Tag Heuer - am I expecting too much?

Tag Heuer - am I expecting too much?

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VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
  • duh* typo in title, should have said "expecting"
I bought an Aquaracer watch from the York Outlet shop in August 2010.

In January last year (so less than 18 months later) I started getting the 5 second battery warning so I took it back to York, they sent it away and I had the battery replaced under warranty.

Unfortunately the watch stopped working again a few weeks ago, I didn't even get the 5 second warning this time.

I have sent it back to the LVMH place in Manchester and this morning I've had an estimate of £205(!) for "POLISHED STEEL CROWN SERVICE, Please be advised a service will be required to put the watch back into full working order due to high consumption. If further work is required we will advise."

I've sent an email indicating my unhappiness with this and am waiting to hear back.

Surely since they only had the watch a year ago and the battery has failed already that's something they should do free isn't it?

Edited by VictoriaYorks on Tuesday 12th February 12:47

bigandclever

13,750 posts

237 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
Don't you get a 2 year warranty?

Oops, can't work out dates smile

Edited by bigandclever on Tuesday 12th February 13:23

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
For the new battery? I'd have thought so but it seems like they're blaming the problem on the watch which would now be out of warranty. This is my first Tag and I'm not too impressed by this.

I've had an Omega for years and get the battery changed for £50 a time about every 4 years. Never cost more than that.

SimonPercy

143 posts

168 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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My monaco went back to Tag after 18 months of the 2 year warranty as it was gaining massive amounts of time. It came back working fine but a few months later was losing big chunks of time. It took the Jewelers, Beaverbooks, who were brilliant, 4 weeks of arguing that although the watch was just out of warranty, surley the repair should be gauranteed.

Eventually as a gesture of good will, and about 12 weeks later, they repaired the watch again, but didn't do any of the case polising or cleaning that other higher end manufacturers do as standard with a service.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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I've not heard a good word about LMVH's servicing of Tag Heuers. Everything, sadly, seems to be a tale of woe with repeated issues.

Get it sent back and send it to someone who cares would be my recommendation.

Miguel Alvarez

4,944 posts

169 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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Just to be the one person balance. I had a date sticking issue on my Carerra. Sent it back within the year warranty and it's been fine ever since.

I should possibly buy a lottery ticket.

sjj84

2,390 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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It seems to be a common trend that sending them off for the first battery gets a new battery, sending them off the second time and it 'needs' a service. After sending mine off the first time at rediculous cost and something like a six week wait, I took it to a local watch shop that replaced the battery for £2.50 and took about two minutes.

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
They're now offering to do the service "as a gesture of goodwill" for the price of a new battery. It's still £65 though which I don't think I should have to pay.
They're saying the watch has "high consumption" which presumably explains it going through two batteries in 2.5 years. I have a feeling if I say to just send it back they will charge me for work done so far.

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
I've written back to ask why this "high consumption" fault wasn't picked up when they changed the battery last year.

And they called me "Mr" in the email title madsmash

secretagentbloke

63 posts

158 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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To play Devil's Advocate, you state that you bought the watch from an Outlet store, so I assume you got a very decent discount on the RRP when you bought it? Also most watches that are found in Outlet stores aren't exactly "Factory Fresh" from what I've seen, so it probably was due for a service when it was sold, hence them being sold normally at a discounted price. I think you getting a service for the price of a battery change isn't anything to gripe about. As for you being called "Mr." ? No comment............ wink

lauda

3,446 posts

206 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
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I have never been impressed with Tag Heuer's servicing. Seems very expensive and takes an absolute age (and half of the paint was missing from the bezel on mine when it can back first time which meant it had to go back again - bye bye for another couple of months).

I also don't quite get the need for servicing on a quartz watch. I've never had my old Swatch quartz serviced and it still keeps perfect time. I'd find a decent independent (I'm sure someone on here can recommend someone) and steer as far clear from manufacturer servicing as possible.

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
I suppose it's the equivalent of using a main dealer to service your car. I've asked them to send it back to me. They didn't even seem confident that a service would cure the battery drain issue.

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
lauda said:
I have never been impressed with Tag Heuer's servicing. Seems very expensive and takes an absolute age (and half of the paint was missing from the bezel on mine when it can back first time which meant it had to go back again - bye bye for another couple of months).

I also don't quite get the need for servicing on a quartz watch. I've never had my old Swatch quartz serviced and it still keeps perfect time. I'd find a decent independent (I'm sure someone on here can recommend someone) and steer as far clear from manufacturer servicing as possible.
I'm thinking it's just a standard response for them, send it in for a new battery and magically it needs a service.

Paul Drawmer

4,865 posts

266 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
Off topic, but I have currently got 4 Christopher Ward watches, and one of the reasons that helps me buy is this:
http://www.christopherward.co.uk/cw360care.html

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Tuesday 12th February 2013
quotequote all
Paul Drawmer said:
Off topic, but I have currently got 4 Christopher Ward watches, and one of the reasons that helps me buy is this:
http://www.christopherward.co.uk/cw360care.html
Yes if only Tags had a 5 year warranty frown
I can't say I'd rush to buy another after this

Ikemi

8,438 posts

204 months

Wednesday 13th February 2013
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My TAG Link Calibre S developed a wobble in the combined second hand/chrono second hand, so when you tilted the watch back and forth, you could see the hand move half a second each way. It was my first 'proper' watch and at nearly £2K, I wasn't best pleased. I sent it back to TAG and 4 weeks later, the watch was returned. Inside was a small note saying, "they all do that, sir" ... Nice! hehe

I sold it.

I still miss it though; awesome electro-mechanical movement, lovely case, and one of the most comfortable SS bracelets I've ever worn!

Tino

1,948 posts

282 months

Thursday 14th February 2013
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Both the batteries in my old TAG chrono and my wifes non chrono required batteries within a month of eachother. My wifes lasted only 6 months, and TAG refused to check it for freee to check whether it was a faulty battery. They also stated the high consumption argument. I had the battery replaced on her watch by a local jeweller for £10, and it has so far lasted 18 mths.
I think they may have had a faulty batch of batteries

VictoriaYorks

Original Poster:

974 posts

141 months

Thursday 14th February 2013
quotequote all
Yes when I get mine back I'm going to take it to a watch specialist in my local town. I will mention what Tag said about high consumption but I'm willing to bet the battery will last longer than a year.

Zigster

1,636 posts

143 months

Thursday 14th February 2013
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SimonPercy said:
Eventually as a gesture of good will, and about 12 weeks later, they repaired the watch again, but didn't do any of the case polising or cleaning that other higher end manufacturers do as standard with a service.
My Panerai was repaired under warranty. Sent away to Panerai for several months and I expected it to come back nicely polished as an apology for the inconvenience. Not a bit of it and the person in Harrods seemed quite surprised at my suggestion that a little bit of customer care would have been nice after spending £6k on a watch. So I don't think Tag Heuer are alone in this respect.

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Friday 15th February 2013
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Zigster said:
SimonPercy said:
Eventually as a gesture of good will, and about 12 weeks later, they repaired the watch again, but didn't do any of the case polising or cleaning that other higher end manufacturers do as standard with a service.
My Panerai was repaired under warranty. Sent away to Panerai for several months and I expected it to come back nicely polished as an apology for the inconvenience. Not a bit of it and the person in Harrods seemed quite surprised at my suggestion that a little bit of customer care would have been nice after spending £6k on a watch. So I don't think Tag Heuer are alone in this respect.
Interesting, my Breitling Aerospace came back looking like new from a service - properly cleaned and with a new battery. Wasn't cheap, although they do at least return it in a travel case with a nice little cloth.