Then I'm going to Wal*Mart

[Retail Associate]

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I hate covering jewelry. I hate it so much that I'd like to place some TNT in the cases and blow the whole thing to kingdom come. Then roast some weinies over the fire that would be sure to burn uncontrollably in the aftermath.

Ah, dare to dream.

But I digress.

First off, we are not jewelers. We're minimum wage peons working in a big box retailer who sells crap jewelry at outrageous prices. Since we are not jewelers, we don't have any of the tools a jeweler would use to open watches. Nope, our fancy jeweler's tool is a paring knife.

As of late September or early October '07, we no longer replace batteries or change watch bands in/on watches we don't sell on a regular basis. The reason for this is, SCs would come to us with horribly expensive watches that are a PITA to open. Many times these very expensive watches were being scratched by the knife or the crystals would be broken while trying to put the watch back together.

This made for some very unhappy SCs who would demand compensation. Thereby costing the store more than they'd make by selling $3.70 batteries or $9.00 bands. (The store never charged a fee for this service. )

Keep in mind that 90% of the times I get a call to the jewelry counter it's to change someone's battery or watch band. Out of those trips to the counter I have to tell the majority of the SCs that we no longer offer this service on watches we don't presently sell.

This also makes for some very unhappy SCs.

They retort with:

"Since when?"

"Why not?"

"You always did it before!"

But my favorite, the one that I assume is supposed to make me fall to my knees and beg the SC to please allow me to change their battery is...

"Then I'm going to Wal*Mart."

What I really enjoy is watching their faces when I reply in a cheerful tone, "Okay." Then I turn and walk away.

That REALLY pisses them off.

tee-hee-hee

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Note: There are several signs at the jewelry counter stating this new policy. But we all know SCs can't or won't read.


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[bigjimaz]

From what I've gleaned from other threads on the same subject, Wal-Mart no longer does this either, or at least a good part of them don't.

[PepperElf]

i use to work for ames in the jewelry dept before it closed down. we were allowed to change batteries, but had to state that we couldn't guarantee water-resistance

never had any issues with scratched watches etc. but it was prolly cos we had some tiny screwdrivers that always worked.

[Knightmare]

We used to change batteries at RadioShack a long time ago. I never changed them, except when an older person would bring in one of our talking watches. Only then would I change a watch battery.
One time a guy wanted me to change out the battery in his $1000+ Tag Hauer. I told him we don't do that here, and he kept asking. Then I told him I don't have the proper tools. Yet he still kept asking. So I brought out some tools from under the register; needle nose pliers, a small screwdriver, and a hammer.
I grabbed the hammer in my right hand, and the screwdriver in my left and said: "Okay. Stand back. I don't know how to get into the watch, but I'll try. Oh, btw, just so you know... I, nor RadioShack, will NOT be held responsible to any damage that may occur to your watch. Do you agree?"
Then did he finally understand that I am not a jeweler and not trained to change out his watch battery.

[Primer]

One time when I was working at a gas station, not even a convenience store type, I had a guy come in that insisted I work on his watch. I did what I could, but I think he ended up having to buy a new watch. At least he never came back to complain about me.

[drunkenwildmage]

That's one thing the always blew my mind at Office Max. We sold small batteries, but they were primarily for the smaller calculators that we sold, so we only stocked the sizes that would fit those calculators.Every once in a while, someone would find one that fit their watch, but at least 2 or 3 times a week, we would have a customer upset that we didn't sell a batteries for their watch. Then about once every 2 or 3 weeks we had people looking for batteries for the Key Fob's for their cars.

[crazylegs]

This reminds me, I need to get a watch battery replaced, but it has to be opened only by the manufacturer as it contains radioactive material. (its a traser) I'll be damned if I'm taking it to someone who doesn't know what they're doing, nor will I entrust my other watch to someone who hasn't had the training to open it properly, as that would just be silly.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I just go to the jewelry store. It might cost a little more but at least I don't worry about them breaking it...

[wolfie]

I've got a Timex that needed a new battery a couple months ago. I'm good with tools (bought a "stored in damp basement so now it's clouded with fungus" zoom lens for $20, figuring it was worth the entertainment value of taking it apart to see how it worked - and it's now the primrary lens on my camera), so my first thought was to get a battery at the dollar store (CR2016 - the little "squeeze me" keychain flashlights come with 2 of them), but I stopped at a watch repair place on the way.

Battery plus installation was around $10, and I'm glad I paid the extra - there were so many small pieces that kept slipping out of position while the technician was re-assembling my watch, so the multiple attempts took him at least 20 minutes (and this for someone who does it on a regular basis). If I'd tried it myself, I'd probably have ruined the watch - and I'd put my skills a couple notches above someone with no technical training who was hired to sell cheap-ass jewelry.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

From what I've gleaned from other threads on the same subject, Wal-Mart no longer does this either, or at least a good part of them don't.

