Reference Check

Why it matters

A reference check is the trade's substitute for a credit report, and in the groups it is run in public. You post the other party, the date, the amount, and the terms you agreed (who pays first, who ships first) in the same group the deal came from, then wait to see who answers. What comes back is the point: if well known dealers vouch for them, you are on reasonably solid ground. If only accounts you cannot place answer, treat that as no answer at all.

The check costs nothing and takes an afternoon, which is why it is the first thing the Moda team asks about when a deal goes wrong. Run it before mazal, not after. When the references are thin or the other side is outside your network, put a middleman on the watch or escrow on the money rather than talking yourself into it. One thing a reference check cannot do is confirm that a group or a contact is really Moda's: for that, paste the link into Moda's group and contact checker.

Common questions

How do you run a reference check before a watch deal?

Post the other party, the date, the amount, and the agreed terms in the same group the deal came from, and wait for members to respond. Vouches from well known dealers carry real weight; answers from accounts nobody recognizes do not.

What should you do if nobody vouches for the other person?

Treat silence as a reason to slow down rather than a verdict. Use a middleman on the watch or escrow on the payment so neither side has to send first, and keep every term in writing.

Related terms

• Vouched / No Vouches

  Whether credible community members will publicly confirm that a dealer or buyer is legitimate and trustworthy.

• Mazal(Mazel)

  A finalized, legally binding, and unbreakable deal, typically sealed with a handshake. Derived from Hebrew, "mazal" (or mazel) means "good fortune" and signifies that the agreement is done in good faith. Once someone says mazal, the deal is closed. Walking away after mazal is a serious breach of trust.

• Middleman

  A trusted third party who physically handles the watch during a deal, inspecting and verifying it before passing it to the buyer. Does not handle the money.

• Escrow

  A trusted third party who holds the buyer's funds until both sides confirm the deal is complete. Handles the money, not the watch.

• Ghosting

  When a buyer or seller disappears mid-deal without communication. A major red flag in the community.