Watchlords

koimaster wrote: Two tv stations and new groups reported this crap and while this soldier and his platoon received free watches (sort of), a vendor should IMHO not brag about it and more importantly, not lie about it.

100% agree.....and if you were going to do something for the troops, value aside, the quantity that he donated was squat. The receiving soldiers may have been appreciative of the donation, but if he really wanted to help the troops he could have done much more.

JAS1125 wrote:

koimaster wrote: Two tv stations and new groups reported this crap and while this soldier and his platoon received free watches (sort of), a vendor should IMHO not brag about it and more importantly, not lie about it.

100% agree.....and if you were going to do something for the troops, value aside, the quantity that he donated was squat. The receiving soldiers may have been appreciative of the donation, but if he really wanted to help the troops he could have done much more.

Real charitable people do things to be charitable; they don't need (or want) to call press conferences to thump their fucking chests and make a bunch of questionable claims. Everyone involved - IWG, especially WCBS/Channel 2 here in NYC, the Florida press - you're all a bunch of cheeseballs, and you can quote me.

When I read the news bit a few weeks back it sickened me.

Looked the "charity" financials up and they are a joke. Hope the IRS rips them a new one.

Common definition:

Fair market value (FMV) is an estimate of the market value of a property, based on what a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured buyer would probably pay to a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured seller in the market.

The IRS definition:

Fair market value. Fair market value (FMV) is the price that property would sell for on the open market. It is the price that would be agreed on between a willing buyer and a willing seller, with neither being required to act, and both having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. If you put a restriction on the use of property you donate, the FMV must reflect that restriction.

That would pace FMV on these betwwen $0 and ($28), the cost of return shipping for repair.

Wonder if the florida doj ever read this

Just a reminder that watches being sold at $188 at the time this "donation" was made x 45 does not add up to $78,000

koimaster wrote::bump:

Just a reminder that watches being sold at $188 at the time this "donation" was made x 45 does not add up to $78,000

Yep. And that's why Lalo's claims about his "Foundation" in the mag article recently should be taken with about a 1/4 grain of salt.

Considering how Invicta treats the customers that actually purchase their product, how could anyone think they would, in any way, be really commited to any charitable act? Their last "sunday run" was supposed to be for charity. Except they offered a couple of watches that even the wits wouldn't buy. Just a way to get rid of unsold stock, yet link it to charity. A really despicable company.

Invicta CEO Delivers Watches To U.S. Soldiers With A Little Help From CBS 2

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — An outrageous theft inspired an amazing donation and it means good news for a soldier serving overseas and dozens of his comrades-in-arms.

CBS 2 was happy to play a role in making it happen.


Lt. Gregory Wholean (L-credit: Personal Photo) | Invicta Watch (C-credit: CBS 2) | CEO Eyal Lalo (R – credit: CBS 2)




It started out as an unpatriotic pilfering from an air cargo facility at John F. Kennedy Airport.

Postal inspectors charged Terrence Ralph earlier this month with stealing items from packages being shipped to troops overseas, including an Invicta watch that was supposed to be going to Germany. It was intended for Lt. Gregory Wholean of the U.S. Army.

In Hollywood, Fla., the CEO of the watch company, Eyal Lalo, saw the story on CBSNewYork.com and immediately wanted to replace the stolen watch.

But he had a problem.

“We didn’t know who the soldier was, what watch he had, or how we were going to get the package directly and insure that it gets to him this time around,” Lalo said.

So Lalo sent CBS 2′s Tony Aiello a tweet asking for help. Aiello connected him with Donna Harris of the Postal Inspection Service.

Harris put the watch company in touch with the soldier and the CEO decided to send a watch to Lt. Wholean and his entire platoon — 48 watches for young men and women who do the dangerous work of explosive ordinance disposal.

“We have a lot of respect for what these guys do,” Lalo said.

Tuesday in Florida, the watches were inspected, packaged and shipped under the careful supervision of postal inspectors, who will make sure they get delivered this time.

Difficult logistics kept CBS 2 from getting an interview with Lt. Wholean, but he told the watch company his platoon is thrilled to be receiving the donation.

I’ve often wondered where this Bozo comes up with these inflated MSRP numbers. I mean c’mon man. 179.99 for a watch that’s listed at 2 grand?? Jesus H Christ

Explosive ordinance disposal? ("Sir, that was an incendiary remark!") Donna Harris? (Wasn't that one of Fred Sanford's girlfriends?)
This Wholean story stinks to high heaven. Especially this part:

In Hollywood, Fla., the CEO of the watch company, Eyal Lalo, saw the story on CBSNewYork.com and immediately wanted to replace the stolen watch obtain free publicity, dump a load of garbage, and lower his tax liability, all in one fell swoop.

The bad news is that sixteen "ordinance" workers had their hands blown off. The good news is that Eyal can reattach them for only $189 each.