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I'm a little surprised that Apple haven't simply declared that this kind of damage is as a result of "watch abuse" by "stupid customers that don't know how to use watches properly" before walking away and absolving themselves of any responsibility.
Those stories (if they exist) might come out, now that Apple has announced this repair program.

Apple has a history of denying the existence of a problem until there's a threat of a class action lawsuit, they then set up a program to address the issue but have so many stipulations that it limits who can participate in it.

I think it is too early to pat Apple on the back or to criticize them until we see what actually transpires with people who attempt to participate in this repair program.
 
The adhesive issue is definitely not isolated to the back. I repaired a watch yesterday where the adhesive beneath the force touch sensor gave way. An executives watch face just started dangling. Of course they hit the screen on something then and so I had to replace the adhesive beneath the force touch sensor, the adhesive above the sensor and the screen itself.
I wonder if a watch case would help. I have a caseology and it covers the edges, part of the watch face and part of the back.
 



If you have a first-generation Apple Watch with a separated back cover, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will repair it free of charge, according to an internal service policy obtained by MacRumors.

apple-watch-separated-back-cover-800x388.jpg

Apple Watch with separated back cover via Reddit user PoorSpanaway

Apple recently extended the service policy's coverage period to up to three years after the original purchase date. If you bought an Apple Watch in April 2015, for example, it is eligible for a free repair until April 2018.The service policy has been in effect since last year and applies to any first-generation Apple Watch, including Sport, Edition, and Hermès models, even if the device's limited one-year warranty or extended AppleCare coverage has elapsed.

Affected customers can call an Apple Store and schedule a Genius Bar appointment, or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, to initiate the repair process. Or, customers can call Apple Support to arrange shipment of the damaged Apple Watch to an Apple Repair Center in a postage paid box.

Apple advises customers inquiring about a refund for a previous Apple Watch back cover repair to contact Apple Support.

Several users have shared pictures of their first-generation Apple Watch with the back cover falling off on the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors discussion forums, Twitter, and elsewhere on the web. In many cases, the back cover detaches when the Apple Watch is removed from its magnetic charger.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber, for example, shared a picture of his wife's stainless steel Apple Watch with a detached back cover last October. He said the Apple Watch, purchased in May 2015, was providing erratic workout readings before coming apart after it was taken off of its magnetic charger.
While many customers report that Apple repaired their Apple Watch free of charge, some have been forced to pay out of pocket. Since the service policy has not been publicly announced, some Apple support representatives may be unaware of its existence. Escalating your request to a senior advisor may help.

Apple appears to have fixed the issue with its newer Series 1 and Series 2 models, perhaps by using a stronger adhesive.

Article Link: Apple Extends Free Repairs of First-Generation Apple Watches With Detached Back Covers
[doublepost=1499905364][/doublepost]Happened to my gf's watch recently but Apple support via chat says he saw nothing on his end to support this. Anybody have any thoughts on how to get this done besides risking going into a retail store on the off chance they don't know either?
 
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All language evolves, but the "divergence", such as the removal of vowels from words like aluminium, humour, colour, labour, flavour, the use of a Z where English originally has an S (utilized/utilised etc) and spelling the colour grey as gray are all corruptions of that common language. Those corruptions are so well established that yes they have now become the established format for US English, but English is a British creation and it's therefore not persuasive to argue that the British version is the wrong one.
You seem to think that British English is proper and American English is corrupted. This is not the case. They are different forks of a previous common dialect. You also seem to think that British English is precisely the same now as it was several hundred years ago. Also not the case. All languages grow and change over time. American English split off from British English hundreds of years ago, and yes, both have changed quite a bit since then.

It seems that you're also implying that the people of England (perhaps the queen herself?) created English from nothing. Also incorrect. It's a mishmash of dozens of other languages, bolted together by people who arrived in England throughout many different centuries. That's where it gains its expressiveness, but also the maddening inconsistencies scattered through its rules. And the same accretion process has taken place with American English here in the USA.

