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Thread: Timsons kiosk - £85 for watch battery replacement

  1. #1
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    Timsons kiosk - £85 for watch battery replacement

    The watch back on my wife’s omega looked a bit tricky so I thought we would call by the kiosk and get the lad there to do it expecting him to whip the back off and drop a new battery in. He takes a look on their computer. “Ah right Omega , that’s £85 but we wouldn’t guarantee it waterproof” I pondered a moment, £85 to take the back off and fit a £2 battery! Nice work, no wonder they look after their staff with health schemes and holiday homes.

    I said thank you, brought it home, put my glasses on this time, took a bit of time and flipped the back off. Pack of 2 Maxell batteries incoming for £3.20

    I think I will restrict my visits to the occasional key cutting in future
    Last edited by Ashtons99; 3rd April 2021 at 20:46.

  2. #2
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Blimey! I guess they only need a handful of customers with more money than sense to make it worthwhile losing the custom of those that are sensible enough to only pay the normal price.

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    Master thegoat's Avatar
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    Was it Bart or Homer ?
    A small price for mixin* with the stars

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by thegoat View Post
    Was it Bart or Homer ?
    A small price for mixin* with the stars
    Its PTSD 🤣

  5. #5
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    About 10 years ago I bought a lifetime battery replacement deal at Timpsons for my wife's Mondaine. Cost £20. They change the battery and caseback seal, and pressure test it. Used the service about 4 times so far.

    Tell them it's an Omega homage. They'll probably do it for a fiver.
    Last edited by Tiny; 3rd April 2021 at 22:00.

  6. #6
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    Timsons kiosk - £85 for watch battery replacement

    I had a similar experience with a watch belonging to my wife. Cannot remember which one / brand but Timpson’s price was steep.

    I remember coming home and buying the battery and tools to remove the screw back for less and did the work myself.

    I’ve paid £85 for a battery replacement on a Rado, by Rado, but that included a checkover on the quartz movement and necessary parts re-lubricated. It was a full ceramic case and bracelet so no polishing as such but it came back looking like new.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    About 10 years ago I bought a lifetime battery replacement deal at Timpsons for my wife's Mondaine. Cost £20. They change the battery and casebook seal, and pressure test it. Used the service about 4 times so far.

    Tell them it's an Omega homage. They'll probably do it for a fiver.
    That’s why we went there, she did the same with an old Sekonda, she’s had 4 batteries in it.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ashtons99 View Post
    I think I will restrict my visits to the occasional key cutting in future
    They’re ****ing well overpriced for that too!!

  9. #9
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    It only costs £65 for a 9F Grand Seiko battery replacement by Seiko UK. New seals and pressure test certificate included.

  10. #10
    Intime inside Daniels department store in Windsor wanted similar money if not more to change the battery in my old tag F1. Probably 2/3 of the value of the watch.

  11. #11
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    Nephew has just been quoted same £85 for his Tag.
    In the end cost him £8 at the local jewelers!
    I think soon as they hear a higher end brand it's then the obligatory £85

  12. #12
    Master M1011's Avatar
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    Possibly it's a liability thing? Seems an absurd price.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    About 10 years ago I bought a lifetime battery replacement deal at Timpsons for my wife's Mondaine. Cost £20. They change the battery and casebook seal, and pressure test it. Used the service about 4 times so far.

    Tell them it's an Omega homage. They'll probably do it for a fiver.
    Same thing for my wife’s Tissot. On the 3rd or 4th go now. It’s hard to keep track of the scrap of paper saying it’s a lifetime deal though.

    I just changed my X-33 battery so it’s good for another 3years (battery was about £3). You don’t want to know what Omega charge for an X-33 service.

  14. #14
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    Surprised to hear, because I had my SMP fitted with a new battery at Timpsons a couple of years ago and I'm pretty sure it was less than £20, and that was for a lifetime battery card. I've bought a caseback opener since then though, and I'm tempted to do it myself.

  15. #15
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    Still cheaper than running a high(ish) end auto. 2 X battery change at Timpsons in say 6 to 7 years, £170. Doubt you would get an auto serviced at Omega or Tag for £170.

