The Microbrand Store

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TemerityB
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by TemerityB » March 21st 2019, 2:42pm

I gotta admit: When I click a link and the first thing I see is A "German made" Technicolor yawn with a Chinese tourbillon, I lose interest real fast.

Plus, when the innards are Chinese and the dial says made in Germany, is that allowed? I smell poop.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by biglove » March 21st 2019, 8:30pm

No bargains and not a single watch I would buy at half their listed prices. Who buys there?!
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 22nd 2019, 1:17am

No bargains and not a single watch I would buy at half their listed prices.


That's interesting biglove, considering The Microbrand Store tends to consistently have the lowest current pricing on all of the watches sold in the store.
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » March 22nd 2019, 5:41am

I own 2 microbrands and love them both. But after sales service is always a concern. If I didn't have a reliable,experienced watchmaker nearby I'd stay far away from most.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by biglove » March 22nd 2019, 10:09am

The Microbrand Store wrote:
No bargains and not a single watch I would buy at half their listed prices.


That's interesting biglove, considering The Microbrand Store tends to consistently have the lowest current pricing on all of the watches sold in the store.


The selection brings about a resounding "meh!" from my end. And I'll be damned if I pay $700 for a micro brand, ever. FTS
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 22nd 2019, 5:14pm

Hi biglove,

If you don't like microbrands or our selection, that's fine, and a subjective choice, which we don't have a problem with. We were just pointing out that there are plenty of bargains with generally the cheapest pricing for what's on offer for those who do like what we carry.

Cheers!
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by TemerityB » March 23rd 2019, 8:13am

The Microbrand Store wrote:Hi biglove,

If you don't like microbrands or our selection, that's fine, and a subjective choice, which we don't have a problem with. We were just pointing out that there are plenty of bargains with generally the cheapest pricing for what's on offer for those who do like what we carry.

Cheers!


So basically ... you're telling me "microbrands" are "cheap watches." So in a hobby based on tradition, innovation, quality of manufacture, and accuracy, we should look for "cheap" first and foremost?

I've been in retailing. Word to the wise: Never use the word "cheap." That's for dollar stores. What's your game?
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 23rd 2019, 9:08pm

So basically ... you're telling me "microbrands" are "cheap watches."


Don't you just love it when folks put words in your mouth that don't exactly relate to what was stated and then go off on a rant about them...

Lets recap: Someone said The Microbrand Store didn't have any bargains, and we pointed out that in fact we have many, as our pricing is generally the cheapest for the models we offer vs. other retailers offering the same models. Where does that state microbrands are cheap watches? What a blanket statement. It doesn't. Just like you could say with mainstream brands, some are cheap, some are expensive, many offer very good value, many don't.

A word to the wise, if you want to take a position in an "argument" then it's best to understand what was said first. If I'm coming over as grumpy then I'm sorry but I get really pissed off when folks try to put words in my mouth. If you're trolling, congratulations, it succeeded.
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by conjurer » March 23rd 2019, 11:40pm

Well, goddamn it all to hell; this is something I'd never thought we'd see, a microbrand store shilling his wares here at Watchlords.

While there are a few (a very few) micros out there that don't deserve an immediate bum's rush out the front door, most micros are shit. They are either stultifyingly boring, Sub homages with Chinese catalogue cases and Seiko movements, or incredibly vulgar, Invictaesque pieces of fucking shit that appeal to goofs who collect 55-inch Croton belts.

One of our more esteemed members once said that micros were an answer to a question that nobody asked. If one wants a dive watch with a Seiko movement, one calls Long Island Watch and orders a Seiko SKX007. Period. If one wants a Chinese tourbillon with literally zero resale value, that's too big, and looks stupid, there are plenty of offerings out there.

So, let's recap, Mr. Microbrand Store: just because you're offering discounts on fucking shit, this doesn't mean that they're a good value. If you discount fucking shit, it's still fucking shit, that's just less expensive. If you are offering a brand that costs the same as a Hamilton, but doesn't offer the value, then somebody should buy a Hamilton, and disdain the shit.

Not trolling; just saying the truth.
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tiktok

Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by tiktok » March 24th 2019, 12:05am

And if you want a good Chinese watch call Long Island Watch for a Seagull 1963 chrono reissue. Or try Taobao com.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 24th 2019, 12:25am

Oh you're definitely trolling.

Shilling is where someone pretends to endorse something say as a buyer or an independent review when they've been paid by someone to do so or have a vested interest (say they're actually the brand being discussed while pretending to be someone else.) Absolutely hate folks that do that and an instant ban in all the watch groups I run when they get discovered. We don't shill, period. Nice choice of words. In fact, we didn't even start this thread or come on this thread to sell our wares, let along shill. We only did one thing, which was respond when someone painted a picture about our pricing not being good that wasn't true. Happy to let folks rant about hating microbrands, that's their choice, but we've gone to great lengths to try and so far generally keep the best current pricing for what we choose to offer.

Totally agree that most micros are shit, many with a lack of innovation, and we're not a fan of factory catalog watches with a logo slapped on them off of AliExpress either. Glad we're on the same page about that. Again though you extrapolate wildly because most microbrands are shit, that seemingly according to you absolutely everything we have listed in our store is "shit". I'm sure we have stuff listed you don't like since you seem to be a hater. That's fine, but a lot of folks who collect mainstream watches and micros do like what we carry. Personally I see a lot of style and innovation in many microbrands such as the Direnzo DRZ_02 that I think more than hold their own stylistically against many mainstream offerings, but yeah, that's subjective.

