Ethical dilemma - Should I pay for a broken watch?

option #1: call them back and say "thanks, keep the watch"

option #2: say "I'l come and get it but don't think I should pay since you couldn;t fix it, OK"

If they say OK then go get the watch.

If they say no, not OK, you need to pay, go to Option #1.

Neither is an ethical dilemma

If you're saying the watch works with a new battery but the jeweler can't get the backing back on (after he removed it to replace the battery) that's an easy fix you can do yourself with a piece of wood.

If the watch doesn't work the a new battery, then it's a different story.

I'd collect the watch and would not expect to pay for repairs. If the watch works with a battery and they want to charge you $6 for the battery, that's fine. If it doesn't work at all, tell them to keep it.

I don't think the store will charge you for looking at the third watch, if they couldn't do the work to fix it. When they called to say you could come get your watch, perhaps they were thinking that even if they couldn't fix it, somebody else might be able to.

If you'd rather not confront them in person, call them on the phone and tell them it will be okay if they just discard your watch. Maybe they'll throw it in a drawer and be happy to have it for spare parts.

This whole scenario happened to me a while back. As I stood there, I saw that they couldn't get the case open to change out the batteries, because some other jewelry store had previously jammed it together wrong. They just said, "Sorry, we can't help you," and did not charge for the time they spent trying to work on it. I was sorry to have to throw away a $40 watch, but the problem was not their fault.

They are giving you the option of having your watch to do with as you please. They are not making any decisions regarding the future of the item. It could have sentimental value for all they know. You could be an artist using multi-media and watch parts may be something you can use in a project, something they don't know about.

It is your property and, as professionals, they are respecting you and your property.

It is unlikely they will charge you for a failed repair. If they try, that is when you say, nah, keep it for parts and walk away. Or, just call them back and tell them it has no value and they are welcome to keep it.

You gave them the watch to try and fix because you couldn't. They did try to work on it, therefore, they should be paid.

The watch was worth less than 25 bucks, but you figured it was worth 10 to fix...16 including the battery....should've just bought a new watch to begin with.

You imply that you haven't yet paid the $16. You are not "choosing to let them keep it for parts." You're avoiding paying a bill and trying to justify it with wordplay. You still owe them for the labor cost, since they worked on it. They shouldn't charge you for the battery (the third one) and you shouldn't accept it.

tell them to keep the watch.

go get it and if they try to make you pay for it start smashing things.