[BundyBear]

My apologies in advance as I am a newcomer to the whole AliExpress thing and would like to ask my fellow watch aficionados here if the 11/11 sale is worth spending money on?

I saw a few YouTube videos about affordable watches and putting them in the cart first only to check out on the day itself. I signed up and went to the AliExpress stores but noted that not all stores are offering sales. Some are still on full price. Is this the way? I thought it is site wide…

 

[BundyBear]

Is it worth it? Depends on the store, the brand, and the watch...but in general, yes, totally worth it.

Some brands and stores (Phylida, Maybe Matic, and escapement time) don't offer discounts at all. Others, like Pagani, San Martin, and Cronos offer pretty good discounts.

Also keep in mind the coupons, most prices you see listed during the sales do not include coupons.

Also check some images...some stores make a nice image showing final prices after available coupons.

But in general, it's totally worth it.

And as a YouTuber, I say thank you for using our links....it really helps. I wouldn't be where I am in my channel without everyone using the links in my videos. It's just a little bit, but it ads up. And it allows us to test the waters, so to speak, when we otherwise wouldn't be able to do it.

So again, thank you! Not just from me, but from everyone...Jody, Gary, Jason, Honestwatchreviews, watchtower etc. We all appreciate it

Thanks for the response. Helps guide my buying decision.

 

[BundyBear]

Here's a new one from the Official Sea-Gull Store.

According to the product listing, it is the "Anti-US Aid Korea Commemorative Edition Volunteer Army Gift Set."

It comes with a gift box.

It's currently $315-$343, depending on color. It will be $238-$259 during the 11.11 sale.

299.0US $ 30% OFF|2022 Seagull Montre Homme Automatic Mechanical Watch Military Watch Commemorative Edition Army Watch For Men 811.93.6109 - Mechanical Wristwatches - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

View attachment 16223185

I might get beaten up if I wear this watch. LOL. But, the watches from Seagull is on another level altogether. Certainly not a Swiss rip-off or a homage. I had better stop browsing the Ali Express pages. Bad for the health of my wallet.

 

[BundyBear]

Here's what happens after we each place our carefully-considered orders:

Horrors! What ever happened to conveyor belts and automatic sorting??? No wonder these things are stuck for weeks in the Chinese sorting centre.

Bet it isn’t just 11.11 sale but all year round. Just worse during 11.11.

Thinking twice about the sale now

 

[BundyBear]

Hi everyone, I am looking to buy a new watch on the 11.11 sale. I want a quartz watch with sapphire crystal and stainless steal. Dress or diver does not matter.

I was looking at this but I would prefer a watch that is not a hommage.

60.0US $ 60% OFF|Addiesdive Horloge Mannen Luxe Mannen Quartz Horloge 200M Waterdicht Duiken Horloges Mode C3 Super Lichtgevende Keramische Bezel 2021|Quartz Horloges| - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

nl.aliexpress.com

Let me know if you guys have some tips.

You have to buy a Rolex.

Sorry, couldn’t open your link.

 

[BundyBear]

San Martin's newly released SN051-G2 has unusual looking hands. Is this homaging something? And do you have any idea what this style of hands is called?

View attachment 16227581

Star Wars hands.

 

[BundyBear]

Gents, I got a question not on the "best of Ali Express" but more so about the shipment. I bought a few items during the 11/11 sale (well, more like over 15 items) but some got rejected and was not sent.

I was tracking the movement and saw that the items made their way from picked up, sent to airline and then bam, returned. I was like... WTF??? What could possibly cause my purchase to be rejected? Last time I bought a Sea-gull chrono (that 1963 one) and it also got rejected as it was deemed as "cultural heritage" and it was illegal to send cultural heritage stuff out of the country.

This time, 3 of the items (watch repair stuff and bicycle wheels) got sent back and I was wondering why. At the moment, the only thing I can think of is the breakdown in political relationship between Australia and China caused this. Otherwise, no explanation... Anyone got any idea why?

 

[BundyBear]

With that explanation, I expect you’re already onto the correct answer.

Disappointing if true. 😩

Now I am stuck with parts that I can't use because the watch repair tools was to complete my watch desktop set up and the bicycle wheels are for my bicycle! Urrghhh....

 

[BundyBear]

I’d be sending ScoMo my taxi bills until the bicycle wheels arrive!

At this rate he's going, he won't be around long enough to pay the bill....

 

[BundyBear]

They don’t have outbound shipping capacity

I want to believe that that is true.

 

[BundyBear]

My suspicions seem to be confirmed - the shipping backlog is going to get worse Bloomberg - Are you a robot? . And I thought CX's "Pilot revolt" was bad FOCUS-Locked in hotels: Hong Kong's COVID-19 rules take mental toll on Cathay pilots

That's bad for international trade. 😩

 

[BundyBear]

From the 11/11 sale.

No watches for me this time round but I purchased some watch making tools to complete my tool collection. Slight bitter shopping experience for me was that the seller forgot to pack in oil bottles and later AX claimed that as the package was delivered, I did not qualify for a refund on those oil bottles. Took a bit of to and fro before they agreed to refund me for those oil bottles.