On the subject of resale, fair point that most microbrands won't hold their prices say compared to the artificially controlled supply and demand of a nice Rolex. (Although one or two do appreciate.) Everyone worries if a microbrand will be around 5-10 years from now. Some folks tend to go for microbrand models because of the smaller production runs. We have watches listed that are unique one offs, in a limited edition of 2, 50, 99, etc. That is one of the appeals, at least to me.

Re Chinese-sourced tourbillons, that's a choice too I think. Not everyone who wants a tourbillon is willing to pay $15k+. We're very clear about what we offer in our descriptions. I have one in my own personal collection and enjoy frequently wearing it, and it's been a best seller in the store, so I don't appear to be the only one who is thinking that way.

Ironically I have a Hamilton here but I bought it to flip and have never worn it. Too bland for my tastes.
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by anonymous-3027 » March 24th 2019, 5:44am

How come you don't carry Halios? Any decent microbrand store would, one would think, were one to actually think about such a thing for the briefest of moments, like, say, I just did.

Oh yeah, and why not Kentex? They are the grandaddy of microbrands, since 1989.
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » March 24th 2019, 6:06am

robatsu wrote:How come you don't carry Halios? Any decent microbrand store would, one would think, were one to actually think about such a thing for the briefest of moments, like, say, I just did.

Oh yeah, and why not Kentex? They are the grandaddy of microbrands, since 1989.


Some brands probably don't want to go the route of an outside vendor,or their terms aren't acceptible.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 24th 2019, 6:44am

As foghorn says, just talking generally why we don't stock this or that brand, some brands might not choose to collaborate with a vendor or might have terms that don't work.

Another factor is our budget for what we can stock is limited as we buy outright and hold our own stock instead of drop shipping. (That way we can test each watch right before shipping.) Thus we try and pick a mix of items not stocked elsewhere that are interesting, as well as some of the popular choices that others also carry like Zelos because we keep getting asked for those.

A third factor is the pricing needs to work. As our prices include free shipping via express air mail, we have to factor in paying our import taxes, shipping, payment gateway fees etc. and still be able to come up with a price that we think is decent for the buyer.

The fourth factor is we don't want too much of the same if we're already carrying something similar. For example we were asked the other day if we were interested in some chronos but had to pass for now as we've just purchased a large number of Straton Legera timepieces, and have other chronos in the store already like the Mercer Lexington Bi-Compax.

A fifth factor is that I have to like what we're offering or think it'll do well. So there's a personal taste here too.

Anyhow, have to say I'm quite a fan of the Halios Seaforth so like robatsu's taste there!
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by anonymous-3027 » March 24th 2019, 7:35am

The Microbrand Store wrote:Anyhow, have to say I'm quite a fan of the Halios Seaforth so like robatsu's taste there!


Great, you got here just in the nick of time. In another thread, I just asked for recommendations for a watch:

https://www.watchlords.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=454282#p454282

However, I'll save you the trouble of reading it, the criteria are below, do you have anything that meets them?

1) 39/38mm ss case with integrated lugs.
2) Black dial, inky not starbursty
3) 3 hander, dauphin style hands
4) Stick indices style
5) Date window, no date possibly ok
6) no chapter ring, nice clean rehaut
7) Seconds markers, no subseconds
8) Steel bracelet, ideally butterfly or other low profile non-adjustable.
9) Overall appearance tends towards blingy rather than understated.
10) Manufactured within last 10 years.
11) No lume
12) Any movement, manufacturer, etc.
13) Would be nice if there is something interesting about the watch, company, etc, even if not visible.
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Re: The Microbrand Store

Post by The Microbrand Store » March 24th 2019, 8:18am

I don't think we have anything that precisely meets your shopping list.
Will throw this out as an idea since you're looking for an interesting story behind the watch...

Have you explored having someone make a watch to order? That needn't be prohibitively expensive. There are a few watchmakers who love mods and builds and can source various stock parts and come up with a custom solution that ends up looking rather cool, with some personalization. For example Dan Hodge (based in the UK) has customized a watch for me, initially based on one of his designs but with different parts/changes. So I got a 55 Fathoms style dial design from the year of my birth, custom inscription on the back, a nice Swiss movement from the year of my birth, which he regulated to near on 0 seconds. (Spent a week fine-tuning that.) He even spent a few days on the bracelet adding some personal touches. I intend to be buried in that one, and it doesn't cost thousands of dollars.

Might not be your cup of tea but thought I'd throw it out there.
http://the.microbrand.store
A carefully curated list of microbrand watches,
with discount pricing and free shipping.
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » March 24th 2019, 8:31am

The Microbrand Store wrote:Hi biglove,

If you don't like microbrands or our selection, that's fine, and a subjective choice, which we don't have a problem with. We were just pointing out that there are plenty of bargains with generally the cheapest pricing for what's on offer for those who do like what we carry.

Cheers!




A quick check of like brands and models does show your prices to be a bit lower than Long Island Watch and other sellers. I would still caution anyone getting into micro brands to take "after sales service" into consideration. So far I've had zero problems with either Zorettto and Magrette. (knock on wood)
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » March 24th 2019, 9:10am

The Microbrand Store wrote:Would love to know which Magrette you have? I love scroll work on cases, which some of their designs have.



The 42 mm version of the Moana Pacific. With the STP movement. The 44's are way to big.
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