    Anyhow, £85 is a taking the **** for a heel bar. It's a strange dichotomy of "skills", delicate watch servicing and bashing nails into hobnail boots, in-between filing a few keys!

    Can't help suspecting a few metal filings or shoe rubber particles will end up in someones watch. Should really have a semi clean room for watches.

    Any Timpson technicians on here?

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ashtons99 View Post
    I think I will restrict my visits to the occasional key cutting in future
    £15 for a standard Yale type cylinder lock key??? Cost £3.50 at the local specialist locksmith.

    Something has gone wrong at Timpsons marketing dept. Maybe they're playing catchup for the lockdowns (no pun intended). They need to watch what they're doing otherwise someone will put the boot in.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    £15 for a standard Yale type cylinder lock key??? Cost £3.50 at the local specialist locksmith.

    Something has gone wrong at Timpsons marketing dept. Maybe they're playing catchup for the lockdowns (no pun intended). They need to watch what they're doing otherwise someone will put the boot in.
    Laden with puns 🤣

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ashtons99 View Post
    Laden with puns 藍
    Not at all. They're probably just charging a premium because they're key workers. They just don't have a soul.
    Last edited by Tiny; 3rd April 2021 at 22:22.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    Not at all. They're probably just charging a premium because they're key workers. They just don't have a soul.
    I find your comments a bit cutting to be honest, laced with innuendo

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ashtons99 View Post
    I find your comments a bit cutting to be honest, laced with innuendo
    I think its reasonable to have a dig at Timpsons for their extortionate prices for keys, shoe repairs and watch batteries.

  21. #21
    Grand Master magirus's Avatar
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    The irony here is marvellous, given that the ultimate watch pricing pi$$take of all time is the cost of an Omega nato strap.
    F.T.F.A.

  22. #22
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    Timsons have great PR ... ripped off Mrs Kitz on an Audi key battery £28 .. still it helps to rehabilitate offenders ..


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  23. #23
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    Timpsons charged me £25 for the battery in my Certina (their lifetime deal).
    Best deal was a market stall for one of my Seikos (lockdown desperation). He asked if I wanted a standard battery for £2 or a 'better' battery for £3 - and he swapped the battery in around 15 secs flat! OK, I probably won't swim in it....

  24. #24
    The best deal you can get in regard to battery changes, is to invest in a caseback opener, a little silicone grease and batteries from Amazon or your local supermarket as and when you need them. And if you’re wary just watch a few you tube videos. I can’t remember the last time I paid to have a battery changed, if you put it all back together carefully with some lubrication on the o ring you can be sure the water resistance is ok too. My wife has had her Tag aqua racer for 15 years and I’ve done every battery change since the first one was quoted as £150 - took me all of 10 minutes tops!!


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  25. #25
    Quote Originally Posted by Tiny View Post
    It only costs £65 for a 9F Grand Seiko battery replacement by Seiko UK. New seals and pressure test certificate included.

    Enquired last week and it is now £90

  26. #26
    Timsons have a sheet with all the brands listed and a price for each. Same battery, same work involved, no seals or pressure tests but if your watch is from an expensive maker you’ll pay ten times the price of a basic battery change. Rip off Britain at it’s finest.

  27. #27
    Anyone used this company for battery changes? Seems comprehensive:

    https://www.prestigetimeservices.co....ry-and-reseal/

  28. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by RobDad View Post
    The best deal you can get in regard to battery changes, is to invest in a caseback opener, a little silicone grease and batteries from Amazon or your local supermarket as and when you need them. And if you’re wary just watch a few you tube videos. I can’t remember the last time I paid to have a battery changed, if you put it all back together carefully with some lubrication on the o ring you can be sure the water resistance is ok too. My wife has had her Tag aqua racer for 15 years and I’ve done every battery change since the first one was quoted as £150 - took me all of 10 minutes tops!!
    How long do the O rings last?

  29. #29
    Master jukeboxs's Avatar
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    I applaud them giving ex-offenders a second chance, and our local franchise is excellent. No need to use their services if you find them too pricey or bleat about it.


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  30. #30
    Grand Master Passenger's Avatar
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    Takin' the P.

  31. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by MartynJC (UK) View Post
    Same thing for my wife’s Tissot. On the 3rd or 4th go now. It’s hard to keep track of the scrap of paper saying it’s a lifetime deal though.

