Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

Seiko7A38 at February 12, 2018 at 8:36 AM

As soon as clicked on Mark's link, I saw red  - and the air turned blue ! 

http://chronocentric.com/forums/chronotrader/index.cgi?page=1;id=84615

FS: Vintage Seiko 7a38-7000 Day-Date Quartz Chronograph

First check the case-back serial number  in the last photo - 3N0293.

Yes it's our 'old friend', NewOldStock, up to his old tricks again, but not advertising on SCWF Trading Post and WatchUseek as he habitually does (with umpteen bumps), but trying to extract a fat profit by offering it to a wealthier clientele on Chonocentric.com's ChronoTrader Forum. 

He's asking $650  - and according to Mark, might be willing to accept $550. 

(Post edited for length - see full version on the previous page)

It was purchased by 'NewOldStock', using the eBay ID learn2forget - a username that he regularly uses to buy watches off eBay for resale on forums. If you were to check out that eBay ID, you'd find little or no evidence of him dealing in watches (especially with the other junk he has for sale). He rarely (if ever) leaves feedback for sellers he buys the watches from, leaving no trail.

So having paid only $275 for the watch himself, other than taking a set of very cleverly lit photos (especially when compared to Pete's set, which by comparison didn't do the watch any favours), what is his justification for asking $650 ?  Other than sheer greed that is ? 

He's already given the thread FIVE daily bumps !! 

It may be a decent used example, but it sure as hell ain't worth $650 - and remember, before you get taken in by those cleverly lit photos: this greedy profiteering SoB only paid $275 for it. So if you're going to make an offer for it, please bear that in mind. 

Here's a poor example of a stainless 7A38-7000 that's one probably best avoided - no matter how desperate you might be to buy one. It was listed late last night, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of $9.99, by Filipino arch watch botcher badingski - a.k.a. the aptly named Ramoncito Bangit.  Apart from the manky lume and the overall impression that it's been partly polished, in the best Filipino tradition, the watch is fitted with a non-original bracelet. Well, not one that's original to the 7A38-7000. I didn't spot it straight away, as it looks similar, but it's a Seiko p/n B1074S (rather than the correct p/n B1170S) - normally found on a 7A28-703B or 7A28-7039. That probably explains why it doesn't sit quite right, where it abuts the ends of the watch case. Note the usual ambiguous misuse of the word 'original' in the description. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352302299431

Meanwhile, yesterday evening, this stainless 7A38-7000, which comes with a spare movement, was listed by a UK eBay seller, with a wishful 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price of £450. Reading the seller's description, it begs the question: if he's had the movement replaced recently, why didn't he get the badly scratched crystal replaced at the same time ? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282884736612*

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

Hi , thank you for taking the time to view my listing for a very rare vintage Seiko Chronograph 7A38-7000 , the watch is in good used condition & all original for year of manufacture with all functions working correctly.

As you can see in the photos the glass has a few scratches as does the case and bracelet but I'd still give it 7 out of 10 , also you can see in one of the photo's there is a movement along side , this is because I've manage to source a nos (new, old stock) movement which has already been replaced & within the watch & just to mention the old one will come with the watch.

Any questions are very welcome & once again thank you for looking.

Please also see my other listings.

*The seller ended the original listing the following day (due to an alleged error) and subsequently re-listed, but all the details of the re-listing appear to be identical, including the asking price.

Yes, it seems strange not to complete the job.  At least they got some of the hands registered. 

That model is what started me down the Seiko trail in the mid 80's.  £150, discounted, from an old-established jewellers in Colchester.

The 7-day eBay auction by Filipino eBay seller badingski, for a tired-looking stainless 7A38-7000, fitted with the wrong bracelet, ended late last night, selling for $171.50 after 40 bids.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352302299431

Meanwhile, some 20 minutes earlier (last night) this decent example was listed by a Spanish eBay seller as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of 1.00 Euro and no reserve. By this morning, bidding is already @ 122.50 Euros. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see what this one makes, compared to the UK seller's example asking £450 as a Buy-it-Now.

