Buying from Amazon.Com - and a confession

[TMan]

I've had a Luminox watch for years and I like it because it glows in the dark without having to be charged up by a light source during the day.  Unfortunately, it is plastic and has a cloth band, and my wife hates the looks of it.  So I looked at the Luminox web-site, did some research and had one shipped from Amazon.

I don't buy as much from Amazon lately because they charge me 8.25% sales tax, which is what the sales tax is in Texas.  However, the watch I was interested in was sold and shipped by another company and just listed on Amazon.  That company didn't charge sales tax.  So I got the watch for $826 and it would have cost $1250 if bought at MSRP.  The Watch

Right after purchasing it, and before it arrived I checked Amazon again and the price was over $1,000 and was being sold via another company.  Now I noticed still another company selling it today for $819 via Amazon.

The watch arrived and unlike buying a watch in a brick-and-mortar shop, I had to remove all the packaging, which was extensive.  The time was incorrect and I noticed that like a Rolex you have to unscrew the stem in order the set the time, day, and date.  It doesn't have the raised glass over the date like the Rolex has, which I think is ugly.  

The watch is big, my wrist isn't.  I took the watch off, set it on the nightstand and turned off the lights.  Great, it glows in the dark.  

The next morning I awoke with the sun streaming into the room.  The watch read 2:38 and the second hand wasn't moving.  Great, piece of junk didn't even last 24 hours.  I tossed it into a drawer.  After several cups of coffee I got to thinking (something I seldom do) that perhaps it is just the battery.  The back is the type that unscrews and I have the tools, I might as well take the back off and go get a new battery.  I put the watch on, did a couple of other things and went to get my watch working on tools.  After moving several things around, cursing myself for not being more organized, I located the tools and went to take the watch off.

Much to my amazement the second hand was moving.  The light bulb came on, and I then understood why the watch had the words "Automatic" on the face of it.  It is a self-winding watch.  I read specifications before buying guns, why didn't I read the specifications before buying the watch?  

It appears to be fairly accurate, but it is not a chronometer like a Rolex, but it only cost 1/10th of the price of a Rolex, and it glows in the dark.

I bought the watch because of the glow-in-the-dark and because of its looks.  I've learned that picking out a watch is like picking out a woman, you shouldn't just base it on looks.

[MLB]

I've always admired fine timepieces, but never invested in one. Watches in general are getting to be an oddity lately since everyone has a phone in their pocket. I have a nice looking Bulova that I wear to events, but it's only valuable since my wife got it for me ages ago.

[TMan]

MLB, is it the Bulova Accutron that has th tuning fork? I used to have one and a Mazda RX4. They both hummed. My ex-wife hated the watch because I'd wear it to bed and slip my arm under the pillow and the hum would wake her up.

Based on the number of stores next door in the mall that sell watches, I guess they still sell here. Just about all the watches now have the same type of crystal that Rado had for years i.e. resistant to scratches. However, they get dirty easily.

Edited to add: I have several watches, and one time we were in a jewelry store, which was not a rare occurrence.  I spotted a Movado that had numbers all the way around it.  (They usually just have a dot at 12 o'clock.)  I wanted it, but my wife started complaining about the number of watches that I own.  The woman behind the counter said: "Of course, men like watches because it is the only jewelry that they wear."  (I guess if you are a fanook like Elton John that wouldn't apply.)

[blueglass]

I only use a pocket watch due to large scars on both wrists from serious carpal tunnel surgery. Darn band rubs and drives me crazy on the scar area's. Had a Bulava accutron watch, the railroad model which was great but gave it to my son and my fancy dress watch a Seiko to my favorite son-in-law. It is a world travelling watch. He does travel the world in business on a full time job with Freightliner Corp as Chief Engineer for them. A good watch is important to have in the business world to-day. You should never be late for a apt at any time.