    I just changed my X-33 battery so it’s good for another 3years (battery was about £3). You don’t want to know what Omega charge for an X-33 service.
    The piece of paper is the reason I haven’t ever gone for the lifetime service - I usually can’t find my car keys never mind a random scrap of paper from five years ago!

    Only ever taken my fairly low value quartz there but always found them decent value. Also have a kiosk in my local supermarket so I drop it off, do my shop, and pick it up on the way out.

  32. #32
    Master M1011's Avatar
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    I never could quite get over Timpson advertising their lifetime battery deal with a Seiko SKX007 on the poster...


  33. #33
    Quote Originally Posted by monogroover View Post
    How long do the O rings last?
    Never had to replace one and they still look good as new. I’m sure it wouldn’t be impossible to buy the correct ones - probably fit better than the ones Timpsons would bung in. I think if you’re careful amd clean everything plus grease the gasket you’ll be fine


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  34. #34
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by RobDad View Post
    The best deal you can get in regard to battery changes, is to invest in a caseback opener, a little silicone grease and batteries from Amazon or your local supermarket as and when you need them. And if you’re wary just watch a few you tube videos. I can’t remember the last time I paid to have a battery changed, if you put it all back together carefully with some lubrication on the o ring you can be sure the water resistance is ok too. My wife has had her Tag aqua racer for 15 years and I’ve done every battery change since the first one was quoted as £150 - took me all of 10 minutes tops!!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Yes indeed, I've never paid to have a battery changed.

    Inspect the case back seal and unless they have been messed up by somebody else they are usually fine.

    Silicon grease, apart from helping the seal also prevents the gasket from distorting when you screw the back on.

    Another thing to bear in mind is some snap backs can be impossible to refit without a press.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

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    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  35. #35
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    Interesting that in the world of scuba diving you can buy a wrist worn computer battery change ‘kit’ for very little outlay. They typically inc. battery, O ring and silicon grease. I do our Suuntos and so far have not had any issues. I’m sure watches could be catered for in a similar way.


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  36. #36
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    I’ve asked them a couple of times around battery changes before I knew what I was doing and they are useless

  37. #37
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    I do all my own battery changes too as I have around 30 quartz watches so it would get very expensive at Timpsons.
    Wonder what they’d charge for an Oysterquartz?

    Cheers
    Neil
    Last edited by jneds; 4th April 2021 at 19:59.

  38. #38
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    Two of my friends work for Timpsons, one of them is a branch manager. He's well into his watches but they are tied to a pricing structure there, more often than not repairs are priced elsewhere (head office or whatever) and quite often he'll whatsapp me some of the quotes they dish out on watches and we bet on whether they will pay it or not.
    A few weeks ago is was £795 for a restoration on an Oris TT1. The watch was only about that much brand new!
    The customer agreed it.

    The place must make an absolute fortune, it really is daylight robbery.

    Before anyone asks, no, he can't explain why their "batteries fitted here" sign has an automatic Seiko SKX007 on it either.

  39. #39
    Grand Master JasonM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ALindsay View Post
    Interesting that in the world of scuba diving you can buy a wrist worn computer battery change ‘kit’ for very little outlay. They typically inc. battery, O ring and silicon grease. I do our Suuntos and so far have not had any issues. I’m sure watches could be catered for in a similar way.


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    You don’t have a Stinger bezel wrench do you?
    Cheers..
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  40. #40
    Master chris2982's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by M1011 View Post
    I never could quite get over Timpson advertising their lifetime battery deal with a Seiko SKX007 on the poster...

    It would drive my OCD insane looking at that part way day change.

    Sent from my Nokia 8.3 5G using Tapatalk

  41. #41
    Quote Originally Posted by Neil.C View Post
    Yes indeed, I've never paid to have a battery changed.

    Inspect the case back seal and unless they have been messed up by somebody else they are usually fine.

    Silicon grease, apart from helping the seal also prevents the gasket from distorting when you screw the back on.

