Breitling hard sell
I have been in Breitling ‘boutiques’ in two cities in different countries and my overall impression is that they are a bit too ‘in your face’ with the hard sell. Last winter I was told buy before Christmas to get a not to be missed extended warranty and yesterday, different store, I was told buy tomorrow (end of the month) or lose out on this months special offer, not to be missed, extended warranty offer. I mean - an 8 year warranty is incredible, but the hard sell seems to be endemic to the company and unessesary. Can we back off a little? I am wary of walking into another one. Much prefer the nocholant take it or leave it approach of mixed ADs - I guess there is no corporate body telling them how to sell. Anyone else got mixed feelings about Breitling’s approach? Or is my two-store survey just bad luck?
I don’t know why I collect watches. As a young teen it was my first consumer obsession when browsing the Freeman catalogue (after the ladies underwear section). Then it was motorbikes, then climbing g...
Maybe down to having to get sales numbers up at the team members end. I remember a few years ago going to buy a jaguar. The sales man was very pushy wanting an answer by 5 o clock to get the deal. Went back a few weeks later and he was still playing the same game. I told him that I wouldn't make a hasty purchase. Went to another garage and completed opposite. They are putting this tactic on to make a sale but it has probably lost them one.
Maybe down to having to get sales numbers up at the team members end. I remember a few years ago going to buy a jaguar. The sales man was very pushy wanting an answer by 5 o clock to get the deal. Went back a few weeks later and he was still playing the same game. I told him that I wouldn't make a hasty purchase. Went to another garage and completed opposite. They are putting this tactic on to make a sale but it has probably lost them one.
Indeed, if they had been a bit cooler reeling me in they may well have shifted a superocean out of the door. It was selling itself up until then.
I agree, while I respect Breitling as a brand, many of their models are too "out there” for my liking. Honestly, it is offputing when salespeople are aggressive like this. I’d rather let off the vibe that : if Im able to cough up 5-15k on a watch, your little rebate or extended warranty isnt going to sway me one way or another 😂
Indeed, if they had been a bit cooler reeling me in they may well have shifted a superocean out of the door. It was selling itself up until then.
Exactly, this type of hard sell just puts me off. You know what the price is and I'm sure there must have been some kind of warranty with the watch so start with. The sad thing is the tactic he used to seal the deal was what lost it 🤦
I agree, while I respect Breitling as a brand, many of their models are too "out there” for my liking. Honestly, it is offputing when salespeople are aggressive like this. I’d rather let off the vibe that : if Im able to cough up 5-15k on a watch, your little rebate or extended warranty isnt going to sway me one way or another 😂
You would also think that they would know this type of thing. If I like something and can afford it I am buying it whatever.
Yes, I’ve had similar experiences. I think they know they are overpriced and want to make the sale before you go out and do some research or compare with other brands. I mean $10k for a non precious metal Navitimer is bonkers! (That’s also not mentioning the prices on their Selita based models). You can find a 2024/2023 Navitimer on Chrono24 at around $6k. That’s a 40% loss in value. Getting the warranty is nice but you can now transfer the warranty through a block chain. I think the manufacturer is causing a lot of harm to their retailers and they need to get impulse buyers, or people that don’t care about getting a good deal, before they walk out the of stores.
I guess they’re just hunting for sales commission…
Found the same in my local store
Most of their watches are a visual hard sell, so the behavior seems on brand.
OK; which is better, a ‘buy now or miss a special deal’: or, give us your name, address, phone number, email, and first born and possibly we’ll let you know if ever we have a watch we’re willing to sell you? 😂😂
High pressure sales tactics are a real turnoff. Anytime you here "you have to buy it by the end of the month", know that the offer will be there the following month as well.
When I purchased my Panerai last year I opted for the 8 year extended warrant gratis. That's a brand I can get behind.
Hard to say when it is there job to sell and the economy is trash I bet they are all hurting to feed their own families and pay their own bills.
Unless you really want to lose tons of money you're better off finding a lightly used pre-owned one. My Superocean Heritage cost £2700, 3 years old, perfect condition and with 2 years warranty remaining. Brand new about £4500....
Just to add, there aren't any marks on the bezel, it's just grubby 😂
Never been in a Breitling store. But jomashop has been marking them down in price over the last two months.
I feel like a lot of ADs are like that. Walk into WOS and they’ll tell you, “you should get it today, there is no guarantee it will be here tomorrow.”
Check out the Sinn Navitimer: it's actually a legit Navitimer, far less money and better specs This is a recent video on the watch.
https://youtu.be/oe2Bsk4yMyc?si=LzlKRzwViRN3hHWa
It doesn't have better specs. Does have better water resistance though.
