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The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 14:58
by Workingman
.... that didn't happen! :o

I have a 15 year old Citizen Titanium Eco-drive watch. It stopped working years ago and I had it repaired in Singapore. After a while it stopped again so I threw it in a drawer and forgot about it.

Over the weekend, during a bit of a cleanout, it turned up again, so today I took it for a repair - £103 + VAT! :shock: :shock: :shock:

I have just been online and the modern version, almost the same style, is available for £129. :roll:

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 14:59
by Kaz
:shock: Chuffy Neck!!!!!! :shock: :shock:

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 15:04
by JoM
:shock: :shock: :shock:

I think I've found my new career. I will be a watch repairer.

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 15:06
by Workingman
JoM wrote::shock: :shock: :shock:

I think I've found my new career. I will be a watch repairer.


You won't make much with customers like me about. :-P :-P :-P

If he had said £30-£40 I might have considered it, but a repair at about the same cost of a new watch is ridiculous.

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 15:16
by debih
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 15:46
by JoM
Workingman wrote:
JoM wrote::shock: :shock: :shock:

I think I've found my new career. I will be a watch repairer.


You won't make much with customers like me about. :-P :-P :-P

If he had said £30-£40 I might have considered it, but a repair at about the same cost of a new watch is ridiculous.


It's disgusting, but I suppose some will pay it if the watch has sentimental value :?

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 17:03
by Suff
They expect you to just buy a new watch from them.

My answer would be: "Oh you want me to buy a new watch? OK I'll go and see what's going on ebay".

Did you check the restart instructionson the citizen site? It seems to be pretty intelligent and could probably require quite a while in the sun (plus a new backup battery), to get it going.

The repair shop would probably have just fitted a new battery and left it out in the sun then performed a reset.... Something you could do yourself.

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 17:44
by cruiser2
I now fit batteries to my watches. Bought several different size batteries from one store for £1.00 and a small toolkit from another store, again for £1.00. It usually costs £3.95 for one watch. So have saved quite a few pounds. Have another watch which now needs a new battery.
Have you tried to buy a new movement for the watch. Got new movement and hands for a clock which I fitted myself fo £5.00. Would have cost a lot more if I had taken it to a clock repairer.
Have paid £150.00 to have a mechanical clock repaired three years ago. It is a good German clock worth over £2000.00 and had to have some parts made specially so I thought it was worth it.

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 18:46
by TheOstrich
Blimey, I've just got a cheapo Casio wristwatch, had it for ages. Replaced the battery last year for around £8 at Timpsons and got a "lifetime replacement guarantee". Recently replaced the plastic watch strap after it frayed through for a fiver at the local flea market.

Last of the big spenders, me ..... :D

Re: The £103 + VAT watch repair...

PostPosted: 01 Jul 2013, 19:04
by cromwell
I tend to use my mobile phone as my watch. Other than that I've got an old russian pocket watch that winds up...