The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I guess I don't understand some ADs. Unfortunately, I am 3 hours from the nearest one, so everything has to be done over the phone. They won't quote prices over the phone on a watch and he won't order a strap for my watch without me being there. I don't get it? He wants me to drive 3 hours to come in and order a strap?

When I then changed the conversation to what his best price is on a PO, he wouldn't even talk about it until I came in. This reminds of of car dealers 10 years ago when they wouldn't talk price until you were in the showroom. I finally told the guy the only reason I am even calling is that I live 3 hours away and I rather patronize a Michigan business than an online store and that it is MUCH more convenient for me to order a bracelet and strap online and have it delivered, then calling these idiots and getting treated like a criminal.

Unbelievable. The AD is in metro-Detroit. People in Detroit aren't exactly knocking down the doors to buy luxury watches. I would have thought he would gladly take any business he could get.

I think these ADs are used to people that come in, look at a fancy watch and don't know two shits about it. When I call up, ask for a specific model #, he won't even talk to me.

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Mmmmm

I really don't understand what motivates some people. I think you just dealt with a turd of an AD. I usually do most of my innitial dealing with ADs over the phone. I let them know I am calling each AD within striking distance and will buy from whoever can work me the best deal. I guess he thinks he is keeping you from doing that; but were it me, he would be keeping himself from a sale.

I don't know why the more expensive the item is, the more difficult it is to discuss pricing in a direct way. We are in the car buying process right now, and the crap that these d$&# dealerships try to pull once you are in the door is rediculous. I feel your pain!

Exactly. In this day in age, most consumers are doing research online on their purchases, whether it be a vacuum cleaner, a car or in my case, a watch. I know exactly what I want, so why is it so difficult to give me the price?

BTW, I can recommend AGAINST ever dealing with these guys: Albert's Jewelers in Schererville, IN.

He asked for the serial number from the watch and when I told him I bought it used and I don't have it yet, he said "for all I know, you have a fake watch that you are calling and trying to buy parts for". ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Unreal.

This will be my 3rd Breitling, but I can tell you from the experiences I am having with their dealer network, it will probably be my last. I've never had this big of an issue trying to buy a $500 piece of jewelry in my life.

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Mmmmm

Here's another viewpoint: straps & other "accesories" r low margin items, so the AD r hesitant abt stocking them, unless u order w a credit card (i.e, confirm e purchase).

As far as pricing, I think quite a few ADs r willing to give nice discounts in this economy, but these low prices r frowned upon by Breitling. So unless ur there in person, doubt ur gonna get the bottom line price on the phone (unless ur a prior customer).

Having said that, if ur AD is so far away, why not get one from out of state AD & save on the sales tax?

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a few Pams...

H2F, trust me, I don't expect them to keep stock of bracelets and straps. But I couldn't find a single AD (I called 4) that would even order me a bracelet. They kept asking me for the serial number of the watch, even when I told them I didn't have the watch infront of me. Then they tried to say they didn't want to order the wrong bracelet, and when I countered with "I have the model number, it's 132A" and offered to pay with a CC over the phone, they still said they couldn't order from Breitling until I had proof of SN.

I find it hard to believe that Breitling requires a proof of serial number for trivial items such as bracelets and straps. I'm not trying to order a caseback or dial or something...

Either way, I was able to source both a ProII and replacement OR strap through 3rd parties, so all is well. Just a very, very bad experience with multiple ADs, with one even insinuating that I have a fake Skyland.

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Mmmmm

Good to hear u have what u want Zirotti. FWIW, when I went to Breitling SE Asia HQ & asked for the thicker springbars (to fit leather/rubber straps), they said it's free, but also insisted I take off my SA & give it to them so they can check the model/serial number. So maybe it's nothing personal -- but a requirement from Breitling central? (Just trying to make u feel better here... )

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a few Pams...

I ordered a Pro II a year or so ago and I'm sure the AD didn't ask for a Serial Number, although to be fair, I was wearing the watch when I went into the shop to order it.
Is this a normal Breitling procedure to get a serial number when ordering bracelets?

Best wishes,

Verner

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Best wishes,

Verner

I'm sure George at Govberg's (an AD) would be more than willing to help you out. He's in Philadelphia and will overnight the strap to you. You'll also save on taxes for an out-of-state transaction. I bought my Avenger from George and it was a great experience from beginning to end (I'm in Chicago).

I had pretty much the same experience. I went to several AD and most didn't have bracelets in stock. One authorized dealer offered to sell me the bracelet off a Navi they had in stock. The funny thing was they had to have a jeweler inspect my watch before they would quote the price. I suspect they wanted to confirm the authenticity. Perhaps BUSA has a strict policy to prevent genuine straps and bracelets from getting on fake watches.

At another AD I visited they had a Cosmonaute with the sky racer bracelet. The saleman said even though the bracelet would technically fit my watch, he couldn't sell it to me since it wasn't correct for my model.

A third AD said they "weren't allowed to stock bracelets" and that Breitling required they be ordered watch specific

My general feeling in BUSA puts strict control on the ADs regarding bracelets.

I've never heard of restrictions by BUSA (or any other distributor), but there definitely is a shortage at ADs - relatively slow sellers and a lot of different combos (strap colours / buckles / leathers and bracelet end links).

It's not at all surprising that they don't stock many, and with a low profit margin I can see why they are reluctant to order straps / bracelets for inspection, but I have no idea why they won't order when a credit card is being offered.

I agree with you Roff - it would be interesting to hear an AD input on this one.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

I already had an AD reach out to me after my post. Good to here still quality folks around.

My feeling on the matter is that some of these people probably just don't want to have to deal with something they aren't going to make much money on, to someone who isn't a repeat customer. But when one of them tried to tell me that I my Skyland was a fake, that was my breaking point. Completely unprofessional.

Anyway, I got squared away with the help a few guys here.

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Mmmmm

They don't. I have ordered two straps, one through my local AD and one through an AD in Vegas. In both cases BUSA just wanted the name of the model.

I also don't buy the argument that the straps and bracelets are low margin...they are more overpriced that the watches themselves. I would think that 50% of the price is dealer margin alone. I may be wrong, but it just seems that way. Parts for car dealers have huge markups...why not watches? The way I see it, if you call and AD an want to order a bracelet, you are doing them a favor by handing them several hundred dollars for simply ordering the item from BUSA for you.

The justification for the high dealer margins are because the dealer has to stock all the watches for months to years before they are sold. Therefore, they need a lot of margin to afford to keep all of them around for you to look at. But straps and bracelets? That's pure profit.

///M

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." --Dave Barry

I misspoke (mistyped), margin is the same as watches (pretty much), the point I was trying, and failing to make is that dollar profit is lower than on watches - especially for straps, and so they are less prepared to go to effort for a potential sale that will only yield them a few bucks.