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Excellent report Ricky,and congrats on that good looking and value for money watch!  (n/t)

Nice presentation Ricky Marked for archive  (n/t)

Thanks Boss!

I edited the Subject Title to make it more "archive friendly"..

this brings me to a question that has been in my head for a while now >

Mass producing robots, zero advertising and...

Re: How can anyone produce a watch and sell it that cheap?

Well.. I'm a Manufacturing Man, right? So I can understand it, intellectually, even if I am still amazed in me gut.

It's all about Economy Of Scale. Miyota churns out movements by the gazillion. Probably costs them all of 49-cents to make that 2105. Likewise, cases, crystals, crowns, spacer rings, and straps are purchased on the open market, from manufacturers who make 'em by the gazillions.

Sticky wicket is the dial, caseback, and buckle, all of which are signed. So Darch is directly contracting those items, obviously, if contracting them they are. More likely, those are the items (probably the only items) they're manufacturing themselves. DIY cuts out the middle-man, keeps the price low.

The burning question, for me, is how can they ship it half way 'round the world and STILL make a profit?

Mine arrived in a permit-paid bulk-rate bag (Permit No. 4151). So no way to tell what the actual shipping cost was and, sure, that's why it took 28 days to arrive. Obviously Hong Kong Post is cheap and efficient. Still, this is the aspect that beggars belief, for me. 'cause I can tell you from experience that shipping a watch to Crete (Hey Bro. Yannis! ) via the least-expensive USPS rate will run you within a buck of what I paid for this watch in total, shipped.

This all leads me to believe that the total manufacturing costs of this watch are under $3. And probably well under! Remember, the $8.98 shipped price I paid for this one is nowhere near as low as it can go. There's still those 2 cream-dials , for which I paid $4.38 per, shipped!

That I purely can't understand. Manufacturing a watch of this caliber, and shipping it from Hong Kong to Mississippi for $4.38 seems impossible. Yet it obviously can be done.

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greg honeycutt
A watch, at that price, if it arrives in one piece and runs for a week is exceeding any and all expectations.

But with a in the engine bay, the bloody thing should run just fine for decades.

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greg honeycutt
I just don't understand how an entire watch can be built (for little more than the movement itself costs) and actually turn a profit.

Preachin' to the choir, mate, preachin' to the choir. Even if you did neglect to mention the "shipping half-way around the world" aspect.

see, I really didn't take shipping into consideration >

These Hong Kong Darch sellers must be using a wormhole in the space-time continuum to ship their goods.

It's the only theory that fits the reality.

Much increased global shipping volume helps too (n/t)

A great deal on a good looking watch, Ricky. (n/t)

Thanks Bro. Mark! The cream-dialed versions..

..which haven't arrived yet, hold the distinction of being THE most inexpensive brand-new wristwatch I've ever purchased.

The previous Budget Champ was this one and, trust me, the Darch blows that watch in the weeds!

Ricky (n/t)

Re: WoooooooooHOO! 'tis a me boys, 'tis a !

Nice Ricky Lee where did purchase this one because I have not found the 24 hour dial version of this and I have a neighbor who is looking for one, he won;t wear a Russian still harboring ill feelings about the Cuban Missile crisis or something .....

Re: Nice Ricky Lee where did purchase this one because I have not found the 24 hour dial version of this..

The 24-hour dial version is the only one I've ever found. If you found one that ain't, please don't hold out on us!

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KMJ1966
..and I have a neighbor who is looking for one, he won;t wear a Russian still harboring ill feelings about the Cuban Missile crisis or something .....

Some folks is funny that way.

Your best bets to purchase a Darch are probably HERE (vast inventory at that seller! ) and HERE.

Mind you, Bro. Hans is the real guru with Darch links. Perhaps he'll chime in.

BTW, that first seller has this..

..gorgeous blue model that I haven't seen before.

Most places around here charge $10 to change a battery nowadays...

Getting a new watch for less than that is a real deal. The next time my kids need a watch, I know where I'm looking.

Just so! A single cell runs $5.88 at Wal-Mart nowadays, for Pete's sake. And I meself..

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JFK3531
Getting a new watch for less than that is a real deal.

