Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB2 Review

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB2 ships with just a USB cable (as DENON DJ X1800 ) – no need for a power brick with it. It has a USB socket in the back, a pair of RCA jacks for the Master output, a 1/4″ mic in jack, and 1/4″ and 1/8″ jacks for headphones.

It comes with Serato DJ Intro in the box, but it’s compatible with Serato DJthrough an upgrade. It also comes with a two-week free trial period for you to see if you like it enough to purchase the full version (and you should!).

The DDJ-SB2 is also compatible with Pioneer DJ’s Rekordbox DJ software. At the time of this writing, Rekordbox DJ version 4.1 has vastly improved both in stability and with its audio engine quality, so it’s starting to become a DJ app force to be reckoned with.

If you add in Virtual DJ 8 (you’ve got to pay the US$99 licence though) and the ability to map it in Traktor Pro 2, you’ve got a cost-effective and portable DJ controller that’s platform agnostic, letting you try out practically any major DJ software out there, or flit from app to app if you’re like me and you like to try out new things from time to time.

For this review, I tried it out with Serato DJ, so I just hooked it up to my computer and speakers and got to work.

IN USE

I’ve been using a Traktor Kontrol S8 for a few months now, and it’s a real beast not just performance-wise, but physically as well. It’s big, heavy (I got the flight case), and wide, so my biggest problems with gigs are bringing the controller to the venue and setting it up in what always seems to be a tiny DJ booth made to fit just a laptop and little else. Combine this with the fact that I usually come after another DJ who has his or her own controller, and it makes for a ridiculous set-up situation akin to tap dancing with your hands.

Holding the DDJ-SB2 felt familiar – I’ve DJed with many controllers over the last few years, and there are controllers that feel kinda oversized (DDJ-SZ, and even the DDJ-SX2 come to mind), while there are ones that feel like tiny little plastic toys.

The DDJ-SB2, while indeed made of plastic, hardly feels like a toy – it gives me more of an impression that it’s meant to be a portable controller for the serious DJ, someone who uses a full club CDJ set-up but wants something handy for his or her next bar / pub gig.

All the features from the original DDJ-SB that made it an attractive proposition are still here: the chunky / responsive jogwheels, three band EQ and dedicated filter knobs, and the switchable bank of four pads that can be assigned to control Hot Cues, Auto Loop, Manual Loop, and the Serato SP-6 Sampler.

The DDJ-SB2 adds a few new features that make it better than its predecessor:

At the top of either channel is a small trim pot knob that lets you control the level of the track that you’ve got loaded. Serato DJ (and all other DJ apps) automatically compensates for the difference in level between tracks in your library, however sometimes it doesn’t get it 100% right. That’s why trim pots are so handy – they let you manually adjust this level compensation on the DDJ-SB2 itself quickly.

The lack of dedicated trim / gain knobs on the original DDJ-SB was one of its shortcomings in my opinion, and having them on here put it in the same channel control league as the higher tier DDJ-SR.

Metering was noticeably absent on the first DDJ-SB. That’s been addressed in the DDJ-SB2 in the form of a pair of five-segment channel level meters, with each segment consisting of a pair of eight LEDs. That means you’re always seeing the levels of both channels one and two in greater detail thanks to the multiple lights that make up just one segment.

There’s still no master output level meter onboard though, but it’s easy enough to see that you’re clipping or “in the red”, so just having this level of metering resolution in such a small controller is a huge convenience.

It’s now possible to control up to four decks with the DDJ-SB2: to control deck three, you just press the “3 Deck” button in the left deck, and to control deck four, you press “4 Deck” on the right. This assigns the jogwheel, transport, library, and mixer controls to decks three and four. It can be confusing at first, especially since there are only two volume faders on the controller, but you get used to it over time.

Should homeowners warm to EDF Energy’s free solar panel system?

If you want solar photovoltaic panels (for example: GOAL ZERO NOMAD 7 ) on your home but don’t have the money for them, EDF Energy is offering to install a free system – complete with storage batteries – if you agree to buy the subsidised power it generates for 20 years.

