Do I have any rights?

Rose60

Watch Battery Replacement

Hello this is my first post on MSE forum so here goes....
I took my watch to have a battery replaced at my local jewellers who claim to also be a "watch & clock specialist". It is a Micheal Kors watch waterproof to 10 ATM. I left it with them so they could do the work. I collected my watch yesterday. While generally wearing the watch that evening I noticed condensation inside the glass and on the face. I took it off to dry it over night and could see small droplets of water and the on face this morning. It seems the watch is no longer waterproof since they fitted the battery. I have been swimming in the past with my watch with no problems. I took my watch back to show them today. They stated that they don't accept any liability if they replace a waterproof watch battery that it will still be waterproof when it is returned to the customer. I pointed out that no one informed me of that policy to which the lady replied it's on your receipt. As you pay on collection I pointed out I had no receipt until after they had fitted the new battery. She then pointed to a small printed sign on the other side of the counter that also stated they don't guarantee waterproof watches.
I stated that I was still not made aware of any of this when I handed in my watch. They state I basically have no rights.
I am disappointed because I had this watch as a present and have had it a few years. I thought it would continue to last a long time as I can't afford to buy another expensive watch. I now can't even wash my hands whilst wearing it. If I knew they wouldn't guarantee it I may as well have changed the battery myself.
What can I do? Can they get out of their liability from a small printed sign I didn't see? The way I see it is I handed them my water proof watch and they gave me back a watch that is not waterproof and keeps fogging up all the time
Thank you for any advice...
Rose

Hintza

Send it to a manufacturers service agent and get them to replace the seals etc. Which is probably what you should have done the first time round.

pendragon_arther

Yeah, this is a bit of a con if you don't know the tricks of the trade. Apparently you have to pay over the odds to have the battery AND the seals changed each time. Luckily I have a Tissot with a winder that tightens up to make it waterproof so I don't have to go through this silly procedure. They obviously don't make the seals to last very long.

donnac2558

When I take a watch to my local Watch Shop for new batteries. I am told each time, this will effect it if its waterproof, we have to break the seal to replace the battery. Since the watches have leather straps, I just its okay I don't deep sea dive wearing them.:D

photome

No watch battery replacement service will replace a battery and gtee it still to be waterproof without paying extra .
why do people keep their watch on while swimming anyway

On another note Fossil make watches for M kors the only difference being the Fossil/M kors name on the watch face and of course the price tag

Joe_Horner

You shouldn't need to send it to the manufacturer (and pay well over the odds) for this. Any half competent repairer will NOT make a watch leak by changing the battery. I've explained this elsewhere on here in the past, but let's go again:

When you change a watch battery the only seal you disturb is the back seal. That's almost universally a simple rubber O ring. If its damaged it will be obvious to anyone with half a working eye. If it's hardened with age it will be equally obvious.

If it's in good condition it will seal again if it's refitted properly. If it's not in good condition then a new one will literally cost about 5 pence, (which is why I include them for free).

To have got a leak that bad from a change then one of the following will have happened:

They've dropped and forgotten to refit the seal.

They've caught and cut the seal on removing the back

They've caught and either pinched or cut the seal on refitting.

Whichever of those it is, my professional opinion would be that it amounts to negligence or (more often) incompetence. Fighting them on that might be a problem though because they will deny it.

The good news is that if you find a proper watch repairer - avoid the national chains, you want a proper watchmaker - then a new back seal won't cost the earth and will cure it completely. A proper repairer should also be able to pressure test it on the premises to confirm it if you want, although that'll normally cost a bit more.

Meanwhile, the priority is to get it dried out - damp left in there will cause all sorts of problems. You'll need to get the back off to dry it properly but please don't leave it until things rust inside or the dial print starts peeling!

Joe_Horner

pendragon_arther wrote: »

[...] They obviously don't make the seals to last very long.

The seals will generally last for years if they're not mishandled or abused removing / fitting the back or contaminated with stuff that eats them (which will usually be bad for the skin of your wrist too!)

Rose60

Thanks for any replies. In response to swimming with a watch. I swim at the gym for my medical condition they don't have a clock in there. I try to go for a certain length of time. Hence needing the watch. The watch was a present most of my dismay was actually sentimental value. I guess I didn't get a Fossil watch as a gift as it doesn't have as much of an impact for a present but thanks for the heads up. I have complained to the company again and they have been drying out my watch for me and are looking into my complaint.