ChronoTrader has had over 106,000 messages posted since we started it, circa 2003, and I can tell you that fewer than five people have been ripped in all that time (at least among those who reported a problem). That's a pretty favorable percentage . . . probably better than eBay, Chrono24, or just about any other platform.

No buyer or seller (or person posting a listing) has paid a penny, in fees and expenses. A handful of folks have offered me some compensation, and I have declined in every instance.

If anyone here (or any small committee) would like to lead the process of selecting the new forum software, getting it installed, doing the settings / features, handling the migration of approximately 200,000 messages from the discussion forum and ChronoTrader, and assuring me that it will be done correctly, with no loss of listings, please send me a message. I am happy to pay the costs, but just don't have time to manage the whole process.

Thanks for your patience and continuing support.

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: Hi guys,
: Please allow me to comment on a discussion we had a while ago about
: the scammers on the Chronotrader sales platform.
: Most of us agreed that the number of scam adds was negligible. That
: if we did our homework there was no problem at all.
: Well I must disagree I am afraid.
: I get questions about fake ads every week. I hear about people
: losing hard earned money.
: Are they being naive? Not doing their homework? Maybe.

: Fact is that today a large number of the advertised watches are
: scam ads.
: They will accept PayPal. So that doesn't mean anything.
: I have been scammed twice since I am collecting watches. In one
: occasion I was naive indeed. The second time it was almost
: impossible to avoid.

: One thing that always works for me is that I ask the seller if he
: would consider sending me the item and that I pay once I get it.
: That may seem absurd but a real seller will consider that or will
: at least try to find a solution.
: A scammer will lose his nerve, will immediately go from friendly to
: unfriendly. They just don't know how to cope with that.
: Once they start being rude, you forget about it. You don't want to
: buy from a scammer or someone unfriendly.

: So good luck and watch out. Chronotrader is not a safe place
: anymore. I am really sorry to say this but it is my honest
: opinion.

: Best regards,
: Bernard