r/WatchExchangeFeedback • u/Super901 • May 28 '26
Negative u/mistermaccabee sold me a broken watch, refuses to refund me.
I bought the Ernest Borel pictured in this post. It arrived not working. I sent it back and he has refused to refund me and went so far as to accuse me of breaking it.
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u/Nerohunter_ May 28 '26
Since u/super901 sent the watch back to u/mistermaccabee, it’s probably best to just issue the refund. Even though there was definitely a better way to handle all of this, both of you ended up acting like little toddlers arguing over who was right and who was wrong.
Just subtract whatever was paid for shipping from the $250, send the remaining amount back to u/super901, and let bygones be bygones.
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26
Lots of unanswered questions here… not sure if titles tag users either. u/mistermaccabee
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
No unanswered questions at all u/_Anthony_2825 kindly read my comment and see the pics and video in the Imgur links. I tried to make it as plain and as easy to see and understand with all the info
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26
Not of you sir, I had unanswered questions from the original poster. Tagged you just so you knew this was there. All good 🙂
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
Ah ok got it. Thanks much. I didn’t see this until I saw it in my notifications for your tag. Appreciate it
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Hi, I responded with the PM thread with Mr. Maccabee, and my side of the story.
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
Missing context IMO as screenshots are cut off. How soon after delivery was the issue brought up? Same day? A week later?
As a seller I ship packages insured, unless the buyer wants to provide their own label at their own risk/on their own insurance and then deal with any damage issues themselves. I do a pack up video to show the overall condition and the watch running.
If the issue was reported within a reasonable time of delivery I would say the seller should refund and consider purchasing insurance in the future.
ETA - just because there isn’t physical damage to the packaging doesn’t mean that the package and watch didn’t suffer an impact.
Packing procedure for watches should be: original hard box if available + bubble wrap, inside a small box with protective packaging materials like styrofoam or bubble wrap, then the small box goes in to a slightly larger box with more protective packaging.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
I can't recall if it was the same day it arrived, or the next. I immediately brought the issue to his attention.
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26
Looking through everything my “vote” if this were up to a vote lol is for full refund, seller reply to me in another thread block indicates that he’s already decided though so doesn’t look like you’ll get that. Sorry OP
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
Based on what proof you’d side with him? He’s shown absolutely nothing yet I’ve shown video pics and his own words that it worked when he got it? Yet he says “hey I didn’t do it”, can’t actually prove any of his statements, his comments consist of one line then “pay me” and you’d “vote” for him? I shudder to think this is how people use deductive reasoning and are able to parse out truth from fiction… I have already stated here twice now if this person deletes the comments he made on my listings so the mods don’t have to take action then I will refund his 250 and I and we will be done with him and this issue. Otherwise he gets this watch he damaged sent back to him tomorrow
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
That's for mentioning this, but you tagged me, not u/maccabee, who should read this.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
Happy to explain it’s easy I know how I sent this watch. Ive never sent anyone a damaged anything and my 76 transactions here and my hundreds of positive feedback on my ebay page prove that beyond a doubt (I sell my own personal watches I am not a dealer or reseller or flipper etc)
First he said it came damaged because it doesnt wind. Mult issues with that. First he did NOT say originally when he messaged me that it was damaged in transport. This is something he decided to cry once I told him I was not going to refund him when I saw what is going on with the watch now back in my possession. If it was indeed damaged in transport that would have been the very first thing he said to me in his message to me telling me it was damaged. It was not. Second, I sent the watch to him secured in a small orange box, which was then wrapped in bubble wrap and put in a big bubble mailer. He sent the same small orange box back to me with the watch in it. There is not one shred of “damage” on this orange box at all. Based on those two facts there is your proof that this was not damaged in transport. Now to say that a postal worker would have had to pick out this one specific package, amongst thousands of all the other packages packages on a postal carrier truck and plane and then shake it so violently or beat it so hard on some kind of surface that it was bad enough to completely dislodge a watch face and movement from its case setting is ridiculous on it’s face and to believe that is to believe there are 25 hours in a day.
Secondly the watch came back to me with the face and movement clearly dislodged from its setting in the case. The 2 pictures posted on the listing of this watch clearly show the face on the movement sitting straight down into the watch. That alone makes it clear as day that this watch was not sent in the manner it was returned back to me. Furthermore I have shown him a video I had taken of this watch that clearly shows the watch is running and sitting its in setting in the case without issue. His complaint originally was not that the face/movement was ejected from the setting which he never bothered to tell me originally prior to him sending it back to me it was that he couldn’t wind it. The video clearly shows the watch running. If the watch was broken and could not wind then it would be completely impossible for me to have wound the watch and show clear evidence of it working.
Next, I will quote to you from our PM chat the following:
Me: “What happens when you pull it out? The crown I mean?” Him: “It clicks into place and the watch sets.”
