Would you accept cash for an expensive watch?

Cash for anything over a couple grand is a hard no for me. Too many counterfeit notes floating around and no recourse if something goes wrong.

At that price point I'd want a wire transfer. Cash is fine for smaller deals but $10k in person is a liability.

I sold a skeleton last year for $7,500 and the buyer ins isted on cash. We met at a bank, they counted it, I deposited it immediately. Worked out fine but I wouldn't do it again without a bank involved.

Depends on the buyer. If it's someone with a long history on the forums, and we've talked for weeks, I'd consider it. Random new account with cash? No.

The paper trail matters more than people think. If the watch ever gets flagged as stolen or there's a dispute, you want proof of the transaction. Cash gives you nothing.

Counterfeit detection pens are cheap. But the real issue is carrying that much cash to a meeting.

I've done cash deals up to $5k. Above that I ask for a wire. It's not about trust, it's about logistics. Counting $12k takes time and you're standing there exposed.

Done it twice. Once at a Chase branch, once at a credit union. Both times the tellers were fine with it as long as we weren't disrupting business. Just call ahead and let them know.

Wire or nothing. Cash opens the door to all kinds of problems and the IRS doesn't care how nice the buyee seemed.

I think cash is fine if you verify the notes. Takes ten minutes with a UV light and a pen. The bigger risk is getting robbed after the meeting. That's why I never do it alone.

What's the actual benefit of cash for the seller? You still have to deposit it. Unless you're planning to not report it, which is a different conversation.

Some buyers prefer cash because they don't want a record of the purchase for personal reasons. That's their business., But as a seller you're the one holding the bag if something's off.

I've only sold two watches, both under $3k, both cash. No issues. But at $10k I'd be asking for a wire and I'd expect the buyer to understand why.

The bank branch method is the only way I'd accept cash for a high-value watch. You meet, you verify the watch, they withdraw the cash, you deposit it, done. No one walks out with a stack of bills.