£37.99 for a watch battery :O

[Trash Man]

My watch needs a new battery so I took it into town today to the shop, Ernest Jones, where the watch came from about 8 years ago, I was impress to get 8 years from a battery.

After enquiring on how much a new battery would be I was shocked at the cost of £37.99 and a 4 week turnaround time When I asked why it costs so much I was told it was because the watch has to be resealed and tested. I don't know what I was expecting, but damn that seems steep for a battery and then on top of that I'm without my watch for a month.

Anyone know if that's an average price these days for a new battery, are there any shops/chains that you know off that can change the battery on the sameday, rather than having to wait for a month.

[Funkstar]

I would have thought that any jewler would be able to do it, unless it needs special tools to get the back off or be put back on.

What kind of watch is it?

If the back is taken off and put back on incorrectly youare going to loose any water protection. A garantee this has been done properly will be part of the £37.99. The battery would only be about £5 of it at the most.

[Agent]

Most watches battery's are easy to replace (and cheap!), but from the sounds of that, they are either charging way more than normal or you are using a watch that would make BSODMike proud.

[Trash Man]

I would have thought that any jewler would be able to do it, unless it needs special tools to get the back off or be put back on.

What kind of watch is it?

If the back is taken off and put back on incorrectly youare going to loose any water protection. A garantee this has been done properly will be part of the £37.99. The battery would only be about £5 of it at the most.

Thanks for the reply

The watch is a Tag, not sure of the model, it was a 21st birthday present. I'm thinking it might just be worth paying the £37.99 to have it done, at least I know it will be ok and should have no problems.

[Funkstar]

Well there you go then.

I think i would pay the £38 for the piece of mind of knowing the battery was replaced properly and everything was as it should be. £38 in 8 years isn't bad is it?

[Mithrandir]

wow! sounds like a con to me. Im pretty sure if you phone around to enquire you might get decent quotes. It might be the fact its an expensive looking watch and they're taking you for a ride.

Mind you it costs £25 from HERE

[charleski]

My local jewelers charges £5 to replace a battery and £20 if you want it resealed for waterproofing. Not sure if there's any delay for the waterproofing, as I've never bothered. Obviously there'll be a markup for having it done by an authorised dealer, since we're talking about a £1000 watch.

[Fabula]

When I had a half-decent watch that needed a battery, It cost I think £12 for the replacement with the pressure test. Timpsons if I remember.
Took about 15min in front of me, changing the battery and then putting the watch in a small tank of water and cranking up the pressure.

[herulach]

If its a tag, get it done through an authorised dealer, with something worth that much you may as well for the piece of mind.

The reason for the turnaround is they'll send it off to be resealed & tested afterward.

[wombar]

£38 every 8 years isn't exactly expensive (£4.75/year) and it sounds like you have a nice watch (I know very little about watches but know that Tag = nice/expensive. I have a £30 Casio with a suspect watch strap ). Personally I would pay to have it done professionally/guaranteed as it appears you have a nice watch and if it were me, I'd like to keep it that way.

As long as they actually know what they are doing (i.e they know what they're doing with Tags) and aren't just another chain store chargin silly money for poor service, I'd pay the money and get it done. If you have something nice it costs to keep it running. Do you think that Porsche/Ferrari/Lambo owners pay the same as people who own Ford Escorts for their servicing/parts.

Either that or I'll give you £1 for the watch and you can have my Casio

[Lucio]

Well given the battery is about 85p trade prices, it does seem a *little* steep for the resealing but then again, waterproofing is a pain to sort out and redo once the back is open.

[Grimley]

I bought a load of watch batteries from the pound shop & fitted the watch batteries myself the last time. No watch of mine is going near any water so why should I need to have it waterproof? Dont a watch these days much anyway, I use the clock on my mobile phone....

[Mithrandir]

I bought a load of watch batteries from the pound shop & fitted the watch batteries myself the last time. No watch of mine is going near any water so why should I need to have it waterproof? Dont a watch these days much anyway, I use the clock on my mobile phone....

ditto, I used to wear watched (and still have about 2-3 somewhere) but nowadays I just use my mobile. All I need is to know the time.

[StoX]

did someone say "RIPZONE!" ???

[Behemoth]

£4.50 to have a new one put into my Sekonda

[Flibb]

Sounds like they are sending it off to be done, does it have a long warranty? If it does and you get the battery changed by a non authorised dealer chances are the warranty is void.