I was at one of the area WM stores right before Thanksgiving (or maybe it was right after) and stopped by the jewelry counter to get a battery for my watch. I had no idea what kind it needed, so I just handed it to the employee behind the counter (who was already working on a couple) and told her I needed a battery but didn't know which one for it.

Five minutes later, I had a watch that was telling time again. Even the date had been set on it.

So yes, there are still some WM's that do install watch batteries.

[Peppergirl]

We used to change batteries at RadioShack a long time ago. I never changed them, except when an older person would bring in one of our talking watches. Only then would I change a watch battery.
One time a guy wanted me to change out the battery in his $1000+ Tag Hauer. I told him we don't do that here, and he kept asking. Then I told him I don't have the proper tools. Yet he still kept asking. So I brought out some tools from under the register; needle nose pliers, a small screwdriver, and a hammer.
I grabbed the hammer in my right hand, and the screwdriver in my left and said: "Okay. Stand back. I don't know how to get into the watch, but I'll try. Oh, btw, just so you know... I, nor RadioShack, will NOT be held responsible to any damage that may occur to your watch. Do you agree?"
Then did he finally understand that I am not a jeweler and not trained to change out his watch battery.

Has to be said:

[pyxee]

One time when I was working at a gas station, not even a convenience store type, I had a guy come in that insisted I work on his watch. I did what I could, but I think he ended up having to buy a new watch. At least he never came back to complain about me.

Never been asked to fix a watch., though for some reason about once I week I got someone who thought I could repair their cell phone. or open their locked car.

[Mark Healey]

This reminds me, I need to get a watch battery replaced, but it has to be opened only by the manufacturer as it contains radioactive material. (its a traser) I'll be damned if I'm taking it to someone who doesn't know what they're doing, nor will I entrust my other watch to someone who hasn't had the training to open it properly, as that would just be silly.

It's tritium, and It's not that dangerous and it is contained in little glass tubes on the face and hands. Opening the watch won't release anything.

Of course I still thing automatics are way cooler, no battery to worry about.

[marasbaras]

Note: There are several signs at the jewelry counter stating this new policy. But we all know SCs can't or won't read.

I was at a Wal*Mart pharmacy and there was a GIANT sign behind the cash register (about 10 feet long, two feet high) that said something to the effect of "if you other shopping, you may pick up your drugs last and pay for them at the front registers with the rest of your items".

I thought "GREAT!"

So, I get my pills and say "Thanks! I'll pay for these up front." I had a cartload of stuff.

"Sorry, sir, we don't allow that. Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy."

"Um, what about the giant sign?"

She replied, in the best drone voice ever: "Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy."

"So, you're saying I'm not allowed to do that?" Yes, I admit to be slightly confused here, it'd been a long day and I honestly try to read the signs that stores put up to avoid being an SC.

So, she repeats, looking annoyed with me, "Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy." Some monotone, same words. AGH! How about just "No, you're not." It was like I was dealing with some kind of mindless drone.

If the answer is no, OK. But, please, stop quoting the damned employee manual to me and at least pretend that I'm another human standing in front of you. I guess one would've had to have been there and heard her tone and seen her face.

Anyway, I paid for the drugs, went up front paid for the rest. Then, found the MOD and complained about the sign.

About a week later the sign came down.

[theredbaron47]

So, I get my pills and say "Thanks! I'll pay for these up front." I had a cartload of stuff.

"Sorry, sir, we don't allow that. Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy."

"Um, what about the giant sign?"

She replied, in the best drone voice ever: "Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy."

"So, you're saying I'm not allowed to do that?" Yes, I admit to be slightly confused here, it'd been a long day and I honestly try to read the signs that stores put up to avoid being an SC.

So, she repeats, looking annoyed with me, "Every store has the option to allow or disallow that policy." Some monotone, same words. AGH! How about just "No, you're not." It was like I was dealing with some kind of mindless drone.

If the answer is no, OK. But, please, stop quoting the damned employee manual to me and at least pretend that I'm another human standing in front of you. I guess one would've had to have been there and heard her tone and seen her face.

Anyway, I paid for the drugs, went up front paid for the rest. Then, found the MOD and complained about the sign.

About a week later the sign came down.

Not me. I was getting irritated just reading that. That's one thing I can't stand; people who check their brains and minds at the door when they go to work, and turn into corporate-scripted zombies for their entire shift.

I'm glad I wasn't in that situation. I probably would have gotten rude about it, something like, "I asked you a question, I would like a response that indicates I'm another human being, and would not like the employee manual recited to me".

Oh well.