Are you trying to sell your watch online but aren’t sure which website to use? When selecting the best platform, there are many things to take into account, including commission costs, seller protection guidelines, and client reach. The top online marketplaces to sell your watch will be the focus of this guide, which will also include a detailed review of each platform’s selling capabilities, clientele, and reputation. After reading this article, you’ll be able to decide for yourself which online marketplace is the best for selling your watch.
TIPS & TRICKS FOR SELLING YOUR WATCH ONLINE
Online watch sales can be challenging, which may put some watch collectors off. But do not fret. You may start selling watches right now with the help of my advice, which will also help you save a lot of time and perhaps even money.
KNOW YOUR WATCH
This is my top piece of advice for anyone trying to sell their watch. You won’t believe how often I’ve searched for watches on an internet marketplace only to find brief postings that offer scant to no details on the timepiece or demand absurdly high prices.
Always do your homework on the watch you’re selling and accurately record the crucial details. Take a close look at the market as well to see how much others are asking for the watch.
I understand that you want to sell your watch for as much money as you can, but you should always be reasonable in your asking price. Your watch will most likely be sold within a few days (or even hours) with a strong listing and a reasonable price.
PROVIDE ALL THE NECESSARY INFO
To build on the preceding advice, you should create your listing with as much detail as you can because it will save you time by preventing you from having to respond to routine inquiries. List all the watch’s pertinent specifications. Don’t try to downplay any flaws or imperfections when describing the item’s condition; doing so will only serve to harm your seller’s reputation in the long run.
The box, papers, and accessories are also very important. The watch’s original box, documentation, tags, extra bands or bracelet links, and any other potential accessories should all have been retained, ideally.
Remember to include them in your listing because they will greatly raise the price you can demand for your watch. In order to prevent misunderstandings, be sure to include in your listing whether your watch is not on the factory bracelet or strap.
GOOD PHOTOS CAN MAKE OR BREAK A LISTING
Possibly the most significant consideration if you want to sell your watch online is this. The potential buyer will probably be unable to see the watch in person before making a purchase, so they will rely mainly on the pictures you’ve provided.
It’s important to take high-quality pictures of the watch from various angles and to point out any flaws so the buyer will see them. These days, you don’t even need expensive equipment to capture good shots; most smartphones today can produce high-quality images.
Simply ask a buddy to assist you if you don’t have access to a recent smartphone with an excellent camera. Always choose a well-lit setting because it will help to showcase all of the watch’s features and make the pictures look more appealing.
BEST PLACE TO SELL YOUR WATCH ONLINE
Here are some of the best online marketplaces for selling watches where you have more control over the sales process:
Timezone365
Timezone365 is an online marketplace founded by a watch enthusiast who wanted to create a platform to make it easier and more affordable for people to buy and sell luxury watches. The company aims to provide a transparent and user-friendly experience for buyers and sellers while also offering competitive pricing and no fees compared to some other marketplaces in the industry.
How to start selling on Value Your Watch Marketplace?
Create a seller account on Timezone365’s website if you wish to sell your watches there. Depending on the features and advantages desired, they provide a variety of membership options at rates ranging from FREE to several hundred dollars per month.
The Fees for selling watches on Timezone365
No Sellers Fees only monthly subscription fees
Chrono24
The biggest online watch platform is Chrono24, which was established in 2003. With their most recent investment round being a Series C on August 11, 2021, the firm has reportedly raised a total of €180M in capital over six rounds, according to Crunchbase. With this substantial infusion of cash, Chrono24 should be able to enhance its platform and concentrate on giving vendors a better experience.
How to start selling on Chrono24
You must decide whether you want to sell watches on Chrono24 as an individual seller—in which case you can only post one watch—or as a dealer before selecting to sell watches there. If you decide to apply to become a dealer, you will have to provide documentation proving that you are in the watch-selling industry.
