Seiko 7A38 - by the numbers

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?ssn=martinachertok&nkw=Stunning+Seiko+chronograph+15

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Posts: 14428

The gold tone 7A38-7289 finally sold for a best offer of $140 at 26th re-listing on June 11th: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251288799099

The gold-tone 7A38-7280

First listed as at the ludicrous Buy-it-Now price of $190, reduced to $115: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261188587572 (ended Mar 21).

(Re)Listed for the 2nd time, initially $115, then increased to $135 / $145: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261189051697 (ended Mar 22).

(Re)Listed for the 3rd time, with another different stupid Buy-it-Now $155: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251249714945 (ended Mar 24).

(Re)Listed for the 4th time, initially B-I-N @ $175 - reduced back to $115: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261190390186 (ended Mar 28).

(Re)Listed for the 5th time and once again @ the ridiculous price of $175: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261192435540 (ended Mar 30).

(Re)Listed for the 6th time and once again @ the ridiculous price of $175: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251253099284 (ended Apr 03).

(Re)Listed for the 7th time @ a new all-time-high ridiculous price of $295: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251288869490 (ended Jun 18).

(Re)Listed for the 8th time and once again @ the ridiculous price of $295: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251292052297 (current listing)

The two-tone 7A38-7069

First listed in 'D-I-Y form' with a Buy-it-Now price of $195, increased to $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261202859295 (ended Apr 23).

(Re)Listed for the 2nd time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251265278125 (ended Apr 29).

(Re)Listed for the 3rd time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251268819145 (ended May 04).

(Re)Listed for the 4th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261211135191 (ended May 11).

(Re)Listed for the 5th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251274155399 (ended May 17).

(Re)Listed for the 6th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251276883013 (ended May 19).

(Re)Listed for the 7th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $225: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261217823774 (ended May 23).

(Re)Listed for the 8th time, but now increased to a stupid BIN price of $275: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251279802895 (ended May 26).

(Re)Listed for the 9th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $275: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261221702915 (ended Jun 02).

(Re)Listed for the 10th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $275: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251284460643 (ended Jun 09).

(Re)Listed for the 11th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $275: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251287620851 (ended Jun 15).

(Re)Listed for the 12th time, again @ the same ridiculous BIN price of $275: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261231309084 (ended Jun 16).

(Re)Listed for the 13th time, but now increased to a stupid BIN price of $285: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251290753891 (current listing).

(Incidentally, there may be odd discrepancies in the dates shown for ended listings - due to eBay.com vs eBay.co.uk / PST vs GMT.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's an eBay search showing Martinachertok's ended listings for the two ~~three~~ ~~four~~ 7A38's (for the last 15 days):

From 18th June onwards, these records of Martinachertok's multiple re-listings will be updated at the top of Page 8.

March 9, 2013 at 11:50 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230939674876

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Posts: 14428

I'm quite astounded, given their propensity for ending listings early and immediately re-listing, that 'Mad Martina' martinachertok's two current listings for their 7A38's (the 33rd on the 7A38-7000 and 3rd on the 7A38-7289), not only made it through the night, but have both lasted well over 24 72 hours this time around !! Are we witnessing a change in modus operandi from their usual manic re-listing ?

One thing is becoming apparent, though ....

Unfortunately, this deluded would-be profiteering US eBay reseller seems to have well and truly jumped on the 7A38 bandwagon - taking over the reins from the likes of Jeff Resnick (jres11), Wai Phyo (Worldwideweb66), Total_Time22 and Timely_Classic (UK).

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I give you my prediction for the next grossly over-priced, incorrectly-dated, mis-described, multiple-revised, beaten-up Seiko 7A38 ....

coming soon from a completely deluded manic re-listing eBay seller near you:

By a funny coincidence, the eBay seller was bayonetreasuers (sic), also mentioned in a similar context, on the first page of this thread.

Seems I was slightly remiss in failing to check the winning bidder ID yesterday, but it clearly belongs to martinachertok (i***o):

Would anybody like to hazard a guess as to what (initial) price 'Mad Martina' offers it for ? :lol:

Or for that matter, how it is described in their forthcoming listing. Here's a partial copy and paste of the original seller's description:

This watch keeps excellent time, But the chronograph function is not working.

March 10, 2013 at 7:31 AM

Site Owner
Posts: 14428

Well, as feedback has now been left (both ways), it would seem the appearance of another (third) 7A38 from 'Mad Martina' is imminent.

Meanwhile, the 7A38-7000 is now on its 34th time of listing :roll: and the gold-tone 7A38-7289 (in the queue) must be due any time. :lol:

March 12, 2013 at 5:29 PM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251241823600

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Posts: 14428

..... lasted well over 24 72 hours this time around !! Are we witnessing a change in modus operandi from their usual manic re-listing ?

It seems we may be - but not necessarily for the better. :roll:

'Mad Martina's third listing for the gold-tone 7A38-7289 is still going strong, but even more amazingly, at 6:00am (GMT) this morning:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemRevisionDetails&_trksid=p2047675.l2569&rt=nc&item=251241823600

They increased the Buy-it-Now price from $750 to $800

March 13, 2013 at 6:30 AM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261184115413

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Posts: 14428

However, on a somewhat less humorous note, their 34th listing for the 7A38-7000 ended overnight and has not been replaced:

Whether they have actually managed to snare some poor uninformed schmuck into paying their ridiculous asking price ....

Or if it turns out to be a non-paying bidder / buyer remains to be seen.

March 13, 2013 at 6:53 AM

Member
Posts: 169

I don't believe it!

And by saying that I mean that I don't believe that it's sold to anyone for $850.

March 13, 2013 at 7:01 AM

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Posts: 14428

James.

I hate to say this, but I think the way they (as others do) set up their Buy-it-Now listings is that: 'This seller expects immediate payment'.

So whoever hit the Buy-it-Now button would have been re-directed to PayPal to complete the transaction.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have 'Sold' and the listing would be reinstated automatically. I may be wrong in this (and I sincerely hope so).

March 13, 2013 at 7:10 AM

Member
Posts: 169

So you genuinely think that some poor unsuspecting fool has paid $850 for this watch.

Or that something a little more nefarious is going on? Surely if there is a recorded transaction of a 7A38 selling for $850 then in their mind it would enhance the selling chances of someone who did want to sell a 7A38 for $7-800. After all, if you look at their feedback, they just sold one for $850! $700 for that other one is quite the bargain... If you're hoodwinking the public, which they are, this sounds like a strategy.

We've already established that they are content to use 'tactics' to try and engineer sales, they are not Seiko experts at all, and, well, I don't trust 'em.

Anyway, let's go your way: I'll just go and list all of my watches for $1000 a piece, can't lose!!

March 13, 2013 at 7:25 AM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261184535085

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Posts: 14428

It seems my fears were completely unfounded, James. You were perfectly correct. NOBODY could actually be THAT stupid !!

It's back again, for the 35th time of listing !! :lol:

March 13, 2013 at 10:10 AM

Member
Posts: 169

Ha! You know this saga will never end...

March 13, 2013 at 11:34 AM

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Posts: 14428

I've started so I'll finish.

PS: Things seem to have slowed down (comparatively) of late, with 'Mad Martina' ending and re-listing her 7A38's every 2 or 3 days -

(that's as opposed to 2 or 3 times per day). For latest situation regarding listing / item numbers, see updated post at top of this page.

March 13, 2013 at 2:00 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111028509056

Site Owner
Posts: 14428

One thing is becoming apparent, though ....

Unfortunately, this deluded would-be profiteering US eBay reseller seems to have well and truly jumped on the 7A38 bandwagon ....

.... it would seem the appearance of another (third) 7A38 from 'Mad Martina' is imminent.

The gold-tone cream-faced 7A38-7280 I predicted still hasn't appeared yet. So perhaps they're trying to sort out the chrono' problem.

But it seems what I wrote previously is coming true. I happened to look at the bidder's list on this average-looking stainless 7A38-7190:

The current high bidder is Martinachertok i***o (1213). I've already sent the seller an eBay message, giving him a 'heads up'.

Edit: After a bit of gentle nudging martinachertok retracted her bids - the third and highest of which was an astonishing $256 !!

March 15, 2013 at 8:39 AM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251248083398

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Posts: 14428

An interesting little development has just occured. Perhaps a case of 'Reality' finally dawning, over in Fantasyland Fogelsville, PA. :lol:

The 6th listing for their gold tone 7A38-7289 ended about 1:50pm GMT UK time, having lasted amazingly for 3½ days this time !! :roll:

But it wasn't replaced immediately (as is their normal practice).

A few minutes ago, around 4:15pm GMT UK the replacement 7th listing finally appeared, still with the risible $800 Buy-it-Now option ....

But also, for the first time - with an opening bid price of $1.00 !!

Do I hear $1.99 anybody ?

March 19, 2013 at 12:30 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251248107486

Site Owner
Posts: 14428

Same thing has just happened with their latest and 38th listing for the 7A38-7000:

Bearing in mind that martinachertok paid $157.50 for this exact same watch back at the end of January ....

It'll be interesting to see what it actually makes this time around - that is presuming the auction is actually allowed to run the full 7 days.

March 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Site Owner
Posts: 14428

.... and bidding is under way - started by one of the few people who haven't been barred by Mad Martina - and can still actually bid ! :lol:

I wonder if they realized that once bidding started, eBay would automatically kill off the Buy-it-Now option(s).

March 19, 2013 at 2:45 PM

Member
Posts: 169

I can't believe it: the end is in sight?

Please please please don't sell for much.

Still, might well be CONUS only with those shipping costs.

March 19, 2013 at 7:22 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261188587572

Site Owner
Posts: 14428

Erm, not quite James. :lol:

The third chapter in this sorry saga is about to begin.

Listed just after 5:00pm GMT UK time this afternoon ....

This is the tatty 7A38-7280 gold-tone with chronograph fault, that I predicted would be 'Mad Martina's next 7A38 offering,10 days ago:

So, let me try and get this straight.

They paid $46 for it. From the look of it, they haven't cleaned it. From their description, they haven't replaced the scratched crystal:

ORIGINAL CLEAR CRYSTAL (FEW SCRATCHES),

Nor it appears, have they fixed the chronograph fault described by the previous seller:

**EXCELLENT WORKING Condition, EXCEPT THAT SPLIT SECONDS CHRONO DOES NOT RESETS TO -O-AUTOMATICALY**!

.... and so they're so asking $190 for it (~~and no offers~~) !!

Edit: Best offer option added 5 minutes after I'd typed this post:

Do I hear $4.99 anybody ? :lol:

March 20, 2013 at 1:23 PM

Member
Posts: 169

Hmm... bit steep.

I'm just impressed they got hold of one of the late '70s versions, from my knowledge 1970's 7As are particularly scarce.

March 20, 2013 at 3:01 PM

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261189051697

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Posts: 14428

Obviously. :roll:

Re-listed a second time - still at a stupidly high price for such a poor (and faulty) example:

Edit: Next time I looked that second listing, a few hours later, the price had gone up $20 !! :lol: :lol: :lol:

March 21, 2013 at 3:06 PM