Advice on Dealing with a Watch Repair Agent

Kustard King on 23/06/2025 - 18:55
Last edited 23/06/2025 - 22:42 by 1 other user

I'm hoping you may be able to provide some advice or perhaps some area of the ACCC or related laws I am missing for a watch.

I had a battery replaced in a major pop-up stores in the malls such as Westfields; while I know that was stupid as (the watch is $1k+ in cost) I did think a battery replacement is very simple. Furthermore, I required my glass to be replaced as it had a minor scratch on it which I did a few years ago, of which they advised a watch maker is the best option.

I went to watch maker 4 weeks later for the glass repair. Unfortunately, they had found the battery that was replaced had been leaking through the watch. I was advised by the watch maker if this was a result of the prior battery, it should have been cleaned prior to installation of the new battery. He cleaned the internals and replaced the battery for me.

He also took photos of the inside of the watch, internals - and I have all receipts from the battery/seal repair and the watchmaker repair. I returned to the pop up shop that did the battery replacement, and was told they will not assist with the refund I was seeking - the person at the counter did even say "if I did the install, I would have cleaned the terminals as well". This did not seem reasonable whatsoever as their workmanship should have amended any issues which had occurred over a time of 4 weeks.

I've contacted head office multiple times, and their plan appears to be to ignore - which I won't.

These outlets appear to be franchise owned- it also appears that person at the counter who refused my request for a refund was the owner, but choose to lie and say he would "confirm with the owner".

What advice does the OzBargain team have?

One does not want to go down the route of destroying their reputation on every online location possible, but is that my last resort to get attention for this issue? I have deliberately not named them for this reason.

All I'm seeking is a refund for the battery replacement.

Electrical & Electronics Battery Watch

Comments

  • MS Paint on 23/06/2025 - 19:04
    +9

    some advise

    Im also using the ozbagrain autocorect extention.

  • elgrande on 23/06/2025 - 19:20
    +5

    Well you came to the right place. Ozbargain specialises in consumer complaints, batteries in general, CoMpEnSaTiOn queries, advises..

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 23/06/2025 - 20:52
      +3

      Sorry warranty doesn't apply, as watch battery was not Eneloop.

  • holdenmg on 23/06/2025 - 19:29
    +2

    When the Battery was replaced, did they replace the Battery and Check the Seals (and replace if required) or did you just pay for a Battery…

    So, how do you know the first battery didn't leak?

    Something gave rise to you taking the Watch to the Major Pop-Up Store.

    They replaced the Battery with another and it works for a while and either the seals weren't replaced or there was Corrosive Material in the Watch from the first Battery that damages the replacement battery.

    My advice is to take a $1000 watch to a Watchmaker and avoid Major Pop-Up Stores.

    • Kustard King on 23/06/2025 - 22:45
      -2

      They replaced the seals and the battery. One would not think somebody can screw up a simple battery replacement.

      • thrillhouse on 24/06/2025 - 07:54

        Sounds like a trivial task one could do themselves in future, right?

      • Sensiekatie on 24/06/2025 - 11:13

        My husband is a watchmaker and yes it's very easy to damage a watch during a battery change, especially if the person doesn't know what they are doing. My husband fixes these guys mistakes all the time.

        Even in a lot of jewellery stores, the sales staff do the battery replacements and they also cause damage at times.

        Additionally only fools would attempt to.do.tjeir own battery change on a decent watch.

        My husband repaired and Omega watch recently - a really decent watch. For some unknown reason, the owner takes the back off and damages the back beyond repair and does substantial damage inside as well. Repairs are covered under warranty in this workshop. There wasn't an issue with the repair - watch was going well. Not sure what he was doing
        Can't believe my husband didn't ask why?

        In summary - it may seem a trivial task to you but in the wrong hands and/or the wrong tools, things can go horribly wrong.

        • MS Paint on 24/06/2025 - 11:20
          +1

          Looks like I'm a fool then.

  • cashless on 23/06/2025 - 19:44
    +5

    We advise that you try to understand the difference between advise and advice before you make you’re/your next post

  • oscargamer on 23/06/2025 - 20:02
    -3

    I wouldn't buy a $1k watch that was battery powered

    Get a proper watch

  • [Deactivated] on 23/06/2025 - 20:03
    -8

    Ironically, some of this kind inadvisable folks dare to brush on grammar!
    I do not want to hurt them, yet they still keep acting shamelessly!

    • tenpercent on 23/06/2025 - 20:14
      +4

      Ironically, some of this kind inadvisable folks dare to brush on grammar!