The Fees for selling watches on Chrono24
Individual sellers just pay 6.5% when they sell a watch instead of a monthly fee. Dealers must pay a monthly subscription that starts at 69 € (about $80) and can cost up to $1,000+, but they also pay a reduced commission fee that can range from 2-8% depending on the package chosen.
eBay
As a broad marketplace, eBay offers a wide range of products. People use it to sell a variety of items, including random items found at the closing of an estate and collectibles. However, a significant issue eBay has faced, especially with premium goods, is the prevalence of knockoffs. There are a tonne of instructions on how to prevent being conned when using the platform, but they all generally revolve around only buying from merchants that have a good reputation. In order to fight this, eBay recently stated that it would launch an authentication programme in a few areas. This might be good news for purchasers. The luxury handbag authentication program’s structure, on the other hand, means that dealers may anticipate being smacked with a hefty 20% fee, which they will either have to absorb or pass on to customers. Remember that watches cost $500, thus the most affordable models will likely see a $100 price hike while more expensive models may really experience a $10,000 price increase as a result of the programme.
How to start selling on eBay
It’s easy to start selling watches on eBay. You must first register as a seller to get started. While it is not necessary to select the “store” option when selling on eBay, doing so can reduce your seller’s commission. You can begin offering your timepieces for sale once you’ve decided on your package.
The Fees for selling watches on eBay
A significantly more complex fee system for sellers has been added by eBay. The selling costs for watches on eBay currently differ depending on the sale’s total and the seller’s status as a Starter eBay Store seller or a non-Store Seller. Even though this fee structure may be more complicated, eBay’s Managed Payments system can assist streamline the payment process and make sure that sellers get paid swiftly and securely.
Insertion Fees:
eBay charges an insertion fee of $.35 for each watch listing after the first 200 free listings are used each month.
Selling Fees:
12.35% of the entire sale up to $1,000 is taken as a fee from non-store sellers and starter eBay Store merchants.Sellers pay a fee of 6.5% for the amount of the sale that is over $1,000 but under $7,500. Sellers are required to pay a fee of 2.35% for the percentage of the transaction that is beyond $7,500.
The fees, for instance, would be $123.5 for the first $1,000, $422.5 for the portion of the sale between $1,000 and $7,500, and $58.75 for the portion of the sale over $7,500 if a seller sold a Rolex Submariner for $10,000.
For a $10,000 Rolex watch, using eBay’s Managed Payments would result in fees totaling $604.75, or 6.04% of the transaction price.
Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Groups
You may sell your timepieces quickly by listing them on Facebook Marketplace or Facebook Groups. Reaching a sizable audience of potential buyers is simple when using the Facebook website and mobile app.
How to start selling on Facebook
You only need to click the “Marketplace” icon to start the listing procedure if you’re selling watches on Facebook Marketplace. However, you must abide by the group regulations if you sell watches in exclusive Facebook groups. This can entail giving details about the timepiece, complying to certain formatting requirements, or staying within a certain pricing range. Before selling your watch for sale, it’s crucial to read and comprehend the group regulations to make sure that interested buyers will accept and notice your advertisement.
The Fees for selling watches on Facebook Marketplace and Groups
While certain Facebook groups may charge membership fees or listing fees for products for sale, including watches, Facebook Marketplace does not. To ensure that you are aware of any fees or restrictions on selling watches or other products, it is crucial to thoroughly research the guidelines and requirements of any clubs you join.
Watchuseek
One of the biggest and most well-known watch forums in the world, Watchuseek has a sizable community of watch lovers who discuss watches and share their knowledge, experience, and opinions. The forum discusses a range of watch-related subjects, including manufacturers, models, movements, and fashion trends. Members can interact with other watch aficionados from around the world, take part in discussions, ask and answer questions, and exchange photographs and videos. Many forum users have a deep understanding of watches, and they may offer insightful opinions and helpful guidance to others who are curious to learn more about this intriguing pastime.
