The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My SA went to Turnbridge Wells 2 months ago for its first service. I sent it with original bakelite box etc. received watch back in a soft pouch. Phoned to complain and to be told, after looking they'd found the box. Received said box a few days later.....wrong box. Phoned back to be told it looks like they've lost it so they sent me a new style box which IMO is pretty sub standard compared to the bakelite box they lost originally.

A bit peeved to say the least, thankfully on the face of it the watch looks brand new again.

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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

Yeah. Bitter sweet outcome. Not good on the box side of things.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Bloody useless, you would think they would look after a £4000 bit of kit with some more respect, very unprofessional!

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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

My Super Avenger II Military LE came back with a damaged/faulty date wheel mechanism after they had it for a warranty repair. And after that was fixed, my E-warranty came back from them with a pressure mark on the screen. I am not impressed, and in fact I elected to have my wife's Oceane overhauled at one of their approved centres (Mallory's) as opposed to it going back to TW.

They do say not to send the watch in with anything other than the warranty/service book and when I spoke with someone at customer services before I sent in my SO for a full overhaul, I was told to send in something 'disposable'/that I didn't want back like an old spectacles case, so I always assumed that they were never careful with what it was sent in as it always gets returned in one of the canvas service cases.

The annoying thing for you is that you will now have a mismatched box; perhaps look to sell the new one to fund buying the correct type off ebay?

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Have
2019 B55 Exospace on Titanium bracelet
2014 SuperAvenger II Military LE
Had
2013 Avenger Seawolf SS yellow Arabic dial
2010 Aerospace Avantage black dial & Co-pilot
2007 Aerospace Repetition Minutes
2003 Superocean
2001 Chronospace

Troubling, these posts. I thought BUK had as good a rep as anyone out there, but in the last couple of days there have been quite a few reports of experiences of this sort.

I just assumed you would at least send it in the box for protection in transit, obviously not. How then if they have few boxes sent to them do they manage to lose it? Surely you would say then 'oh, he's sent his box, best make sure I mark it and make sure he gets it back'........regardless if you're meant to send it in or not. VERY unprofessional!

_________________

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

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

Absolutely. Or give instructions not to send the box but wait for a service case to arrive in the mail. How do you lose a box?

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Jim

"You have Control".

Hey Andrew - I can totally understand you're more than a little peeved by this, and it's not often I stick up for big companies like Breitling when the give poor service, but as vulcanpilot said, unfortunately BUK specifically say not to send the watch in the originally box unless you don't want it back.

That said, I really hope Breitling either finds your originally box for you, or that you manage to source a Bakelite box as I agree that the newer boxes are considerably inferior.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

TBH if I knew not to send the box I wouldn't have done it, I can honestly NOT remember seeing that anywhere!

Anyway everyone makes mistakes but I still do believe they should have been more careful with someone else's belongings, especially with the high costs involved!

_________________

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

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

Actually, in your defence, I don't think it's written anywhere on their website. Thinking about it, I only know not to send in the case because I always phone Breitling before I send anything in just to make sure that the address/process etc is still the same. (Basically I don't like sending off a watch in the post without speaking to someone first). If it definitely still isn't written on the website, then you have a very good case to ask them to replace your missing Bakelite box with like for like.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I agree with everything said here, and if I hadn't spoken with someone at Breitling UK myself, I too would have sent in my box with my SuperOcean when it went for Overhaul.

As a rule, I take my watches into my 'local' AD as my belief is that they should cover for loss/damage in the post, whereas if I send direct, then I would have to claim off the Postal service - and in the UK, that is a minefield and not something you really want to have to do (Royal Mail don't like paying out £20 - imagine asking them to pay out £2500!). My Aerospace(s) and my SAII Mil LE were all sent into BUK via my AD and I have never left my boxes with them as they send them in using the Breitling service cases.

I'd certainly kick off about it. Why do they not have your box Andrew? Have they chucked it out because it is no longer current? Bet it's just gone back into some store room so they can sell it off to someone that wants to pay for one!

_________________
Have
2019 B55 Exospace on Titanium bracelet
2014 SuperAvenger II Military LE
Had
2013 Avenger Seawolf SS yellow Arabic dial
2010 Aerospace Avantage black dial & Co-pilot
2007 Aerospace Repetition Minutes
2003 Superocean
2001 Chronospace

No idea Vulcanpilot........If I didn't live on an island in the North of Scotland I would do the same as you but sadly thats not an option.

I'll never sell my SA so I suppose it's not a massive issue, I just can't be arsed to argue over the phone tbh.

_________________

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

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

Andrew,

I've not been posting much here recently, been kinda occupied. But I'm a total Breitling addict.
Sad you've had a poor experience with BUK. Mine have always been excellent.

Tell you what, I'll send you a Bakelite box, such as which you sent to the service centre. Happy to do this with no cost too you.

iF they find your original, I'll drive up there and get it to replace the one I'll send too you. They are only 25 miles or so from me. I live in East Sussex.

If not, hey. No biggie.

I'd be happy knowing you have the full set once again.

Pm me your address and I'll send early next week.

Take care matey.

Davey

Damnfoolman, that is superb. You are a gent.

What a top bloke you are Davey.

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Driver8

Site Moderator