I say 'decent', but this example isn't perfect by any means. It always pays to study the seller's photos closely. There's some slight discolouration of the dial batons and hand lume - and what looks like a small area of water damage / rust staining around the 7 minute mark. The bezel, bracelet clasp and case-back all look like they may have been refinished at some point. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222889115315

Stainless steel Seiko chronograph Tachymeter, stamped back case 7A38-7000 and serial # 411384. Brand new crystal new battery. The case measures approximate 42 mm lug to lug and 40 mm wide not include pushers. the dial is in excellent condition. everything is 100% original

Seiko 7A38 is a series of watches that introduced the first analogue display quartz chronograph movement to the world. Seiko launched the series in the early 1980s, and the movement went on to appear in many notable watches.

Manual / Instructions can be downloaded:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f9/seiko-7a38-chronograph-manual-87529.html

Please Review All Photos as They Form Part of the Description

Please Have a Look at My Other Listings and Feel Free To Ask Any Questions

I notice that this morning UK eBay seller oldenglish_dog revised his listing, reducing his 'pie-in-the-sky' Buy-it-Now price by £100 down to 'only' £350.

He's also removed the 'Make Offer' option. My advice to any prospective buyers ? Sit on your hands. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

Like I said, sit in your hands - the seller has since further reduced the Buy-it-Now price by another £50, to 'only' £300. I'm sure there's still plenty of margin there. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

The other reason was I thought it might be worth waiting, was to see what price the Spanish eBay seller's example went for. The 7-day auction was scheduled to end tomorrow evening (Sunday), but on Thursday evening, the seller ended the listing, cancelling all bids in the process. Reason given ? Because the item was allegedly lost or broken. Yeah right.  More likely sold off eBay for a 'back door' offer. I remember last time I looked at it mid-week, bidding was over 200 Euros. Checking the bidding history, the highest cancelled bid was for 350 Euros. So who knows ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222889115315

Just happened to be having a quick browse on SCWF Trading Post this morning and noticed that greedy profiteering scumbag re-seller 'NewOldStock' had given his FS advert for the stainless 7A38-7000 (more details at the top of this page) yet another bump yesterday afternoon. This time, he's actually reduced the price from $650 to 'only' $550. So now that's exactly double what he paid for it. 

http://www.thewatchsite.com/8-seiko-citizen-trading-post/309978-fs-seiko-7a38-7000-day-date-chronograph-650-a.html#post2574858

Paul, did you happen to track the one sold in Bishop's Stortford a few months ago?  It was much nicer than mine and I found out, owned by an airline pilot that may have flown with me many years before.  It failed to sell at £150, and when relisted, made £152.  It was a fair price even before this last price hiking spree that seems to be taking place. It is high on my list of kick myself, shouldda-dones.  

Well, if it's not mentioned in the last couple of pages of this thread, then there's a fair chance I missed seeing it Rob, otherwise I'd have documented its passing. 

However, I did spot this one, listed by a French eBay seller, about an hour ago, as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of 50 Euros. The seller's slightly grainy photos don't do it any favours, but the item condition states: 'New with Tags'. It certainly appears to be a very nice example in little worn, well-cared-for condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173239264475

Vends montre SEIKO quartz analogique CHRONOMETRE

Cal 7A38 diamètre 36,5mm

Heures-minutes-secondes

Chronmètre en minutes, secondes et 5/100 de secondes en 3 compteurs

Jour et date

Water resitant 30 mètres

Vendue avec boîte et papiers.

Well, somebody else would probably have 'back-doored' it, if I hadn't. So I did. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173239264475

Blimey! I haven't quite got the hang of this buying business have I? Swap for a 7A38-7180 with worn out black chrome finish?

This well-worn non-running stainless 7A38-7000, fitted with an unidentified non-original replacement bracelet, was listed 3 days ago by a UK eBay seller as a 7-day auction, with an opening bid price of £5.99. There's only one poor quality camera phone photo (of the watch upside down) and there have been a couple of amendments made to the description already, including adding the all-important 7A38-7000 model number earlier today.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142753903169

THIS STAINLESS STEEL SEIKO GENTS WRISTWATCH HAS BEEN SITTING IN A DRAWER FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

IT IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING. I AM NOT SURE WHETHER IT NEEDS A NEW BATTERY. IT HAS ONE PREVIOUS OWNER - MY LATE FATHER. I HOPE IT FINDS AN APPRECIATIVE HOME.

