The Breitling Watch Source Forums

According to two separate AD's that I visited today, Breitling is allowing AD's to discount up to 30-32% on the popular models and up 35% or more on the less popular models to make the sale. Normally an AD will not go this high because they can lose their license to sell Lings if Breitling finds out. We are seeing a case of to many watches and not enough buyers... This is good for buyers... Is there anyone else seeing this or hearing this while shopping...

Wow

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Have not seen that yet, but if I can get 30% off a brand new black dial 6.75 on steel or Chronomat with Romans, I am jumping on that!

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Certified watch nut.

My guess is that it'll probably only apply to US/North America.

I read an interesting article today comparing the Japanese economic crisis in the 90's to the economic crise today (mainly focusing on US). I have no idea if this is true, just citing the article:

During the Japanese crisis, it didn't affect the personal consumption very much, because people had saved 15% (in average) of their income and used that in the economic crisis to "top up" to their normal level. Louis Vuitton (among others) actually never decreased sales during the Japanese crisis, mainly thanks to that.

The economic crisis today, and then focusing on US, is affecting personal consumption completely different. The average Joe has not been saving very much for the last years, either spent the entire income or even taking a loan to afford personal consumption. This way sales is now decreasing very rapid and shop owners are then willing to give very large discounts to maintain product/cash flow of their business.

As said, I'm just quoting the article so if this is completely wrong don't shoot me, but if it is even slightly true I'm not surprised by larger discounts.

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Collection: http://s540.photobucket.com/albums/gg32 ... mview=grid

I've been doing better than that for quite some time, quite a lot better on unpopular models. I suspect that rather than increasing total discount percentage they are just making them more widely available.

I got a call from one of my 'preferred' ADs about three weeks ago. He knew my birthday was coming up and wanted to 'update' me on his inventory.

I told him I might be interested in a Navi Legende black dial/rose gold, but he didn't have it in stock. He did have the silver dial/rose gold in inventory and offered to sell for $6,000 out the door. I had to turn him down as I do not purchase display case models.

By my count that's close to 40% off list in the NY/NJ area no less. And the way things are going here with the job market I don't anticipate things will get much better any time soon, either in general or for timepiece dealers at all but the highest levels (patek, ap, etc...).

There have been an awful lot of Rolexes and Breitlings sold to 'new' marginal buyers these past 5-7 years. Now that the credit bubble has burst and these folks either no longer have incomes or borrowing capacity to finance new purchases the game has changed.

Think we would be extremely lucky to see 10-15% from an AD over in the UK.

I struggled to get 10% off a £570 RRP Tissot I tried 7 different shops to get that Subsequently taken it back, but thats another story

Only online retailers are openly offering any decent discout, then stating it could take weeks to get the watch and they're not AD's anyway, so the bloody warranty is void I better stop there, bit too new to the site for a full on rant!

UK is definitely tougher to get discounts, but it should be loosening up just a bit with the current economic situation.

30% dicounts have been available from US based Breitling ADs for quite some time. I guess now they are just allowed to talk about it.

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Breitling Super Avenger
Rolex Submariner

You can talk about it all you want, you just can't say where it is

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Actually many ADs will be quite open about it. They generally only communicate prices by phone, but in my experience many will willingly offer that.

Bottom line is, whether we think it's right or wrong, 30% in North America is becoming the norm, and still offers a sizeable profit to the AD. I personally would walk if I was only offered 30% - even on a popular model like the SA.

I commend your advice good Mr. Moderator, but with your, shall we call it collector's resume, you bring a stronger hand to the negotiating table than most others. But your point is correct (of course!) 30% is becoming common. Even my local (crappy!!!!!) AD is now offering that if they think you are serious-- walk in with a 'ling on and you ARE serious!

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

Fare point, but the model holds true with all ADs.

Look at Mario's group buy - it's obviously designed to create volume, but the prices are good enough to appeal to a number of buyers and still give the AD enough profit to cover the cost of the swag that they kicked back to Mario - they aren't losing money at this point.

My history is certainly worth something, but I have also been told that I can offer members of this board (and I have) an amazing deal on a Flying B, even if that person has never bought a Breitling before. I can't publicly state the discount, but let's just say it's larger than any number on this thread.

Similarly, I don't mind saying what I paid for my Complications 19 - it came in at $10,200 including tax (13% in Ontario) against a list of $16,400 plus taxes. Do the math.

I am certainly not accusing anything untoward, but you and the Mario group buy have the exact same business idea behind it: less profit on a single piece for the ability to move more pieces. Simple volume. You can likely get these deals because you walk in to buy a Complications 19 -- where 99% on the fine watch buying public would have NO IDEA what that is. You are a big fish in the pond. A status that is earned rightfully. I think the thing that needs to be gotten across to some of the newbies is that if you can stumble across a 35-40% discount, consider yourself either very lucky or at a fire sale. Those types of numbers come with reputation most of the time, even if it is your first buy from that dealer. Many dealers will work extra hard to get the business of a big fish. So the lesson is become a big fish or swim in a big school so you can look like a big fish!

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Chronomat, Steel/Gold, MOP Dial, 2-tone band (2008)
Super Avenger Black Baton Dial (2009)
Bentley B04 GMT Silver Dial (2013)
Avenger Blacksteel Baton Dial (2014)

....AND also, whatever you do, on no account move to the UK...... or else you'll be likely to come across watch sellers who have the same attitude as BMW dealers - i.e. "We don't need to discount sir. These cars/watches (delete as appropriate) sell themselves".

Oh right, so in the times of credit crunch hardship, the only two commodities that are unaffected by any kind of financial turmoil are BIZARRELY luxury watches and BMWs!

Honestly guys, 30% discounts simply DO NOT HAPPEN in the UK. I've said it before, but even with over 10 years of buying from my AD I am lucky if I ever get more than 10%. OK, so I only tend to buy 1 or occasionally 2 watches a year, but I'm known there, and yet the discounts don't exactly come readily.

Mega-discounting is a peculiarity of being on the western side of the Atlantic. Trust me on this!

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Driver8

Site Moderator