LEAGAL DISCLAIMER FOR WATCH REPAIRS ETC?

[Guest k@lsb]

Hi need some advice ,could anyone tell me as to what would be the correct sighnage to display in a shop regarding fitting batteries in watches ,car key fobs, garage remotes etc to cover ourselves if ever a tricky situation arouse with a customer?whilst giving one of these services? what do you guys display in youre shops???? would appreciate productive responses to this question..many thanks.

[Guest k@lsb]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.................29 views and not one reply?from the leading forum on shoe repairs etc in the country.................cant beliave it?lol

[ironplanet uk900]

I give a guarantee card, which covers the work I did for 12 months. I wouldn't dream of putting up a sign to cover my ass just because I was incompetant.

If you need get outs, then get out..

[Gray]

Why do you need a disclaimer? That shows no confidence in your own ability. And yes this is the leading forum on shoe repairs etc. Could be invaluable to you. If only you were not so angry. Chillax.

[Guest k@lsb]

ARE YOU FOR REAL.ANGRY!!!!!!!....hugh seems that you may be the one to give a sensible answer here.......shows incompitance...........ummm.............ill remember that next time i park my car in a carpark!!!!.........please sensible constructive answers please...................as originally posted..thankyou.

[keithm]

Hugh? Uh

[hibsjo(SCO)]

Uk is correct in saying anything relating to a sign saying "dont blame me" is not really acceptable in my eyes(doesnt look good)

You cant really go wrong changing batteries unless you are a buffoon.

Its like when I worked for automagic they used to have a sign saying shoes left at owners own risk wtf!

dont go there mate

carry on!

[StevenB]

cover ourselves if ever a tricky situation arouse

 

Give us an indication of what particular tricky situation you expect to arise (or even arouse, but I think that's something different altogether ) and we'll perhaps be better placed to make some helpful constructive suggestions...

[Lee]

I don't display any signs, but as suggested I don't do anything I'm not confident in & that includes fitting batteries into car remotes. I leave them alone.

I don't think from a legal point of view any sign would make a difference. you have a duty of care to any work you undertake & as such if a case went to court you'd probably lose. At the end of the day how often does something go wrong? once a decade maybe, when & if it does resolve it without fuss & little reputation damage will be done.

 

Lee

[Guest k@lsb]

OK lets take this for example

 

customer walks in with a 4000 pound watch thats not working, we fit a new battery in it ,customer comes back 1 hour later says, the watch is still not working, shop staff member ,takes battery out again replaces with another one, customer leaves..ps no second hand on watch......a while later pops back and says still not working at this point staff member recommends him to take it to a jeweller and get it serviced, customer returns in 15 mins ,claiming jeweller has says shop have damaged the watch, (customer has been bringing watch to shop for battery replacement for last 5 years,so they say?) has bought it to us in past as shop another shop recommended to them to come to the said shop, customer not happy states the jewler shop will have to send back to watch maker/company to get a report....remember this is a hypothetical question.........what would or could you do in this situation???????

[StevenB]

If I was fitting batteries in £4k watches I would ensure that my insurance covered such things, just in case - and as mentioned above I wouldn't have any sign on display.

[Gray]

Was the hypothetical battery that was taken out of the hypothetical £4000 watch tested for power?

[hibsjo(SCO)]

would never find myself in this situation.

 

WHY didnt you check the watch was working before it left shop?

then if you found it wasnt working offer to service or find out what is wrong with it, rember they have brought it in cos it aint working!

as soon as its left your shop your in trouble 3rd party could have knackered it up, your word there word and so on

£4k watch how much you charge for replacing watch battery?

dont know if that helps?

carry on!

[StevenB]

Remember Hibs,

....remember this is a hypothetical question.........w

[hibsjo(SCO)]

carry on!

[Lee]

hypothetically speaking, you could send it to me & I'll fix it...... But in all seriousness even if it was a fifty pound watch. if its been taken somewhere else for a second opinion, whats to say this person hasn't damaged it & is attempting to palm the damage off on the original installer?

 

I'd offer to take a look & give a price to fully service & repair the watch.

 

Lee

[Lee]

Now the same customer comes in with a remote needing a new battery, you fit one it doesn't work. remove the battery & give the key back to the customer in the same condition with which is was when he brought it in, should you be liable for a replacement key?

 

Lee

[ironplanet uk900]

If you carry out the job in a professional manner, you wouldn't find yourself in that situation.

 

1, acknowledge with the customer that the watch isn't working.

 

2, remove the old battery, and test, show the customer the result of the test. If the battery is flat, tell the customer, and recommend the first thing is to replace the battery.

 

3, replace the battery, and see if the watch is working. If it is..then explain to the customer that it appears it is just a case of a flat battery, and would they like you to replace it.

 

4, If so, you may want to explain to the customer that this isn't a watch repair, merely a battery replacement. things like a faulty circuit board, or a shorting out ciruit may not show up immediatley, amongst other scenarios i.e. a service needed.

 

5, If the customer agrees to go ahead, replace battery and give the customer a 12 month guarantee with discription of watch and case number, and the fact it was just a battery replacement(what we do) BUT always explain that its the battery thats guaranteed, and not the watch.

 

6, Also check to see if the watch is supposed to be waterproof!! if so, then recommend a reseal and pressure test, If the customer declines, this should also be noted on the guarantee card.

 

following these simple steps should help build good customer service and confidence in your abillity, and should put a stop to your "Hyperthetical" situations.

 

 

And just for the record, this forum is the best thing to happen to the independant multi-service-centre since I can remember...for those who embrace it.

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Personally, disclaimers in a retail shop tell me that the person hanging the notice has had problems and is trying to cover themselves in the event of yet another problem.

 

There is a danger that too many signs mean that the important ones do not get read. This is counter productive.

Disclaimers are not worth the paper or card that they are written on, you accept the job, you are responsible, a customer pays you or you accept the job off the customer and you are liable while the item is in your hands.

 

The best advice is, preparation, examination, discussion........ all summed up by Planet.

Bypass the examination & testing before accepting and you could be held responsible for a claim.

detailed examination also has its benefits as you spot other things that need attention and turn a simple battery replacement into a service/clean/new face/strap etc. It also gives the customer the impression that you know what you are doing, even if you dont.

As long as you converse with the customer you have a betterchance of more cash in the till and then you can despatch the watch to Lee, Registered Post of course to cover the value of the item.

[Lee]

Registered Post of course to cover the value of the item.

remember that registered delivery doesn't insure jewelry & that includes watches! & even if it did only up to a miniscule 39.00. Always send your watches via special delivery which costs 5.40+ a jiffy bag each way so you need to factor in 12pounds on top of any repair. but that does insure the watch up to 500.00

 

Lee

[Wiltshire Cobbler]

It's recorded delivery that doesn't insure jewellery or watches.

Registered is the old name for special delivery.

[hibsjo(SCO)]

and you can only get ins cover upto £2500.

carry on!