The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Went out to dinner with my brother last week and he noticed my new SA.
I let him try it on, he fell in love and said he now wants to get one himself.

We went to a few ADs today and none had the blue dial in stock with some quoting 2-3 weeks wait.
However, there was one AD who had a display model ready to sell.
Thing is, my brother has a thing about buying particular things brand new, ie. he wouldn't buy display shoes and same goes with watches.
This watch seems like it had a few blemishes, probably from the amount of customers trying it on.
Nevertheless, he really wanted the blue dial baton marker model, so we tried to negotiate a price on it. However, they wouldn't budge below 10% which is the same discount we would receive on a brand new one if they had one in stock.
In the end, we said we'd think about it and maybe come back on Sunday.

Just curious as to how many of you guys out there would buy or have bought a display model watch, and whether you were able to get a substantial discount relative to a brand new one.

I have no problem buying a display model or a pre-owned model.....BUT if the price is the same as new I would absolutely wait for a new one. If they were willing to give a greater discount (30%) then I'd take the display model but it doesn't sound like they're willing to do that.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Most stores only have a display model, so usually you dont have a choice unless you want to wait for them to order you one. Any store worth its weight should have display models that are in perfect condition. As long as its still in perfect condition, ive got no problem with it. If it had any type of visible wear, id expect an extra discount.

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-RJ

when i went to buy my blacksteel, i put it on and it had a scratch on the side, so he got the other one he had out of the back bnib and i bought it, but all 10 or so others have been on display or pre owned.
all the stainless can polish out, and im usually gonna be harder on a watch than the idiots who tried it on and drooled over it so its gotta be pretty noticable for me not to buy it.

my brother is the same way, when he got his b01, he was upset the scotch tape was opened on the white cardboard blank outer box!

Here in the UK nearly all dealers have their entire stock in the window. Perhaps there are sone that don't, but i've not come across one yet.
I'm too impatient to wait, so for me it's normal to buy a display one providing it's mint. If not then discount or no deal.

I never buy display model electronics

I have no problem buying display models, every one I have bought has been on display. On the other hand, if there are slight blemishes; I'd expect a proportional discount.

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UN Maxi Marine Ti
B01, BEB
SOH
Aerospace Ti
Chrono SO
Omega 300 Master Co-Axial Chro
Omega PO Chrono.
AP ROO Diver
Titan Black Rolex DSOD Honeycomb Dial

This . And to the ones saying they only buy new ones . Try getting a model from recent years , limited edition in BNIB condition .

When I bought my watches, I told the salemen to keep away from the display in a safe place and to not allow anyone to touch or try my watches.
Or they will suffer the consequences
hahaha

I bought 2 on display recently - a Ling at 40% discount in perfect condition despite having a production date 2+ years ago and a Panerai Ferrari with very small swirls at 60% discount.

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Breitling Navitimer World, Chronomat Evolution
Panerai PAM88
Omega Planet Ocean
Rolex Sub C
JLC Master Compressor Diver GMT

I consider a watch in the display case new. It's not like a demo model at a car dealership where people drive around in it. They are rarely even sized for prospective buyers. All I insist on is a good hard polish and steaming. I certainly don't expect a greater discount. If watches in inventory - and that's what "display models" are typically - routinely went for large discounts, we'd be seeing 3-5 watches in the Breitling cases. I want variety to look at.

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SHARKMAN

Great point...my AD has everything they have on display. I like it this way!

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I would not buy a display model if the price is the same as new. I'd rather wait for the delivery of the brand new piece.

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Chronomat :: Evolution Red | Evolution Frecce Tricolori | Longitude
Navitimer :: Montbrillant Eclipse | Old II | Current
Professional :: B-1 | B-2 w UTC
Colt :: GMT

I hadn't really considered this at all until this post - I've bought pieces from the case and I've bought pieces that were ordered in. To me I don't really see a difference, and I agree with Sharkman that there needs to be an active market in the display pieces to keep a good inventory.

To me, it's more a question of whether the piece was still in new condition. I am lucky that my AD handles watches very well and I have never had a problem - you literally wouldn't be able to tell by looking whether it had sat in a case and been handled or not. At another AD I was offered an LE (non Breitling) at a substantial discount because the caseback had been badly scratched by a store employee - I decided to pass because the scratch was bad, but I would consider that in some circumstances.

The only thing that I will do is try to negotiate either a better discount, or (more likely to be agreed to) a discount on future servicing costs if the watch is an older piece. For example, if the date stamp on a watch that I bought today was sometime in 2007 - not out of the bounds of possibility, then it is effectively half way towards a service so I would look for some compensation for that - in some cases the AD has agreed to a service towards the end of the warranty period - not sure how they handle that with Breitling, but it works for me.

I used to not consider this. My tissot was bought from the case. Then again it was my first "true" watch so what did I know. Now my SA was special ordered by George and never on display and so was my latest purchase from George that I should be getting in about a month or so.

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle