The Breitling Watch Source Forums

May I ask what it is that you do for a living? Don't need specifics, maybe just a general idea.

Secondly, I wonder, when you are thinking about purchasing a Breitling, or any watch for that matter, how do you know which one is right for you? Do you go online, look at specs and put up a mm gauge to your wrist to see how big the watch is or do you go to an AD and look at watches in flesh, try them on, compare the looks of them with different straps?

Let's say you do go and waste an AD's time and you "use" them as "inefficiency" in the system and then just go and buy the watch online just because you save 5%-10% while risking getting some bogus fake or not getting anything at all or a refurbished watch with unknown history. (on side note, i had someone come in a few weeks ago with an almost undoubtable "Chronomat" which was purchased online at a GREAT deal that stopped working, I can usually spot a fake right away, but I actually let this one go to BUSA and guess what, everything inside was Japan, but that's besides the story). Back to my point though, so you get this watch and it all checks out and now all the thousands of dollars that you just risked are OK and well spent. You put the watch on and you need links taken out, who do you go to for that to be done? I would guess an AD. Where do you go to get the current Chronolog? AD. Who do you call when you're having trouble with a watch? Who do you go to when the watch needs to be sent to Breitling for service or warranty work?

Watch companies do sell "direct" (Cartier and Panerai for example) that's called having boutiques, but not only the prices are the same as at an AD, but most of the time you won't get nearly the deal as you might at an AD.

Wow, this has become quite a heated thread!

While I get seriously irritated that discounting is not standard across the globe (either no discounting at all, or a standard 20%, instead of this annoying halfway-house of massive discounts in the States and b*gger all in the UK), I personally don't agree that AD's are "inefficiencies" in the system. It's back to the discussion of value again. For many people, value takes many forms, and not just monetary terms. To many, "value" may be knowing without a shadow of a doubt that their watch is genuine - you only get that 100% guarantee from an AD. Others may value the buying process - being treated like someone specially and developing that relationship, instead of just clicking a "buy now" button the net. Yes, if we're talking purely financial terms, then AD's DO contribute to the cost of a watch, but it's all dependent on what you perceive "value" to be.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I am a software engineer at Google. I can't be much more specific than that. It's pretty likely that you've used software I've written, without knowing it.



Actually I didn't. I looked at them online and decided. I have neither the time or inclination to visit AD's. I'd rather go to the park with my son. Also, shouldn't it be my choice whether I want to touch and feel versus buying online? I think what offends me the most is having that choice taken away from me.

I think it's interesting in (the US market anyway) that anyone can complain about an AD "only" giving 35% off. For another 5%, I'll take the peace of mind.

And really, we don't need the ADs to know anything, other than the most expedient way to assist us for service and/or cleaning issues. It isn't that I don't respect most of them, it's just that most of us do so much research prior, that talking to them is almost tantamount to wasting their time.

_________________
Avenger Skyland
If I said I was good, you'd think I was bragging.
If I told you I wasn't, you'd know I was lying.

That may be true of most, perhaps all, of the members here, but it isn't true of most people who buy a luxury watch.

Agreed. The few times I've been in an AD, I haven't liked it very much. I find them to be snobby and officious, with a hint of superiority.

I buy very little at local retail. Mostly food, and a lot of that comes from the Farmer's Market, where I'm dealing with the producer directly.

conceded

_________________
Avenger Skyland
If I said I was good, you'd think I was bragging.
If I told you I wasn't, you'd know I was lying.

OK....back on topic

I recently sold three of my Breitlings to a well known UK jeweller, but not an AD.

2002 Navitimer 50th Anniv., fully boxed with all docs and L/E pamphlets - got £1500 GBP. They sell for approx. £2950

2003/4 Navitimer Fighters Edition, boxed but with partial (7/10) docs. Got £1300. They sold it for £2750

2005/6 Chrono SuperOcean, boxed with partial (9/10) docs. Got £1300. They sell for £1950

When I sold my 2001 Chrono Avenger (with black dial) on eBay, I made about £300, minus eBay fees.

HTH!

_________________
Oyster Date '78, Blackbird chrono DLC '10, Blackbird chrono' 02, Navitimer Fighters '02, Aerospace Evo , Seamaster Chrono Diver 300' 02, Carrera cbm2110