[Katgirl]

May I ask what red flags you are seeing? Better pics would be helpful. I bought mine on Amazon, too. It came directly from a Japanese vendor. I would be surprised if you got a fake Alpinist on Amazon.

Kat


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[Katgirl]

You don’t have the compass set N at 12. Reset it and take another pic.

Here is mine:

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[Katgirl]

Amazon has time limits for returns, but if you bought a fake Seiko from them, I’d be making calls. Honestly, I was not aware there are fake SARB017’s being sold on eBay. Good luck. I know mine is real, but serial number dates it to 2/ 19, supposedly after they stopped production, but I’ve seen others post about having early 2019 serial numbers. I bought mine from Amazon in November, 2020, right before prices skyrocketed. I paid normal discounted price.


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[Katgirl]

Yeah, that looks hinky. Call Amazon. Talk to an actual person. Their customer service is usually stellar. four years or not, I’d still call them.


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[Katgirl]

FWIW, I never thought it was fake, either. When you buy a Seiko from Amazon, they receive them from reputable watch dealers, either directly from Japan, or from U. S. Dealers. I have bought a lot of my new Seikos on Amazon. It would be bizarre if it were a fake. Just sell it!

Kat


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[Katgirl]

Oh, My! Now I am changing my mind. I did think the Seiko etching on the case back looked rough, and was unaware that exact serial number was linked to fakes. If you really bought that on Amazon, and can prove it, you should call them. How is it that you are just figuring this out 4 years later, though?

Kat


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[Katgirl]

The case back Seiko etching, sloppy dial printing and oft used fake serial number do point to fake. The movement is puzzling, though could be faked. Do we know this guy, is my question. He could be seeing how well it could pass, and could have shown pic of a real movement to fool us. Note the different background in movement pic, someone else in that pic and the strap laying there, as if just swapped. Just sayin’…..

Kat


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[Katgirl]

Amazon does not have Seikos made just for them, and certainly the SARB017 was not made for Amazon. I have never heard of an “Amazon Exclusive” Seiko. I HAVE seen Seiko do that for Macy’s.


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[Katgirl]

Guess you’re right. Mine must be the same, then. There is a watch with your same serial number “for sale on eBay” right now.

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[Katgirl]

I do not know guys, I just need a definitive answer, is it real or is it fake

Thank you David, I will reach out to amazon again and maybe try and speak to someone over the phone this time. It is a real bummer to find out it's fake tho. Thank you again.

Well, since an identical watch with your identical serial number is currently for sale on eBay, I think you have your answer, and I apologize for suggesting you may be a scammer. BTW, I did report that watch, to eBay, as counterfeit.

Kat


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[Katgirl]

Was Amazon who fulfilled the order, or some 3rd party shop that uses they’re online platform or 3PL services? My understanding is Amazon is a Seiko AD and the seller would have appeared as Sold by Amazon.com if they were who you bought the watch from

Also, my understanding from working in the supply chain industry with Amazon being a former client is returns do not go back to Amazon, but rather third party clearing houses who then resell what can be sold.


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OP said Amazon told him it was an exclusive model to Amazon, that was supplied by Seiko, USA. Originally the SARB017 was only available from Japan. It must have been a return, that someone switched out for a fake and it was then resold to OP. That is the most likely scenario.


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[Katgirl]

The watch in question was not provided to Amazon from Seiko. If Amazon has any fault here, it is that they may have accepted a fake as a return, and then resold it. They are not watch experts. Some folks here, who know their stuff, initially thought it was real. I buy a lot of watches from Amazon, mostly Seikos. I have never had any issues. When I have had issues with any Amazon purchase, they always made things right. In this case the OP says he bought it 4 years ago, but he should still contact Amazon, based on his story.

Kat


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[Katgirl]

eBay will do nothing. I’ve reported multiple fakes from the same seller, with the same serial numbers, and even chatted with someone that said they would follow up on it. They’re still listed and have been for weeks. I don’t even bother anymore.

You are absolutely right. They did nothing. I even contacted the seller, who responded by asking me why I thought it was fake. So I told him. Buyer beware, I guess…


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