The French-owned energy giant is looking for 100 homes to trial its Sunplug scheme, which is being offered in conjunction with established solar supplier Lightsource.

To sign up you need to have a large, unshaded south-facing roof at a pitch of about 45 degrees. If you are accepted, the company will install the largest solar panel system the roof can take – a 16-panel setup will generate 4kW – plus an LG storage battery that lets you use the power that’s generated during the day in the evening.

In return, EDF gets to keep the feed-in tariff paid by the government, which is worth about £150 a year. It also keeps the export tariff – around £50 a year. The householder is contractually bound to pay Sunplug 9.9p per kilowatt hour for each unit of electricity they use from the panels and battery. This is a little cheaper than what you would pay if you bought green electricity from the grid. For example, green supplier Good Energy charges 15.5p, with a standing charge averaging 26p a day.

The advantage could come in future years as the price demanded by Sunplug can only rise by the retail prices index or 2.5% – whichever is lower. If the price of grid electricity rises substantially over the next 20 years, users will make considerable savings.

However, if they don’t, some users will be left wondering why they bothered, not least because they have to have the system inspected each year, which will cost about £80. So this scheme is likely to appeal to anyone who wants green electricity at fixed prices over the next two decades.
Advertisement


The other significant benefit comes at the end of the 20-year term, when the householder is given ownership of the system, which should continue to generate substantial free power.

Robin Melvin, head of innovation at EDF, says about 50 households have signed up for the trial and that he is looking for another 50 to join, at which point its success will be evaluated.

He says users should not have a problem with their mortgage company – previously an issue with free solar installations – as the package is compliant with Council of Mortgage Lenders guidelines and big lenders are on board with the deal. The top-up electricity most households will need can be bought from any supplier at normal rates.

If you decide to move house during the 20-year term, he says the deal can be passed on to the new owner, or the seller can buy the system out. The prices are pre-agreed on a sliding scale – it will cost £5,500 to exit the initiative after 10 years.

If you like the idea of the scheme and have the money to buy it outright – probably the best option – Sunplug will sell you a 3kW (12 panels) system for £6,999 and a 4kW (16 panels) one for £7,499. You get to keep the feed-in tariffs and export payments, benefit from the electricity savings and also get the crucial battery.

In-house storage batteries are seen as the next big thing in renewable energy and are increasingly being offered by suppliers alongside electricity generating panels as they allow households to use double the power they produce – they can access it when they need it in the evenings.

Last week, Ikea announced it is going to sell solar PV/battery installations, in conjunction with Solarcentury, at similar prices. It is offering a system that generates 3.24kW from £6,925. It estimates that homeowners can pay off the capital invested in the system in roughly 12 years through feed-in tariffs and lower electricity bills, assuming they have the right kind of roof.

So what’s the Money verdict? Solar PV systems are still a good investment if you have the money upfront, the right roof and location, and if you plan to stay in the house for a long time. The case for the free Sunplug deal is less clear. To us, it looks too heavily weighted in favour of the company. If it offered some free electricity each day or other incentives, that would make the scheme more attractive.

Internal Communication: From the Podium to the Paystub

As a corporate HR person for over twenty-five years, I had a great opportunity to observe associations with an anthropologist's perspective. From the moment you walk through the revolving door into a pay stub generator office until the time you leave, you pick up a hundred little clues about how the organization operates and what it worth. For internal communicators, it is just as important to focus on these subtle messages since it is to design an award-winning communications strategy. This is why.

When you ask yourself "What exactly are we saying during this paystub generator, and what do we would like to say?" You will quickly produce a list of themes, initiatives, and values that you currently promote. You will look in employee communication materials, internal newsletters, your Intranet site, and plenty of different vehicles that you expect do the "heavy lifting" of internal communication for you. You will have the ability to spot the differences between what you DO say and what you would like to say for your group. So far, so great.

But assessing the published materials and superbly designed website content misses the point. Employees are extremely complicated when it comes to evaluating internal messaging. They could quickly spot the gap between the Party Line and the Way Things Really Work. That is why inner communicators who concentrate on the proper vehicles risk missing the channels that talk most loudly to workers.

