The Watch Hospital

This is the only watch repair place in the East Bay that I trust. Recently took a watch that was messed up by another repair guy to the Hospital and they fixed it without fuss. Worth going out of your way for if you're in need of watch repair.

The gentleman who changed my battery on my watch was very helpful and informative. Thank you!!!

The best place to take your watch or clock for repair. They are always so helpful and honest and not afraid to tell you if your watch is not worth fixing.
My family and I have been going their for the past 30 years and the watch lady is always so helpful and willing to do simple repairs for free. You will defiantly enjoy your experience at the Watch Hospital.

Got the job done and was open normal hours the day before Thanksgiving, which was appreciated.

Walked in about 20 minutes before closing to have some links on one watch removed and the battery replaced in another. The gentleman who helped me was super fast and very nice.

The sign on the counter says cash, checks, and "ATM" are accepted payment options, which I thought meant "debit card." Turns out that means they want you to use the ATM that's right next to the counter if you need cash. I didn't have enough cash on me and generally don't like using free standing ATMs like that (they tend to be targets for fraud and I've been burned by one before), but didn't have time to run out to another ATM to get out more cash and run back before they closed, so I bit the bullet and used it. But the sign on the counter should just be changed to say "cash and checks accepted."

I was also a bit surprised at the grand total: $35 to replace a battery and take two links out of a watch band. San Leandro Clock Shop (the guy I've always gone to) is more reasonably priced in comparison, for the same work. The San Leandro Clock Shop owner also performs his work in front of you at his work station, not hidden behind a super tall partition the entire time like the man here at the Watch Hospital was, which I thought was odd.

Nice guy, in and out in no more than ten minutes (if that), but strange pricing and unclear signage regarding accepted payments. I'll stick with San Leandro Clock Shop moving forward.

Been here several times for simple repairs, always great service, fast and fairly priced!!
Never mind so many BS grudge reviews, part of a smear campaign!!

We took my blind husband's talking watch in for a new battery for time . The voice was working fine. After he charged us 35.00 to put in new batteries the watch doesn't talk anymore which it worked fine when we took it in. And you can't set time date or day anymore. It is a piece of junk now. I know it wasn't an expensive watch but at least the voice worked. And I could set it for him.

I bought a new victorinox watch off amazon. Unfortunately it came to me broke. I thought it just needed a new battery. The lady working that day took it apart and did some troubleshooting. She said they couldn't fix it, and didn't charge me a cent. She said if they can't fix it they won't charge. I really appreciated that.

Usually if a business makes a mistake, it's taken in good faith. You can feel it. The watch hospital gave me such an uneasy, untrustworthy experience. It didn't sit right. I think they are scammers.

So I came in for a battery change, like many innocent people here thinking how hard can it be? I've worn a watch for over 25 years and never had issues with that. I brought in my Victorinox watch that was still running with the battery low signal of the second hand moving every five seconds. The lady took my watch, then said it must not have been running for a while as it would not start. I said what, it was just running, put the original watch battery back and I can take it elsewhere. She said ok, I couldn't see what she was doing, but claimed my watch wouldn't start again and she could send it in for repairs.

I told her I was uncomfortable with the situation and she said well, I can pay you $5000 but that wouldn't be feasible. I was puzzled and said no, the watch is worth $300, was working when I came in, so either get it to work again and I pay for the battery, or replace the watch for me. I wrote this up and asked her to sign it, she didn't even look, signed the paper and told me my watch was dirty (no visible dirt) and that debris must have fallen in. I'm puzzled she would place blame on me if this is a known problem.

She and the guy at the business diligently called me a few days later telling me my watch was working again and locked in a safe. I came to pick it up, they told me to sign a piece of paper that I was satisfied even before giving me my watch back, then he guy was asking me where I changed the battery last. I told him I visited a reputed jeweler in the financial district. He said that guy must have dropped debris in my watch as they blew it with some air that got it working again.

I'm again puzzled that the lady didn't blow air on it if it was such a simple fix. I think the place is a scam, they have some harmless looking folks who take your good faith that your watch is broken, then they 'fix' it at a hefty price. By then you probably want your watch back and would rather pay the price. The place doesn't add up and I'm ashamed this is part of lovely Alameda.

I came in here desperate to get my favorite watch a new battery... and use it the same day... bam!

Done!

The lady (didn't catch her name) said it'll be done within minutes... I was stoked! She took the watch... changed the battery and in less than 10 minutes I was out and about... cost me $10 + for everything.

I'm thankful that I finally found a watch repair shop since the one in the Towne Center closed down.

This shop stole my husband's watch! My husband bought himself the nicest gift he's ever gotten for himself from this store, a vintage watch that cost $1700. He had been eyeing it for years since we moved to Alameda.
Shortly after he bought it, he realized it was not working properly. He sent it back for repairs....it was returned to him.....then it stopped working again so he had to take it back.
When he called to try to get the watch back this time, he went back and forth with a man who said he couldn't find it.
Today my husband spoke directly to the woman who sold it to him, who also happens to be the same woman who took the watch in for repairs. She claimed that the store could not locate the watch without a claim check.
They did give my husband a claim ticket, but he can't find it.....but who would ever think you would need that as proof in a small local store, where you drop your watch off in good faith.... to the same person who sold it to you? (99 percent of stores you probably don't need to do this, but we now learned to always photograph your claim ticket just in case).
The woman who he dropped his watch of to also logged his watch in to a ledger when he dropped it off for repairs, so he asked her to check the ledger to see that the watch was there, and she now claimed a ledger didn't exist and she does not log stuff in to a ledger. (I have personally seen her log stuff in to the ledger as I was there the first time he dropped off the watch so my jaw was hanging open when he told me this).
I think he was shocked by this, and their conversation ended with her abruptly telling him to "take her to small claims court"
We are both floored by this!!!!! How could a small, local shop that we felt so good about giving our business too be this dishonest?