Nicholas Hacko, a Sydney-based watchmaker who specialises in the sale and repair of vintage Rolex watches, said he was “in an overwhelming state of disbelief and shock” after reading the article, published on Jeweller’s website, about the Melbourne-based online seller of exact copies of well-known brands including Rolex, Tag Heuer, Breitling, Omega.
“I read the Jeweller story and immediately called the company to hear first-hand what they say,” Hacko said. He later wrote in his blog: “Is it really possible that someone based in Australia would display such arrogant disrespect for Australian Commercial Law?”
Incensed by the revelation, Hacko decided to publish the details of the conversation and it makes for very interesting reading.
In fact, ‘we dips our lid’ to Mr Hacko’s impeccable logic! Read on ….
Hacko: Hi, my name is Nicholas Hacko. I am a watch dealer. I've just visited your website and wonder if you also wholesale watches?
SwissReplicaWatches.com.au: Hi. Well I am just a watch dispatch person you need to talk to my boss.
Hacko: That's fine. However, it is important that before we enter into any business transaction, I want to make sure I am not breaking any laws...
SRW: What do you mean?
Hacko: Well you guys do sell fake watches, right?
SRW: No, not fakes. We sell replicas.
Hacko: Replicas, fakes, same thing...
SRW: No, no. Our replicas are NOT fakes!
Hacko: Oh sorry, my misunderstanding. So you actually do sell genuine Rolex watches?
SRW: No, no. You don't understand the difference with fake and replica...
Hacko: Huh?
SRW: ... not genuine Rolex, just Rolex replica. But definitely not the FAKE Rolex.
Hacko: OK I see. You sell REPLICA Rolex!
SRW: That's exactly right. Genuine replicas which look identical to real Rolexes.
Hacko: Very good. So would you be able to accept payments in replica money?
SRW: What do you mean, I don't understand???
Hacko: You know, the replica money. Money which looks identical to real money but it is just replica. Like the stuff I can print on my printer...
SRW: [laughter...] I don't know, I am just a dispatch worker. You really need to talk to my boss [more laughter...]
Hacko: OK - let's say that I do come into agreement with your boss and he does accept my replica money for his replica watches - which sounds like a perfectly fair deal to me - would you accept that replica money as your wages?
SRW: [upset voice] Are you serious??? I don't work for fake money!!
Hacko: No, no, no - it is not FAKE money, it is just REPLICA money, mate ...
SRW: Sir, I am busy, if you have any more questions please send us an email. Our email address is info@SwissReplicaWatches.com.au. Thanks for calling. [phone hangs up]
Hacko’s blog concludes: “This bunch of clown dummies actually deserve as much publicity as we can offer,” continuing with the same line of reasoning in the remainder of his blog entry about the counterfeit watch site.
He joked: “Is there a lawyer in the house? Can we get free legal opinion on this one please? What the heck – we’ll even take REPLICA LEGAL opinion from FAKE lawyers.”
Since the Jeweller article was published, Kristiaan Martenstyn – director of SwissReplicaWatches.com.au parent company Brantley Pty – has not responded to further questions from the magazine.
Read Nicholas Hacko’s blog or visit his website.
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