      I read this several times and my head is about to explode.

      All I can tell is that this comment is itself ironic.

  • Muppet Detector on 23/06/2025 - 20:39
    +1

    ACCC is of no help to you here.

    You might have some recourse for faulty battery through ACL if you can prove which battery was faulty and that this was the battery that leaked.

    Under ACL, this would entitle you to the cost of the battery, as this appears to be the goods/service that you received that was not fit for purpose.

    ACL may consider this to be a major fault which means you get to decide if you want a replacement battery or a refund for the price of the battery (not the whole service).

    First thing you must do though is to prove which battery was faulty/ leaked.

    Next step would be to provide that person with your proof and ask them to rectify via refund or replacement of battery.

    If they refuse, next step is to take your proof to a civil court or tribunal, likely xCat in this situation.

    If they find in your favour, you still may have to take further action to enforce whatever action the tribunal determined.

    Installing a bad battery does not equate with bad workmanship. It is also a separate claim.

    If you want to make those kind of claims you would probably need to prove that whoever installed the relevant battery did not install the battery correctly or purposely installed a battery that they knew was faulty.

    As you don't seem to have suffered any damage or loss (well, at most, just the cost of a watch battery), unless the battery is really expensive, I'd suggest just chalking this up to experience and shopping elsewhere in future.

    Sure, it may seem like someone has done something wrong, but even if you have proof of this, forcing an outcome is going to cost you a lot of time and/or money.

    I suppose that depends on what you actually want to achieve though.

    • Kustard King on 23/06/2025 - 22:44

      I've amended the original post. Essentially, its either 1) the battery was fault and leaked through the watch or 2) the terminals should have been cleaned during the process when the watch/seal was replaced - this was confirmed by the watch maker and the personal at the counter I seeked a remedy from (which appears to be the owner).

      All I'm after is a refund for the cost of the battery replacement. They are selling a poor quality product and/or their workmanship is bad.

  • Muppet Detector on 23/06/2025 - 20:41

    How much did the battery cost?

  • Baysew on 23/06/2025 - 20:52

    The shop that did the prior battery install won't refund the cost to me for bad workmanship or what was clearly a faulty battery.

    What was the cost?

  • MS Paint on 23/06/2025 - 21:10

    major pop-up stores

    Please don't tell us it was a Mr Minit or similar

    • Craze on 23/06/2025 - 21:34

      I see all over major shopping malls, so thinking could be it?

      • MS Paint on 23/06/2025 - 22:49

        Ouch. I wouldn't let them touch my $40 Timex quartz let alone a $1k watch.

        • neoleo on 24/06/2025 - 06:32

          Any recommendations for good and cheap places to replace watch battery in Sydney? I'll need it in few years.

  • snapper17 on 24/06/2025 - 01:15
    -1

    you dont say what your actual loss/damages are?
    Is the watch now working?
    What did the watch service place charge to clean the watch internals?

    • brendanm on 24/06/2025 - 06:58
      +2

      Hurt feelings and $45.

  • Dollar General on 24/06/2025 - 04:57
    +2

    You can spend a few hundred to a few thousand $$ taking civil action for your $45 refund

  • holdenmg on 24/06/2025 - 07:21

    I told those people calling me from Nigeria I don't take calls on deals under $46.

  • Odin on 24/06/2025 - 10:14
    +3

    All I'm seeking is a refund for the battery replacement

    Why are you wasting your time for so little money?

    Even assuming everything you think is correct, it's just not worth your time or effort.

  • mskeggs on 24/06/2025 - 10:35

    Where do watch batteries that never leak come from? I will only use them in future.

  • Megatron on 24/06/2025 - 11:15
    +1

    I would think your time is better spent on something else than spending hours and hours about $45. No government department would help you in this and the only option you have is to log a claim in a small claims court but then it might end up costing you more.

    Anways, if it is about hurt feelings, next time graph half a dozen eggs from the supermarket in the same centre and accidentally drop them all over their counter and floor.. then make an apology and walk away

    I am just kidding

    • Kustard King on 24/06/2025 - 13:39
      -6

      Well you did spend likely 5 minutes writing that monologue out for $0..

      • Megatron on 24/06/2025 - 14:05
        +3

        I assume you possibly want refund for the time you spent reading that manologue too?

  • try2bhelpful on 28/06/2025 - 17:34

    Personally I would sing a chorus of “Let it go” from Frozen and be grateful the watch wasn’t badly damaged. That sort of money isn’t worth the hassle.

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