The Breitling Watch Source Forums

So I was strolling through the mall with my wife two days ago during our trip to Orlando when she says out of the blue, "You know, I wouldn't care if you got another Breitling..." Forgive the ellipsis, but I didn't really hear anything she said after that point, and before she stopped talking I had sniffed out the nearest AD, and was standing in front of the display case. Since buying my first Breitling a year or two ago I knew my obsession would eventually lead me to the purchase of a Navitimer. Wracked with guilt over my other two Breitling purchases (not the cheapest things in the world I think we can all agree), and trying to stick to some self-imposed image of fiscal responsibility I simply could not justify the purchase. I found comfort by reading these forums, and making regular visits to my local AD; but now, with the boss' endorsement, I was ready to roll!

I tried on every Navitimer that caught my eye, and ended up torn between the Montbrillant Legend, and the tan Montbrillant Datora. I asked the sales rep "what she could do for me" on either of those. She said I would have to choose before she would give me a ballpark discount which seemed odd, but I ended up going with the Datora. She scampered off to the manager who offered up 12%. Not impressed, I mentioned that I got 25% off on my first purchase in Honolulu, and 20% on my more recent one in Virginia, and all things considered 20% was my take it or leave it number. As all of this was going on I noticed something happening out of the corner of my eye. My wife was falling in love. She found a lady's Colt that she simply couldn't do without. Since, as the title said, this was a day for excess I asked the rep if I could get 20% off if I bought both watches. Again she scampered off, and returned with a reluctant yes "but it's a take it or leave it, one day offer only".

I was really kind of taken aback by the lack of flexibility in the pricing, especially considering the economic climate. As we worked out the purchase, I was trying to figure out how, with this (to me at least) extraordinary purchase, I was not given a glass of champaign, the keys to the city, and invited to sit in their little VIP buyers room. As I got to talking with another guy in the store I figured it out. This was not just any guy apparently. This guy (who had just come out of MY VIP buyers room) had just purchased a Rolex (don't know the model, forgive me) a Super Avenger, a Hercules, a Patek Phillip for his wife, and one of the Bentley models (he didn't mention which one). I guess if you're going to do it, do it right!!! In any case I came out of there with a 20% discount on our watches, and yet another hole in my life is now filled.

Picture below of my new addition. (Forgive the photo quality, it was taken from my phone).

Excellent stuff! Good story too!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

That was pretty odd behavior indeed by the AD. At least it turned out well! Enjoy!

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Current:
Omega Planet Ocean 45.5mm

Sold:
Breitling Super Avenger / White Stencil / PROII
Breitling Hercules - Black

Congratulations on the acquisition!

As far as I'm concerned, anyone who is buying is a VIP and should be treated as such. We all know that customer service isn't what it used to be, but just because you aren't buying a half dozen expensive pieces doesn't mean that you shouldn't be made to feel special - after all none of us buy two watches every day!

Congratulations! That's a great looking watch!

AD's are trying to make money too, but there should be no reason that they shouldn't be gracious to any client regardless of purchasing power. That said you may not get the same deal as the guy who just bought six watches and buys one every 6 months, but your buying experience should be enjoyable as well.

This reminds me of when my wife and I moved to Manhattan and were in the market (or so we thought) for a 2BR apartment on the Upper West Side. We were prepared to spend 700K and thought for that price we would get about 1,400 sft in a doorman building. Needless to say.......

Sometimes there are simply bigger fish in the sea. Need to keep sight of the fact that a high-end timepiece is not exactly up there on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and thus it stands to reason that many buyers likely don't even look at the pricetag. I've seen this behavior on more than one occasion while browsing the Big T boutique on 57th.

There is a decent argument to be made for not noticing the financial impact of a watch purchase as a precondition, especially in this economic climate.

Just my $.02.

Bigger fish in the sea is right!

The whole VIP room, champaign, and keys to the city thing was more the sarcastic ranting of a relatively small fish than an actual concern. I certainly wouldn't say I had a bad experience, and if I was in the area again while in the market for another Breitling I could see myself going back. In fact, I enjoyed talking to the guy who bought out the store. He was pretty big in the motorcycle-racing set, and besides having a slight air of pretentiousness (though probably well deserved) he seemed like a pretty good guy.

Sweet watch! Looks great on the croc. Well done!

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Breitling Colt GMT
Breitling Navitimer World
IWC Portuguese Automatic
Breitling Transocean Chronograph LE

Very very nice. Congratulations!

It's not often you get such words of encouragement. Congrats on the purchase and its great to see that she too walked away with a very nice souvenir.

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Jerome

My local AD has a brown Datora, and its hard walking out without one.

Congrats!

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NavitimerNut

Good story, and well done on the watch, it looks great!

Beautiful Datora! Love the dial colour. Please give your lovely wife a big hug for all of us! Talk about music to the ears!
Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"

I'll pass that on to her! I told her the other day how every now and then a guy will pop up on the forum and tell everyone how his wife/girlfriend had authorized a new purchase, but I never thought I would eventually be that guy. The really good news is that I think she has been bitten by the bug now too, so my future purchases won't seem so ridiculous to her!!!

First of all, congrats on the watch.

I've had certain moments in life as well, where you save up for something all summer and see other people just casually buying the same item...twice
Guess us middle-classers need to know our place

After buying my Navitimer World on leather deployant, I was feeling I was missing a nice shiny bracelet. After showing my girlfriend (who doesnt like me spending this much $ on watches) pictures of a white SA on bracelet and a black Navi World on Bracelet she mentioned she liked the SA on a bracelet more and I should get that one. So I just took that as an endorsement from her to buy my 2nd watch. #2 will arrive in June

As soon as "the boss" gives her endorsement, I guess we all just rush off to buy that watch as quick as possible before she changes her mind

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Navitimer World baby!
Oh, and a sweet black arabics Super Avenger for the daily grind...