To think that a waterproof watch should be waterproof even if the water is warm?

[AlicesWonderland]

bought a watch off ebay to wear on my hols, it came the morning of the holiday with no instructions

It was supposed to be waterproof up to 32 feet according to the listing

wore it in the shower the morning before we went and all it stopped working as there was water in it (it's digital so the screen went blakc and you could see the water inside it)

contacted the seller before we set off on holiday and two weeks later got my reply when I got home saying that I shouldn;t have worn it in the shower as it was only meant to be worn in cool water

My shower was not roasting hot it was not boiling water...I have had other watches that were waterproof whatever the temp...

The seller is saying that ebay will back him in this and not me, even though it did not mention anything about water temperature in the listing and there were no instructions advising this....or am I completely wrong

[PrettyCandles]

Know nothing about eBay, but I have never heard any such thing about 'waterproof' watches - and I only ever wear waterproof watches. Sounds like complete nonsense to me.

[MrsHarkness]

Think he is talking rubbish, if a watch is waterproof then its waterproof no matter what the temp, and if it wont work after a few minutes in the shower what chance would it have at 30 feet under

[shell96]

yep sounds like they are trying to fob you off. A waterproof is waterproof regardless of temperature. If you paid through paypal put in a claim through them. Otherwise try through ebay. Dont let the seller bully you - keep at them until you get a refund.

Good luck!

[AlicesWonderland]

I paid through paypal, but am using ebay's customer support process at the moment but if I get no joy then I'll use paypal's

He has put that I can have a replacement...eerrmmmm no thanks

[Lonicera]

was it waterproof or water resistant?

some useful info about resistance, heat and pressure here

[Lonicera]

more info
Watertight
A water resistant watch is not waterproof. the indications 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 atm shows what can be done.

Overview of water resistant indications
Indication

Pressure

Declaration

Application

30 meters

03 atmosphere

splashing water

hand washing or rain

100 meters

10 atmosphere

swimming

swimming in pool or at sea

200 meters

20 atmosphere

diving

snorkelling and scuba diving to limited depths

1000 meters

100 atmosphere

professional waterproof

diving with compressed air

3 atm. / 30 meters (also known as water resistant water-protected / watersealed):
these watches are resistant to rain and splashing water.

5 atm. / 50 meters (also known as proof shower / waterproof):
these watches are appropriate for showering or swimming, be aware off large temperature differences.
However, they are unfit for snorkelling or diving with compressed air.

10 atm. / 100 meters (also known as waterproof):
these watches are suitable for most forms of water sports such as swimming, sailing and snorkelling in shallow water. However, they are unfit for jumping or diving with air. Be aware off large temperature differences.

20 atm. / 200 meters or more (also known as waterproof 20 atm. / Diving proof):
This watch is suitable for all types of water sports and diving.

Temperature Differences
Temperature differences are an insidious factor that causes many leaks by supposedly waterproof watches. A "watertight" case that is suitable for daily showers. Example: Case can completely flooding with water when you go on holiday to swim. When you shower with the watch, the temperature of the water is +/- equal to that of the watchcase. When this watch, however warmed up in a nice tropical sun, the temperature in the case heat up to 50 ° C or even warmer. If the watch suddenly is in contact with water with a temperature of 20 ° C, the watchcase gets a huge blow by the relatively high temperature. A case that is not specifically constructed for such circumstances, will leak and will run full off water.

from here

[Lonicera]

that lost some formatting in c+p but full info from the link at the bottom

[AlicesWonderland]

Thanks it said in his reply that it was suitable up to 5 metres under so would that be shower resistant?
I do feel that it should have said not to use in warm water in the listing still though

[nagoo]

You should be able to get a refund.

I had a fossil watch. I read the misread the back as Water Resistant Sometimes' rather than '50 metres'.

Turns out I was right bloody leaking piece of crap.

[PrettyCandles]

The way watches are labeled for waterproofness is very confusing. A watch labeled '5 metres' is, in fact, not waterpoof to a depth of 5m - it is merely splashproof. But it's no good him telling you this after the event!