To Sellers who list preowned watches with "new" batteries? How long have they been in?

[maxi314]

Even the best watch batteries are lasting 9 months or so.  (It used to be a year).  When seller's list a watch with "new" battery, it could have been installed by the seller 9 months ago.  The watch battery may die several days after it is purchased.  New batteries installed are expensive - $15 around here.  Can't such sellers state, "new battery installed upon purchase" or some such?

[12345jamesstamps]

More like fun stuff : $15 around here...where I live that's a cost of a glass of wine in a cheapie bar by me in San Francisco.

I would buy the watch if I like the looks of it...battery or not.

Fun fact: I have a Rolex watch...needs no battery...but needs a tune-up every 5 years like a car...crazy right?

Price tag where you have to request to get on the wait list to tune-up your watch(like getting a kidney transplant)...current price tag was $500.00 which I paid...crazy right?

Would I ever get another Rolex watch...nope.

Imagine all the owners of Rolex watches where watches have been sitting in boxes for years.

Reason for story: One needs the paperwork of when Rolex watch had a tune-up...

[slippinjimmy · Accepted solution]

My guess is that any reputable watch dealer would by default install a new battery after a sale. Why put a fresh battery in a watch you might never sell or sell after a few years sitting in inventory?

[stainlessenginecovers]

It would be up to you, the buyer, to ask a seller 'when' they put the batteries in as this is a venue of individuals that do things the way they want. It's NO different than a 'newspaper ad' so if you, as a buyer, have a question or suggestion it would be your responsibility to ask THAT individual seller, and there is NO system for ALL sellers of watches to do anything any particular way.

Like trying to tell those attending a College Football game to wear 'yellow' shoes. You would have to contact EACH person, all 100,000 of them. 

[pickapaper]

Sellers can state a battery is new but as you say, this may or may not be true.  Since there is no way of knowing or controlling this, I would suggest that if you are looking to buy watches that require a battery to run, consider that you might have to replace the battery and figure that into the price you are willing to pay.   

[pickapaper]

@12345jamesstamps wrote:

"Price tag where you have to request to get on the wait list to tune-up your watch(like getting a kidney transplant)...current price tag was $500.00 which I paid...crazy right?"

A couple of years ago, there was a very interesting magazine article in Robb Report magazine about Rolex timepieces and what they go through on those "tune-ups".   It isn't routine, it's over the top. 

[maxi314]

Yes.  Another respondent stated that it was not reasonable to expect sellers dealing in wrist watches to have a set eBay standard, though not in those words.  But if such sellers are claiming, "new" battery, I well know that more than a couple of questions about any item, are not appreciated, but the respondent put all responsibility on the buyer.  

I do my research, beyond the point that should be required before making a purchase.  At least the seller I made a purchase from made no claims, other than that the watch was working.

[maxi314]

eBay could require sellers offering time pieces that require batteries not to state "new" battery, unless a new battery was inserted at the time of purchase.  I understand that, in order for a seller to know, and state, if a watch is working, the battery would either have to be working at that moment, or, the seller, if claiming a time piece is "working," (and whether or not it is accurate), would involve the seller knowing the item, not just selling it, and even removing a "test" battery, while awaiting purchase - with the "new" battery being installed at that time.

Otherwise, "unknown as to function" makes it a fairer craps shoot for a buyer.  There is at least one seller who states that the new battery is installed after purchase, and that he can state the watch is working.  It didn't seem too difficult for him or her to list in that manner.