As an example, you can talk about risk-taking until you're blue in the face, featuring risk-taking employees in your internal newsletter and giving awards to individuals who moved out on a limb. But the very first time your workers hear about the CEO bashing someone (or worse, shooting him) for carrying the incorrect risk, your campaign has gone to waste. Not only that - you look like hypocrites, for saying one thing and practicing another.

So am I asking your internal communications chief to control the CEO's behavior? Certainly not. That is not realistic, but what IS realistic is to call attention to the gaps between what's said to be appreciated, and what's actually appreciated, throughout the check stub. Consistency (HR people call it ) is your key.

That is why - talking of risk-taking - leading the internal communications function isn't for the faint of heart. Should you lack the guts to tell the emperor when he's naked, you need to find another profession.

Here is another illustration of misalignment in internal communications. Your company may view itself as fast paced, team-oriented and customer-focused: almost every check stubs does. It only takes one old-school, preachy "don't you dare" memo from HR to blow that perception. The first time your employees read a typical, thoughtless "expense reports filed more than 30 days late won't be processed" bonehead HR memo, your own rah-rah internal communications efforts turn into dust. People are not dumb. They know where the rubber meets the road.

This is the reason successful internal communications go stem to stern - by the Podium into the realpay stubs. Every communication vehicle, from an all-hands email blast to the CEO's Town Hall meeting, should stem from the exact same set of values and goals. It is not hard to fulfill this goal is the best leadership team gives the word. It doesn't even require the Messaging Police to examine each memo and Intranet page. It merely requires consistent, thoughtful education and awareness-building about the purchase price of off-message communication.

In a normal organization, the biggest trouble spots in Podium to create a pay stub communication-alignment efforts are IT, Finance, HR, and Facilities. These staff men have grown up with the idea that they make to set policies and convey them, period. Possessing that orientation, these supervisors might not immediately observe that their well-intentioned, knee-jerk policy-implementation efforts might derail your carefully calibrated communications strategy.

As an example, I worked in 1 check stubs that preached the virtues of global, 24/7, virtual collaboration. We are Where You're, was the message. Except, one afternoon the Accounting department declared that it anticipated invoices from all branches to be hand-delivered to Accounting in order to speed real pay stubs. As if! That edict completely undermined the "virtual" theme and was immediately removed. It requires a new mentality - one that the Internal Communications leader can fortify in each interaction with fellow leaders to move an organization from disjointed, at-odds communication to a set of coordinated listeners, singing in harmony.

And it's amazing when it happens. Workers start to trust the messaging and to incorporate it into their thinking. You'll see the results in customer interactions and in the speed of change attempts. Clients will perceive it. Job candidates and vendors will pick up on it, too. However, it's an all-purpose effort: far past the language in your lovely printed pieces, you've got to touch create pay stubs, the podium, and everything in between.

Installing Concrete Sidewalks

Concrete sidewalk repair contractor Bronx may vary in shapes, colors and be formed into any shape you can imagine. Before starting on this project, look at other homes and businesses to see what can be done but do not be limited by what you see. Use your creativity. Colored concrete is available now from most Redi-mix suppliers and concrete color stains are also another method to acquire a gorgeous finished product. You will find "cast-on" products out there which can provide a no invasive surface, a super tough surface as well as anti-spalling compounds that keep the sidewalk repair Bronx NY from chipping as a result of the use of winter salt. Much redi-mix concrete dries in some shade of beige color depending on the color of the sand and Portland cement utilized. Ask your provider where he has poured his merchandise and go look at it. This will provide you an idea of exactly what the "aged" merchandise will look like later. Once you've determined what color concrete you are going to use, decide what strength concrete you need. I suggest the use of 3000# strength concrete for all DOT sidewalk violation Bronx except very heavy usage or traffic. If vehicles will be crossing the pavement, utilize 4000# or 5000#. It will cost a few bucks more a lawn but will persist for a great deal more.

