Timpson watch lifetime guarantee

[Lee]

How long ago did Timpson introduce their lifetime watch battery guarantee?

[Count Muppet]

I think it was 2005

[grahamparker]

Wonder how many customers are still using it Is there lots of small print as a get out?.

[Count Muppet]

Still see loads from before 2010 coming in. I usually write them a new card if their old one is getting a bit nasty.

no small print to get out of anything. Happy to have a returning customer.

if the watch stops working we can offer a service, I’ll never force it because I don’t want them thinking it was me that damaged it. Once they have a service their guarantee continues.

[Lee]

How much are they? I’ve only got about 15 years left to work. Might be able to up sell between now and then

[Count Muppet]

Basic watches like sekonda, rotary etc are around £17.95 (1 year 11.95)

tissot Gucci around £40 (£25)

Tag, Omega, Cartier about £85 (£50)

Can’t remember exact prices

[Ian platt]

Can imagine all sorts of problems  if some of our customers are anything to go by the amount of people that come in for a battery  that think the only thing that goes wrong is the battery is unbelievable then there are the customers that say it was ok when I brought  it in for a battery yet it was not working  and you just can’t get through to them that other things go wrong  and we only charge a fraction of what timpsons  charge would like to see a price guide for timpsons charges

[x minit uk]

When I worked for timpsons there was a price list dependant on the brand of the watch.

[Mike at Vauxhall]

Would never personally introduce anything like it, but thought, commercially, a good idea. They must rely on customers losing the guarantee paperwork though. That could just lead to poor customer goodwill.

Mike 

[Count Muppet]

They don’t want the customer to lose the card. That’s the whole point of it.

the customer comes back to the shop, often wanting to buy something else or bringing other watches to be done.

[Mike at Vauxhall]

43 minutes ago, Count Muppet said:

They don’t want the customer to lose the card. That’s the whole point of it.

the customer comes back to the shop, often wanting to buy something else or bringing other watches to be done.

Then that's a clever marketing idea.

[keithm]

It’s brilliant imho, can’t understand why you all don’t do it  if I was still repairing I would be doing it, can’t lose!

[JanD]

Do you have to take your watch back to the branch you got the initial battery replacement and guarantee card from? There’s nothing on the card to say where I got it, just the make of the watch and the date I got the first one in 2015. I’ve had one other since then but went to the original branch for that. I have one closer to me now, can I take it there does anyone know? Thanks 

[Count Muppet]

You can take it to any timpson branch you like

can also go to any of the other shops in the timpson group that do watch repairs

[da miller]

i have been giving life time battery changes since 2003 

on the card is the date fitted and when a new 1 should be replaced (ie every 2 years wither it SO or ALK)

this has worked so well when they return they always have another to get fitted

i also get repaid for pressure test & seal (ave£18)as this does not come with warranty)

 

[GLENGRAVING]

On 9/1/2022 at 10:13 PM, da miller said:

i have been giving life time battery changes since 2003 

on the card is the date fitted and when a new 1 should be replaced (ie every 2 years wither it SO or ALK)

this has worked so well when they return they always have another to get fitted

i also get repaid for pressure test & seal (ave£18)as this does not come with warranty)

 

How much are you charging for this, relative to your price for a standard replacement? 

 

I'm in the process of making new signs in my shop with info about my services (while tentatively increasing my admittedly low prices), and this topic came back to my mind. 

 

If the price is right, and the caveats are explained well to the customer, it's evidently a good idea. Part of me feels under qualified to begin offering this service - @Count Muppet mentions being able to offer a "service" which is not in my wheelhouse, and Da Miller can do pressure testing which I don't (yet?) have the kit for.

I do want to keep getting better kit and skills, and I do want to charge more for my work - so it's nice go see that an independent is able to make this type of offer work.

Also I think much of the appeal to customers of a "lifetime battery" comes from the fact that there are Simpson's branches up and down the country, and if your local one closes down it will be honoured elsewhere in perpetuity.

Edited April 27 by GLENGRAVING