Kay Jewelers Watch Repair ripoff Scam Baltimore Maryland

This is actually an "Attempted Rip-Off". My mother-in-law purchased a Lifetime battery replacement from Kay Jewelers (at Security Mall in Baltimore,MD) so when her watch stopped working, she took it back there for a new battery. She was told that they had to order the battery and she could leave the watch there until the battery came in; they'd call her when its done.

After a week or so I called and was told that they had to send the watch to the jeweler because they couldn't get the back off to replace the battery. Later, they called and said the battery is not the problem; the watch needs to be repaired ... cost $65.00. She decided not to have it repaired and purchased a new watch (elsewhere).

When the watch came back, I asked the salesperson in the store to open the back and test the battery while I was there. He said they didn't have a tool to open it; that's why they sent it to the jeweler. So when I got home,I decided to try to open the back and take a look. Well there was no battery in the watch!! I left the back off ...went back to the store and demanded a new battery. That was June 27, 2001. The watch worked and has continued to work as well as ever.

They also covered their tracks very well. Becsuase there's no charge for the jeweler to look at the watch, there's no receipt nor any documentation indicating they told you the watch needed repair... only a claim ticket that gets returned to them when you pick up the watch. Did they actually send the watch to the jeweler? Was the rip-off attempted by the jeweler? ... or by the store? Does it really matter?

In all fairness though, my wife also has a Lifetime battery policy from them and previously had her battery replaced with no problem while she waited.