TOOLS REQUIRED-

Hammer, sled, rope line, and level with a tripod. 4' hand flat, pointed and flat shovels, timber 2x4 for screeding (leveling) of this concrete, bolt cutters, safety glasses, work gloves, fine grained and two edgers termed sidewalk repair Bronx edgers and v-groove styles. A metallic pavement edge finishing tool, a V-groove tool for center joints along with a steel trowel are a must. Most masons prefer using a magnesium float to put the initial finish on their walks prior to applying the last broom finish.

MATERIALS REQUIRED-

Concrete is arranged by the cubic yard. It is fairly straightforward to determine how many yards you will need for your job using the following formula: Length x Width x Height (thickness) divided by 27 =? Cubic yards. A standard example: Your pavement is 3' wide, 3-0 feet long by 4" thick. Using the formula above: 3' x 30'x.33 /27=1.1 cubic metres. You are unable to purchase.1 cubic yards. So it is either 1 or 2 1.5 yards. Each of Redi-mix companies charges what they call a short load charge for whatever under 6 yards. So there are choices here to be made. Is there anything else that requires concrete? Make the walk a bit wider? Add a patio space? Request the Redi-mix firm what the fee is for 1.5 or 2 yards. The purchase price could be the exact same anyway. While we, I want to spend a moment discussing getting the concrete to your website. Trucks are thick. Really heavy. If your sidewalk repair contractors in Bronx New York or patio is in the back yard, either the truck needs to be able to access it or you'll have to wheel it in wheelbarrows. Wheeling 1 lawn is not poor, wheeling 6 or 5 yards is a brute. You will need plenty of assistance and superior wheelbarrows. Redi-mix companies charge additional for any time spent over 1 hour on a website. IF you decide to take the truck to the back yard, be ready for lawn damage. Concrete companies aren't accountable for damage to your house if you lead them to drive over the yard. Worse yet is when they pass over the septic system, buried pipes, etc. and damage them. BE sure that there is nothing under that can be damaged. Don't guess!

A Redi-Mix truck can weigh over 40,000 pounds! It'll leave a lasting impression on your yard and can damage lightweight asphalt driveways. Be careful where you ship it.

You'll need some misc. Mixed lumber to form your concrete walk. 2x4's in long lengths work best. For those who have a curve in the walk, it is best formed using strips of non-tempered masonite or 1/4" plywood. Whatever you use, it doesn't need to be fair. It is going to be removed after the pour. Buy a package of 1"x2" or 1"x3" for bets. These can be cut into 1-foot lengths and points cut them. You will also need a few pounds of 8 penny common nails.

LAYOUT-

The easiest way to design a new Bronx sidewalk repair is to use your garden hose. Simply lay the hose out on the floor in which you want the walk to proceed. Types do not have to be made from wood. Things like wood, brick edging, pre-formed vinyl sheeting are used and create many different edge finishes. If you use these kinds of things, take extra care not to splash concrete onto them. Concrete stains or discolors quite easily and doesn't wash off well. When everything dries, the concrete you think you washed off leaves a permanent stain. Another very helpful item available now for homeowner use is upside down comforter at most hardware or box stores and comes in a number of colors. That makes it very simple to spray a layout line for digging or removing sod or soil. Don't spray on your hose unless you want it to be that color for a lengthy time. A few carefully placed spots that you join after eliminating the hose is fine.

Make certain you indicate the lines a few inches wider than the final walk width. You need to receive your 2 x4's and stakes inside the excavation and in the majority of cases flush with the surrounding ground. If you are going to expose the advantages of this new walk over the ground, you'll also have to finish the edges when you pour.

GROUND PREPARATION-

Never, never place concrete on frozen earth or mud. You need a firm base for your new walk. You have to remove the concrete thickness of earth plus the stone you will be placing underneath. A 4" walk typically gets 4" of a stone base or great clean run-off bank sand and gravel. After removing the 8" of ground, put your sub-base material and tamp into position. Make it slightly wider than you walk thickness. Your forms will sit on top of the foundation. NOTE: Now is your opportunity to run any lawn lighting wires or conduits beneath the walk until you pour. Even if the light is in the long run, you'll be pleased that you make preparations now. Put a piece of 1" PVC conduit with caps under the walk for potential usage.

