The Breitling Watch Source Forums

A few months ago I bought a Bentley Barnato Racing from Govbergs. There is a problem with the power reserve. It will only last for 22ish hours with winding and wear. I have spent around $200 sending them the watch back twice. They have sent it on to BUSA for servicing. Each time I get the watch back the power reserve is fine for a few days and then it does the same thing again. I am dreading making the phone call again in the morning. The first time I sent them the watch, I sent it in the leather case. When they sent the watch back, they sent it in a different leather case that will not fit in the box. So, they offered to buy me another case that will fit in my box. The second case they sent me still will not fit in my box. I am so flustered. It should not be this hard. What do you think is reasonable for me to ask for. I don't want this watch back again. I am so annoyed every time I look at it. I don't even want it replaced.

I can't think of anything that would cause the power reserve to be fine at first and then suddenly drop 20 hours, that makes no sense and definitely needs to be investigated in detail, but that's a BUSA issue, not a Govbergs one. I am sure that Govbergs will see you right, they have a track record of doing that and many, many very happy customers here.

What an awful thing to have had happen. I feel your sense of frustration over this. Hopefully, someone will see how badly you have been treated and make it right. I can’t believe it is so difficult to keep track of a watch and the case you sent it in. I would side step the gate keepers and move on up to senior management to get this one sorted. Always works for me.

From what you have described, all I can suggest is that you don’t give up on Beitling (especially if you really like your Barnato), just because of rubbish service. If I were you, I would ask them to correct the case size as well for one exactly like the original. How extraordinary!

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Jim

"You have Control".

Just curious did you try winding it a full 40 turns an just letting it sit on your desk without wearing to see if it can hold the 42 hour charge?

I think it's deceiving at time when we wind out watches and wear them for a day and take them off at night and put them back on. If you're a desk jockey you might not be moving around for the watch to hold a full charge.

If its an consolation the website recommends not sending a watch in for device with any of the original box or travel case. They probably have a ton of them and its easy to mix them up.

this might well be the problem here, I frankly see no technical the power reserve could drop so dramatically in such a short period of time.

Yes, I wound the watch 40 times and it sat on my desk. I got alittle less than 22 hours. After it has been to BUSA twice to correct this problem. I should have been a little more clear in the first post. The first time I wore the watch, it held the charge though the night for a few days. That was it. At day 3 it would not hold the charge through the night. I sent the watch back to Govbergs today. In their defense. The person I have been dealing with has been very nice to me. I feel she really wants to help. And, she did give my wife some nice gifts when I bought the watch. I'm sure they will take care of me. I would probably buy another watch from them. My wife and I own several Breitlings. My love for that company is leaving me.

This is the problem for Breilting. Owners like bucknutty waning because of a poor servicing experience. I feel for you and ask that you do not lose your love for Breitling, as it’s a great brand.

Besides, you have all of these wonderful helpful people here to share your passion for Breilting with.

Nice service assistances is worth something, but it’s you who takes the watch home at the end of the day. Be persuasive and quietly demand satisfaction. Ask them to return your original case and to get to the bototm of the power reserve issue.

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Jim

"You have Control".

ok i know this might sound crazy, however, try winding the watch 55-60 times and testing again.

edit - i use to have a b4b motors t that needed a few extra spins of the crown to hold the charge.

Alaina is great to work with, I'm sure she'll do everything she can to make it right.

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Justin
Please contact me via PM for the contact details for Govberg Jewelers
Govberg is an AD for over 50 fine Swiss and German watch brands.
Visit them on the web at http://www.govbergwatches.com or call 800-528-8463

There you go bucknutty. A personal assurance from Justin at Govberg. Thats a great start.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Welcome to the bad service club. I have a new SA that has never worked right since I own it. Returned twice to NyC service center and then it just dies almost four weeks ago. So I call my AD and say I want a new watch and he agrees so he says he will buck it up the chain all the way to Switzerland. Can you hear the crickets chirping..........still waiting. No status unless i follow up . so call my AD and say if yiur are so confident u can get a swap approved just swap it out but oh no once we get approval for a swap I am going to have to send the watch in for further review and determination if I should get as new watch. Sorry Breitling service is terrible. And to be honest I have read enough bad service stories to make me wonder about Breitling. If I treated my clients like this I would be out of business. I own a 5k piece of crap. Sorry trying hard to give benefit of doubt but there is none left to give. Hopefully your issue will get sorted out soon.

This may not be the right place to comment on this, as it does not relate to the specifics or the original post. However, I completely understand your point of view. I have been there myself, but not ever with Breitling I must add. I am not sure of the policy in either Switzerland or at BUSA. It makes little difference in the end anyway. Assuming you have done everything right and there are no obvious reasons for the watch to keep faulting, then it’s an easy fix really. Just replace the watch!

If it were here in Australia, you would simply request an over the counter exchange, or a full refund. No, I am not deluded or making this up. That’s the law here. Even if the retailer displays a no refund sign, it’s against the law to not exchange or refund the item if it does not work correctly. Regardless of price and regardless of the excuses not to do so. As long as you have not abused the watch, used to incorrectly or voided the standard operational practice for such items, it’s a simple claim that the watch cannot do what it is advertised to do, and your reasonable expectations on a fault free item have not been fulfilled. Yes, they may wish to check it over first, if the fault is not obvious, as the retailer has rights too. I shoudl add, that they may also offer a fix before a swap out and that can be just as satisfying to the owners buying experience, if it solves the problem. In fairness, if it was a service centre that had not seen the watch before, one would understand the need to make an assessment first. But as it’s the same business you are dealing with (again), one would support the notion of local autonomy to decide in such cases. It is just not good business sense to do otherwise.

I too would be out of business if I adopted anything less than total satisfaction for my clients. It’s my point of difference and it services our business well. It’s not lip service as we implement what we say, even if we feel it’s not justified or necessary in some cases. We just do it, as it keeps our clients happy. I have noticed around me here, that there is a real gulf of difference in saying you offer complete satisfaction and actually doing it.

I hope you get satisfaction.

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Jim

"You have Control".