The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I think I've admitted my error often enough...maybe you didn't read beyond the initial post

As I said the quotes were virtually identical. It's in pdf, and I can't copy it but:
Steel Crown $35
Hands Rhodie, CPTS Rhuthenium, Chrono Superocean $105
Pusher Steel $ 140
Complete Service for13340 $490
Total 795.80
Others of you who seem to have much experience with BUSA, Have you ever gotten a concise explanation of what the problem was? I did ask specifically "Why did the watch stop working?" and got no answer to that. From the estimate the only indication is that the "complete service" is the solution. From what I can determine from the video the answer is like "Well. if we take it all apart, clean it, replace the bushings, o-rings, and hands, put it back together and polish it, it will be as good as new". Again I guess I sound like an ass, but I would think there was an actual answer like ...one of the springs was worn...or it had a bad thingamajig.
I did just notice in the check boxes that movement moisture is ticked off. if that is the cause (I do NOT know this to be true of course), then I would expect them to say...oh, we f'ed up and the gasket was no good or put in wrong, so let's just fix it...

Now we're getting somewhere.

How did the pusher and crown get damaged?

Hands are standard replacement parts so expect to see them, but a 2 year old watch doesn't get a replacement crown and pusher unless they have been damaged somehow.

99% of problems that require both a crown and pusher to be replaced will be caused by a hard impact, and that may well cause the watch to stop through damage to the movement.

I'm not the board expert here but I do understand that when you buy a Mercedes you also should know that you are going to have to pay Mercedes prices to service that car and keep it in top notch condition. This is one of the consequences of owning a luxury car that keeps some people from buying them in the first place.

Breitlings are mechanical watches unlike most brands of lesser value. They are fine instruments that require periodic maintenance to keep them in top notch condition and you should expect to have to service them. Even with the cost of servicing and periodic polishing and such, they are worth the price to me. A fine mechanical watch that keeps time the way both my Breitlings do without batteries or such is just amazing to me. And when someone spots my watch and comments on how nice it is, its all worth what I have to go through to keep it up to spec. Just like a Mercedes, luxury come at a cost.

The bright side is that the next time you go into that Tag Huer store don't be surprised if the sales person won't wait on you. They'll see your Breitling and figure your just gloating.

Thanks Roff, I don't know how they were damaged but I did wear the watch 24/7... I thought I could... I NEVER took it off, so if I was gardening, working on a car, or mountain climbing in Peru it would have been on. I did assume that it was up to that kind of use, so was I wrong? I'm asking that honestly and not whining BTW. The email I got back from BUSA said "The pushers are very worn but functionally okay. " and that is a quote directly from the email. It also says the chimney is dented though...I'm not saying I was gentle with it.

It's like anything else - the rougher you treat it the more work it takes to restore it to 100% condition. You won't find many people here who baby their watches, but you also won't find many people who wear a $4,000 watch when doing things that might well cause them to get knocked about - like working on a car. Or at least, if they do wear it for that then they accept that the watch might get dinged and cost money to be put right.

HAHA Thanks Brad! I guess you're right in that respect. I think I was expecting a service to be in the $200-300 range and not the $600-800 range.
The BUSA service interval from the email says "Thank you for your email. Your Breitling chronometer is a sophisticated instrument which is constantly subjected to a wide variety of stresses and strains. Within a very small volume, a large number of components contribute to handling all the functions. Their mechanical action inevitably leads to a certain amount of wear and tear, which may be controlled by maintenance consisting of renewing the lubrication and replacing worn components. Like any precision measurement instrument, your watch must be regularly maintained in order to function at its highest level of potential. Breitling recommends a regular service every two years, while the complete overhaul should be scheduled every four to six years."
I wasn't aware of that until I sent it to them, so I guess it's mybad again here

I was serious about selling it and I will list it in Buy Sell Trade at some point I think, but I don't know the value in it's current condition. If it's appropriate in this forum, (if not my apologies to the mods), anyone have a clue as to the value?

FAQs suggest looking at Chrono24 or successful sales on eBay for ideas of value, but......

If it's not working then the price is going to be seriously reduced. The good news is that you have a quote for repairs, the bad news is that a potential buyers will take at least that much off of the price.

dude get your watch fixed and keep it. if you sell it you will feel like you got ass raped and be even more upset. i wont touch upon the should and should not haves since the damage is already done.

While I agree the OP should have been more timely in claiming warranty, I believe that as a luxury goods company, there is a certain amount of goodwill due for the prices we pay. For example I had an issue with my BMW a year out of warranty and BMW agreed to offer me the parts worth about 3 grand free telling me it was out of goodwill, I only had to pay 500 labour charges. I would have expected similar treatment if was a watch too since parts shouldn't be failing that easily on a reputed luxury watch, a watch needing servicing is a different issue. Customer relations is a huge part of a luxury brand and the last thing they need is a disgruntled customer spreading the word about their treatment, well I wouldn't have spoken highly about BMW if they made me pay for that parts failure. It's not about just making one sale but keeping customers loyal and happy so they become repeat customers without jumping to competing brands.

Thanks Cruvon, as a business owner and sales pro that was my original feeling and why I posted the topic. As a Breitling owner I felt the same, and if I have to honest, as a thrifty person (ie. cheap ass) I'd like to not have to pay this bill! Truth be told, I'm not in the same position now as I was when I originally bought my Ling. If I were I'm sure I would have paid it without a second thought. Times have changed for me, and it's far more important that my family eat and have a roof (i'm sure the mortgage company appreciates that too).

I find the OP is more upset and disappointed in the fact that it had a mechanical problem not only once but twice. I know I would be very disappointed in whatever company made my watch. That's if I didn't damage or abuse it. The fact that he did not return it in a timely fashion is a non issue regarding the reliability of the watch.

I say keep your watch and fix it. If you're pissed now, you're going to be super pissed when you find out your going to sell it for MAYBE the cost of this repair. If that.

You could cut your losses by trading it @ Tourneau Time Machine in midtown Manhattan.
If you happen to choose a SuperQuartz Breitling, you'll pay less for it than mech/autos,
have a watch that is 70% more accurate than automatics, always be guaranteed to
get your purchase price for future trades, & FREE lifetime battery replacements. This
is simply one of many options available. I switched to SuperQuartz years ago since my
watches ran erratically, mostlly toward the fast end. Now, I simply wear this Colt, & my
battery still hasn't required changing after 7 years. Not a boast, just a cathartic endeavor.
Whatever you ultimately decide, may Chronos be with you.