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Paul,

I have spent a great deal of time and money over the past 15 years supporting the survival and revival of the watchmaking trade in the UK. Without doubt the biggest problem that the trade...

So you admitted to Cousins that you lied to them when you signed up for an account by claiming to be in the trade when you are not, and lied again when you accepted business to business terms and...

Hi Brendan,

After our win in the Bern Court we had some good coverage in the Swiss business papers, and subsequently the story was picked up by Reuters. This in turn led to it appearing in the...

I appreciate that you support the cause we are fighting for, however I have no problem defending the length of my posts. There is so much misinformation going around about the parts issue that I long...

Your idea of "discuss" is to hurl mindless abuse at anyone who disagrees with your opinion. I'm not going to waste my time on that, but if someone puts up a thoughtful analysis, then I am more than...

Hi Brendan,

Your analysis of why Cousins operates on Business to Business trading terms, and is therefore so strict about returns, is accurate in all but one respect. It was not just amateurs who...

Each is entitled to choose who he does business with, and if they don't like the terms and conditions, or the service level, then in a competitive market they are free to trade elsewhere. I've said...

My credibility is of no consequence. Your credibility is of no consequence. Cousins credibility is of no consequence. What matters is that the independent repair trade survives to provide the watch...

Hi walkerwek1958,

I wish I could tell you why the legal process takes so long. The system does not favour the little guy in the way it is constructed, but we have to use what there is, and when we...

And still your best response is to mock. You mock Cousins, you mock the background of the authors, and you mock the credibility of their work. How constructive of you.

If you track down this...

The only difference between your position and mine is I would phrase it as:-

"Cousins is fighting to save Swatch parts supply, as they are a profitable product for both themselves and their...

The law in relation to dominant market undertakings takes care of this eventuality. They are required to sell on equivalent and reasonable terms to all. What that means is that wholesalers buying in...

Two points in reply.

Firstly I have already said that the supplier / customer relationship is mutual. One can't exists without the other and both have an equal interest in making a profit. So in...

The current parts crisis exists because the trade organisations failed to understand competition law and have it applied in our industry. In some cases they colluded with manufacturers to help impose...

Absolutely correct. Free and open competition on fair terms prevents suppliers from abusing consumers. That is what Cousins wants.

Suppliers can't survive without customers, and customers can't survive without suppliers. There is no "them and us", just "us", and there is nothing whiffy about that. If you go out of business...

No other supplier is fighting for your right to repair a watch in a way that is even 5% of what Cousins is doing, and yet you describe the company as having contempt for its customers. What more care...

I really find the thinking behind this unfathomable. Cousins is the only organisation anywhere in the world fighting for your right to access parts on fair terms, and the best you can come up with is...

Because they are market dominant, the brands would not be allowed to "select" distributors. They would have to set reasonable qualitative requirements (x amount of stock held, y amount of purchases...

Hi Topcat666,

That is a stunningly good contribution to the cause. Thank you very much.

Well referenced publications by eminent authors are an important part of the expert evidence needed in...

Good points Tomaitch, my reply is as follows:-

Competition Law requires dominant undertakings to supply all parties on fair and equal terms. What that means is someone buying in volume would be...

The energy for a car comes from fuel. The energy for a quartz watch comes from a battery. I would say my analogy is spot on.

Car manufacturers are not allowed to void your warranty if you go...

disingenuous
/ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

adjective: disingenuous

not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.


In what way am I pretending...

2kilo,

The contradictions in what you write are just staggering, but you have successfully demonstrated why the independent watch repair industry is in such a precarious state.

On the one...

Dear 2kilo,

I repeat what I said in a previous post. If you want to discuss Cousin's trading practices, then email Anthony. His address is all over their website. Why do you want my view when you...