Seiko watch repair cost, WTF?

[sparkythecat]

I have a Seiko Titanium quartz watch like the one in this photo.


It's 10 years old and is very battle scarred. It's titanium bracelet is long gone and has been replaced with a nylon strap. Its been a great watch and kept excellent time until the battery ran out again last week.
It was looking a bit grimy following some dirty under car mechanicing, so I decided to give it a scrub, before I took it to the jewellers for a new battery. Unfortunately I managed to scrub the winder off and lost it down the kitchen plughole.
As it was a present from my wife and I'm rather attached to it, I decided to have it repaired rather than 'retire' it.
I sent it off to the UK Seiko service centre, asking them for an estimate to replace the battery and winder and put in a new glass. I was expecting to pay £60-£70.
This is the estimate I got back. My how I laughed!


The unhelpful Thumbsnap logo hides the total of £165.50

Can someone explain how replacing the battery has become a 'movement service charge' costing £70 + vat?
The total repair estimate is just £20 shy of the cost of a brand new watch, which actually comes complete with a spangly new titanium bracelet.

Is anyone able to suggest any option other than the bin?

[romeodelta]

Just ask them to replace the battery instead of the 'movement service' and it won't be far away from your original expectation.

Or just ask them to return it and take it to a trusted independent?

[Dezbo]

Had a similar thing years ago with a perpetual calendar model, was very disappointing as it was a 21st present and meant I never got it fixed

[r159]

Try cousinsuk for bits or buy something similar from eBay and swap the bits over, there’s a few on there with different dials. A new movement is only about £14...

[TeamD]

sparkythecat said:

This is the estimate I got back. My how I laughed!


The unhelpful Thumbsnap logo hides the total of £165.50

Those numbers don't even add up properly (despite being daylight robbery anyway)

If they are using Royal Mail Tracked 24 Signed postage then VAT should not be applied as "universal postage services" provided by the Post Office are exempt. Even then, where did the extra 50p come from? 70.00+31.25+31.25+5.00=137.50, if you calc the VAT at 20% on that it ends up as 27.50, but 137.50+27.50=165.00???? Cheeky fkers.

Bugger, got the struck out bit wrong, you can tell that I don't supply by mail order. Ooops

Edited by TeamD on Wednesday 27th January 00:59

[RobbieTheTruth]

It's a Quartz watch - the movement is worth about 90p isn't it?

Just take it to the nearest watchsmith when they are back open, surely they'll sort it for about £10. Maybe another £20-£30 to replace crystal and winder?

I like that watch, but I'd expect a resale valuation of £30-£40, so I wouldn't be paying their prices.

It's like they almost don't want you to send it in.

Definitely repair it though, it's a nice gift.

Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Wednesday 27th January 01:09

[tobinen]

Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to replace the whole movement oneself? I can't imagine it would be too dear.

[sparkythecat]

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions.

I have varying degrees of skill in welding, fabrication, machining, woodworking, mechanicing, building and electrical work, but there's no way I can contemplate taking a watch to pieces myself.
I'll retrieve it from Seiko and take it to a local watchsmith when they reopen.

[Meeten-5dulx]

There is Joe at Anglesey Watches who would be able to sort that out for you.....

He serviced my Omega recently and I’ve talked to him a few times, it’s not just higher end watches he does.