SPYPOINT SOLAR

Pros
Almost unlimited battery life
Fastest trigger speed/recovery we have ever tested
Bright, colorful pictures
Internal picture viewer

Cons
No built-in python bracket
Blurry night photos

Trailcampro Analysis

Ever seen a camera like the Spypoint Solar? Neither have we. Spypoint has always been known for innovative trail camera products, the Solar trail camera is the latest innovation.

The Spypoint Solar is a Force 11D with a solar panel permanently attached to the top of the camera.

Picture Quality: 73/100

Photo resolution: 12 mpxl (interpolated)

Video Resolution: 1280 x 720 w/ audio

Flash Type: Red Glow Infrared (very faint)

As expected, the picture quality is identical to the Force 11D. Daytime pictures have been very impressive. Bright color, good clarity and plenty of depth whether the camera was placed in bright sunlight or heavy timber.

Night pictures have pros and cons. There is a decent amount of flash range, but the pictures do have a slight halo (more light in the center of the image - less on the edges of the photo). We also have a high number of blurry photos. While Moultrie M-40 Game camera takes high quality images. The Solar has three modes in the settings that control night image quality:
IR Boost - Max flash range but higher frequency of blurry images
Blur Reduction - Less flash range, but better clarity on moving animals
Optimal - This is a compromise of the two modes above.

Our sample images are a combination of all the modes the camera allows. Overall, the night photos are a mixed bag. We consider the Solar's night photos to be very average.






Day video is shot with 1280 x 720 resolution. The video quality is good, but almost all the videos we retrieved are darker than their picture counterparts.

Night videos are very dark and lack flash range, especially on the left and right side of the videos. We consider night video quality to be below average.






Battery Life: 85/100*

Resting Power (on): 0.61 mW

Picture Daytime & Nighttime Power Consumption: 1.38 Ws | 2.26 Ws

Video Daytime & Nighttime Power Consumption: 17.9 Ws | 2.25 Ws

This is silly battery life. The draws are so efficient, this camera lasts forever before you even start to consider the solar panel.

Picture Mode

If this camera were to take 35-day pictures and 35-night pictures every 24 hour period, this camera would last 15 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries. This does not include the solar panel.

Video Mode

If this camera were to take 15-day and 15-night videos (10-second videos) every 24 hours, it would last 2 months in the field on a set of lithium batteries. Once again, considering the camera is only using 6 batteries, 2 months is very respectable video battery life. This does not include the solar panel.

*Solar Panel

How does the Spypoint Solar work with internal batteries and how does it know which battery source to draw from? The camera pulls power from the solar panel until the charge goes below 25%, at that point, it pulls from the 6 internal AA batteries. We highly recommend lithium batteries, as they do not have a daily self-discharge like alkaline or rechargeable batteries do.

Spypoint claims that if you buy the Solar trail camera you will "Never buy batteries again." In our opinion, if the camera continues to operate as it has to this point, that could very well be a valid statement.

Tenergy rechargeable batteries do not fit in the battery compartment. The batteries are too thick. For that reason, we only recommend lithium batteries with this camera.

Detection Circuit: 91/100

Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.05 s. / 0.50 s.

Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.58 s. / 0.7 s.

Detection Range: 60 ft.

We had to test this several times just to make sure our eyes weren't lying to us. Fast doesn't even begin to describe the Spypoint Solar. Instant trigger and recovery - even when in video mode. This is still hard to believe.

When we first tested video detection, the times were really good. Spypoint took a look and said they could do better. A week later we had cameras in hand that can start a video in half a second and recover in under a second. This is unheard of in terms of speed. Spypoint put a lot of time into their R&D for the Force Solar and it paid huge dividends.

The 60 ft. detection range is average.

Overall, this is the best cumulative detection circuit we have ever scored.