I was not and am not arguing "that the British version is the wrong one" in the general sense - in all cases. I am, however, arguing that a company founded in the United States and that grew from a garage to a multi-billion dollar company in the United States, and that continues to be headquartered in the United States, is quite right to use the American version of English for their announcements.
 
[doublepost=1499905364][/doublepost]Happened to my gf's watch recently but Apple support via chat says he saw nothing on his end to support this. Anybody have any thoughts on how to get this done besides risking going into a retail store on the off chance they don't know either?

I called Apple Support and quoted the three year extension from the article. They assigned me a case # and they are sending a box so I can send my watch in for repair. They didn't question it at all. Great customer service.
 
[doublepost=1499905364][/doublepost]Happened to my gf's watch recently but Apple support via chat says he saw nothing on his end to support this. Anybody have any thoughts on how to get this done besides risking going into a retail store on the off chance they don't know either?

Chat with someone on Apple support. And if they say they don’t know then send them this article. It’s a thing so it doesn’t matter if they are unsure. Be assertive towards them
 
Sigh, what about for those of us who have the actual FACE of the watch unattached from the watch? the backcover on mine is still intact.

That's covered, too; it happened to my wife's in May or June. (Disclaimer: In this case, it was because the battery had swollen. If yours is due to physical impact instead, it's probably not covered.)
 
I wonder if Apple replaces the back cover or re-glues the same one. Mine has developed a fair amount of scuffs from normal wear and tear over time, and if it were to come off it'd be nice to know I'd get a new one. Cosmetically I don't care about the scuffs, but I'm worried that they might interfere with the HR monitor. I seem to get a more abnormal readings than I used to.
 
My replacement watch from late June has gone back to Apple again today. Same symptom, back piece fell out, just even more serious. The Genius that handled the case just wowed. Free repair, of course.

Great customer service. Terrible build quality.
 
Hello world,

Im from México and I have purchased 3 Apple Watch, I have a Golden Sport Edition, a Black Stainless Steel for me that I personally use day to day and another Silver Stainless Steel that I purchased for my fiancée, well, the point is, it detached and I won't get it repaired unless I put a ding in my wallet, lame support for me, anyone else got lucky lately? The Apple guy who talked to me via phone said that the program ended like a month ago...

It's just that I'm upset that because the way I work I have apple care in my two Apple Watch, but in the one I purchased for my fiancée I did not bought it because She is nothing like me lol (also helps the fact that she is an office lady), but her watch is the one that wont work anymore!
 

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Hello world,

Im from México and I have purchased 3 Apple Watch, I have a Golden Sport Edition, a Black Stainless Steel for me that I personally use day to day and another Silver Stainless Steel that I purchased for my fiancée, well, the point is, it detached and I won't get it repaired unless I put a ding in my wallet, lame support for me, anyone else got lucky lately? The Apple guy who talked to me via phone said that the program ended like a month ago...

It's just that I'm upset that because the way I work I have apple care in my two Apple Watch, but in the one I purchased for my fiancée I did not bought it because She is nothing like me lol (also helps the fact that she is an office lady), but her watch is the one that wont work anymore!
How did it become detached like that? That’s not normal nor close to how they have come unglued because of faulty glue.
 
How did it become detached like that? That’s not normal nor close to how they have come unglued because of faulty glue.
My fiancée was charging the watch, She told me to grab it, I took it like I do with my other Apple Watch and It detached into two pices! The backplate stayed in the charger and the watch in my right hand... Of course I'm the one to blame that she feels weird for her naked wrist lol
 
My fiancée was charging the watch, She told me to grab it, I took it like I do with my other Apple Watch and It detached into two pices! The backplate stayed in the charger and the watch in my right hand... Of course I'm the one to blame that she feels weird for her naked wrist lol
Yea but how did the back become separated from the body of the watch like that? Why was the wire cut? The wire should still be connected even when the back comes off.
 
