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Original poster

To ask if this watch is a fake? How to tell?

30 replies

JayneAusten · 25/07/2017 21:45

I am scared of getting ripped off and can't help but think this is too good to be true. Educate me please!

I want to buy this watch for my husband for a very special anniversary. It's £320 here in the UK. Way out of my price range.

www.shopontime.co.uk/Nixon-48-20-Chrono-Mens-Stainless-Steel-A486-000-Watch-2417-shopontime?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuvjDhaSl1QIVh6ntCh3OpQeiEAQYAyABEgKQxfD_BwE

I've found it on Ebay in Hong Kong for £128. Is it a fake? Or if not, how can it possibly be so much cheaper? It says it comes with everything (original packaging, instructions etc) and all that's missing is the tags. The seller has been on ebay since 2004 and has 100% positive feedback. Free shipping. What am I missing please? Is it worth the risk? How would I even know if it was a fake?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Nixon-Watch-48-20-Chrono-Black-Silver-A486-000-A486000-100-Authentic/112295915137?_trksid=p2385738.c100677.m4598&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908110712%26meid%3D2e56ce3235a940898e8c24e77630ece3%26pid%3D100677%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D47%26sd%3D122548209955

OP posts:
JeReviens · 25/07/2017 21:52

I wouldn't. Read the neutral feedbacks that have been left. One says the item 'ships from China'. That would be enough for me.
Remember - if it seems too good to be true...
And although the seller says you can return if not happy you will find it VERY expensive to send tracked to China!
Just don't risk it.

BaldricksTrousers · 25/07/2017 21:55

If it's from China, assume it's a fake.

BaldricksTrousers · 25/07/2017 22:05

Also, you can't examine the photo to tell it's a fake, because the watch you will receive will not be the one in the photo.

PinkHeart5911 · 25/07/2017 22:07

Just buy the real deal here in the uk

Anything from china/Hong Kong is bound to be fake and not a good quality one

If it's too good to be true and all that.....

NeedsAsockamnesty · 25/07/2017 22:09

Do not do it, it will be fake

Pigeonpost · 25/07/2017 22:10

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.... Don't buy it!!

DirigiblePlums · 25/07/2017 22:12

If it's from eBay via Hong Kong or china it's very likely to be a cheap copy. As the other pp said, it's probably nothing like the photo! I'd pay more for one from the uk just for the assurance that it'll be genuine

OnionKnight · 25/07/2017 22:15

It's fake, if it's too good to be true steer clear.

AdoraBell · 25/07/2017 22:15

I also wouldn't take the risk. Is the anniversary very soon or would you be able to save up for it?

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 25/07/2017 22:17

Yes, it will be fake and probably will not resemble the photo.

If you can't afford the genuine article (I couldn't) then either choose something cheaper or buy an honest copy - by honest copy I mean a cheap watch advertised as a copy. For example, the MK replica watch I bought my son for £16 from Greece last week (we were on holiday).

Over £100 for a copy of an item is ridiculously expensive.

manhowdy · 25/07/2017 22:17

Fake - probably ripped off by someone working in the Chinese factory Nixon use to assemble their watches. There will be subtle differences no doubt - one of their feedbacks mentioned the hands being too short, for example.

But a fake quartz Nixon is not the same as a fake automatic calibre Rolex. A far simpler thing to replicate.

It could be confiscated by customs on the way in to the UK (I'd confiscate any branded goods coming from China if I was a customs officer). If not confiscated, duty and VAT will be payable.

I personally wouldn't give these people money. Wait for a Nixon sale and get the real deal. They make nice watches and don't deserve to get ripped off.

UnderslungBowlingBall · 25/07/2017 22:21

You know the saying, if it seems too good to be true it probably is.

19lottie82 · 25/07/2017 22:24

I'm a seasoned ebayer (run my own business) and I don't see anything too off here tbh. The seller has over 300 FBs @ 100% for watches.

