Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

I'd given this (only average condition) stainless 7A38-7000 a couple of mentions in the respective 7A38-xxxx Model Specific thread:

http://www.seiko7a38.com/apps/forums/topics/show/7203858-7a38-7000-saa007j-stainless

After a while, it got to the point where I became so fed up of trying to keep track of this US eBay seller's multiple re-listings, that I wrote:

This 7A38-7000, which I first wrote about in this thread, less than a week ago (on 21st February) probably deserves it's own topic ....

So that's what I've done ! 

Here's the latest iteration (at the time of writing):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261176876772

But it seems I'd actually managed to miss a couple of this seller's numerous brief multiple (re)listings over the last 7 days:

Apart from the first listing, where they changed some (but not all of the photos) and the more recent price increases ....

Could anybody try to explain WTF is going on ???

It's elementary: He must have found out that I am in the market for one more of those since I have only two of those yet and that I am a firm believer in overspending. 

What's really weird about this eBay seller, is that he (or she ?) isn't actually 're-listing' these auctions for this 7A38-7000 as such. 

Normally, when a seller re-lists an eBay item you'll see a bar over the previously ended listing saying just that:

This manic would-be seller appears to be ending the current listing early by (sometimes) deleting it and then re-entering it, manually.

Presumbably they're using some kind of template, because they keep repeating various errors, like QARTZ, 1979 in the title. 

Here's the last one I'd kept on my eBay watching page (before I noticed it had been re-listed yet again):

When I clicked on it, on that particular occasion, I actually got this (the listing number is / was correct, too):

At this point, I'm not sure if this is one particularly dumb eBay seller, or possibly one who is trying to be clever. 

I'm going to see if I can produce an audit trail on this one - that's if I can actually keep pace with the multiple re-listings !! 

This was the original listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261173208983

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&_trksid=p2047675.l2569&rt=nc&item=261173208983

On this first listing, he deleted half the photos, replacing most of them with better shots (which conveniently hid the iffy bracelet link). 

He also made some changes to the description, including increasing the bracelet's 'LARGE' wrist size from 7¼"  to 7¾".

Original:

Revised:

Next: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261173933779

Again: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251234344527

First price increase (that I saw) to $375: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251236137237

Second price increase to $395 (which I'd previously missed): http://www.ebay.com/itm/251236435223

6th time of listing and 3rd price increase to $415 (which again I seem to have missed): http://www.ebay.com/itm/251236446298

Incredibly, I just refreshed the search on his recent ended auctions to find this one ended too: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261176876772

Here's the latest iteration (at the time of writing) ....

Seems I spoke too soon. Truly unbelieveable !!! 

HERE is the latest iteration (at the time of writing): http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177023935 (8th listing and 5th price hike)

Do I hear $500 anybody ? 

whitemonster at February 27, 2013 at 4:12 PM

It's elementary: He must have found out that I am in the market for one more of those since I have only two of those yet and that I am a firm believer in overspending. 

Actually, my dear Harry, it is elementary (if you do a little detective work). 

Like yourself, I'd naturally assumed the seller was a 'He' at first. But look again at the eBay seller ID 'martinachertok'.

That's not Martin A. Chertok .... it's Martina Chertok (female) who lives in Fogelsville PA (as given in the item location).

As you know, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind - that's if she's actually got any idea in the first place (obviously not).

Or perhaps it's just 'the wrong week'. 

Me ? Unfortunately I only have the one stainless 7A38-7000 in my collection - and unlike this seller's offering, my example truly is Stunning. Mint etc. It's virtually unworn. I bought it on eBay in March 2009 - the first one I'd clapped eyes upon, funnily enough. 

You really wouldn't want to know what I paid for it back then.  But it must be worth at least $750 now compared to her price.

Funnily enough, I nearly started a topic along these very same lines a couple of weeks ago. 

Another 'apparently confused' US eBay seller re-listed a stainless 7A38-7270, using the same ended early and re-enter technique.

Though nowhere near as bad (nor greedy) as 'martinachertok', with only 4 listings in total, but there was obviously something amiss:

Here's the individual listings in date order:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330873070254

http://www.ebay.com/itm/33087340946

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330873661781

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230929727658

Though with this 7A38, I suspect it was more a case of total incompetence by the seller, rather than attempted 'jiggery-pokery'. 

Getting back to the original subject of this thread .... Truly unbelievable !!!  The 9th listing and another price hike of $100 !! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177352923

Here's two more '7-day' listings ended early by this seller - the previous $490 and equally incredibly the $590 one I posted above:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177023935

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177352923

God only knows why, because it's back (yet again, listed for the 10th time in 7 days) at the same ludicrous $590 ! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251237019248

...and again... ??!!??

Correct, it seems - James !! 

Her 10th listing (and second @ $590) has now also been ended: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251237019248 (after only 11 views) ...

Replaced immediately by this 11th listing in 7 days, again at a ridiculous $590 B-I-N: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177434172 

BTW - I had to chuckle at this part of the seller's description: 

GO AHEAD---- MAKE ME AN OFFER -----ONE NEVER KNOW WHAT I MAY ACCEPT!

You'd have to move bl**dy quick to get an offer in before she cancelled the listing yet again. 

That 11th listing lasted even shorter.   At the time of writing (17:10 UK GMT) it hasn't yet re-appeared. 

Nope - it's back again for the 12th time !!! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261177449128 For how long this time, I wonder ? 

Strike that - the 12th listing (and 4th at $590) was ended appoximately 15 minutes later at 17:25:55 GMT UK time. 

PS - unless the price changes, I'm not going to bother posting screen prints any more. I think everyone has already got the picture.

In case anybody wants to keep tabs on this, here's a search / result for this seller's ended listings for their 7A38-7000, so far (12) (14):

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=Stunning%2CRare+Vintage+Chronograph+%2C3+Regist&_ipg=50&_sop=13&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_since=15&LH_Complete=1&_ssn=martinachertok&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313&_nkw=Stunning%2CRare+Vintage+Chronograph&_sacat=0

Note the last one was a 'KEIKO' (rather than SEIKO).

I guess She is trying to sell to prospective ebayer's who search newly listed items.

This can be the only feasible reason for re-listing over and over in short durations.

Looks crazy though when you use Paul's link above! 

Heh... Just dropped by for an update, nothing doing.

Back to Ebay... IT'S BACK!

$690!!!

I like your theory 7ARCool but the constant price hikes are nuts...

Well spotted James.   I'd given up refreshing my search hours ago. 

Listing # 13 - unlucky for someone. Probably this crazy would-be seller. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251237254732

Well, I was going to ask if anybody wanted to place bets whether that 13th listing would make it through the night ....

I suppose you could technically say that it did. It lasted till just before 7:00am Friday morning (1st March) UK GMT:

Only to be replaced by this, the 14th listing (again @ a risible $690) less than a minute later: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251237438389

Note also that in these two latest ($690) versions 'QARTZ' in the title had finally gained a 'U', at the expense of a comma and spacing, 

and that '3 REGIST' has been replaced by '15 JEWEL'. So the seller appears to be learning gradually - if not about selling prices. 

I think I can safely predict yet another (15th) revision within the next few hours. 

Viz: .... 1979,NEAR MINT! and Item condition:Used “SUPERB RARE LATE 70s EXAMPLE ...." 

The case-back serial number in seller's listing photo clearly shows that it was actually manufactured in October 1983. Ho Hum. 

someone needs to give this poor watch a good home!

maybe I'll crack out the booze and my ebay trigger happy finger... or maybe not

Strike # 14 !!! 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251237438389