Quality of Design: 89/100

Dimensions: 7" x 4.25" x 3.25"

Battery Type: 6 AA Batteries

External Battery Jack: 12-Volt

The solar panel immediately drew our attention. We talked to Spypoint extensively about this and they had some interesting things to say. We were worried that 90% of consumers would put the camera under a tree, negating the benefit of the solar panel. However, this particular solar panel doesn't need direct sunlight. It charges with any light that is present, even in thick timber. In fact, it was charging in our office just from our inside lighting.

"This solar panel doesn't need direct sunlight"

Better yet, on the internal menu, it shows a percentage that the camera is charging when you are positioning the Spypoint Solar. You can immediately see the benefits of angling the camera one way or another. The solar panel does not detach, it is fixed permanently on the camera. As this incredible technology is very new to us, we are continuing to test and evaluate this panel to learn more about how it works.

The Spypoint Solar is very small and would be easy to conceal in almost any environment. The camera has a detachable bracket for mounting or removing quickly from a tree. There is not a built-in python lock bracket, but there is a 1/4" x 20 threaded insert on the bottom of the camera for a tripod or Slate River Mount. It would have been nice to have a python bracket built into the case design.



On the back of the camera, there is a cover that unscrews to reveal the battery compartment (it requires 6 AA batteries). The batteries are easy to insert/remove and are held firmly in place. There is no chance they would become dislodged on their own. The battery cover feels a bit flimsy, but it attaches in a way that removes that as a concern. It is perfectly flush with the back of the camera and is not exposed to anything that would risk damaging it.

It hasn't been an issue, but it would have been nice for Spypoint to have a bigger, beefier latch. The internal viewer quickly scrolls through any pictures or videos the camera has taken. This is an underrated feature on the Solar trail camera, internal viewers make setup so much easier and ensure you walk away from a camera knowing it is monitoring the terrain exactly as you want it to.

Programming is incredibly easy and intuitive. Whether this is your first camera or 21st, you will enjoy the programming options and fluid navigation. All programming is done on the internal viewer, so for those of you that do not enjoy squinting at small LCD screens, you will appreciate the bigger font on the viewer.

The Solar trailcam has custom start/stop time, which is useful for anyone looking at this camera for security.

Durability has been outstanding. In the last 12 months, Spypoint has had one of our lowest warranty rates.

Overall, the case design could be beefed up to feel sturdier, however, we gave the Spypoint added points for having a solar panel that can charge without direct sunlight. That is pretty cool technology and could potentially save you a ton of money over the life cycle of owning this trail camera.

Spypoint Solar Conclusion: 83/100

The Spypoint Solar is unlike anything we have seen before. For all practical purposes, the Spypoint Solar is a Force 11D with a solar panel attached, which has made changing batteries a thing of the past. The Solar has a great internal viewer, easy programming, and insane speed. If the blurry night photos and dark night videos don't bother you, we give this camera our highest recommendation.

7 Things Your Customers Wish You Knew About Them

A busy work environment may occasionally blind business owners to the needs of their customers, but these needs extend beyond the routine products and services they regularly purchase into areas like customer service, convenience and attentiveness. Here are some of the key factors your clients take into consideration when seeking help from small business owners.

Make them feel like they matter

Your customers’ sense of self-worth plays a central role in your business's long-term success. Show them how much they’re valued by remembering and calling them by name each time they visit. Other ways to show clients how important they are is through rewards programs and by offering price breaks to those who provide steady business or provide referrals.

Acknowledgment is essential

For many customers, being heard provides a strong indicator that your business really cares. People appreciate prompt responses so it’s important to genuinely listen to both positive and negative feedback. Use online surveys, focus groups, social media, website forms and other means to connect with customers. Keep in mind that disregarding feedback can lead to a negative reputation and eventual profit loss.

Good service is better than fast service

While a quick response should always be the goal, the average customer prefers good service over a fast, but subpar resolution. A major reason customers abandon a brand is because of rushed service that is incompetent or incomplete. Take the time to ensure that you’ve fully met your customer’s expectations, ask if there is anything else you can do to assist, and always strive to go the extra mile.