    Another thing to bear in mind is some snap backs can be impossible to refit without a press.
    That’s exactly the reason I’ve never bought a watch with a snap on back! :)


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  42. #42
    Craftsman enndriz's Avatar
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    Timsons kiosk - £85 for watch battery replacement

    Quote Originally Posted by RobDad View Post
    That’s exactly the reason I’ve never bought a watch with a snap on back! :)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Told my missus I would change the battery on her fossil watch. Managed to lever the snap on back off, changed the battery, but could i hell get it back on. Spent about 2hrs trying, bent my cheapo crystal press, ended up losing my rag and hitting it with a hammer. Needless to say the watch did not survive. Cue frantic eBay search for a lightly used ladies fossil watch....


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  43. #43
    Master Dr Wolff's Avatar
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    They refused to do my prs18q in the shop because of the 300m depth rating, so it had to be sent off to their repair centre. £80 and 3 weeks later it came back with a bad scratch on the back which I didn't notice until I got home. Never again! Anyway, that particular watch is sadly at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean (another lesson - always use NATO's for water sports)

  44. #44
    Took a Seiko there once that had a lifetime guarantee on the battery. Only noticed when I got home a lot of dirt on the dial and hands. Yes - never again!!!

  45. #45
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    Re Hammer man. Thanks for making me laugh. I understand 100%

  46. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by JasonM View Post
    You don’t have a Stinger bezel wrench do you?
    No, never needed one


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  47. #47
    Quote Originally Posted by scootnfast View Post
    I’ve asked them a couple of times around battery changes before I knew what I was doing and they are useless
    I do my own as I really do not trust these people, even my Omega was easy to do, the amount of times I have took a watch in for a battery change only to see the person holding the battery between 2 fingers touching the positive and negative terminals, in my mind if they are not bright enough to avoid doing this then they ain't messing with my watch

  48. #48
    Craftsman Redcoat's Avatar
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    I remember bringing my CWC SBS to a local watchmaker for a battery change and pressure test. The lady at the front desk took it to a back room and came back a minute later telling me it would cost $75. I told her that there must be some mistake. She went back into the back room and returned apologizing, to tell me that she originally thought the watch was an IWC and that the battery and pressure test would be $25.

  49. #49
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by enndriz View Post
    Told my missus I would change the battery on her fossil watch. Managed to lever the snap on back off, changed the battery, but could i hell get it back on. Spent about 2hrs trying, bent my cheapo crystal press, ended up losing my rag and hitting it with a hammer. Needless to say the watch did not survive. Cue frantic eBay search for a lightly used ladies fossil watch....


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


    I know your angst, I spent a good long time getting the back on a G10, which is why I mentioned the difficulty with some snap backs in the first place.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  50. #50
    Grand Master Griswold's Avatar
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    Back in 2019 I went into HL Brown in Doncaster with a view to buying a £1k Longines VHP and to have batteries fitted to my Rotary Reverso

    The Reverso has two separate movements, each requiring a battery. It isn't something I can do myself as the way the watch is put together the two crowns have to somehow be removed from the centre frame before the two cases can be opened, they come out frontwards, to get at the batteries. I've used Browns before and the watch has to be sent away so their charge of £15 has been reasonable in the past.

    So I thought, lets get the easy bit done first - put the Rotary in for batteries then look at and buy the Longines.

    Salesman, after a quick talk to, (I assume), the manager: "That'll be £70 sir"
    Me: "is that right? you charged me £15 last year"
    Salesman, looking across at the manager: "We have to send it away to an approved watchmaker sir"
    Me: "You did that last year and the cost was £15"
    Salesman: "Yes, but the watchmaker we used to use in Sheffield is no longer there so we have to send it to someone else and it's £70".
    Me: "Sorry, that's way too expensive, I'll take it home"

    Now I can appreciate that the cost may have gone up a bit, but from £15 to £70 to change 2 batteries, no service, just change 2 batteries? I think that's excessive in the extreme.

    So I up and walked out without even looking at the Longines, which I bought elsewhere and they lost a £1,000 sale for the sake of being greedy.

    I'm a previous customer of long standing, but they've lost me as a customer now. I don't like to feel I'm being ripped off!

    And I went round the corner to F Hinds and their charge after the same, "we have to send it away sir" was £25. A huge difference.
    Best Regards - Peter

    I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.

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