Did I get a lemon Breitling? - Page 2

pwd72s · 07-29-2006, 10:09 AM

What's the phrase? Oh yeah, caveat emptor. The HK dealer sounds like a snake. What puzzles me is Breitling saying the watch is the real deal, working perfectly. I'd send the watch directly to Breitling? If they do nothing? Well, I guess we ALL learned something through your posts. Thanks for sharing...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Had similar problem with TAG that I had. Owned it about a year, and it stopped working. Took it to repair place, who suggested I contact TAG. Sent it back and forth to them a few times, never would work.

It now sits in a dresser drawer. Can't quite bring myself to throw it away, it did cost hundreds of dollars after all.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

HK dealer is legit. They're an authorized dealer and I have no doubt whatsoever about them. It's just that I'd have to spend about $70 to send it to them insured and then see if they'd send me a new one. I don't have much confidence in Breitling's ability to diagnose and fix the problem. I'll only be satisfied if they replace it for me. Anyone know how Amex is with disputing charges?

pwd72s · 07-29-2006, 10:35 AM

An interesting watch site...all sorts of designs...

http://www.timex.com/features/feature_compass.html

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

ha! I was going to suggest the Swiss Army Knife watch site

My Rolex Explorer 1 works great, but frankly I rarely wear it. I'm afraid it will get damaged, and I feel kinda self-concious wearing it (the ex bought it for me...don't think I would have ever bought one for myself).

Hetmann · 07-29-2006, 12:25 PM

I wear a Breitling everyday and have not had a lick of trouble from it. I loses a minute or two every few days, but that's about it. It's a favorite possession of mine and I can understand your frustration. If I were in your situation I think I'd arrange to send it back to the HK dealer and be done with it. They can work things out with Breitling. I'd look for one locally and then you'll be dealing with the person who sold it to you face to face.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Jerry, I also have an Avernger Seawolf and it's as reliable as they come. I love it! Should I just tell Amex to block the charge and send the watch back to the HK dealer? Or should I give the HK dealer a chance to send me a new watch, which will take a LONG time?

Moneyguy1 · 07-29-2006, 02:43 PM

Just an off topic (but really not) observation:

A company with as inexpensive a product as Zippo lighter will repair one for free. Just send it in with a return address and the only thing they ask is to remove the flint.

Seems like the more expensive the item, the more reluctance on the part of the company/dealer to be accomodating.

Just my observation...As you were...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

If you saw the thread I started yesterday on the 1911 I've been waiting seven months to be built for me, imagine my frustration with this watch, which cost 4x as much as the gun.

Hetmann · 07-30-2006, 05:49 AM

Rick, Work out whatever you can with the dealer or Amex if need be. But make it clear you/ve had it and just want to return the watch at this point. Having to keep messing with this is pointless. You've tried. Now you just want out. Good luck.

hytem · 07-30-2006, 07:58 AM

My experience with automatic watches is they don't keep accurate time--even Rolexes. And chronographs are prone to malfunction.
The other concern these days is the huge replica market out there for expensive-name watches. Rolex, Breitling, Cartier, etc. You can even get certificate of authenticities. Buying these watches, for example, on ebay is very chancey. They look like the real thing until you wear them in the shower a few times.

Fortunately, no such problem buying old 911s. Hard to replicate.

pwd72s · 07-30-2006, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hytem
My experience with automatic watches is they don't keep accurate time--even Rolexes. And chronographs are prone to malfunction.
The other concern these days is the huge replica market out there for expensive-name watches. Rolex, Breitling, Cartier, etc. You can even get certificate of authenticities. Buying these watches, for example, on ebay is very chancey. They look like the real thing until you wear them in the shower a few times.

Fortunately, no such problem buying old 911s. Hard to replicate.

I caught a guy who had switched VIN tags from "T" to "S"...what's silly is that he did it strictly for ego reasons...pretty dumb considering that tampering with VIN tags is a federal felony...

VincentVega · 07-31-2006, 11:23 AM

There has to be some one at 'corporate' you can help you. I dont see how it should matter who makes the warranty claim, as long as you are dealing with authorized dealers.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Since I reset it Sat. morning, it's been running like a top. Maybe I'm just so lethargic that it's not enough to keep it charged. Not sure what to do.

stuartj · 07-31-2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Since I reset it Sat. morning, it's been running like a top. Maybe I'm just so lethargic that it's not enough to keep it charged. Not sure what to do.

Rick
Wear it every day for a week. Dont need to sleep in it, but give it a good handwind then wear it, everyday. You might wish to wind it, at the same time everyday, also.

Most auto movements have an autonomy of 40-44 hours from fully wound. Regualr use for a few days will ensure it gets fully and properly wound. Its a machine, it needs to run.

I realise your concern is keeping the mutha running, but as an experiment, get a known digital timer (for example the stop clock in my Palm Pilot is spot on) and time the watch over night. Always rest the watch, for these purposes, in the same postion (you heard of "adjusted to five positions" in regard to watch movements).

If the problem persists, its Breitlings, not the dealer, Id have thought.

Corse, it might have flat battery...-)

stuartj · 07-31-2006, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hytem
My experience with automatic watches is they don't keep accurate time--even Rolexes. And chronographs are prone to malfunction.

Well, thats not why you own mechanical watches. Why do you drive a 911? A WRX does the same job lots better.

The watch makers art is to built a machine that can be adjusted to time a given rate. A movemnet that consistently lost 2 secs per day would be considered accurate, a movement that that gained 15 secs one and lost 15 the next would not. Look at a movement from A. Lange, JLC or Patek or any of the great Swiss houses -even Rolex- with same eye you cast over your flat six.

The more complications a movement has, ie chronograh, the complex the mechanism, the more prone to require maintenance. On the other hand, I have watches from the 1950s that still run faultlessly and keep time to -2 sec per day. I doubt my G-Shock will be running in 60 years.

NICKG · 08-02-2006, 10:28 AM

my nephew works at breitling in CT, I will see what I can do for you

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks Nick. I've spoken with a woman named Maria Kalmindif (sp?), who's a service liaison for dealers. The first time my watch went there, she just said there was nothing wrong with it and sent it back. Second time, she could only tell me the techs. had replaced a bunch of stuff. But she couldn't say what was wrong with the watch. It's working fine now. I think, since they shipped it 2nd day air back to the local dealer, the charge had run out. The guy who opened it called me to say to come get it. I asked him to put it on a winder box until I got there and he said they don't do that. Whatever. I got there and it was running. So I assume someone there had wound it up, probably incompletely. Then it stopped a few hours later. I've been on the road the last two days and slept with the watch on. When I take it off at home, it goes on the winder box. It's fine now though. Not sure if I want to keep pursuing this.

NICKG · 08-02-2006, 10:59 AM

he has been there a while and his father (he married my neice) has been with them for like 20+ years i beleive(he started in europe)

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Update!!!!! Arrrgggghhhh. Nick, any ideers? Just came back from a 6 day business trip, during which I left the watch on my winder box and wore my old faithful Breitling Avenger Seawolf. Came home tonight at 12:00am on the dot and the Hercules on the winder box read 12:10. I am irate. What the hell can I do now?