 

[BundyBear]

Also from the 11/11 sale. This arrived separately but was completely crushed. LOL.

 

[BundyBear]

How did you manage to to and fro with AliExpress after they decided you didn't deserve compo for the oil bottles? Asking as lots of people seem to have no avenue for appeal after their initial claim has been denied. Would be great to know if there are alternate means.

Not sure about your interface but I could reject the offer and resubmit new evidence. That’s what I did twice. First time it was rejected because they said I received the parcel - which I did. But I explained that there’s no oil bottles in the package!!! So they offered me an amount less than what I paid for it which is what the seller must have told them. I pushed for a higher amount which was oil + tax + shipping. Got it in the end.

This was the first time I am disputing a sale. Next time, I will do a screenshot of my webpage.

 

[BundyBear]

How are those tools? I've been buying some Ali tools recently too. Purchased a screwdriver set this Black Friday along with some other things

I was about to order that parts tray too! A shame yours was cracked... But at the very least you can still use it? Hopefully get a partial discount.

I think the tools are useable and for all intents and purposes, does what it is supposed to do. They’re not Bergeon, so I wasn’t expecting Bergeon quality. For sure it’s better than those free screwdrivers that come with watches or watch straps.

My issue I had with them was the T-cut screwdrivers (the three individual ones in the plastic sleeve). It was advertised as screwdrivers for Rolex bracelet sizing but the tip was short and does not sit all the way into the screw head making it risky as it might slip. I think those T-cut screwdrivers are actually more for watch movements.

As for parts tray, I got a full refund on it. Yes, the tray can be still used but the cover is a goner. LOL.

 

[BundyBear]

The problem here is that the foam case where the watch was supposed to be was empty. See picture below with the content:

Hi @cuica - this happened to me for the 11/11 sale. I bought 7 items from one store and they sent six. I disputed it and originally was told it was delivered. I disputed again and they asked for photographic evidence of which I said that I could not take a photo of something that is missing!!!!

On the second round, they ruled that the dispute was acceptable but the store owner offered a low price which I pushed up and got the price of the missing item plus shipping.

My argument was:
1) you want photo? Here it is, empty packaging with nothing.
2) I want money back plus shipping because I would still need to buy it from another store.
3) i also included a screen shot showing it was a combined Ali Express shipping - that threw some doubt as to whether it was the store or was it the Ali Express sorting centre that lost the item.

You got to plan your strategy on making a claim. A weak claim will get knocked back but one that is water tight will get you your money back.

Hope this helps.

 

[BundyBear]

Something similar happened to me with a watch I ordered from AliExpress. I got an empty box. The seller demanded photos of the missing watch, which (as you point out) makes no sense. I raised an appeal with AliExpress, who agreed to refund me. The seller appealed the refund (I had no idea that could be done) and said it was absolutely impossible he shipped an empty box, and so if I received the box then I must have received the watch.

For a day or two I was furious. So, I wrote about the experience here and in several other watch groups. And, fortunately, two people wrote back that exactly the same had just happened to them: empty box, no watch, from the same seller (Escapement Time) on AliExpress.

I wrote back to AliExpress that now there were at least three identical cases, there must be a thief either at seller or at the post office. Immediately, the seller wrote back that he would send a new watch. He did, and he even shipped it with some fast delivery courier.

Many you could do the same? Name the seller and write about it widely looking for others with the same experience with that seller? Then write an appeal with the details of those other customers.

I got my money back. In fact, no more 11/11 sale for me because I think the stores get inundated with orders that everybody has gone bonkers.

Out of the 8 purchases with 11/11 sale, 4 of them resulted in disputes. I got my money back for all four. As you said, the seller can appeal against Ali Express but I stood firm and provided the proof they wanted and prevailed.

Lucky for you that the seller finally sent out a watch to you.

 

[BundyBear]

Chapter rings are missaligned in almost all photos...

Seiko “quality”?

 

[BundyBear]

After hearing about the same issue a couple of months ago I started filming the unboxings of every item, it could save some time and a couple of headaches if anything's missing.

Similar to you, I learnt my lesson with my first damaged item as I could lodge a dispute because I threw away the packaging and it was garbage collection day and the bins got emptied.

I now take photos of everything. I didn’t know you could upload videos to Ali Express?

 

[BundyBear]

Hi @BundyBear, thanks for the input.

The difference here is that I bought all the items separately to avoid these problems I've been reading about and Aliexpress decided to make a bundle nevertheless.
The package arrived but was empty - funny thing, all other items in there, because they were cheap, were still inside.

The seller has already reacted saying they have proof of posting with weight...Aliexpress is probably going to decide against me.

Good thing I've payed with Paypal, may have a chance there...

I don’t think so. See my point #3. You need to persist. If the seller posted it, and Ali combined it into one shipment, then the likelihood is that someone from Ali stole the watch. Write that in the dispute and put it to them that (a) if seller shipped Watch, (b) watch missing at destination, then all likelihood is Ali stole the watch. If they ask you to prove that it wasn’t your post office, direct them to the first photo that the box arrived well sealed in the Ali packaging.