Took watch for new battery and now....

salvador2

I took my watch for a new battery and after a week it stopped working. I immediately suspected that water had come in while swimming.

I took the watch back and explained what had happened and the technician confirmed my fears of water damage.

I said, the watch was water proof and I had never had a problem before. He pointed to a note I had not seen before that read something like "no warranty of water proofing on watches" in other words, my problem now.

He said it might cost £100 to fix the watch but I'm not happy about the fact that he points out a note on his shop to be able to wash his hands off any wrong doing. The cost to replace the watch is £300 - £340, depending where I buy it.

I had new batteries twice before without any issues at all.

BTW, I have a feeling that the note about not guaranteeing their work against water damage might go against my consumer rights but i'm not sure.

What is my legal position here? Do I have any rights to complain that a perfectly good watch is now damaged by their poor workmanship?

Thanks in advance

Mindless_Clone

I don't know the legal standpoint but it's not poor workmanship; you've just been exceptionally lucky that all previous times the battery was replaced, the waterproof seal was retained. Law of averages and general wear and tear (taking the back of and putting it back again and again) means it's more likely the seal will fail as time goes on and each successive time you remove the back. You can't blame the workman for that.

You will probably find the manufacturers handbook will state that the only people who can re-seal the watch to guarantee it is waterproof after battery replacement is the manufacturer themselves (or possibly authorised places). All other watch replacement shops will have the same disclaimer that you have the battery replaced at your own risk, and some will state outright not to use it in water again.
You might have a case if the handbook doesn't make it clear about the waterproofing (in which case, your complaint really should be with them), or if the shop did not have a disclaimer.

Sorry, that's probably not the answer you wanted. As I say, I don't know the law exactly. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will be along soon with some information as to your actual rights by law.

visidigi

You went for a battery replacement, your battery was replaced.

If the sign says they do not guarantee the waterproof nature of it, that is not an unfair condition, on the basis they are very upfront with this and you have alternatives.

If my watch needs a battery I can go to one of those trailers and pay £5 and get a battery without waterproofing, or go to my jeweler and get it done for £19.

The difference, the latter guarantees waterproofing as they have a pressure chamber on site.

you get what you pay for...

roddydogs

Swimming in a watch??

Hintza

roddydogs wrote: »

Swimming in a watch??

My watch never leaves my wrist come rain, shine or swimming.

Visidigi has hit the nail on the head.

Tigsteroonie

Yes, we learnt the same lesson the hard way - Marley had a battery replaced in his watch but neither of us saw the warning signs nor thought to ask about whether it would still be water-proof afterwards. The seal wasn't replaced properly and the watch would mist up every time it was in a steamy environment, let alone actually immersed.

salvador2

I guess disidigi hit the nail on the head.

In the past I have taken it to a place that charges more for a battery replacement although, the place a took it now charges £6 for the job, it wasn't just any place..... it's an established watch repair shop and the premises are bigger than the other place so I had no reason to suspect anything could go wrong. I didn't chose the place to save a few quids (£7) but I was shopping in the area and that suited me better (not knowingly I was taking a risk)

I didn't see the sign and there was not a verbal warning so I left my watch. Had he said that he could not guarantee the watch be water proof I would have walked away.

One more point, he examined the watch in front of me and he thought the seal was good but I was unlucky. I really think he should have given me a verbal warning.

I wonder if it's worthy to have it fix now...... I mean, can be saved after water has come in?

Hintza

salvador2 wrote: »

I didn't see the sign and there was not a verbal warning so I left my watch.

I agree a bit naughty of them but they will never catch you out again.

As a slight aside I decided I was sick to death of them wanting £30+ to guarantee watches would be waterproof after battery replacement that I have now moved to automatic/kinetic watches now.

I have a nice Seiko kinetic for everyday wear that never ever leaves my wrist and a cracking Christopher Ward watch for dress wear.

http://www.christopherward.co.uk/

His watches have good swiss movements and although they are not as cheap as they were before the £ sank a bit against the Euro you would pay a fortune for these watches on the high street.

Guardsman

My friend was undecided if he should but the watch that was guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 50m or go for the more expensive one that was rated to 100m.
The thing is he cant swim.

wealdroam

Guardsman wrote: »

My friend was undecided if he should but the watch that was guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 50m or go for the more expensive one that was rated to 100m.
The thing is he cant swim.

Then I guess the question is... how deep does he expect to sink?

cajef

I took my Seiko for a new battery at the shop it was purchased from, they stated that they could replace it but although they would replace the seal they could not guarantee if would be watertight, if I wanted it guaranteed they would have to send it to an authorised Seiko repair centre.