Can You Trust Watch Warehouse?

Are you wondering whether to buy from Watch Warehouse? It was new to me, too! Here’s what I found.

Imagine stumbling upon a brand new Speedmaster or Datejust for 20%, 30%, or even 40% cheaper than the retail price. This is possible with companies like Watch Warehouse. But, like any company you’re thinking of buying from, you need to do a little research first.

After all, there is that typical saying that circulates the watch-wearing community. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But is that the case for Watch Warehouse? We’re going to find out.  

Information regarding the company remains quite elusive online. What’s unusual is that no one is talking much about it. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I wondered. 

To help me become familiar with the brand, I checked out some of the company’s reviews online. 

Watch Warehouse Reviews

If you’ve been considering buying a timepiece from here for a while, you should begin with the reviews section.

Like with any company, you should read what people are saying about their experiences. It may answer some burning questions you have about the business, like “Is Watch Warehouse legit?” or “Should I buy a watch from Watch Warehouse?”  

There are some mixed reviews about the business across the internet. Some rave about it, and others say they had a bad customer service experience. In the grand scheme of things, however, the company’s eBay, Amazon, and Trustpilot reviews are impressive.

The great thing about Trustpilot is that a company cannot delete or remove a bad review. 

Instead, they must build their reputation by working with their customers to solve a problem. To improve a review, they must show initiative and turn the experience around. In doing so, the customer may consider changing their review.  

Trustpilot also transparently communicates between the company and the customer. It shows how the company’s customer service department responds to negative feedback.  

The good thing is that 90% of Watch Warehouse’s reviews on Trustpilot are really good. People are impressed with the speediness of their orders. They also confirm their watches came with legit paperwork and authentic, genuine presentation boxes.  

The negative reviews on other sources of the internet seem to point to a lack of communication from the company. 

There are no reviews, however, regarding fake or counterfeit luxury watches, so you can definitely shop with confidence. A couple of customers, however, have reported damaged goods upon delivery.  

Is Watch Warehouse Legit?

So, here’s the good news: it is a legit company. A glance through its inventory will show you that it stocks a broad range of timepieces, from high-end to affordable. You can find everything from Cartier, TAG Heuer, Breitling, Movado, Luminox, and Citizen.  

The company has been in operation since 1995 and prides itself on having over 13,000 positive eBay experiences and an A+ rating on Amazon. Its information page also explains in detail how it can sell its watches for such appealing prices (a little on that later).  

The business premises are not open to the public, but the Watch Warehouse office operates Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It stocks a wide range of timepieces, writing instruments, and jewelry from revered manufacturers that enthusiasts recognize globally for quality.

The company’s website provides plenty of information about the authentication of its timepieces. It also promises a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-business-day turnaround on shipping when you order items before 2 p.m.  

Watch Warehouse also seems to offer a wide range of payment options and ships its overseas orders via FedEx.

So, how can Watch Warehouse sell its timepieces at such affordable prices?  

Watch Warehouse Is a Grey Market Dealer

Traditionally, a watch manufacturer supplies its timepieces to businesses that are permitted to sell them in stores or online. As such, dealers have to accept large quantities of watches, including those that don’t sell quite so well. 

One way of freeing up space and money to purchase more stock is to sell this excess inventory to dealers who don’t have a licensing agreement. We call them grey market dealers. Note: they aren’t illegal, and they aren’t part of the black market.  

Grey market watch dealers sell authentic, genuine, unworn luxury watches via their own sales channels. This means that collectors can buy these watches abroad, sometimes without VAT.

In most cases, watches sold by grey market dealers are legit. They come with official paperwork and boxing. Sometimes, however, original parts and accessories become exchanged. You should bear this in mind when buying a watch from the grey market.  

Less popular models from world-renowned brands can sell for around 30% cheaper than the advised retail price. Even some TAG Heuer Watches sell for around 25-30% less. Carrera or Autavia watches with such savings are an absolute steal.  

Buying from the grey market can work both ways, however.

The intense demand for luxury steel sports watches has led to empty display cases in most official retail stores. Those who don’t want to wait will instead pay far above the price list. Thus, prices on the grey market run high.  

It’s a touchy subject for watch manufacturers. In a way, however, they are partly to blame for the phenomenon due to such strict control of production numbers.  

Although grey market watch dealers aren’t illegal, they don’t honor official watch warranties. Manufacturers also have a way of detecting whether a watch has been purchased this way rather than an official route.

As far as grey market watch dealers go, Watch Warehouse seems to do everything the right way. Although not as widely known as, say, Ashford or Jomashop, it’s a legit place to grab a good deal when you spot one.  

Wrapping Up

I was even a newbie at Watch Warehouse. I hadn’t heard of the company before, nor did I know how it operated.  

The company gets mixed company reviews. People either rave about it or share a bad customer service experience.

But this company operates as a great market watch dealer. The timepieces it sells are all legit, and you can purchase them at a very affordable price.  

Watch Warehouse sources old stock that official watch dealers and retailers wish to get rid of. As with any grey market watch dealer, however, a good price comes at a compromise. These watches don’t come with an official manufacturer warranty.

To make up for this, you do get an official Watch Warehouses guarantee. Unfortunately, that won’t cover you quite the same. Saying that nothing is stopping you from getting your watch regularly serviced directly by the official brand.  

All in all, if you want a high-end timepiece and a manufacturer’s warranty isn’t essential, Watch Warehouse is a serious consideration.

Have you ever had an experience with Watch Warehouse before? Share it with us in the comments below. For more horology-related topics and news, sign up for our newsletter at The Slender Wrist today!