Radio Shack Talking wristwatch - purchased in July, 2001 - Radio Shack refused to replace battery after it went dead

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on October 5, 2002:

From:

RE: Radio Shack Talking wristwatch - purchased in July, 2001 - Radio Shack refused to replace battery after it went dead

In July of 2001 I purchased a Radio Shack Talking wristwatch. In October of 2002 the battery in the watch went dead. I brought the watch back to Radio shack to have the battery replaced as recommended in the provided instruction book that came with the watch.

The clerk told me that they can no longer replace the battery and suggested that I take it to a Jeweler. I brought the warch to a Jeweler and he replaced the battery however, after replacing the battery the watch would no longer talk. I went back to the store that refused to replace the Battery (the store where I purchased the watch) and explained the problem.

I was told that they could do nothing about it. I feel that if Radio Shack people replaced the battery I may not have had a problem or, if the same problem occured Radio Shack might feel that they would be more obligated to repair or replace the watch.

I feel that under the circumstances that existed Radio Shack should accept the responsibility to repair or replace the watch. Thank You Paul Viverito

Comment On This

I suspect for the battery to go dead so soon,the watch probably was an older model that had been there for a while.The expected adverage time for the battery is about 3 years.I am a home health aide & had my agency buy a talking watch from radio shack for a blind patient that I help& the voice is so faint.A blind person REALLY needs to hear what time it is. Now I am researching it & do not find the model number listed which probably means the same thing...it is an older model that needed to be sold & it is probably also on it's way out. Replacing the battery is difficult & sometimes cost almost as much as the watch(depending on the model).I was hoping they could exchange it for one that had been more recently acquired by them.When they know merchandise has been there a while & has a battery they should know that the battery will not last as long as it should. When replacing the battery one must get the EXACT kind;they have a number on them.Hope the jewler had exact kind.I am embarassed we got the blind lady a Christmas present that she can't even really hear tell the time....worthless.