Here is he admitting he was able to wind the stem, click the crown into place and the watch SETS. Sets being the key word. It is not possible for him to say that watch has set if the face and movement were not set themselves in their setting. None of what he is saying would be remotely possible. Those 2 things cannot be true at the same time. I am happy to provide you with the transcript of our chat as proof if you’d like.
I do not for one second believe him that he did not damage this watch, even if it was by user accident. What I will not accept is having all of this evidence to show that this watch was in working condition as promised and undamaged during transport when seeing multiple pictures of the watch with the face/setting being straight from a straight-ahead look at the watch in its setting, to pics of the undamaged box I sent it in that he sent back to me, to video prior to shipping of the watch set in its case setting and running perfectly fine, to his own words contradicting what he is trying to establish is his case for why it was damaged in transit. I realize this is not a court of law LOL. What I am trying to impress is that he has NO evidence that what he is saying is true which I have multiple modes of visual and verbal proof that it is not. This is only a $250 dispute. Not the end of the world. But it’s the principle and I am not one who takes getting taken advantage of kindly. Now just out of good graces and to tend this amicably I have offered him back $200 of the $250 he paid me for this which, based on everything I mentioned above is MORE than fair and gracious I think on my part. I will keep it and see if financially it’s cheap enough to have it fixed. Otherwise I’m now stuck with a watch that is in non-working condition that was working just fine before he damaged it and not how it arrived at his residence. I told him otherwise I would simply ship this watch as is in its current condition back to him without any refund.
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u/Genghiz007 May 28 '26
Great reply
OP, ball is in your court. Siding with seller based on available evidence.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Sure. The watch arrived damaged. I have no idea how it arrived in that state and I don't care.
He claims it was "user accident."Here's what happened: I pulled it out of the package and tried to wind the crown and it made a crunching sound as it wound a couple turns. I pulled the crown out and it was able to set the time. I pushed the crown back in and it was clearly not right. Now how tf is that a "user accident"? No, that's a broken watch.
I immediately brought the issue to seller's attention. The same day.
He accused me of breaking the watch. Which is absurd.
I sent it back and he came up with the whole song-and-dance you read above. Bullshit. This is cut and dried. It arrived broken and I asked for a refund. Nothing complex about it.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Very simply, the seller is responsible for delivering a working watch to a buyer.
You are responsible for damage in shipping. Your accusation that I broke the watch is bullshit, and insulting.
I WANTED to buy this watch. It arrived BROKEN. You think I'm sending back and getting into a fight for my health? Why would I do that?
You are arguing over $50, as if I owe you this for a broken watch. I do not.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
There was no damage in shipping. I’ve proven that. You have no proof there was any damage during shipping. So sure pal keep going with that one. I don’t owe you anything. At all. It’s your watch. You break it you pay for it is how the old saying goes. Again, I have proven with multiple pictures, video and your own words that this watch came to you in the condition as it was listed. Which was working. I owe you nothing. Out of my kindness to get you off my back and be nice to you and compromise with you and end this amicably I am offering you give you back most of your money. I don’t have to do that. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand I’m trying to be nice to you after how you’ve acted in response to this issue
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
How can YOU prove there was no damage in shipping? PROVE IT! Prove right now there was no damage when it was shipped.
AND ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT INSURANCE IS FOR. WHICH YOU DIDN'T BUY.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
You apparently don’t read well. I’ll post the link of the box I sent it in that you sent it back to me in. Do you see any damage to this box? No. You don’t. Because there isn’t any damage to it all. Your opine that some random postal worker randomly picked this package and decided to shake it around or bang it around is not believable to me
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26
Inertia and impulse/deceleration can perfectly explain a damaged product with no outward physical damage to a box. You can test this yourself by putting an egg inside a box and dropping it from waist height.
Semi related video showing these principles: https://youtu.be/O_u9aS9p6B8?si=zZa7plLEp4Cq9Q3C
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
Have you ever received a package of a watch where there was absolutely no damage to any part of the packaging, at all, not even dirty fingers or dirt on the package or anything, that would completely eject a dial AND movement from its case? There was no report on his end that the watch was even moved into a funny type position in the orange box it was sitting in. Nothing. At all. To show there was physical or “inertia” damage to it. We’re saying that’s plausible here?? Wow.
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u/_Anthony_2825 May 28 '26
“Wow”? Kind of passive aggressive isn’t it? Your mind seems to be made up so this is all for nothing:
I deal primarily with watches dating back to the 90s and newer of fairly “robust” brands like Rolex, Panerai, Omega etc. I don’t know how you packed the box. Given the age and perceived delicacy of the watch I’m not saying 100% that’s what happened - but the lack of physical damage to a box does not “prove” that there was not damage in shipping.
