We took a watch into the Timpson outlet at Tesco, North Shields on Thursday 27th June, to have a new battery fitted. My husband has a lifetime battery contract for this as we have for most of our watches. When we finished our shop, my husband went to pick it up; to be told - 'it was knackered' - so the assistant had not bothered putting in a new battery, and also informed my husband that he would not be able to get parts for it as it was too old. Although not a terribly expensive watch, it is an Accurist and over ten years old. However, it was a present from his late parents, so of course he was rather upset at this pronouncement. As we were due to go to Newcastle next day I suggested we get a second opinion at another branch of Timpson there. We went to Fenwicks branch in Eldon square; and the chap there fitted a new battery without any problem and it has worked perfectly ever since. Consequently we are extremely dismayed with the cavalier service received from the chap at the Tesco branch; and if this poor service is meted out to other customers, we wonder how many customers have thrown away perfectly serviceable watches on the say-so of such an incompetent employee