A38-703L

15 Jewels

RUNS, KEEPS GOOD TIME …DATE & DAY WORK

Stop watch feature seconds indicator is intermittent … WORKS SOMETIMES.

1/10th & minute indicator work and reset correctly

SS Seiko Watch Band

Being sold in found pre-owned condition.

You'll note in the previous seller's description, they state, in a roundabout way, that the watch was suffering from a recalcitrant chrono' sweep second hand. Although he states in his description: everything works normal. Sets, resets to "O" - I'd lay odds that Flobaca has made no effort whatsoever to rectify that fault. 

Checking the bidding history of the previous auction, it's abundantly clear (to me) that he used his other eBay ID Zenodass44 to bid on and buy the watch, but he's now trying to cover his tracks by making his feedback private. Fail.

As an aside, but deserved of a mention here, because it's directly connected to Flobaca's watch-botching re-selling activities. A familiar tired-looking 7A38-7029 came up for sale on eBay in the States a couple of days ago, with a Buy-it-Now price of $300. It raised a wry smile, soon followed by a hearty guffaw ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323426424431

Here we have a Seiko 7A38 chronograph for sale. I bought this watch just over a year ago and had the crystal replaced and battery replaced. Chronograph functions work great and resets to 0. Watch has seen some wear before coming into my possession but is still in overall good condition. Bracelet is sized for my 7 inch wrist but have all the extra links.

At first glance, it may look like any other well-worn 7A38-7029, but this particular one is easily identifiable, because it's fitted (by Flobaca) with the wrong case-back off a gold tone 7A38-7289. 

The two deep graunches in the lower case flange and the serial number 807567 match, needless to say.

So this US eBay re-seller was being more than a little economic with the truth, in stating that: I bought this watch just over a year ago, because he actually bought it on 5th July this year for $405.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223035560643

Indeed, if you check the bidding history on that auction, the encrypted winning bidder's ID and feedback of (18) match the current re-seller. He sniped it. Presumably while under the influence of too much holiday spirit.

It sold late yesterday evening, not for the $300 Buy-it-Now price, at which the current re-seller would already have been taking a $105 loss .....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323426424431

But as revealed by WatchCount.com's look-up tool, for an offer of only $240:

As confirmed by the eBay Purchase History:

So he'd obviously not bonded with it.  Hardly surprising really. But why was he in such a hurry to get rid of it ?  Taking a $165 (40%) loss on his albeit foolhardy purchase price in the process. 

Your detective work is outstanding

Hi Paul, long time no see.

Based on Flobaca / Skokie username, name and location, this may be him:

https://www.whitepages.com/name/Florentin-Ghinet

and most probably this:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Florentin-Ghinet/100011332909932

Ilinois, Skokie. As usual, it happens to be one of my countrymen, there are lots like him.  But now at least we can see their faces and expose them.

Regards, Adrian.

Thanks for your input, Adrian. No offence intended to your good self, naturally. Yes, Romanian immigrants generally get a bad rap, particularly thanks to their underworld activities. But that's down to racial stereotyping. There are plenty of dishonest, unethical profiteering eBay sellers of other decendency / nationalities dealing in Seiko 7Axx's, not just in the US, Europe and UK, that I could name (and frequently do). Our 'friend' Florentin Ghinet just happens to have homed in on a particularly lucrative niche market, where supply is plentiful and demand strong.

Once again he's been successful in his endeavours too. In the early hours of this morning, he found another mug punter. They placed a bid in the final minutes of his most recent 7-day re-listing. Probably thought they were getting a bargain. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223144624724

He's back again ! Earlier this afternoon, our favourite (not) US profiteering re-seller flobaca listed yet another 7A38-7029, with his trademark over-polished bezel, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of 'only' $325 (low by his standards) or the option to Buy-it-Now for $425 (if you're desperate / stupid enough).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352485656928

I'm not going to bother copying and pasting the bulk of what looks like his usual standard template description. The only sentence I can spot, that looks different from the normal blurb reads:

Please note that the watch is 30 + Years old so do not expect to be and look as new.

At the time of writing, I haven't managed to suss where he bought this particular example. There have been quite a few 7A38-7029's sold on eBay.com in the States recently, but none match this one's case-back serial number of 444677. The fact that he's potentially selling it cheaper than usual (by his typical greedily over-priced profiteering standards), points to his having paid even less for it than he usually does.

Sometimes, when delving into the activities of a devious profiteering eBay re-seller like flobaca, you have think outside the box. There are actually couple a good reasons why I didn't immediately find this latest 7A28-7029 he's selling. Firstly: because if you run a search on ended listings on eBay.com on 7A38-7029, oddly this one doesn't come up in the results returned. Secondly: of the half a dozen 7A38-7029's which were listed and sold on eBay in the States, in the latter part of September and early October, none had a case-back serial number 444677.

But I found where he bought it - and it was considerably cheaper than usual ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273487862161

It was listed by US eBay seller 2luvthebeach on 30th September as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of $25. The important thing to note is what the seller wrote in the item condition:

“This watch isn't working. We haven't tried to change the battery so that could be all that is wrong ”

I've only uploaded 5 of the original seller's 10 photos as many are quite similar.

This listing is for the vintage 1980's Seiko Quartz "Sports 100" Chronograph men's watch shown in the above pictures.

The watch needs a good cleaning and a battery. The crystal has some scratches on it as does the band.

The watch and band are original Stainless Steel, Japan and are water resist.

3N5929, 7A38-7029 are the numbers on the back of the watch.

The back of the watch also says "Leonard In Appreciation for 20 Years Morris Landy".

As can be seen from the seller's photos and description, this 7A38-7029 has a completely different serial number: 3N5929. It also carries an engraved inscription: Leonard In Appreciation For 20 Years Morris Landy. Other than that, the watch has no particular distinguishing marks (in terms of dings and scratches).

So how can I be 100% certain this is the same 7A38-7029 he's now selling with case-back 444677 ? I can't.  But previous evidence (in the form of the one he listed in May, fitted with a 7A38-7289 case-back), shows that flobaca clearly understands that an engraved case-back devalues a watch. So rather than attempt to erase the engraving, he's just swapped the case-back for another he had spare. He's probably had dozens of these pass through his hands. Although it's probably in there somewhere, I'm not about to start wading through my photo folders looking for s/n 444677 either  ! 

All you need do, to prove that he bought that one recently - for a mere $81 is to check the bidding history. No great surprise, the encrypted winning bidder ID is once again zenodass44 - flobaca's alter ego.

Profiteering US eBay re-seller Flobaca's latest 7-day auction for a warmed-over tired 7A38-7029 ended a few moments ago. Once again, he managed to find a mug punter buyer (who probably thought they were getting a bargain). Sold for the opening bid price of $325 - netting him another tidy little profit for minimal effort.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352485656928