300 quid to sevice a quartz watch!!

[gareth h]

I've had a quartz ebel in the back of the cupboard which I took in to have a new battery before advertising it for sale as I never use it.
They have just called and left a message to say it has been sent back to Ebel who say it also needs a service which will be £300.
Can this really be right? are there any less costly alternatives?
Ta
G

[Lost soul]

300 quid for a battery and a bit of a polish

[andy tims]

http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/

[Ikemi]

gareth h said:

I've had a quartz ebel in the back of the cupboard which I took in to have a new battery before advertising it for sale as I never use it.
They have just called and left a message to say it has been sent back to Ebel who say it also needs a service which will be £300.
Can this really be right? are there any less costly alternatives?
Ta
G

I would ask Ebel what the service entails - If it is just a battery change then £300 seems a little steep. In comparison, Tag Heuer usually charge £75 for a battery change and pressure test, whereas Breitling can charge up to £250.

A decent jeweller/watchmaker could do the same work, but the water resistance of the watch might be compromised. However the service will cost you a lot less!

[LukeBird]

£300 is a pisstake regardless of what needs doing IMO.
As mentioned by Andy, I would be contacting an independent to do the work.

[croyde]

About 10 years ago I complained to Tag that my watch had so many things wrong with it a few months after it's one year warranty had run out.

They told me that owners usually had them serviced one a year for £200!!!! More than I was paying for my car service at the time.

[huwp]

Took my wife's Sportwave to a local, but reputable, independent. By memory I think I paid about £25. She's worn it swimming since without any issues.

Huw

Edited by huwp on Friday 31st December 20:15

[hilly10]

Try here sent both my daughters Tags for new battery and reseal £30 each Work also guaranteed for 12 months

http://www.chealwatch.com/

[ism123]

Another vote for www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk

Edited by ism123 on Saturday 1st January 08:12

[Manks]

What did the watch cost new? If it was a couple of thousand then I'd sent it back to Ebel. If it was a £600 watch I might not.

Ebel will likely service it "properly" and do things like adjusting and refinishing the bracelet. An independent may not.

I recently had major issues with an independent regarding a Cartier which had let in water. I sent it back to Cartier and they completely refinished the watch for about £300. It looked brand new when it came back.

[ShadownINja]

croyde said:

About 10 years ago I complained to Tag that my watch had so many things wrong with it a few months after it's one year warranty had run out.

They told me that owners usually had them serviced one a year for £200!!!! More than I was paying for my car service at the time.

My reply would have been "Because they're st watches?" My Seiko 5... 25 years old... never been serviced, gains 25 seconds a day... nothing wrong with it.

[croyde]

ShadownINja said:

croyde said:

About 10 years ago I complained to Tag that my watch had so many things wrong with it a few months after it's one year warranty had run out.

They told me that owners usually had them serviced one a year for £200!!!! More than I was paying for my car service at the time.

My reply would have been "Because they're st watches?" My Seiko 5... 25 years old... never been serviced, gains 25 seconds a day... nothing wrong with it.

Too right they are. I found my old Casio G Shock sitting in a drawer, still working fine after 7 years and still going strong now.

[slow_1]

Why not just send it direct to the Ebel Servicing agents - Swissmade Ltd, Unit 21-22, Arindel House, 43 Kirby Street, London . EC1N 8TE - 0207 405 8504 or www.swissmade.co.uk. I had a 1911 serviced by them a few months ago and cost was £68 inc vat (+ £11.75 delivery if you cant get to their workshop). Don't go via a third party Jewellers as otherwise they will also charge (normally a few hundred pounds for this)!

Edited by slow_1 on Monday 3rd January 22:12

[gareth h]

slow_1 said:

Why not just send it direct to the Ebel Servicing agents - Swissmade Ltd, Unit 21-22, Arindel House, 43 Kirby Street, London . EC1N 8TE - 0207 405 8504 or www.swissmade.com. I had a 1911 serviced by them a few months ago and cost was £68 inc vat (+ £11.75 delivery if you cant get to their workshop). Don't go via a third party Jewellers as otherwise they will also charge (normally a few hundred pounds for this)!

Thanks, I'll give them a try.