Horological Meandering

Both of us being wheeler-dealers, we bartered back and forth for several hours -- not about street value which we both agreed upon, but on the currency to make the deal. 

I went home with 50% cash, a color laser printer, a paper shredder, 8 cases of wine, some stemware, a few garden gnomes for my wife, and some other odds and ends. He got the watch for himself, another watch for his daughter, and some freed-up space in his cellar. I was also offered furniture, shelving, projectors, and other stuff which I just couldn't take.

It reminded me of once taking a gold FPJourne I was afraid to wear for risk of damaging it, and swapping the watch to with my friend JZ for a new Honda Insight. JZ told me had just traded 3 watches and his fairly new Porsche 911 to get a BlancpaiN Grand Complication. I accompanied him to Westime once and bought the watch off his wrist in the parking lot to help him get up the cash and courage to buy his first Richard Mille.

Then I read this news item:

Need further proof that the economy is about as healthy as a three-pack-a-day smoker living on the bacon and red meat diet? 

Ponder this: a Florida used car dealer recently took a horse in on trade for a family-sized van.

While a lot of dealerships claim they’ll take “anything” in on trade, that “anything” usually doesn’t extend to farm animals, family pets or items without wheels and an engine.

One Florida used car dealer has more liberal standards: Park Auto Mall had previously accepted a mobile home, artwork, signed sports memorabilia, jewelry and even an airplane in trade for its used vehicles, but the horse was a first for the dealership.

The horse’s owner was a woman with no money and no other assets, who needed a van for her large family.  

The horse, named Dallas, is an award-winning quarter horse, and Park Auto Mall saw value in a trade where others just shook their head and walked away.

As the economy continues its downward spiral, expect the barter system to return to prominence. 

Park Auto Mall may be the first used car dealer in recent history to take a horse in trade, but we’re betting that they won’t be the last.

BTW - this news item was dated 2011.

As I sit here in my office surrounded by piles of shredded paper, I thought of asking

Have any of you done complicated or ridiculous deals to get (or get rid of) a watch? 

No names or cash numbers are required, but the more outrageous the story, the more fun it will be.

Cazalea

PS - my friend Ted worked for British Aerospace and once made a deal with a Romanian airline -- he supplied them with spare parts, they offered him 10,000 men's dress shirts (no hard currency available). I still have one of the "Family" shirts which BA made him responsible for reselling once he got back to Weybridge ...

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