How to start selling on Watchuseek
You must fulfil certain prerequisites in order to start a private seller sales post in the Sales Corner. You must have posted 100 times or more in our discussion boards and have been a member for at least 90 days. It’s crucial to remember that you cannot speed up a post in order to meet the 100-post criteria because doing so could get you banned from the forum.
You can advertise watches for sale once you’ve satisfied the qualifications, but you must abide by the forum’s rules. Unless they have a specific permit from the site owner, sponsors may only post up to 5 different products per 24 hours while private sellers may post up to 10 different items per 24 hours. Before posting any sales listings, make sure you have read and comprehended the forum’s rules and specifications.
The Fees for selling watches on Watchuseek
On Watchuseek’s site, selling watches is free, but users must pay a fee to become sponsors. Sponsors might also get extra perks or features like more exposure or access to special discounts or content.
Rolex Forums
A well-known online community and forum called Rolex Forums is devoted to watches and the watch business, including but not exclusively Rolex watches and the Rolex brand. The forum is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about this intriguing pastime because it has such a huge and active group of users, including many seasoned and expert collectors and aficionados. The forum has a special section for buying and selling watches in addition to covering a wide range of watch-related topics, such as history, models, maintenance and repairs, buying and selling, and more.
How to start selling on Rolex Forums
You might need to fulfil specific requirements before you can start selling watches on Rolex Forums, such making a certain number of posts or signing up as a pledge member. To be more precise, you might need roughly 10 forum posts before you can list products for sale in the marketplace section. A gift of $30 or more may also be necessary to join the pledge programme, which comes with extra perks including access to premium material and features. To have a satisfying and productive experience on the forum, it’s crucial to understand the rules and regulations and to adhere to any specifications or limitations related to buying and selling watches.
The Fees for selling watches on Rolex Forum
The only fee required to sell watches on the Rolex Forums is the annual donation required to become a pledged member.
The Reddit subreddit r/Watchexchange is one of the greatest locations to sell watches if you wish to do so. With a huge and active community, this subreddit offers a place for watch aficionados and collectors to buy, sell, and trade timepieces. To ensure safe and secure transactions, it also has regulations and norms.
How to start selling on Reddit
It is simple to sell watches on Reddit’s r/Watchexchange community. You need first sign up for a Reddit account, log in, and then join the r/Watchexchange community. Next, write a post with a descriptive title that includes the watch’s brand, model, and condition, followed by clear, detailed images of the timepiece you wish to sell. Decide on a price, say whether you’re open to haggling or trades, and then watch for responses from prospective buyers. Respond quickly to questions, and once a customer expresses interest, get in touch with them personally to set up payment and shipment. As with any online marketplace, it’s crucial to abide by the subreddit rules and standards and take the necessary precautions to prevent fraud or scams. Additionally, prospective buyers can be won over by being honest and open about the watch’s characteristics, history, and condition. Last but not least, after the sale is finalised, provide the buyer feedback on the subreddit’s reputation system.
Timezone365 is a fantastic choice for people with expensive or unusual timepieces because it provides personalised services to sellers and does not impose any fees. With a sizable customer base, escrow service, and a reputable online platform, Chrono24 is the biggest online watch platform. Although it has a larger user base and a guarantee of authenticity for luxury timepieces, eBay has a more complicated price structure and possible problems with frauds and authenticity. Facebook Marketplace or Groups offer straightforward, cost-free solutions for selling timepieces, but there may be dangers from scammers, buyer fraud, and other issues.
Specialised forums that cater particularly to watch aficionados and collectors, like Rolex Forum and Watchuseek, offer a platform for selling watches to a specific audience. These forums might be a terrific way to connect with a certain market. Nevertheless, it is crucial to adhere to the forum’s rules and guidelines and to take the necessary precautions to safeguard oneself against scams or dishonest buyers.
In the end, sellers must consider the benefits and downsides of each marketplace to determine which one best suits their unique requirements and objectives.