Customer from Breitling Store Amsterdam here: service is excellent and fast; they are indeed a bit pushy, but on the other hand: you usually get a drink and can try everything on as long as you want. 8y warranty is tempting, because after about 5 yrs the first servicemoment comes in sight... 🙃
If you really get tired of Breitling, head on over to a Rolex AD. You will be ignored, then treated like something the sales associate scraped off the bottom of his or her shoe, then be told that in order to maybe purchase the watch you want, you have to purchase one you don't. Then you will be on a wait list for the watch you want and maybe the AD will call you before you either purchase another brand or die, whichever comes first.
Been buying Breitling watches, watches from all brands for a long time, depends on the shop, you cannot generalize, I buy from a few different ads and the Breitling head office here in Toronto, I never feel pressured. There was one time when the nice woman sort of suggested that I should look at Rolex if I wanted to keep some value with my watches. I am not that bright, after all I buy watches, had I bought an extra condo or more could have flipped them when the market was aggressive. Sales agents can sense fresh meat or an easy target plus the opposite. If I am serious, I warn the assisting sa that they will not get rich after selling something to me.
In there defence the warranty extension was meant to be over a while back... and they kept extending it, I work at an AD and can say that we are not hard sellers , we simply say that the extended warenty offer,was meant to be over some time ago but it's an added bonus if purchased today. It is great value for money that's proberbly why they pushed that point.
Breitling overall is not a hard sell culture , ,it's approachable luxery, and a relaxed environment, its a shame you had a bad experience. I can say hand on heart that all the sales people I have met from other AD's around the UK is that they just want to help you buy the watch you will love.
If you are in the Birmingham area , message me directly and you can visit our AD , we can chat about watches , you can have a beer and try on anything you want :) no hard sell , no nonsense , just a great experience and nice conversation
👊 ✌️
Cat
The hard sell pressure tactic has been around since Adam was a boy & probably always will be. If in that position but you are keen on the product Injust say, look the harder you try to push me into a decision the less likely I am to do so. I’m polite but firm they usually change their approach but if not, walk away or ask to speak to a different sales person.
I was in a Breitling boutique in Vegas yesterday (in Ceasars) and they couldn’t have been nicer. Let me try on a Chronomat 42 chrono, nice chat about Seiko’s and other watches and I simply thanked the guy and walked out. He didn’t push me to buy the watch whatsoever.
If you really get tired of Breitling, head on over to a Rolex AD. You will be ignored, then treated like something the sales associate scraped off the bottom of his or her shoe, then be told that in order to maybe purchase the watch you want, you have to purchase one you don't. Then you will be on a wait list for the watch you want and maybe the AD will call you before you either purchase another brand or die, whichever comes first.
So true.
Pairs well with that natty herringbone tweed blazer you're wearing.
Pairs well with that natty herringbone tweed blazer you're wearing.
Thanks - ice blue and dark green, you can’t go wrong.
Not sure which Boutiques you have been in, but I regularly go in Leeds, Harrogate (Hugh Rice), York, Belfast, Madison Ave NY and Amsterdam and they all are watch nuts happy to spend time chatting about watches. I can only say I have had the opposite experience. The new Boutiques have been a breath of fresh air. I have never ever had the 'hard sell' in any of these branches. Ever. Always been a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
You obviously create good vibes wherever you go! Good on you.
Check out the Sinn Navitimer: it's actually a legit Navitimer, far less money and better specs This is a recent video on the watch.
https://youtu.be/oe2Bsk4yMyc?si=LzlKRzwViRN3hHWa
Gutted. Sin is such a cool brand as well. Breitling is a bit, well you know - old money in old bloke planes. But that ice blue dial, you can’t say no to that.
Most of their watches are a visual hard sell, so the behavior seems on brand.
Harsh. I found the Navitimer quite retrained actually on the wrist. Almost subtle. Daytona’s are not exactly pulling their necks in.
The hard sell pressure tactic has been around since Adam was a boy & probably always will be. If in that position but you are keen on the product Injust say, look the harder you try to push me into a decision the less likely I am to do so. I’m polite but firm they usually change their approach but if not, walk away or ask to speak to a different sales person.
Wish I had your directness T.
Gutted. Sin is such a cool brand as well. Breitling is a bit, well you know - old money in old bloke planes. But that ice blue dial, you can’t say no to that.
Beautiful watches for sure! The Sinn piece is great. I don't think they have a Blue Dial 🤔?