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Zvi,

I can tell you my experience. I bought several things from
"Russian" (=former Soviet territory) sellers.
Including a chronometer. All sellers were very honest and co-operative,
and the thing they sold were good.
The negative experience is with:
a) payment (They don't accept Paypal, Credit cards etc.) And there is no
insurance.
b) and transportation, and again there is no insurance.
Almost everything I bought was damaged to some extent in transportation.

The chronometer story is the following.
Chronometer arrived, carefully packaged.
I opened the case, removed the wedges from the balance (these wedges are
necessary in transportation!), wound it and tried to start.
It went down at high speed in a minute...
The balance shaft and possibly the jewel were damaged in transportation.
By winding and starting it, I added the damage...
I brought it to a watchmaker in Elgin (near Chicago) who was recommended
by the list. He said that spare parts were not available, and making them
would be prohoibitevely expensive.
Then I asked the seller about spare parts...
and told him the whole story and how much will repair cost.
(This was more than the price I payed for the chronometer, even if
I get the spare parts for free).
The seller agreed to exchange it!!
I sent it back, and a month later or so, the new one arrived, undamaged,
and works reasonably.

If I were to buy another one, and I had a choice, I would buy from
a person who gives some guarantee, and ships from some Western country,
with full insurance. And of course, the person has to know how to ship
them.

This was about 5 years ago, I payed about $650 and one way shipping was
$140 or so. Three shippings were $420 :-)

Alex.

   

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