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Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
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Author:  andrew [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:04 am ]
Post subject:  Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
Hello,

I'm new here and looking for some advice.

I've owned a Breitling Chrono Colt for just over three years and up until a few weeks ago its performed faultlessly - by far the best watch I've ever owned. :lingsrock:

Anyway, it suddenly lost a few seconds over night, then gradually started losing more and more time - I assumed it was in need of a new battery, and took it into my local Goldsmiths jewellers (in the UK).

Three or four weeks passed, and my repair quote arrived and boy way I in for a shock!!! Apparently it needs a 'Full service including refurb of case and bracelet replacement of water seals hands and quality control' at a cost of £430!!! :wowzers (not sure why it needs hands!?? :roll: )

I contacted goldsmiths and moaned, and the lady said she would get on contact with Breitling and query the cost. She called me back later that day and that "as a good will gesture, Breitling will do the repair for £380".

I've done some hunting around this morning and found a price list on the Breitling website that states the full repair should be circa £271.

(http://www.breitling.com/multimedia/pdf/sav/sav-894.pdf)

Is it usual for the service cost to cost substantially more than the RRP list on Breitlings website or is it more likely that Goldsmiths are marking the price about by £100?

Any help appreciated!!!

Andrew
Author:  Alinfrance [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 2:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
Why not deal with Breitling at Tunbridge Wells direct.Thats how I had my Navitimer serviced and they are excellent to deal with,either by phone or email.When you get the watch back its just like a new one,oh and the service takes aprox 12 weeks
Author:  Roffensian [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
If it's like North America the cost of the hands are not included in the service, but they won't cost GBP100 (they are single use so have to be replaced).

That said, it's not usual for ADs to have a markup - price is usually the same, but Breitling gives a kickback to the AD out of the money.

I would ask for a better breakdown of the costs and as Al says, you can always send it directly to BUK.
Author:  MartC [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
As Roff mentioned, it's worth getting a better breakdown of costs in case they have specified other parts to be replaced. I doubt it in the case of a quartz but just in case. Case refurbs are optional, as BUK have told me themselves. They didn't mention any adjustment in cost, but you would hope it's cheaper. Keep us posted on the outcome as most service work mentioned on here is often overseas

If you do go for the case refurb can you take a picture if the watch before and after please?
Be careful about the whole refurb thing as I've heard a few Goldsmiths saying they can do that kind of work in-house. I have a suspicion, but can't go into too many details here :wink:
Author:  andrew [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
Thanks for all the replies.

I assume the watch has been sent to the Breitling service centre, so I'll try and ring them tomorrow and see if the will give me any further information.

I'll also ring the jewellers, and unless they can give me a full breakdown on what's being replaced in addition to the full service, then I'll be requesting the watch is returned, and I'll deal direct with Breitling (tbh I didn't realise I could send it direct to Breitling or I would have done this in the first place....)

Think I'll be buying a cheapo back up watch as its driving me mad without one!

If I get it polished, (which I think I will if I can get it done for £271), then I'll defo take some pictures and upload them.
Author:  MartC [ Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
andrew wrote:
If I get it polished, (which I think I will if I can get it done for £271), then I'll defo take some pictures and upload them.


Its always good to see how well they handle case refurbs, and it helps me with a suspicion I have :wink:

I doubt you'll have recent pictures before the refurb now though :(
Author:  andrew [ Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
Just thought I'd post an update.

I contacted Breitling directly and confirmed the price that the jewellers had been quoted for the work - as i suspected £271!

I got in touch with the jewellers and had a right moan.... basically accused them of being dishonest by claiming Breitling had said they "would do the repair for £380 as a goodwill gesture".

long story short, the jewellers have agreed to charge me £271. :mrgreen:
Author:  Roffensian [ Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
andrew wrote:
Just thought I'd post an update.

I contacted Breitling directly and confirmed the price that the jewellers had been quoted for the work - as i suspected £271!

I got in touch with the jewellers and had a right moan.... basically accused them of being dishonest by claiming Breitling had said they "would do the repair for £380 as a goodwill gesture".

long story short, the jewellers have agreed to charge me £271. :mrgreen:


Good (and right) outcome - lousy service by the AD.

Glad it worked out.
Author:  cxbxax [ Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
is the jeweler an AD? can you report them to breitling for something like that? taking a 35-40% cut for doing nothing, good work if you can get it.
Author:  The Engineer [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 1:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
andrew wrote:
Thanks for all the replies.


Think I'll be buying a cheapo back up watch as its driving me mad without one!



Cheapo watch? Sounds like you need another Breitling my man. :wink:


Ian
Author:  Alan M [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
That is disgusting!

Might I suggest you report this to BUK and deal directly with them.

andrew wrote:
Just thought I'd post an update.

I contacted Breitling directly and confirmed the price that the jewellers had been quoted for the work - as i suspected £271!

I got in touch with the jewellers and had a right moan.... basically accused them of being dishonest by claiming Breitling had said they "would do the repair for £380 as a goodwill gesture".

long story short, the jewellers have agreed to charge me £271. :mrgreen:
Author:  andrew [ Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
The Engineer wrote:
andrew wrote:
Thanks for all the replies.

Think I'll be buying a cheapo back up watch as its driving me mad without one!


Cheapo watch? Sounds like you need another Breitling my man. :wink:

Ian


yeah i wish, not sure i can afford the running costs of two! just bought a Seiko divers watch - feels so cheap compared to the Breitling!!

Alan M wrote:
That is disgusting!

Might I suggest you report this to BUK and deal directly with them.

andrew wrote:
Just thought I'd post an update.

I contacted Breitling directly and confirmed the price that the jewellers had been quoted for the work - as i suspected £271!

I got in touch with the jewellers and had a right moan.... basically accused them of being dishonest by claiming Breitling had said they "would do the repair for £380 as a goodwill gesture".

long story short, the jewellers have agreed to charge me £271. :mrgreen:


I'm going to write to BUK, and let them know how I've been treated.
Author:  Mellow Yellow [ Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
That is completely unacceptable.
I would complain to Goldsmith HQ, BUK HQ and anyone else who will listen.
Author:  Stefan Tapp [ Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
I always deal direct with BUK, it's good to build a relationship with them and avoid those fleecing dealers!

By the way, when you have a full overhaul in the UK the cost of replacement hands are included in the price and when BUK do a case refurb it comes back like new (bar any big dinks in the case).

You can always tell the difference between a Breitling case refurb and an AD one, you don't get lines in the finish when Breitling do it!!

Stef
Author:  andrew [ Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Service Cost for a Colt - Am I being taken for a ride?
Hi Guys,

Thought I would post an update. I wrote a pretty strong email to Goldsmiths and sent another email to Breitling that complained about how I had been treated be their AD. Both were very quick to contact me and say the issue would be investigated.

Goldsmiths have claimed it was a genuine mistake by their service department and have been very apologetic. As a goodwill gesture, Goldsmiths have paid for the service in full - wasn't quite expecting them to go that far. If I'm honest, I've been quite surprised how seriously the have taken it.

So... after several months I've got the watch back (and even got some goodies - a Breitling hat, pen and the watch was returned in a Breitling neoprene travel case). I have to say the watch looks brand new :mrgreen: (which it probably should after 12 weeks!)

Anyway, thought I would post up a few pictures (excuse the photography skills - think I need a little more practise!)

Oh, and thanks for everyone's advice! :lingsrock:

Cheers

Andrew
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