Watchlords

That was a very well written and interesting account of your experience. Thanks for taking the time to write and post that story. I would love to have the chance to travel there and experience those markets in person.

Been to the clothing district in Taiwan......Nike and Reebok shit everywhere. A store keeper offered to buy the shoes right off my feet.
While at a bazaar in Mexico a shop keeper offered to trade 3 of his Nike tank tops for the one I was wearing (payed $4.99 at a closeout at Big 5)....I asked for 4 and a hat, done deal.

What I dont understand is in the land of dishonest practices like offering fake watches such as this how can the guy have so much trust in their ethics. China is getting better and better everyday at faking shit and just because one of them tells you that its a swiss movement you believe them? We know china fakes the movements just as much as they fake everything else. It just makes me sick. I really dont understand the allure of a fake. So what if most people wont know its a fake? Most people wont even know or give a fuck whats on your wrist from 10 feet away. It could say panerai it could say parnis, no one is gonna fucking know in most any situation unless a conversation is struck with an individual about the watch. On top of that if your not a "Watch Person" chances are no one is gonna fucking know or understand any other brand name but Rolex, Omega or Tag heuer. So really the only person to fool is the person wearing it. Just makes no sense to me. One thing is for certain, I will no longer accept anyone trying to make me feel bad for owning and wearing my crotons while assholes like this exist.

I don't doubt the gist of the "story" but I do think there is an awful lot of embellishment here.
Somehow the ability of the seller to track this guy down all over the place doesn't sit right.

foghorn wrote:I don't doubt the gist of the "story" but I do think there is an awful lot of embellishment here.
Somehow the ability of the seller to track this guy down all over the place doesn't sit right.

Trying not to be insensitive...if he was over 5'10" tall, I could see how he could be spotted.

Just seems like too detailed of an account. I can't even find my wife at the supermarket when she tells me where she'll be!!

I call BS on the whole story. 10% fact 90% fiction at best.

foghorn wrote:I don't doubt the gist of the "story" but I do think there is an awful lot of embellishment here.
Somehow the ability of the seller to track this guy down all over the place doesn't sit right.

Especially "filled to the brim with people". Hell, I have a hard enough time finding that girl Ive been eyeing in a half empty bar.

I wouldn't have been surprised if he had seen Lalo there buying wholesale...

I dont know. I tend to feel hes telling the truth about most of his ventures. The only part that I have a hard time buying is the fact that he thinks his fakes are of high quality. I also dont believe there would be many fakes there sporting true swiss movements. Sure its a valjoux 7750. But it wasnt a swiss valjoux.

poot74 wrote:I wouldn't have been surprised if he had seen Lalo there buying wholesale...

Maybe its Eeyore telling this adventurous story.

Maybe Conjurer may know in his latest ventures with Eeyore...lol

poot74 wrote:Maybe Conjurer may know in his latest ventures with Eeyore...lol

boscoe wrote:Fascinating. I'll visit - if I ever get to China.
Won't buy. But will look.

Same here. I may pick up a watch band if its good, but has no brand name printed on it. Will that be considered a 'homage' as well?

DoctorIvey wrote:I had to stop reading after Part 3. Totally aside from the ethics or the situation, I hate this guy. What a dick.

+1

have lived in asia for many years and believe every word. a westerner in a market=$! this is a land of no safety nets,food stamps,ssi,ss,medicare,unemployment$, thanks for the read Slowpa. Fakes are one reason i prefer vintage jap and usa pieces

Watch Noob wrote:Well I read through Part 3. Interesting read, the guy did not bore me that's for sure. I think the instance of the "Chinese Government Task Force" walk through says it all. These people make a living from ripping off legit companies with their fakes, right down to the holograms. The Government does not care, and essentially promotes it by playing this game of hide and seek. Very sad

Yeap... Chinese know how, at their best.

Have you seen in the past with childrens toys the recalls for lead paint that make's you start to think. I asked around and there is a common answer they don't care it's for Gaijin: outsider or inhuman that is what most think.

Great read.
I find it amazing how cheap they can sell things for in China. I buy a few things from DealExtreme now and then and am amazed at some of the prices. One of their biggest sellers is this Pig Flashlight Keychain for .78¢ SHIPPED.

Very interesting, Slowpo! Thanks for posting. I tend to believe the story. I have a few friends who have done similar shopping in Hong Kong with custom suits. They pick the fabric, get their measurments taken, and pick up their custom suits 24 hours later. Three custom suits tailored to their liking for 50 bucks each. Admittedly, this is not counterfeit goods, but overall shopping experience was the same for my friends. Overwhelming to say the least.

It's believable, and after the stories of how terrorists use the profits from fake watch sales, all the more disturbing. They just busted a transplanted Saudi for having over 200K in fake goods including Rolex clones. His ties to muslim radicals are supposedly well esrablished, and this happened just over an hour from here, near my home town of Strasburg, Virginia, which is in the nothern Shenandoah Valley. The store is in what could be called the middle of nowhere, all alone on a sparsely populated country road about 65 miles from Washington. It makes me sick to think of how much this type of thing goes on.

For lurkers to read. And fuck china

Really interesting read. Thanks Slowpo.
I too had no problem believing the tracking the tall guy down part but thought that the author was unclear about what movements were placed inside the custom jobs. Couldnt tell if they were swiss or asian swiss knockoffs

$100 for a near perfect looking $10k watch...I'm in!

Ttt