Personalization counts

Sometimes, one size doesn’t fit all. Does your business adjust and adapt to meet the needs of your clientele? For instance, do your products come in enough shapes, and sizes? Are your services available at “standard”, “premium” and “elite” levels? Many businesses allow customers to add personal touches to or even design their own products, which often increases their overall satisfaction. This works especially well with handmade crafts, clothing, and food items. Take customization to the next level by leveraging user feedback and short questionnaires, which will give you a better understanding about your customer's preferences.

Offer rewards

Everyone enjoys a pleasant surprise, especially when it provides a financial benefit. An unexpected reward can evoke positive feelings, elevate you over competitors and encourage repeat business. Delight customers with time of purchase discounts, free shipping, or a small complimentary item and they are likely to remember the experience, refer you to friends and colleagues, and reward you with additional business in the future.

Simplicity is key

With our mobile society and increased demands for instant gratification, efficiency has become more crucial than ever. Customers are not only seeking the best value, but also the most time-saving and hassle-free opportunities. Think of all the areas where your business can be made simpler. Replace any paperwork your customers might be saddled with (such as registration forms, mail-in rebates or hard copy manuals and instructions) with online alternatives. Bundle services or provide them a la carte, whichever is easier for the customer to understand and purchase. Your online presence should follow suit. Email campaigns should have a single focus. Also be sure that all the sections of your website are well organized and intuitive.

Keep things lively

We all need to get things done but there’s nothing wrong with having a good time while doing so. Customers admire a business that takes itself seriously, but also understands that “professionalism” and “boring” are not synonymous. Little things like having pleasant in-store or office background music, a television near the checkout line or interesting decor create a positive customer experience.

Guest Post: How to Buy Used Luxury Watches Online

The internet and the technology that goes with it have lead to the developments in online shopping as we know it today. We can buy almost anything online, and that of course include used luxury watches. The sale of used luxury watches is big business and the competition among dealers is fierce.


So how does one choose a dealer if one wants to purchase a vintage or antique timepiece online?

You will find many websites claiming specialty in selling used luxury watches. Some specialisations are more general, while others are more specific, such as those specialising in only a particular brand, for example. There are others that satisfy what we would call a niche market. These include vintage watch dealers or antique watch specialists. Even though this is somewhat of a niche market there are a number of sellers trading on and off-line and the numbers increase everyday. So how does one choose a dealer if one wants to purchase a vintage or antique timepiece online?

Some people are sceptical about buying online because they are of the opinion that it is easier to verify the credibility of an on-site seller than that of an online one. This is not necessarily the case; the credibility of a business or a dealer is just as important whether they operate on or off-line. The serious online watch dealer is keen on delivering quality timepieces and excellent customer service, because they know that their viability will depend on this. As such you will find a number of reputable and honest vintage watch dealers online. However, not all will deliver the same quality standard or provide you with a memorable shopping experience. Here are some things to consider and look for when buying vintage used luxury watches online:

1. The refund policy outlined - are the terms reasonable? If a dealer does not accept returns, this is not the company you should want to do business with. Usually a dealer that is willing to accept a no quibble refund is one that is probably very confident in the quality product that they sell.

2. Have customers constantly complained? Look at the level of complaints, are you seeing many complaints about this business or many negative reviews? The reality is that no business will be able to please customers all of the time, but they should be able to satisfy a large majority of their customers more often not.

3. Ask questions about the used luxury watches, see how quick or how accurate the response is.

4. Can you readily identify the owners or managers of the business? You should be able to do this - look at the 'about us' page - the information should be there. The vintage watch dealer should be readily identifiable.

5. It also helps if the dealer, even though operating online, has an on-site base or office attached to a legitimate address.

6. Where payment is made online with the use of a credit card, especially when paying on the dealer's website, always look for 'https' at the beginning of the address, in the address bar, on the payment page. If this is not present, it would be advisable not to go through with the purchase. PayPal is however always a good option, whether you are connecting from the seller's website or not.

7. Is the dealer experienced? Especially where it concerns vintage used luxury watches you want to buy from someone who has experience and knows about used luxury watches.

Taking the above into consideration should help you in making a good vintage watch purchase - whether for purpose of a gift, for your own pleasure or as an investment. Happy shopping.