The Breitling Watch Source Forums

How do large places such as Amazon, Costco, others get their hands on & then sell Breitlings if they are not ADs? How then does Breitling handle the users of such purchases for warranty work and/or after warranty service?

I had an opportunity last night to purchase a 6 month old Chronomat Evolution from a local gentleman for $2600 which seemed like a good deal. He had his receipt, boxes & paperwork but no warranty card. I looked at his receipt for almost $5000 & saw it was purchased from Amazon so I backed away. Was I wise to do so? It seemed like a very good price for a practically new watch but it got me thinking about these large places and set me wondering how the company handles such purchases?

They are grey market - they buy from ADs and then sell on. 99% of the time there is no warranty because the warranty would identify the AD that originally sold the piece, which in turn would allow Breitling to kick them out.

Grey market has been discussed hundreds of times here and a search will show you all that you need to know about the pros and cons.

What Roff says applies to a number of major brands. If you're interested in the legal ramifications of gray market importations, google Omega v. Costco. FWIW, I bought a Chronomat from Costco that was almost certainly genuine, but it didn't come with a Breitling warranty, and I always had a nagging doubt about its authenticity, just because. The Costco discount was 25%. I just bought a CSO from an AD who gave the same discount, but it came with the warranty, and I have no doubt as to its authenticity. So, in my opinion, if you're buying new, an AD is always the way to go. As for buying used, and buying either from someone who purchased from an AD or a gray market seller, that's a judgment call.

$2600 for a 6 month old Chronomat is a little low compared to the market - maybe a few hundred low. The price obviously reflects that it is not under BUSA's 2 year warranty. That's a pretty big deal and for me the warranty provides considerable piece of mind.

IF I was in the market for a Chronomat (I've recently picked up two), $2,600 on a6] month resale gray market might have lured me but it is too high given it's origin on the gray market.

Keep in mind a new Chonomat can be had from and AD at about $4,000. And I've bought 2 excellant examples, one with a year to go on warranty and one just beyond warranty, for a bit under $3,000.


So keep looking, keep asking questions, and who knows when the next Sharkman Firesale will hit.

_________________
SHARKMAN

_________________
-RJ

My apologies for raising a subject discussed many times. My point was just my surprise that such large places as Amazon would sell grey market product. My vision getting in this frey was of "mom & pop" jewelry stores selling grey market. Another lesson learned for the newbie!

Now if I could just find the perfect Chronomat!

The bulk of gray market pieces come from a handful of large dealers. Amazon is one, COSTCO another, and prestigetime, authenticwatches, and jomashop. There are others of course. Caution is always advisable, but the larhe gray market sellers are known to be pretty reliable.

Most small stores selling a brand they do not carry are selling pre-owned pieces they bought from a customer or took in trade. That is not gray market per se, just selling pre-owned watches. Gray market is the selling of brand new in the box watches by businesses that do not have authorized dealer contracts with the brand distributor. Gray market purchases from authorized dealers are typically large inventory dumps for a number of reasons. Small brick and mortar stores would find it cost prohibitive to hvae a meaningful presence in that market.

_________________
SHARKMAN

What's your idea of "perfect"?

Hmmmmmm......my question exactly!

_________________
SHARKMAN

Well, perfect for me anyway. As I posted elsewhere, I'm looking for a Chrono Evolution. Perfect for me would be blue dial SS band & Arabic numerals LNIB. So far I've either found grey market, well used, or priced too high. So I keep looking.

As mentioned, there are a number of authorized dealers who will offer discounts that come pretty close or even match those of gray market sellers. However, if you've found a reputable gray market seller who has the watch you want at a price you're willing to pay, and if going through an AD is cost prohibitive, I'd be inclined to go through the gray market seller, rather than hold out for used like new.

I was replying to my definition of the perfect Chrono for me. I'm certainly open to others.

I wasn't referring to your definition of perfect, merely commenting on your choices of where to get it.

Sorry, I came across wrong, my apologies. Thank you for your thoughts, I welcome (and need them all)!

I went through hell with Amazon last year. The problem is that their jewelry division is a separate team and they behaved badly when we tried to return a watch that they said was returnable, no questions asked. They will not say who repairs or services the watches but it appears they have a service shop somewhere that is not Breitling to do the work. Since you can find AD's who do give discounts it makes no sense to fool around on the grey market, imho.