The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I recently sold my 1995 Chronomat B13050 and shipped it to the domestic buyer. Before packaging, I checked all functions on the watch: running smoothly, all chronograph funtions, and proper date change. It was shipped in the original boxes and then padded well with newspapers in a medium USPS flat rate box.

Upon receipt, the buyer said the watch would not run at all. The hands would move in set mode, but nothing else. He brought it to a AD who told him it needed a complete service at Breitling for $700-800.

I have 2 questions:

1) Has anyone heard of a watch stop working as a result of shipping? The shipping box apparently had a corner pushed in, but no visible interior damage to the watch or the inside boxes. I'm sure it got jostled around and maybe dropped, but I would expect a Brietling to withstand some shock.

2) The watch was insured with USPS. Has anyone had any experience with claims of this sort? Assuming the buyer is legit (and he appears to be so), the damage had to occur during shipping. I can imagine the claim being denied because they could always say there is no way to prove the watch was working previously.

Sorry for the lengthy post. Any advice appreciated.

Glenn

How did the sale and payment take place? Straight private sale?

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Breitling Old Navitimer Mecanique
Breitling Transocean Chronograph Limited
Breitling Montbrillant Datora
Breitling Chronomat B01
Vintage Rolex Air King

Did you ship it USPS Registered? I don't know if regular Priority insurance covers jewelry/watches. However, a lot of people ship this way so I could be making that up.

Everything can happen in transit! I don't know if newspaper would give enough cushioning! Wonder if anything would stand any aggressive handling!

Worth having a go at your post office AND try to reach an understanding for 50/50 of the costs with the buyer (as the overhaul would make the watch as new)! Good luck

This is a tough one.
When was the watch last serviced?
If it has not had a service for several years just because it was working one day does not mean that it will the next especially with a little bit of rough treatment in transit.
If it was not serviced recently, was the buyer aware of that?
Ouch, messy whichever way you look at it.

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"It is just a matter of time!"

It is a tough one. Typically insurance will only cover damage or loss. Was the external box damaged in any meaningful way? Without some evidence that damage occurred, I would doubt the USPS will honor a claim. And like Wes said, just because the watch was running fine before it was shipped doesn't prove the problem was created by mishandling in shipping.

Unless the buyer is willing to some split of the repair costs, the probable options are take the watch back and refund the buyer's money or pay the buyer for the repair work.


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SHARKMAN

Take the watch back

As said, there's no way to prove that the watch was damaged in transit, although that could explain it, as could a number of other factors. If the watch hasn't been serviced for 5+ years and you disclosed that to the buyer then they shouldhave expected to be faced with a service cost anyway so should certainly at least contribute to any servicing costs.

I disagree about offering any sort of split of repair costs. I hate it when I buy something, such as a timepiece, and it doesn't show up correctly and the seller offers this. I bought the [watch] in working order and now I'm faced with a repair bill (no matter the dollar amount) and not having the item I just purchased for a while...on TOP of already having laid down the dollars to purchase said item.

I really view this as an easy out for the seller. While some people view it as reasonable, I don't think the buyer should be responsible for ANY costs if an item that was described as working perfectly fine and it showed up DOA or damaged.

As a buyer of items such as watches or electronics, I do not think it's my responsibility to put out even more dollars to repair something that I had no control over. Not saying the seller had any control over shipping, but in my mind (from both a seller and a buyer perspective) the item being sold is the seller's responsibility until the buyer is 100% satisfied that they've received what they bought.

Edit to add: I am not the purchaser in this situation, so I apologize if my post sounded as if I was.

I'm calling BS, watches like these just don;t stop becuase they were in the mail for 24-48 hors.

I would take watch back, refund cash and re-evaluate the situtaion once you have the watch back...IMHO

I agree. I would refund minus the shipping and take the watch back.Then determine the problem. If you have to get it serviced and it is documented you may get more on a resale and feel safe seliing it.

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"A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."