Watch battery rip off.

[modeller]

Somewhile back 2/3 years I needed a watch battery for my Seiko watch.
I went into Hill Samuel and it was £6.20 plus £4 fitting . I told them to stuff it or words to that effect. I then went next door to Jessop and got two for £2.
I went back into HS and told them I would never shop in any of their stores again.
Since then I have bought them from Jessops or on line. They have gone up but they are still available for £1.99. but it illustrates the way some firms rip us off. I hate to think what HS would charge today.

[vivandorron]

Well said modeller.:-) :-)

To my way of thinking...News is anything which is worthy of comment.

Ron..

[boxtops]

Not that I condone ripoffs, but the shop has a right to charge you for labour and their overheads, as well as just the battery. It's too fiddly for me to do, changing watch batteries, so I'll gladly pay a fiver for someone to do it.

[venator]

I can see the problem.

Hill Samuel weren't jewellers - they were merchant bankers. I used to deal with them. No wonder they charged you a fortune.

Next time, try H Samuel :-)

[vivandorron]

boxtops...If you,as I am, only too willing to pay for someone to put a battery in my watch, then do as I have done...Go to Timpsons and have a life time battery....The battery will not last a lifetime, but you will get a guarantee card to have a replacement whenever required. It is a genuine deal at approx. £10......providing of course the firm remains in business for the lifetime of the watch.

http://www.timpson.co...ices/69/watch-repairs

Ron.

[boxtops]

That sounds good, ron, I have never heard of that!

[vivandorron]

I've had two replacements in my 25yr old Rotary.

Ron

[craft1948]

I always take my Longine back to the jewellers it came from. They fit the new battery, and clean the watch and bracelet, all for £5.

[modeller]

boxtops. If you read my post they were charging £6.20 for the battery on its own. a battery that costs them about 50p. Jessops next door charged £1 for the same batt in the same box. Which I took back to HS and to show the manager, who I was not blaming, he admitted it was a rip off but he didn't set the price . That was set by head office.
The reason I posted it today was because I had just bought two on line for £1.99 each and I remembered the HS episode.

[askyourgran]

My daughter has two tag watches, both need batteries ...again....she has to send them to tag workshop and it costs aroung £150 for the two, it is something to do with sealing the watches after replacing the batteries. Rip off.

[Clanad]

Here in the U.S., in our small town, there's a business with a sign that says "Watch Battery Changed $10.00" That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard of... who would spend $10.00 for watching that?

[Oneeyedvic]

Why do I assume - because I manage a retail environment where a lot of idiots come in and say that they can get something cheaper elsewhere - which can be true (there is always somewhere cheaper) but more often that not they are not comparing like for like.

You said that you went into the Jewellers and asked the cost of a battery - I am amazed that they actually showed it to you as opposed to gave you the price as they normally store these in the 'workshop' in the back - so am curious as to know how you knew it was the same make.....

Anyway, personally, I value my time at an expense and can't be bothered arguing with someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Better go stock up on your Tesco Value products quick!

[vivandorron]

Come off it oneeyedvic...I don't want see ABers involved in aggression.

Watch batteries can be a rip-off and has been established in this thread. No less than what ayg has said about Tag watches.

However, having said what I have, it is a complete mystery to me that some folk will spend thousands of pounds on a watch which looks no better, or even keeps better time, than an item for what I would consider is expensive at a hundred pounds.

Ron.

[Halifaxmum]

I got my Omega Seamaster battery replaced by Omega (via the shop I bought it) - it took 2 weeks and £50!

The next time, I went to my local jeweller (he has his own shop, small and friendly) and he did it for a fiver! He resealed it perfectly - I've swum in the sea and pool with it since and it's been perfect.

[joeluke]

Poundland sell a card of various sized small circular batteries, of which 5 are watch batteries

Taking a back of a watch and replacing the battery yourself isn't exactly rocket science

[DTCwordfan]

Breitling wanted £280 for a service, paid up front.....

[vivandorron]

Steve....I would say a half dozen good timekeepers.

Ron

[joeluke]

You could actually buy 50 watches for the price of that service quote

A watch is a watch, what more do people want it to do than simply keep time accurately?

People buy all-singing all-dancing vastly-overpriced watches because they think it will impress others

It doesn't

[vivandorron]

The Ed did indicate that he was not happy about this thread.

Perhaps he wears an expensive watch, such as one of the following; which does come with free delivery !! :-

http://www.thewatchhu...tag-heuer-watches.htm

Ron.