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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mgnetp!hw3b!wnuxb!netnews
From: netnews@wnuxb.UUCP (Ron Heiby)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Customer Release Battery Replacement
Message-ID: <328@wnuxb.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 15:04:23 EST
Article-I.D.: wnuxb.328
Posted: Fri Nov 30 15:04:23 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Dec-84 20:31:40 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T - Warrenville Data Center, IL
Lines: 37

I own a Casio calculator watch that I received as a gift about two years
ago.  I am very happy with it, so when the battery started getting weak
the other day, I went to the local shopping mall to get it replaced (the
battery, that is).  (aside:  You can tell that the battery is weak by
the lcd display starting to fade.)  I visited about 5 jewelers.  Most could
not or would not attempt to replace the battery.  JC Penney said that they
could send the watch to an "authorized Casio repair location" and for about
$10 would get it done.  Problem is that they quoted me 3-4 weeks, unless
they are busy.  One jeweler (Page Jewelers, Northbrook Court, Northbrook, IL)
said that they could do it, but I would have to return on Monday, as the
person didn't work weekends.  I returned on Monday and was presented with
a small, yellow piece of paper which read:
-------
	CUSTOMER RELEASE BATTERY REPLACEMENT

     The undersigned customer hereby releases Page Jewelers of any and all
claims arising out of Page Jewelers' replacement of a battery in the
customer's watch described below except for claims under Page Jewelers'
warranty that the replacement battery is in satisfactory condition and will
so test on any standard battery testing apparatus.
     This release, without limitation, specifically releases Page Jewelers
from any responsibility for the performance of the watch or for scratches to
the watch case if the case is difficult to open or close.
-------
Is this becoming common?  What it says is that if Page demolishes my watch,
leaving molten slag in my case, that it's my fault for picking them to work
on it in the first place.  Can they get away with this?  I returned to JCPenney
and am operating for the next month on my emergency backup watch.
P.S.  I got a call from JCP the next day quoting me $41 to "repair" the fading
watch face.  I pointed out that the replacement opf the battery for $10
would fix the problem and was told, "Oh!"  RH.
--
Ron Heiby  ihnp4!wnuxa!heiby or ihnp4!wnuxb!netnews
-- 
Ronald W. Heiby
AT&T Something (used to be Comp Sys Div, but don't ask me now.), Inc.
Lisle, IL  (CU-D21) / ...!ihnp4!wnuxa!heiby or ...!ihnp4!wnuxb!netnews