Dear Barton Watch Bands...

I am guessing that there is a story here.

Edit:  The last two Barton straps that I have ordered have had to be returned.

I ordered a 16mm and received a 23mm.  I returned the 23mm and they sent me a.....20mm. I am a vintage watch guy. 16mm is my jam.  I returned the second one and got a refund.  Both were mislabeled on the box.

The story is I subscribed using the wrong email, went to unsubscribe and they said "Wait, we'll give you 25% off instead of just 15%.!" 

I stayed, looked, got distracted, couldn't decide, they sent a cpl "Hey you forgot..." emails along with their normal emails and I've gotten 6 emails in 5 days and am kinda over wanting a Barton strap. 

Yes, I'm a dick. But the human race needs dicks to propagate the species.  

Gosh, I don't think I've honestly had a super positive experience with Barton.  Like @Aurelian , a few mislabeled products resulting in returns.  But also, I frankly haven't loved the quality of the product relative to the price.

Constant Contact taken to a new level.

Un subbed & out of consideration 

So... no giving you a Barton for Christmas? Just Kidding Bro, no letter bombs.  What happened?

I don’t know if they were good prior to 2022, but today they are decidedly low end to average. 

Never had any mislabeled products. Some where good, a few real good, and others not so much. It really depends on what you buy. I never received that many marketing emails though. They must really like @UnholiestJedi . 😀

Just buy them on Amazon, never had a problem 

That is a thought, and I know they are on Amazon, but was trying to shop direct and not fund a multi-millionaire any more than I have to. 

I rarely turn down free things ;)

As far as what happened...

The story is I subscribed using the wrong email, went to unsubscribe and they said "Wait, we'll give you 25% off instead of just 15%.!" 

I stayed, looked, got distracted, couldn't decide, they sent a cpl "Hey you forgot..." emails along with their normal emails and I've gotten 6 emails in 5 days and am kinda over wanting a Barton strap. 

Unless you are harvesting and moulding your own rubber, or weaving your own NATOs, it’s a small price to pay to avoid your trigger of an overcrowded inbox. This is the world, be shouted at by smaller companies trying to fight for your attention, or give your money to someone who doesn’t need it but could give it to you quietly next day for slightly less postage and a small slice of your soul. Decisions, decisions…

Sometimes you have to wonder about the unsubscribe requests...

I've been asked by a client to help their marketing team with a communication strategy.  

I'm gonna say "not this".

Yea... that takes the joy out of it quickly 

Seriously. I've unsubbed from one list 5x and I'm still getting the emails. 

Finally just created an auto-delete filter and washed my hands of it. 

I bought mine through Amazon.

My experience is that all watch strap & NATO companies are super aggressive in their marketing.  That being said, I've had good experience with Barton, and I really appreciate offering smaller straps by default, as most brands are comically long on me.

Well I was all sorts of confused when I got a strap from them because I was expecting something much larger. I e-mailed them my concern and they did respond and clarify that they sell watch straps…not ‘strap ons’ like I thought. 

I think their silicone straps and sailcloth straps are good for sub $20. There are so many companies that seem to be doing private labeled watch straps out of China. Barton and Ritche are practically one in the same to me. 
 

I’ve been buying my straps more frequently from small businesses making theirs outside of China. They’re usually much better quality and almost always have more character to them. 

Okay, so if I ever want to buy from Barton, the trick is to sign up for e-mails and then attempt to unsubscribe so they'll give a 25% discount. Got it.

true

I have like 4 straps from them, ok quality if nothing special. I just sorted all mail from them to junk and pilfer through my junk folder whenever I need a discount code. 

I love that you have a filter in your inbox of "semi-wanted SPAM" - I would put most of the crap I receive from watch companies/AD/strap makers in that category

Yeah, it's stuff I might need, but don't want to see every day. But even if I request it, it's still just barely better than SPAM. 

I have had good experiences with Barton.  Their shipping is not the fastest I have ever seen, but I'm ok with that.  Communication is good.  Their Elite NATO is awesome and checks all of the boxes for me.  Black with blacked out hardware and a nylon keeper instead of double rings.  They last forever and I am in the water with them everyday.  I am a happy customer.  If anyone knows of a better NATO than the Barton Elite NATO please let me know.