The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I'd really like some promotional items!

Speaking only for myself, the feeling is mutual.

_________________
"It is just a matter of time!"

This is kind of sad because yes Breitling monitor's this site and no they really don't give a damn what we think. They aren't monitoring the Internet for marketing purposes.

An AD told me, somewhat frustrated upon returning from Grenchen, that he did not understand why Breitling didn't use brand knowledgable "focus groups like that Breitling website you are on."


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

_________________
SHARKMAN

I agree. It's a shame that a lot of the larger brands (Breitling included obviously) don't embrace and use forums. Smaller brands make considerable use of them over on WUS, and perhaps the largest watch company with it's own forum is Doxa. Their interaction with their forum user isn't always perfect - for example I once asked on the forum how to remove a Doxa's bracelet screws as they were put in so tight that I ruined a Bergeon scewdriver trying to undo them. Doxa themselves deleted my post from the forum, and when I queried why, I was told that it was because my question was "negative towards the brand"! Fortunately one of the other members saw my post before it was deleted and told me to use a little heat on the bracelet to melt the threadlock..... and it worked a treat. That said, Doxa do also listen to their fans and as a result a number of models have been made incorporating details from polls and general threads on their forum. Of course (and quite rightly so) not everything suggested gets used, but it allows the company to both get free market research and insight, and also give something back to loyal fans. It seems to me that this is only a consideration for small/medium companies, and once they get past a certain size it appears that companies arrogantly assume they whatever they do will be embraced by customers, no questions asked.

Imagine how refreshing it would be in a major brand (like Breitling!) opened active dialogue with it's customers, and perhaps once in a while incorporated ideas into the odd model or two.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

Taking it a step further, many makers produce a limited edition "forum" product after taking input from forum members in a limited and numbered edition...how awesome would that be?

Sad but true

Well, while the data is a little old, I know for a fact from 2 - 3 years ago that Breitling chose not to be associated more formally with this site when it had the chance to for a number of different reasons, some associated with Breitling directly - talk of where to get the best discounts for example, and some more around some of the discussion topics away from Breitling. At the time the community was smaller, and maybe Breitling will view things differently when say the 10th anniversary of BreitlingSource rolls around and there is an opportunity for a commemorative edition.

So far the only direct contact is lawyer letters making demands of the owner, and as Breitling has said they don't conduct market research because they are confident that the market will follow them wherever their designers decide to go. That statement is a couple of years old and perhaps their confidence is lower now, but that would be driven by sales numbers rather than opinions here.

Yeah, good point - I know first hand of a large Corporation here in the US that has used Skype for customer focus groups to get feedback on their new products.

I think Breitling (along with many other companies) just choose not to devote resources/funds for this type of market research, their call.

_________________
Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Or any, if their VP is to be believed.

I don't get corporations.

There is a considerable degree of arrogance within the fine Swiss watch houses. Breitling has said point blank they do not seek outside marketing opinions in their design choices. I doubt they are alone in that regard. I find it hard to believe former Zenith CEO Theirry Nataf considered market research with thier core customer base when they went all in on the Defy line, which nearly bankrupt the company and cost Nataf his job. Of course Zenith survived in large part because they had LVMH to hold them up as they bought back AD's Defy stock and in just one year reverted to their roots. Breitling doesn't have that kind of backing.

This forum has tried before to garner a Bretling forum LE to no avail, unlike Panerai and some others. That is why the breitlingsource LEs have been Steinharts!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

_________________
SHARKMAN

I'd be interested in knowing what Breitling said is denying a LE for Breitlingsource. Seems to me, since they often do LE's for military organizations and other groups, why they wouldn't be interested in doing a forum watch. As we know they're definitely interested in the monetary side of any request for watches and our money is as good as anyone elses. Perhaps the "Unofficial" part of the Breitlingsource logo could be conscrued as problematic but maybe a middle ground could be found.

I actually once read the Amazon reviews on the Defy and was nearly in tears...

Well, maybe they will do a forum run someday