Ladies Tag Aquaracer - new battery?

[oyster]

Timpsons told me it's £46 for a new battery and 1yr guarantee or £51 for a new battery and lifetime guarantee and then free subsequent battery changes.

Is this a good deal?

[BrabusMog]

My treasured Aquaracer quartz gets done once every 2 or 3 years for £15ish at my local watch shop. They don't test that it is water tight but it's been in plenty of swimming pools without issue.

[Miguel Alvarez]

I've always thought it was a bit of a con IMHO. I had to get two batteries changed at a Timpsons once. The guy looked down a laminate sheet said Guess watch £## please and a Sekonda £##. Same amount of work involved two different prices although the two prices averaged out to what I expected to pay per watch so accepted and paid.

I personally wouldn't want to pay more than £20 for a bog standard prize the back off battery change. The Tag may require a bit more work though.

[Variomatic]

We do Renata batteries with pressure test and waterproof guarantee for under 20 quid. We're cheap, bu that gives you an idea of how much profi they're making on even the "single" change.

If you pay the extra for the "lifetime guarantee" then it goes one of two ways:

"Hello, I'd like my free battery please"
"Certainly, Sir, do you have your receipt from the last one?"
"No, sorry"
"That'll be £48 then please"

Or:

"Hi, I'd like my second free batery change, please. here's my receipt"
"Cerainly, Sir, would you come back in an hour please?"
[...]
"I'm sorry, Sir, but it's not the battery. The watch needs servicing, which we can do for you for only £xxx"


Essentially, they know that most people will lose the receipt and that a large proportion of those who keep it will only ever get one or two "free" changes before he watch gives other problems. Remember that makers usually suggest servicing every 5 years or so. You've had the original battery (2 years) plus the one where you pay (4 years) plus the first "free" one (6 years) and the watch is now overdue a service.

So, they make at least £30 more profit than they need to out of the first change, then they may have to give away about £1 worth of free cells and 2o minutes of their time in the future.

Yes, it's a fantastic deal. For them.

[Powerkiter]

My Dad went to a Jewellers in Cheltenham and asked how much to replace the battery in his Tag Aquaracer. They quoted him just over £100.

Being a 'pensioner', as he keeps reminding me, he came home and ordered a battery replacement kit (batteries and tools) off Amazon for around £5 (including postage) and changed it himself. Has got the watch wet several times playing golf and never had any issues with the waterproof-ness !

[SVS]

What in a quartz watch needs servicing every 5 years or so?

Also, how / who would genuinely change the seals for fresh rubber? O-rings will presumably deteriorate over time and need replacing.

[Variomatic]

SVS said:

What in a quartz watch needs servicing every 5 years or so?

Afer the recommended 5 years or so probably nothing. Bu, by the time you get to 7 or 8 years it's quite likely that the oil will be turning gummy. Unlike a mechanical that won't cause damage, but it will increase battery consumption on most movements and it can easily cause stoppage because there isn't the power of a mainspring to force things to turn through the treacle that's now residing in the pivot holes.

SVS said:

Also, how / who would genuinely change the seals for fresh rubber? O-rings will presumably deteriorate over time and need replacing.

I do if there's any sign that they might need it. The usual problem with back seals isn't so much deterioration as stretching from unscrewing backs or nicks from case knives. If they have deteriorated then it tends to be obvious because they won't be stretchy any more

[SVS]

Thanks Joe - useful info.

Out of curiosity, your website gives a ballpark price for a "quartz overhaul". What does that mean? Do you mean an overhaul of all the moving parts for a very old quartz?

[Variomatic]

SVS said:

Thanks Joe - useful info.

Out of curiosity, your website gives a ballpark price for a "quartz overhaul". What does that mean? Do you mean an overhaul of all the moving parts for a very old quartz?

It's a complete strip-down, clean, assembly and re-oiling of the movement along wih checking for wear (very rare on quartz) and damage (somewhat more common). If parts are needed and available they're included if possible, or an estimate given if they're silly price (with no charge if you don't accept the estimate)

Also includes ultrasonic clean of the case and seals as required (where possible).