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  1. lillatroll Mar 14, 2020

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    So a few months ago a brand new renata battery exploded in my tc1 and the watch no longer works. I contacted Renata, the manufacturer of the battery and also owned by Swatch; they intially offered no help.
    I contacted Swatch and they told me to send the watch to the service centre in the UK to have a look at the watch.
    The service centre informed me that they no longer have the parts and could not help me and sent the watch back to me.
    I suggested that the cost of the watch could be reimbursed to me and I would find a replacement at my own risk.
    They said they could possibly repay the money if I could provide an original receipt for the watch. (So basically; bugger off. The watch is from 1976)
    I feel this has dragged on long enough and I am getting no where. The damage was caused by a faulty battery, it happens but I also feel that it is unreasonable that I am left with a non functioning watch and they dont seem to care about it.
    Renata originally said if I post on Omega Forums they definitely would not be able to help me. They eventually offered to pay for the service but I can not get it repaired with original parts so they won't pay.
    I feel this is very poor service from Renata and Omega and that they could do more to accommodate my loss. But perhaps I am expecting to much?
     
  2. ahsposo Most fun screen name at ΩF Mar 14, 2020

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    Samsung did the same thing to me with a phone battery.

    I don't know about Renata, but Eveready or Duracell (maybe both) used to have a warranty printed on their packs of AA alkaline and the like that offered replacement if they leaked. They made good on a photo flash for me once.
     
  3. janice&fred Mar 14, 2020

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    forgive me but what the heck is a "tc1"?
     
  4. X350 XJR Vintage Omega Aficionado Mar 14, 2020

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  5. Lacazema Mar 14, 2020

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    Omega LED watch
     
    janice&fred likes this.
  6. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Mar 14, 2020

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    Do you have proof of Renata claiming no help if you talk about it?
     
  7. jsducote Mar 14, 2020

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    Right, aren't non-disparagement clauses now banned (at least in the US)? That might be a lever to pull.
     
  8. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Mar 14, 2020

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    I’m sure search group would love to hear a sub brand is pulling that shit.
     
  9. FREDMAYCOIN Mar 14, 2020

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    Are you sure the root cause was the battery? Was the battery overloaded by a faulty watch? In need of service after 40 years. Just curious how you determined the battery failed?
     
  10. TDBK Mar 14, 2020

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  11. lillatroll Mar 14, 2020

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    Yes they wrote it in an email to me
     
  12. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Mar 14, 2020

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    Wow, I’d bring that up with swatch group ASAP.
     
  13. Peemacgee Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungers Mar 15, 2020

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    Any chance that someone else, like STS, could repair the watch (isn’t their sister company a specialist in electronic watches?) - and get Renata to pay for it?
     
  14. lillatroll Mar 15, 2020

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    I will contact renata to see what they say, but they have not answered any of my recent emails.
    It is possible to get a replacement movement and it is not really expensive, around 100 pounds. My only issue with this is that it no longer has an Omega branded movement in it. I know they were never Omega movements as such, they were made by pulsar and an omega badge was placed on them. As a collector I feel this would impact on the value of the watch should I ever wish to part with it. As we all know, originality is a big deal for watch collectors so it is a factor for me too. That said, if they continue to refuse to remedy this problem then I will get a replacement movement.
     
    Edited Mar 15, 2020