1. Click on the "buy now" button located at the end of the description for each watch. This will take you to Paypal's secure site where you can enter your user ID and password (if you are already a Paypal user), or enter your credit card information (if you are not a Paypal user). Either way, whether you are a Paypal user or not, you can use Paypal to make your purchase via your debit or credit card.
If you DO NOT wish to use Paypal, then the alternate way is to confirm watch availability with me by either e-mail to Bruce Shawkey (brucetime@inwave.com) or by phone/fax at 608/882-4563. Be sure to include the stock number, brand name and the price (Example: stock #577, Zodiac, $150). This is to avoid any confusion over exactly which watch you want. You may, at your option, specify your firm commitment to purchase the piece if it is available. If this commitment is not stated, it is understood that you are merely inquiring as to the watch's availability; the watch still remains available to the first "buy now" customer, or confirmed order (see number 3).

2. Your confirmed order places the watch on hold. In anywhere from 2-24 hours, you will see the watch on the web page with an "ON HOLD" in the description with your initials. "Buy now" accomplishes the same thing, i.e., no other customer will be able to buy the watch because there is a script built in to the "buy now" button that prevents anyone else from buying that unique watch.

3. While I am happy to answer questions about any watch offered for sale, it is understood that watches remain "in play" and available to the first confirmed purchase. If you're thinking about buying a watch, it's best to buy it, or place a confirmed order. You are always protected by the three-day return privilege (see under Terms and Conditions). Many watches sell, literally, minutes after being placed on the web page.

4. If paying by credit card, please note that Paypal is my ONLY credit card service. Many of you are already familiar with this excellent service if you have purchased something through Ebay. I am not an independent Visa/MC merchant, so please do not attempt to give me your credit card information via phone, fax, or email. I can't do anything with it anyway, with the one exception being noted below. Your credit card information is secure within the Paypal system; I never see your credit card number. When you pay with paypal, they instantly send me a notice saying the watch has been paid for, and I ship your order to you.

Pleae note: With large orders (especially first-time customers) and/or with international orders, I reserve the right to conduct an independed address verification, in which case I will ask you to fax your credit card/address information to me at 608-882-4563.

If paying by check or money order, make funds payable to Bruce Shawkey and send to P.O. Box 74, Evansville, WI 53536. Personal checks may require 7-business-day hold at my discretion. International funds must be made in U.S. dollars and payable through a United States bank. Funds should be sent by next business day. If funds are not received within seven days, I will remove the hold and attempt to contact you.

Your order will be processed by next business day, pending receipt of *confirmed* funds (i.e., for personal checks, this may be as late as the eighth day) or confrimation of your credit card purchase (usually within minutes of your purchase).

5. I will make every attempt to respond to all e-mails within 24 hours. The exceptions will be when I'm on vacation or at watch shows. Usually, you will find a notice to this effect in the "SPECIAL NOTICES" section of the Home Page. If you are expecting a response and do not hear from me, either send the e-mail again or phone/fax me. I cannot be responsible for e-mail messages that are lost/bounced/whatever due to customer errors or outages in users' servers or other factors beyond my control. If getting a certain watch means life or death to you, it's best to use the "Buy Now" feature, and then back that up by phone or fax!

6. Multiple purchases. If you want to buy more than one watch, each purchase will require you to use the "Buy Now" button, where you will have to enter your account information separately each time, and incur the postage charge each time. I will certainly combine postage charges for multiple-watch orders, and then refund any excess postage to you via paypal. Sorry, I do not currently offer a "shopping basket" option for multiple purchases. It's very complicated, and most (90%) of my orders are for single watches only. I may add a shopping cart option in the future if enough customers request it. But for now, it's not a big issue.

A watch that is marked "on hold" means the watch is in play. Either I am awaiting funds from a customer, or the watch has been shipped to the customer but the sale is not final due to the three-day return privilege. Because of my low return rate (about 1 in 20 watches), "on hold" generally means sold and gone. However, if you inquire about an "on hold" watch, I'll be happy to place you next in line for it should it be returned for any reason, or should the orignal customer fail to send the money.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! The placing of an order constitutes your agreement to these conditions.

1. Sorry, no C.O.D. or "on approval" orders.

2. All watches sold as running condition, although some may require cleaning and regulation to keep good time. Exceptions to this will be noted in description.

3. In adherence to guidelines set forth by the National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors (NAWCC), watches may be returned for any reason within three days of receipt.

If returning a watch, please e-mail or phone/fax to let me know the watch is coming back. That way, if a person is next in line waiting for the watch, he/she can be notified. For returned watches, postage is at your expense, except in cases where a watch described as "running" is received in non-running order. Returned watches that are improperly packaged or sent without insurance ARE SENT AT YOUR OWN RISK if lost or damaged while in transit.

