Le site chrono24.it est-il sûr ?

***** is part of ***** based in Germany. Chrono24 is a site through which sellers (both companies and private individuals) from all over the world sell new and second hand watches. It's rated to be one of the most appreciated by watch collectors, from what I hear. As far as my personal experience goes, I can say I have bought three high quality watches from an Italian seller who advertised in Chrono24. The transaction - which was worth about 7,000 euros / 7,500 US dollars - was honest, smooth and pleasant. Nevertheless, I was disappointed with Chrono24 on a different occasion (nothing to do with the honest Italian seller), when the site sided with a Swiss company selling through Chromo 24. The Swiss company's advertising I deemed to be untrue. The Swiss company advertised as owning (quote) "stores in Switzerland and Italy." I had asked to know where in Italy they had the shops in order to see the watch of my interest, and the seller replied privately through an email that he doesn't sell watches in Italy. I reported that in detail to Chrono24, and Chrono24 replied that each seller can chose where to sell watches. Which escaped the real question - which was about the false information provided by the seller through Chromo 24. I suspect the claim that the seller owned shops in Italy is a fraud in order to elude to pay VAT (Value Added Tax), which is compulsory for all items imported from outside the EU but it's included in the price if the item for sale comes from an EU country. Switzerland is not part of the EU, while Italy is part of the EU. Hence the possible explanation about the false claim they have shops in Italy. That is just my supposition, of course. But the fact remains that the company publicly claimed to owns stores in Italy, but then it denied it in private communications with me. And the fact remains that Chrono24 sided with the company in a way that, to my opinion, went against the general buyers' interest.