How Much????

No just normal inflation. Poor old Brexit getting the blame again!

Many things are cheaper to replace than have spare parts fitted. The classic one is the coffee machine - the basic filter kind. Replacing the glass jug is usually dearer than buying a new machine.

As for the watch problem: You can get the batteries cheap in pound shops, but it's a devil of a job to get the watch open yourself without the experience, dexterity and right tools.

Had one fitted in our local jeweller's a fortnight ago £5.40, gone up £1 in 6 months.

Sainsbury English butter went up 45p in a week. £1.60 to £2.05 for 500g!

DH has just said that, JackyB.

I reminded him that the last time I bought a watch battery and asked him to fit it, he dropped it and it went down through a crack in the floorboards.

No, not because of Brexit. I bought a watch battery last year and it was around that price. They did fit it too though. Our local DIY shop used to sell and fit watch batteries but they got rid of their clamp thingy when a new shop opened nearby.

I have a watch which is waterproof and needs to be rescaled whenever the battery is changed. This is quite pricey at about £20. I did however pay for a "lifetime" of battery changes at Timpsons the shoe repair people a few years ago which has paid for itself and more.
I don't know if they still sell these deals but I know they are still honouring mine.

Watch batteries are typically 20 > 50 pence each online inc postage.

So any increase is down to the labour cost being charged, as even a 100 % increase in the cost of the battery does not make much difference.
I bought 12 Panasonic CR2032, which are one of the most expensive for £3.99 (33p each) a couple of weeks ago. CR2032 are used in lots of watches, scales , key fob, ukulele tuners etc, which is why I bought 12 (I don't have 12 watches)

Just bought 10 cheapie 2032 for battery tealights used in panto.....99p! DH is the go to watch person round our way, he does minor watch repairs and battery replacement free as batteries are only pennies when bought in bulk.

I pay under a fiver to have my watch battery replaced. It is done by a small jewellery shop in the local shopping centre. He does an excellent business because his prices are so reasonable.

if you will insist on a Rolex merlotgran .....

DH does ours sometimes (£1.50) otherwise our local jeweller is £4.50

DH gets a pack of watch batteries (quite a few batteries in them) from the pound shop and replaces batteries for all and sundry!

Consider a solar powered watch?

Like Charleygirl I pay under a fiver too

I bought solar powered watches for DH and myself. Changing the batteries in waterproof watches were a real pain. Changing the time wasn't much better, as the seal had to be maintained.

Buy them on ebay and DIY! Costs peanuts.

Not doable if you have a watch which needs the back removed/replaced with a special clamp thingy. (Did manage to remove such a back once. Blowed if I could put the thing back together though!)

Not always easy to change. Some watch backs screw off and you need some sort of tool (snipe nose pliers will do it), with snap off backs, they can be difficult to get back on. So unless you know what you are doing, let a shop do it. Places like Timpson don't charge a lot.

I have an Omega and the warranty is invalidated if anyone other than Omega do it...£75 gone in a heart beat !

My son replaces mine for free. He has a market stall and I think he charges other customers £3. My watch is only a cheap one but he is unable to sort out some very expensive watches which have to go back to the manufacturers. I think that is a disgraceful rip off (*NanaandGrampy*) I wouldn't buy an expensive watch even if I had the money. After all they all only tell the time!

My local jewellery shop replaces them for £1.

Watches ?? How old are we?????????? People have phones now and watches are like relics of a by gone age.

I have neither, can't stand stuff cluttering my life up.

Stall on our twice weekly market does it for £3

I lost my battery operated watch whilst out shopping. Went crying back to the car and phoned hubby. He had bought it for me when we first met. He promptly took me to the jewellers and bought me another - which you wind up - no batteries. Wonderful.

Debenhams has a kiosk for battery replacement. A few years ago I took a watch, which was a freebie from a make-up company, and they charged me £10 my expensive watches go to a jewellers for batteries and I tell them not to worry about waterproofing, who in their right mind would go swimming with a gold watch on their wrist ?