It is funny how quickly you can get known for something. I am a certified watch technician and work on quartz watch repair in our store. While I have the proper mechanical watch repair training, I do not work on mechanical or automatic watches at Nelson’s Jewelry because of technology necessary was not cost-effective for our store. However, I think because of this training and knowledge, customers were quick to dub me the “watch battery guy” and that tag has stuck for the 6 years I have managed this jewelry store in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
At our store most employees are able to change watch batteries. With proper teaching and tools, watch battery replacement is fairly simple. But, because of my background in watch repair it seems almost every customer has to have me change his or her watch battery. While I am always happy to help, for me, it kind of feels like the Cubs having to go to the closer in the 9th inning of a baseball game regardless of the score. There are only a few times where pitching in the last inning will earn you a Save. I understand a manager in a close game, or a customer with an expensive watch, wanting the guy who is best for the job to accomplish the task. However, if the Chicago Cubs went to their current closer, Carlos Marmol, to finish every game they were winning, I doubt he would be very effective by the end of the season. Granted, maybe changing a watch battery is not quite as taxing as say throwing a 100 MPH fastball, but the idea is the same. Allow the proper person to perform a task they feel capable of performing and the entire team will be successful in the long run.
Still, I have to admit, I do love that people ask for me when they need a watch repaired. At Nelson’s Jewelry, we really do change a lot of watch batteries, so being the watch battery expert does have value. It is pretty surprising how many times I have changed a battery in a guy’s Seiko or Bulova only to have the customer then turn around and purchase a Shimmering Diamond pendant just because it was sparkling at them in the case while they waited for that battery. For an $8.00 watch battery, it is really nice to have the customer leave spending $500 plus more on a beautiful diamond pendant.
So if you live in McHenry County and need a watch battery changed, or really a diamond pendant for that matter, stop in at Nelson’s Jewelry and ask to see Justin, aka the “watch battery guy.” I will be happy to help!
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