The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I hear there's an 8% price increase on the way for the UK, probably on top of the 2.5% VAT increase in January.

Stef

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Oh no, it's not like the economies are humming .
Anyone heard anything in the US?

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

I know Pateks are going up 10% in February, so you better buy one of those now. I haven't heard anything on the Breitling front though.

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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

Well that's a relief. Those damn things were on the verge of becoming affordable.

Stef is right. I have spoken to two uk dealers in the last few days and they have both mentioned it an 8% rise in prices on top of the rise in vat. Makes me think that your sales tax over the pond isn't such a bad deal

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Rolex Submariner
Navitimer Olympus

I've heard that it'll be an immediate 6% rise in January, with another 2% at the end of March (direct from a UK AD).

And that's not including VAT.

Mike

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"Behind every great fortune there is a crime" - Balzac

Thankfully my new Navitimer Caliber 01 should be delivered to the AD tomorrow so pre-price increase for me!

Stef

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Smart arse

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Al

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes"

That's exactly what Andrew of Andrew Michaels in Newark told me just yesterday.

A good reason to justify buying yourself that next Breitling for Christmas.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Damn. The giant AD in town had my absolute grail Patek today and I tried it on-- €30k! With the increases, I'll probably never be able to afford one.

I'm sure this will affect the prices of Lings in Ireland as well, though, and I don't see myself in a position to purchase again before the new year. Bad news, but at least we're forearmed, thanks for the heads up!

What a bloody surprise. Since I joined here around 2 and a half years ago I think theres probably been about 5 or 6 price increases!

I'll better start putting up the hourly rae to compensate!

Cheers

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Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

I know exactly what response I'd get from my client if I told them my daily rate was going to increase by 8%...........................................



Stef

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I know Breitling and other watch producers are subject to market conditions; I've heard that prices of raw materials have increased, so the brands have to adjust their prices accordingly. Nevertheless, it strikes me as counterproductive (or at least counterintuitive) to adjust prices that aren't in accordance with the general economies of the markets where those increases take place. For instance, Breitling implemented a whopping 15% increase across the board in 2008, which is the same year the real estate and banking markets tanked. Omega has put out word their prices are set to increase next year in the U.S., and yet I don't see the economy keeping step.

What adds insult to injury is that many companies authorize sales of these same watches in other countries for prices well under what they sell for here. The whole Omega v. Costco debacle has arisen out of authorized retail sales in European markets where prices are so much lower, the watches can endure several mark-ups before hitting Costco shelves in this country, and still be sold for less than retail here. That indicates to me that companies like Omega could lower their prices and still make a profit, but instead, they choose to milk the cash cows of the seemingly most affluent markets as much as they can. They then spend millions in litigation costs to protect their pricing structures, rather than viewing those pricing structures as at least a partial cause of the very thing they're fighting. To me, it doesn't make sense.

If you can afford to pay $5,000 for a watch - if another 8% is going to sway you one way or the other - then quite frankly sir, you are in the wrong store / market.

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

That's one way to look at it. I have a different way of looking at: if in December 2007 I could get a Chronomat for $5100, why shouldn't I feel a little put out having to pay $5840 for the exact same watch just because the calendar changed to January 2008? (And, if you'll do the math, you'll see that's nearly a 15% increase, not 8%.) Just because I can afford to pay that extra $740 doesn't mean it shouldn't irk me that I could have used that money for something else. If the price increases don't matter to you, that's your prerogative, but I believe I can have my point of view and still belong in this market.