On 11-Apr-18 at 18:45:14 BST, seller added the following information:

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA HOW MUCH DAD'S WATCH IS WORTH. WITHIN AN HOUR OF LISTING IT, I HAD AN OFFER OF £30 FROM A UK MEMBER AND THEN AN OFFER OF $100 FROM A MEMBER IN THE USA.

SO FAR, I HAVE DECLINED THE OFFERS, CONTENT (PERHAPS STUPIDLY) TO LET THE AUCTION RUN ITS COURSE. I KNOW I WILL KICK MYSELF IF IT SELLS FOR ITS STARTING PRICE OF £5.99 !!!

On 14-Apr-18 at 10:49:12 BST, seller added the following information:

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY WELL-MEANING EBAY MEMBERS TO CHECK THE REVERSE OF THE WATCH FOR A MODEL OR SERIAL NUMBER.

THERE IS A SIX-DIGIT NUMBER - 410156 - FOLLOWED BY 7a38-7000. I HOPE THIS ADDED INFORMATION PROVES USEFUL. BEST WISHES TO ALL WHO HAVE SHOWN AN INTEREST IN DAD'S TIMEPIECE.

The above auction for a non-running, well-worn stainless 7A38-7000, fitted with an unidentified non-original bracelet ended a few moments ago, selling for £144 after 29 bids. Not a bad price at all, given the apparently rather poor condition.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142753903169

Seiko7A38 at March 24, 2018 at 5:00 AM

Like I said, sit in your hands - the seller has since further reduced the Buy-it-Now price by another £50, to 'only' £300. I'm sure there's still plenty of margin there. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

I didn't mean to put the 'kiss of death' on this one, but it makes me wonder why it's still unsold, now that the seller has further reduced the Buy-it-Now price down to £200 (from his original ludicrous £450) - and it's currently got 59 watchers.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

Seiko7A38 at March 26, 2018 at 6:05 AM

Just happened to be having a quick browse on SCWF Trading Post this morning and noticed that greedy profiteering scumbag re-seller 'NewOldStock' had given his FS advert for the stainless 7A38-7000 (more details at the top of this page) yet another bump yesterday afternoon. This time, he's actually reduced the price from $650 to 'only' $550. So now that's exactly double what he paid for it. 

http://www.thewatchsite.com/8-seiko-citizen-trading-post/309978-fs-seiko-7a38-7000-day-date-chronograph-650-a.html#post2574858

Meanwhile, over on the SCWF Trading Post, greedy would-be profiteering re-seller 'NewOldStock' has since used that excuse for a reduction to bump his FS thread 5 more times.  An hour ago, he finally actually reduced it again to 'only' $500. 

http://www.thewatchsite.com/8-seiko-citizen-trading-post/309978-fs-seiko-7a38-7000-day-date-chronograph-650-a.html#post2603875

Keep going .... 

Finally, this morning, the stainless 7A38-7000 listed by UK eBay seller oldenglish_dog sold for his much reduced Buy-it-Now price of £200.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282887676642

This 'head only' stainless 7A38-7000 was listed late last night by a US eBay seller, who doesn't seem to have much idea, as a 7-day auction with an opening bid price of $99.99. It's being offered through eBay's semi-functional GSP programme. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163018512055

40.10mm case, overall in very good cosmetic condition, will need 20mm band, watch is in good working condition, keeping time, not sure what do right side pushers do, top one does not click, bottom does click but it does not change anything. Watch is partially working ? it does set time, and keeping time for few days so far, cant promise if its fully functional, selling as is.

Thank you for looking at my auctions, all vintage watches are untested and in need of some type of service or repair. All watches are briefly looked at for description, there is no guarantee if the watch will keep time with good accuracy for longer duration, they may stop as soon as 30 seconds later, that being said, watches are being sold for parts or repair. Please check all the photos as main part of cosmetic condition, such as as scratches and other physical imperfections, all photos are the actual items no stock photos used.

All sales are final unless we made mistake in the listing.

We do combine shipping, if you win 2 or more auctions, please wait for invoice, thank you.