Hello,

Just to let you know, I was called by two Senior Advisors and both told me that this information was wrong, I will have to pay a bit over $7,000.00 mxn pesos, which are about $388.88 in US Dollars, and of course when I mentioned this site they told me that the information was not correct "Sir, you are telling me to read a post at Macrumors, it's just a rumor site, I can't verify that Information" well, they told me that my fiancée watch is obsolete, it can't be repaired and a refurbished model will be sent to me If I pay the amount requested by the authorized repair shop. And I only have 90 days of warranty If I choose to pay for the replacement unit, another thing to point out is that I cannot purchase apple care for that replacement unit.

Hope you have better luck than I did!
 
Hello,

Just to let you know, I was called by two Senior Advisors and both told me that this information was wrong, I will have to pay a bit over $7,000.00 mxn pesos, which are about $388.88 in US Dollars, and of course when I mentioned this site they told me that the information was not correct "Sir, you are telling me to read a post at Macrumors, it's just a rumor site, I can't verify that Information" well, they told me that my fiancée watch is obsolete, it can't be repaired and a refurbished model will be sent to me If I pay the amount requested by the authorized repair shop. And I only have 90 days of warranty If I choose to pay for the replacement unit, another thing to point out is that I cannot purchase apple care for that replacement unit.

Hope you have better luck than I did!
Apple will replace it if the back of the watch simply fell off. I shared a picture of what happened to one of ours, and we took it in they sent it off within 5 minutes no questions asked and they replaced it with a new one days later in the mail.

I’m not sure the issue here with your case, but the fact that the wire back there is detached may have something to do with it? I’m not sure, but Apple is replacing 1st gen watches that have this issue.
 
Apple will replace it if the back of the watch simply fell off. I shared a picture of what happened to one of ours, and we took it in they sent it off within 5 minutes no questions asked and they replaced it with a new one days later in the mail.

I’m not sure the issue here with your case, but the fact that the wire back there is detached may have something to do with it? I’m not sure, but Apple is replacing 1st gen watches that have this issue.
Interesting, but my fiancée apple watch was out of warranty since it was a late 2015 purchase. Honestly I don't want to pay since the watch was working great and was taken good care of. The back detaching should be covered since it's a know issue. :/
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I can hear the Swiss saying "I told you so" when it comes to their lifetime quality vs others' disposable watches.
I know, but truth is, it was more convenient than taking the phone out of her purse every now and then, I own two and they seem to be working flawlessly. I haven't gone back to the old fashioned mechanical watch.
 
Interesting, but my fiancée apple watch was out of warranty since it was a late 2015 purchase. Honestly I don't want to pay since the watch was working great and was taken good care of. The back detaching should be covered since it's a know issue. :/
[doublepost=1500670230][/doublepost]
I know, but truth is, it was more convenient than taking the phone out of her purse every now and then, I own two and they seem to be working flawlessly. I haven't gone back to the old fashioned mechanical watch.
Hers was out of warranty as well. Idk why yours isn’t being covered
 
That's covered, too; it happened to my wife's in May or June. (Disclaimer: In this case, it was because the battery had swollen. If yours is due to physical impact instead, it's probably not covered.)

Mine just suddenly popped out one day while I was wearing it. So how does one get this done? Do I automatically schedule an appointment at any local apple store and the geniuses are aware that this is a free repair? I don't want to waste my time driving there if it's not free. I have the 1st generation Apple watch, so do I qualify for this?
 
Mine just suddenly popped out one day while I was wearing it. So how does one get this done? Do I automatically schedule an appointment at any local apple store and the geniuses are aware that this is a free repair? I don't want to waste my time driving there if it's not free. I have the 1st generation Apple watch, so do I qualify for this?

Happened to me couple days ago and setup an appointment today to a local apple store to check it out...
 
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