(no subject)

[bedlamsbard]

I have two broken watches and zero functional watches. This is a problem. I have one watch with a dead battery but a functional watchband (dead as of yesterday), and one with a detached watchband but a functional battery (out of commission since freshman year). THIS IS A PROBLEM. I wear a watch all the time; I have a watch tan that I think can actually be seen FROM SPACE. I'm trying to work out if it would be cheaper + easier to order a new watch from Amazon (I have this one, which is the one with the dead battery, and a Seiko one that I can't find online. Given that it is probably $100+, I am not ordering that one) or to tromp down to one of the jewelry shops in New Orleans that the Internet says will replace watch batteries. There isn't one around campus; I think the nearest one is on Oak Street by Carrollton, which isn't too far -- oh, wait, it's about a mile, that's not bad at all; I walk further than that for groceries. The second nearest one is on Magazine, but it's way down, too far to walk; I'd have to streetcar.

Okay, important question: how expensive are watch batteries to replace? Or fixing the band? Like, I think it would be slightly more useful to have two working watches rather than two defective watches, or one working watch and one defective watch. And it doesn't usually take too long, right?

Also I am apparently sick (again) and I have a paper due Monday. FML.

Comments

[sporky_rat]

To replace a battery at a jeweler's shop usually costs me about $15 or so, but I have a pretty easy to replace battery. If you hit up Wal*Mart any time soon, and they carry your watch, they'll replace it for less.

How's the watch band detached?

[bedlamsbard]

I don't think I could put up with Walmart just to replace my watch battery. *shudders* If my roommate won't take me, then I'd have to take the shuttle, and that's a minimum two hour round trip at the peak shopping hours of the day. *looking up shuttle schedules* Wait a second. Did Tulane get rid of the mall shuttle? THEY DID THE BASTARDs. But why? Well, there goes the idea of going to Target (that's where I got the watch in question).

The little pin that holds one strap to the face came out, so one of the bands is completely detached.

[sporky_rat]

A jeweler should be able to replace that pin as well, when you go to replace your battery.

[bedlamsbard]

Yeah, I figure that shouldn't be too difficult for someone who actually knows what they're doing: I actually still have the pin, so! (Unless it's broken. Gods know I can't tell.)

[snacky]

Usually it costs me about $10-12 at the jewelers to replace a watch battery. At Wal-Mart, it's $8, but I can't always bring myself to go to Wal-Mart, and it can be hit or miss with the staff (they'll give you a hard time if you didn't buy the watch there sometimes), where the jewelers are always competent.

The band should be pretty easy to replace, and again, a jeweler shouldn't have a problem.

[bedlamsbard]

Also I don't really trust Walmart. *sighs*

*sudden worry* Jewelers usually carry watch batteries, right?

[snacky]

Yeah, one time they broke my mom's watch, so that is why I don't go there.

In my experience, yes. I've walked into jewelers in different cities when my watch has died, and they've always had a battery.

[bedlamsbard]

Well, that's only the exact opposite of repairing a watch.

Their website says they do watch batteries, so -- I assume so. *crosses fingers* If not, at least they can probably repair the other watch.

[lady_songsmith]

Do you have tiny screwdrivers? Because if you've got something that can handle an itty-bitty screw (about the size of the ones holding glasses nosepieces on), there's no reason to go to a jeweler -- just buy a watch battery (less than $5, usually) and replace it yourself.

You'll need to pry off the back - there's usually a little slot where a nail or a screwdriver blade can get under it -- and then there will be two or three screws holding down a bent piece of metal that covers the battery. Usually one end has a tab that slides under the watch guts, and the other has a tab that goes over them, so take note how it's attached before you unscrew anything. Loosen, slide out old battery, put in new one (flat side up, bumped side down), rescrew, snap cover back on. Cake.

[lady_songsmith]

Oh, and you can get watch batteries lots of places. Target and Walmart, but also Radio Shack and similar, or sometimes even grocery stores. You'll want to open the watch to check the size of the battery; they go by millimeters and it'll be written on the one in your watch.

[bedlamsbard]

Sadly, my itty-bitty screwdrivers are back in Washington, so that's not really a possibility right now. Also I think my itty-bitty screwdrivers are possibly just a hair too large, as they're the ones that I used to use for tightening repairs on my saxophone in high school. Sometime, though, I shall totally try!