IF it is a fake, which I doubt looking at the sellers history and feedback, you will be covered by the eBay buyer protection and the seller will have to cover the return postage to send it back.

What have you got to lose?
The only thing is though bear in mind you may have to pay VAT when it enters the U.K.

Longdistance · 25/07/2017 22:25

That's a fake.

Also if the eBay seller was genuine they'd be more photos like the real one. This just shows a low quality watch.

OnionKnight · 25/07/2017 22:26

*I'm a seasoned ebayer (run my own business) and I don't see anything too off here tbh. The seller has over 300 FBs @ 100% for watches.

IF it is a fake, which I doubt looking at the sellers history and feedback, you will be covered by the eBay buyer protection and the seller will have to cover the return postage to send it back.

What have you got to lose?
The only thing is though bear in mind you may have to pay VAT when it enters the U.K.*

It's less than half of the RRP, it's fake.

Onetedisbackinbed · 25/07/2017 22:28

My dh is looking into this, he's into watches and he's into ebay, I will return with his opinion. ...

maggiecate · 25/07/2017 22:34

If it's coming from Hong Kong via eBay it's not likely to have been sourced legitimately - even if it is Nixon (unlikely) it'll be a factory second or not up to standard in some way. There will also be VAT to pay and Royal Mail customs handling fees so you'll be looking at over £150 or thereabouts. And will you really enjoy watching dp wearing it if you always have a niggle at the back of your mind about it?

If you went for it from a legit store Could you make it a combined birthday/anniversary/Christmas present? So a big splurge but that's it for the year year?

AtHomeDadGlos · 25/07/2017 22:36

Yeah. That'll be real. I'd go for it.

Original poster
JayneAusten · 25/07/2017 22:45

Thank you all so much for your help. Kind of what I thought, but I guess I just hoped you'd all say 'Definitely fine, go for it'.

I don't understand how they get so much good feedback. That's my only niggle.

I do agree with the 'If it seems too good to be true...' thing - that's kind of what I thought but then thought maybe I was missing something?

Looks like I might have to keep searching. I don't want to buy it at the current retail price even for a combined present, because it's ages till his birthday or Christmas (anniversary is quite soon) and I know I'd then just end up getting something else when the time came. I love him and want to get something special, but don't want to be silly.

OP posts:
thegoodnameshadgone · 25/07/2017 22:52

I think it's fake. It might be a really good quality fake but still not real. Can you ask the real supplier if they deal with third parties and ask specifically ref this one? Is the warrant different from the real website?

I've bought uggs a few years ago for about £40 and they were exactly the same but I still think they were exceptionally good copies

Thistledew · 25/07/2017 22:55

There are fakes and fakes when it comes to 'replicas' from China. Some will be cheap copies that are made with cheap and inferior components. There are also many 'fakes' that are made in the same factories and with the same materials as a genuine item but are made 'out of hours' from the runs that make up. The difficulty is knowing the difference.

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 25/07/2017 22:58

Agree probably a "good" fake if from China. I fell for a website selling genuine Ugg boots (feel I need to explain they were for DD not me!) and they arrived and were fake and not even especially good ones. Luckily DD was too young to be able to tell between real sheepskin and synthetic stuff but all the packaging etc had "authentic" etc on it. I guess they dont have the same laws governing retail in China Grin

StatueInTheSky · 25/07/2017 22:59

just an FYI.....tesco vouchers can be exchanged for 3x face value to use in Goldsmiths if that helps the budget any!

Nixon Watches in Goldsniths

saltandvinegarcrisps1 · 25/07/2017 23:01

X post with thegood. Thistle - I saw a programme once about "fake" Levi jeans which were made in Mexico by the same factory staff using all the "correct" materials which they had acquired and made the jeans in their own time for much less.

FlandersRocks · 25/07/2017 23:05

It's probably fake but if they have such good feedback then it's likely to be a very good one.

I've been stung by customs charges before though...goods worth £200 and the customs fee was half as much again on top. I wouldn't buy from any EBay seller that ships from outside the UK regardless of what it was for.