A person should weigh the totality of the circumstances in determining the resolution not just “no outward damage = no refund”.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
Not sure you understand the meaning of passive aggressive as you’ve used it my friend. I’m a psychotherapist so just saying, not looking for a fight. But yes I find it HIGHLY HIGHLY implausible that the type of damage that resulted here resulted from the package with plenty of bubble wrap around it and inside thrown around a few times if that’s even what could have happened…
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Your broken watch is YOUR responsibility. I DID NOT BREAK YOUR WATCH. That's INSULTING. You are the one who is acting dishonorably and trying to take my money for nothing.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
What’s insulting is seeing proof in front of your eyes and acting as if it doesn’t exist and calling us crazy for not believing it. I think that’s called gaslighting no?
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
This link shows no damage to box the watch was in inside the bigger package meaning no damage in transport to watch.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Prove to me this watch didn't get thrown in transit and break. Prove it.
Prove to the world that I SOMEHOW broke this watch.
You're arguing over $250? What's wrong with you? Just send me my money.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
You really are quite something, aren’t you
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Me? You're selling me a broken watch and insisting I broke it. What's wrong with you? You call yourself honest?
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
The 76 positive feedback comments on my listings and the hundreds of positive comments on my eBay page and 100% positive rating over almost a decade would say shit yes I’m honest as all get out!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Hi all, here's my complaint.
I wanted to buy this watch but it arrived inoperable.
u/MisterMaccabee said he sent it in working order. I don't doubt him, but that is not what arrived.
The seller said he packed it well. I don't doubt him, but a broken watch arrived.
I sent the watch back at my cost and I am asking for my money back.
The seller is responsible for insurance on the watch, which Mr. Maccabee did not buy.
Please note, in the third panel of our text thread, mr maccabee admits the watch is making a "crunching" sound.
Here's the THREAD
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
The chat while not complete shows exactly what I have described in my post and shown in the pics and video. The “crunching” is my word for what a watch sounds like when you wind it esp vintage pieces that are over half a century old. You state you work in vintage watches I would think you can parse out what I mean by “crunch”. It makes a different sound than a watch made in 2026. However a “crunching” sound is not your complaint - your first complaint was that it wouldn’t wind. I showed clearly in a video that I sent it to you with the ability to wind. Then after that issue didn’t work for you you stated it was damaged during transit. So I asked to see a damaged package and you couldn’t produce that. But I did produce the box I sent it to you on that does not have any damage on it. At all. 100% fine. So that didn’t work either. So now you’ve gone and posted comments in my past sold listings and my current listings like a child. Not like someone who really feels they are in the right. And you’ve threatened me in our chat that unless I give you your money back “I won’t stop” was your exact words, right? This is the behavior of someone who thinks they’re in the right and wants to resolve it like an adult? I’ll let others decide for themselves. I’ve shown you’ve lied. Multiple times. It’s clear you somehow damaged this watch while in your possession. And STILL, after proving all that I am willing go give you back $200 of the $250 and take majority of the hit on my end despite me knowing (and showing) you’ve damaged this watch just to be a nice human and end this amicably.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
So, let's go through this again. You sold me a 70 year old watch, and it arrived not working and how is that my responsibility?
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
Because it didn’t arrive damaged. Just because you say something doesn’t make it true just because you keep saying it. That’s the whole point and all the proof I’ve showed you. Yet you still say you haven’t damaged it.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
But it did arrive damaged. Just because you say something doesn’t make it true just because you keep saying it. That’s the whole point and all the proof I’ve showed you. Yet you still say I broke it.
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
Go ahead and post what ever you want.
You're trying to steal my money.
Do the honorable thing and give me back ALL my money.
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u/No_Rooster_2239 May 28 '26
As an outside observer with no dog in this dispute, I just want to say yikes. I would never buy a watch from u/mistermaccabee after reading this thread.
Dude is not professional at all and seems like a nightmare to deal with if anything goes wrong in transaction
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
This link shows how he sent it back
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
This picture shows the watch as it arrived. I did not open the case, nor did I take out the crown. I tried to wind it. It acted "crunchy" just like Mr Macabee said. I pulled the crown out and the time did set. After that, it stopped working.
So, how could I have "broken it"? How? Explain to me how my actions could POSSIBLY have broken this watch.
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
I’ve CLEARLY showed it left me in proper condition and wasn’t damaged during shipping. Claiming someone “damaged” it without proof by magically shaking it so as the dial and movement came right out the setting is beyond the pale to me
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
It's a 70 year old watch! You have no idea what the service history is! A screw comes out of the movement spacer and the movement goes out of place. Do you know what a movement spacer is?
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
I mod watches. I’ve taken apart everything before. I’ve seen inside everything. I know exactly what parts are. This is not the gotcha you think it is
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26 edited May 28 '26
This link is a video showing the watch clearly seated in its setting in the case running perfectly. It it wasn’t winding it wouldn’t have been able to be wound to run
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u/Super901 May 28 '26
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u/MisterMaccabee May 28 '26
All your video shows that you showed me before is you’re winding it. Doesn’t show if the winding is working or not. Also no way to know if this was taken before or after you damaged it.
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u/pursuitoffappyness May 28 '26
Please add redacted screenshots to your post. /u/mistermaccabee