Tag Heuer Servicing Scam?

~stinkerbell~

We have 2 Tag Heuer watches in the family. Without fail, for the last 3 battery changes between them, word has come back from Tag that they will also need a £280 service. The first time it happened, one of the watches was just 18 months old.
Have just had my watch sent back to Tag for a battery change 3 years after the last battery change/service - and quelle surprise: 'oh it will need a service'.
Is this a scam on their part? Am I being unfairly suspicious? The reason given this time is 'due to the high consumption of the product'. I bleedin' well wear it every day. I would call this normal consumption.
Anyone else had this problem? This watch is costing me a fortune on top of the original outlay.

phill99

And surprisingly, it doesn't tell the time any differently to a £4.99 watch from Romford market.

peachyprice

Any good independent jeweller with a seal pressure test chamber will be able to change the battery for you and check the seal is intact. Should cost about £30. I've never sent my Omega back to them for a battery change.

Lip_Stick

Isn't it just their recommendation? They're not forcing you to get it done are they? In other words, you don't lose out from anything else if you refuse that service?

~stinkerbell~

Thanks for replies, folks. I may try that Selfridges place next time although I would be a bit angsty about the reseal. On this occasion I have just gone for the battery change chez Tag at £75.

Lip_stick - I lose out in that they won't guarantee a mere battery change without the service (where this has been recommended). As an aside, exercising consumer choice wasn't my point at all though. My point was the possible rip-off element of 'needing a service' every time either of our Tag watches needs a battery change. Perhaps times are hard even for blingy watch companies?

Lip_Stick

That's what I was trying to determine, whether is was just a recommendation, or if they were actually trying in someway to force you into the service. I guess there are some people who have more money than sense and will pay it every time.

You'd be covered by SOGA anyway on a watch that price at 18 months old, and older I guess, so you did right telling them to stick it. It's rubbish customer service though, for a high end company to try it on... but not so many people are buying watches now, so I do bet times are indeed hard.

yangptangkipperbang

Just why is a recommendation to have a watch serviced a "scam" ?????

TBH I would have queried why a new battery was required after 18 months. They may have assumed that the watch was a lot "older" than it actually was - if you follow me. It could have been "on the shelf" for some years before you bought it.
The first battery in my Tag lasted almost 7 years, the replacement (from a local watch repair shop) cost £50, with a pressure test and took about an hour.

Azari

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Just why is a recommendation to have a watch serviced a "scam" ?????

Probably because there is no Earthly reason why any well made, modern, watch should need 'servicing' after eighteen months.

I have a moderately priced (~£500) Citizen which is around 15 years old and has never needed a service. (And I thought the £25 Citizen charged for a new battery, seal, and pressure test was a rip-off!)

If I had been informed that it needed 'servicing' after 18 months I would have demanded a refund on the grounds that it was evidently not of merchantable quality.

bazster

phill99 wrote: »

And surprisingly, it doesn't tell the time any differently to a £4.99 watch from Romford market.

At £75 for a battery change you could buy 15 watches from Romford market.

Plus £280 for a service = £355 = 71 watches from Romford market. A lifetime's supply!

Personally I prefer a bit more class though. My Casio cost something like £18, can't remember when, must've been at least 10 years ago. Never been serviced! I bought a box of batteries from somewhere on line, they work out at £1-odd each!

You could get most cars serviced for less than £280! What a con!

lisyloo

I lose out in that they won't guarantee a mere battery change without the service

So you need to spend £180 to get something that costs £75 guaranteed?
That doesn't sound like your hand is being forced TBH, you can still say no.
They say we won't guarantee it then - fine.

I like Gucci watches.
Many high st stores won't do the battery at all even if I offer to sign a disclaimer, so I go to a good old fashioned watch shop and pay £15.
Why don't you just find a good old fashioned watch shop?

I think the £75 is a con unless there is something special about it.

Obviously if you are going to go scuba diving in it and want it guaranteed to 30m depth then that's a different matter, but for normal use I'd just go to a normal watch shop.

yangptangkipperbang

Azari wrote: »

Probably because there is no Earthly reason why any well made, modern, watch should need 'servicing' after eighteen months.

I assume you think you are an "expert" horologist from your profound statement !! Which you appear NOT be when some very easy checking is carried out.

The battery should last MUCH longer that 18 months; if it was returned with a flat battery it might be a reasonable assumption that the watch was actually 6 or 7 years old, in which case it would not be unreasonable to suggest a service.

This is from the Tag website:
"Every 2 years: the maintenance service

We recommend that you have your watch serviced every two years, or following a negative water-resistance check, to ensure that :
your watch is fully water-resistant
the movement remains in perfect working order.

Every 3-6 years : the complete overhaul

Depending on the model, the climate, and how your watch has been used, we recommend carrying out a full service every 3-6 years. This will include:
a complete overhaul of the movement (dismantling, checking functions, replacing worn parts etc.)
a full running inspection and a water-resistance check."

Seiko say every "2 - 3 years", so the Tag figures are in line with other manufacturers.

Why do people seem to think that if they buy the "Rolls Royce" of anything, then it will last for ever without the need for any routine maintenance ? As a matter of interest - the service interval on a Roller is 5,000 miles - it is 12,500 on my Ford !