And, again, a bare movement will run you more than what these watches do. Worst case, twice as much!

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JFK3531
The next time my kids need a watch, I know where I'm looking.

Great idea! Several sellers actually advertise these as "boy's size".

A lot of watch for the money. A base metal case is forgiveable for that kind of money. (n/t)

T'anks Bro. Paul! So..

..how many have you ordered?

I've been looking at them, I went on a recent watch buying streak and have to wait for now. (n/t)

But these are so inexpensive, if ye skip lunch one day, it's more than paid for.

Sure, that's no trivial sacrifice. I admit I don't skip too durned many lunches meself.

Looks fantastic for the price.  (n/t)

'tis. I may do a Full Boat Point-by-point Smackdown Comparo against a Big Lots Watch, in honor of Bro. MCV.

Hmmmm. Not a bad idea, actually!

Great review Rickey ( without the "e". I am sorry)  (n/t)

sir! And, no worries..

..I'm totally used to Rickey with an "e". Maybe 10% of my mail comes addressed that way.

But, after all, it is a perfectly valid alternate spelling.

Great review!

The case not being made of SS is something I mentioned once already, I figured at the time that it might be made out of pot metal. The finish makes up for it though!

The 'lumed dial' version will probably surprise you, as that one keeps glowing for many, many hours. Downside is that the hands blend into the background after five minutes or so, which makes it impossible to figure out what time it is

You're almost as easy to train as my Border Collie - I supply an eBay link, and you press the 'Buy it Now' button. Nice! Want some more cookies links?

Re: The case not being made of SS is something I mentioned once already..

I totally missed that.

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Hans_NL
The finish makes up for it though!

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Hans_NL
The 'lumed dial' version will probably surprise you..

{sigh} At some point I'll have to get one, I suppose.

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Hans_NL
You're almost as easy to train as my Border Collie - I supply an eBay link, and you press the 'Buy it Now' button. Nice! Want some more cookies links?

Guilty as charged.

It even works on $50+ watches! Just ask Bro. Marc!

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Hans_NL
Great review!

mate!

Good for the price, but too small and they never impressed me much, anyways!

Re: The one I had from Sportsmanguide sure looks the same..

I recall us discussing that one. It went for, what? Like $15 or $20?

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MCV
..and it just felt cheap.

You know, try as I might, I can't see it as "feeling cheap". With day/date and screwdown caseback, it actually feels quite upscale to me.. at least judged against it's natural competition down at yonder Wal-Mart.

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MCV
For $10, okay for some, but I won't be buying any, esp. in bulk! Sorry, RL.

No need to apologize. It's plain a Darch isn't for everyone - the sub-38mm size alone guarantees that. And, of course, many a WIS won't touch a base metal case under any circumstances, that we can be.

As far as buying in bulk.. well, I may be , but 'tis crazy like a fox! If I don't make a fat profit retailing these to the Local Yokels I'll eat me hat. I fancy I know me clientele, and these are right up their alley.

Re: Good for the price, but too small and they never impressed me much, anyways!

Now that's a matter of opinion, and taste. I love them to death, they look great on my small 17cm wrist, and they make great presents. You can't expect much at this price point. To be more precise: you can't expect anything at this price point, not even that the darned thing works When seen in that light, Darch made the seemingly impossible possible.

If we all would have the same taste and opinions, PMWF would be the most boring place on earth. That is why I enjoy this forum so much - all those styles, prices, one big candy store!

Re: Now that's a matter of opinion, and taste. I love them to death..

Just so.

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Hans_NL
..they look great on my small 17cm wrist..

Oh, they're tailor-made for a Girly Wrist, alright.

Yet I fancy they ain't too small even for a Manly 21cm Wrist like mine.

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Hans_NL
You can't expect much at this price point. To be more precise: you can't expect anything at this price point, not even that the darned thing works When seen in that light, Darch made the seemingly impossible possible.

Well.. I'm gonna expect that the darned thing work, no matter how low the price!

But, sure, I'm with ye in principle.

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Hans_NL
If we all would have the same taste and opinions, PMWF would be the most boring place on earth. That is why I enjoy this forum so much - all those styles, prices, one big candy store!

Well said, Bro. Hans, well said!