After three days, watches CANNOT BE RETURNED FOR ANY REASON. Watches carry no further warranty or return privilege.

4. All watches are one-of-a-kind and sold first come, first serve.

5. All watches remain property of The Watch Store until watch has been paid for in full, including the discretionary 7-day hold on checks.

6. Postage/handing:

Domestic
Usually $6, up to $1,000. Over $1,000 handled by individual quote.

International:$100 to $500 shipping will be $20 and shipped via international express mail, which provides a tracking number and automatic insurance. Orders under $100, you can have the option of normal airmail at $6. However, with this method, you must assume the risk if the package is lost or stolen. This is not usually an option anyway, since most of my watches are $100 or over. Sorry, but no exceptions to this policy. I have simply lost too many packages shipped normal airmail. With orders over $500, shipping is via Federal Express. Costs are quoted on a case-by-case basis, but generally run about $40.

It is impossible to describe every square millimeter of a used watch. You can only determine so much by a picture and a description. There is simply no substitute for having the watch in hand. However, I will make every attempt to describe each watch as fully as I can. General grading guidelines are as follows:

Mint -- a term I will rarely use, because I have seldom, if ever, seen a used watch that is flawless.

New Old Stock -- Never worn, however not to be confused with mint. Usually will show small flaws, typically from handling in the store where the watch originally resided.

Near-mint -- Worn with some minor wear. No brassing on gold filled cases. Scratches are present although not deep. Dials are clean but may show slight discoloration or "aging."

Excellent -- Shows slight normal wear. Slight brassing on bezel high spots and/or on backs and lugs of gold filled cases. Dials may show minor imperfections (scratches/ freckles) and discoloration.

Very Good -- Shows normal wear. Brassing on bezel and/or back and lugs of gold filled watches. Dials may show stains or scratches or heavy discoloration.

Good/Average -- Shows heavier than average wear. Brassing and possible dents or dings. Possible splits along case seams. Possible case holes. Dials unattractive.

Fair/Below Average -- Damage or other serious problems. Basically just a case to hold to movement. Dials may be unattractive or discolored to the point where they should be refinished. Generally, watches are not offered in this condition, except in a rare item where the movement/dial may be of value.

Dials: Dials are assumed to be original, unless stated in the description as being "restored." In many cases, the assumption of an original dial is a judgment call on my part. I will not knowingly sell a restored dial as original. If, in your opinion, a watch described as having an original dial is refinished, you may return it under the return privilege explained above.

General running condition: You will usually see the wording "keeps time to 2 min/day or better" on the descriptions. When I get my watches in, I time them for 2 hours against a quartz clock. If the watches are correct to ten seconds plus or minus against the quartz clock after two hours, I say they will keep time to 2 min/day or better. This means they might run as fast as 2 min per day or as slow as 2 min/day. This is a minimum standard only. They may run more accurately than this (most do); but 2 minutes plus or minus is the minimum standard. If you require a more precise timing, let me know and I will time the piece for you for 24 hours. However, be advised that this does not hold the watch for you. It is still available to the first person who places a confirmed hold. I've found that most of my customers are satisfied with 2 min/day on a vintage mechanical watch. It's no secret that I do not overhaul the vast majority of watches that come to me unless they will not run or unless they run so poorly that they are not capable of keeping anything close to accurate time. The reason is that in over eight years of dealing in vintage watches I've found that most people are not willing to pay any more for a watch that has been overhauled versus one that simply keeps adequate time (i.e., within 2 min/day). Sorry if this philosophy offends some of you, but I simply can't afford to overhaul 65 to 100 watches per month! The vast majority of you have been very satisfied with this philosophy, but I know there are some of you out there who are real sticklers about accuracy. If this is a real concern for you, I suggest you ask me to perform a 24-hour timing to avoid disappointment.

The Watch Store is a project of Bruce Shawkey, P.O. Box 74, Evansville, WI 53536. I have been in the mail-order watch business since 1989. I am a frequent contributor to the NAWCC "Bulletin," and have written watch articles for other publications. A member of the NAWCC since 1988, I am active at the Chapter level and am currently President of NAWCC Special Interest Chapter 181 - Wristwatchers. I welcome your comments about this Web Site or any other aspect of my business. You may e-mail me at brucetime@inwave.com or phone/fax me at 608/882-4563.

The Watch Store is in constant need of watches to satisfy customer demands. I offer very inexpensive consignment arrangements, or will purchase your watches outright at a fair price. I also will consider trades. To find out more information about this, go back to the Home Page, then link to the page titled "I Buy/Trade/Consign Watches."