topic Re: Watch Batteries in Community Chat

Watch Batteries

QVCkitty1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:02:14 GMT

I find myself with several watches that need new batteries,I just haven't made it to the jewelers. Do any of you change your own ? I see there are kits o Amazon, and I plan on checking out YouTube, but I wondered what your experience is with changing your own. I have a lot of watches, and I try to remember to pull the stem out when the watch is not in use, but eventually they die . TIA.

Re: Watch Batteries

Mombo1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:05:11 GMT

@QVCkitty1 I take mine to Walmart...the jewelry section replaces batteries.

Re: Watch Batteries

CelticCrafter — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:16:12 GMT

I've always changed my own.

Most watches have a slot you can put a small, flat screwdriver in to pop the back off. If there is no slot, try to get close to the stem and you can pop it off there.

You don't need a kit from Amazon.

Re: Watch Batteries

Silver Lining — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:34:08 GMT

@Mombo1 wrote:
@QVCkitty1 I take mine to Walmart...the jewelry section replaces batteries.

I took a watch to have a battery replaced at Walmart. The jewelry counter person said they only do that for watches bought at Walmart.

Re: Watch Batteries

Krimpette — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 20:05:26 GMT

Before I started buying only watches that didn't require a battery, I used to take mine to the local battery store. Even though it appeard that they mainly sold larger batteries, they very willingly changed mine. I think back then it cost $3 each.

Re: Watch Batteries

Twins Mom — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:33:23 GMT

Have not tried. Take mine to Batteries Plus and they take care of replacing. They even keep track of when you replace which watch and you can get a lifetime battery for about cost of two batteries.

Re: Watch Batteries

Mombo1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:36:30 GMT

@Silver Lining Interesting.... maybe it depends on the store. I have taken my watches there for years and it didn't matter that I hadn't purchased my watch there.

Re: Watch Batteries

sunshine45 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 22:25:48 GMT

i take mine to two different jewelry stores.

one charges $5 and that money goes to a local charity.

one charges $15 (or free if you purchased the watch from them) and gives you free cookies and/or a cocktail/beer/wine while you are there.

Re: Watch Batteries

jannabelle1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 22:29:21 GMT

The Walmart stores in my area are the same - they will not change the battery unless you bought the watch there. I'm not sure how they know whether you did or not, but as long as they carry the same brand, they seem willing to change a battery. I've taken my other watches to a small clock repair shop that's close by.

Re: Watch Batteries

homedecor1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 22:55:35 GMT

@Mombo1

Our WM stopped doing watch batteries the end of last year or so. That was my go to place now I have 4 watches waiting to go to jewelers at 3x's the price of WM☹️

The jewelry counters are closed in our WM until further notice.

Re: Watch Batteries

Silver Lining — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:46:29 GMT

@Mombo1 wrote:
@Silver Lining Interesting.... maybe it depends on the store. I have taken my watches there for years and it didn't matter that I hadn't purchased my watch there.

@Mombo1, the jewelry counter person said he didn't recognize the watch so he looked up the model number or something on a list. He verified it but couldn't get the back open and didn't want to risk damaging it. He's been a Walmart jewelry department manager for years. I digress. Walmart has five stores here and he said none of them change batteries or adjust bands on watches not purchased at Walmart.

Re: Watch Batteries

Silver Lining — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:15:51 GMT

@sunshine45 wrote:
i take mine to two different jewelry stores.

one charges $5 and that money goes to a local charity.

one charges $15 (or free if you purchased the watch from them) and gives you free cookies and/or a cocktail/beer/wine while you are there.

Those are nice options, especially the one that is five dollars and goes to a local charity. The fifteen dollar choice is a little steep but nice if you can sit in the midst of diamonds and have cookies and a drink while waiting.

Re: Watch Batteries

Mombo1 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:38:22 GMT

@homedecor1 wrote:
@Mombo1

Our WM stopped doing watch batteries the end of last year or so. That was my go to place now I have 4 watches waiting to go to jewelers at 3x's the price of WM☹️

The jewelry counters are closed in our WM until further notice.

@homedecor1 That is why I always went to our Walmart too. I have to go tomorrow for other things....so I think I will check to see if the jewelry counter is closed.

Re: Watch Batteries

twinny70 — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:58:37 GMT

Our WM jewelry counter is closed until further notice.

Re: Watch Batteries

jlkz — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:25:29 GMT

@QVCkitty1

Take a lot of money with you when you take your watches in for new batteries, whether at a jewelers or at a mall kiosk.

This is the main reason I did away with " fashion " watches. Before virus when I always wore jewelry, I stayed with one good watch.

Re: Watch Batteries

SharkE — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:30:04 GMT

I used to get ripped off at jewelry stores. Their batteries aren't worth nothing.

Batteries Plus

Battery Joe's

cheaper and they guarantee for a yr. Keep your receipt.

Re: Watch Batteries

QVCkitty1 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:35:47 GMT

@SharkE wrote:
I used to get ripped off at jewelry stores. Their batteries aren't worth nothing.

Batteries Plus
Battery Joe's

cheaper and they guarantee for a yr. Keep your receipt.

These sound like great suggestions, however, there are no such establishments in my small town.

Re: Watch Batteries

PinkyPetunia — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 02:14:15 GMT

I change my own watch bateteries. I just did 3 watches last week. batteries are super cheap on Amazon or Ebay. My father showed me how to change them so many years ago and I am grateful. He is long gone now,

It takes good eyesight, steady hands and careful, precise work. If you are a handy, mechanical sort of person it is easy. It can be difficult to get the cover off and then back on. I had one watch that I could never get a battery back in, and I tried different ones. I wouldnt experiment with a good quality watch but I would give it a shot with an inexpensive fashion watch.

Re: Watch Batteries

QVCkitty1 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:32:50 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
I change my own watch bateteries. I just did 3 watches last week. batteries are super cheap on Amazon or Ebay. My father showed me how to change them so many years ago and I am grateful. He is long gone now,

It takes good eyesight, steady hands and careful, precise work. If you are a handy, mechanical sort of person it is easy. It can be difficult to get the cover off and then back on. I had one watch that I could never get a battery back in, and I tried different ones. I wouldnt experiment with a good quality watch but I would give it a shot with an inexpensive fashion watch.

@PinkyPetunia Thanks, I'm going to give it a try .

Re: Watch Batteries

Hoovermom — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 21:49:01 GMT

It really depends on the watch you have. Mine needs a jeweler to replace it...found that out by trying to have it replaced at Batteries Plus (they would not do it).