Apple Store Swapped My Alpine Band

[pst23]

Just figured I’d share this story incase someone is in the same boat as me. I ordered my aw ultra with a small alpine band from AT&T when it arrived the band was too small.

I drove to the apple store today and asked about swapping the band out and the first apple employee said I would have to buy a larger band or reach out to AT&T. As you can imagine I wasn’t too thrilled but I understood.

I told the guy- after trying on a medium band that I was going to pass because I didn’t love how the clasp hits the edge of the watch when removing the watch from the wrist - which made me less thrilled about spending 100 bucks to just get the same type of band my watch came with in a bigger size.

I walked around the store and saw the lanyard for the AirPods Pro case which I forgot I wanted.

A different guy was ringing up my purchase for the lanyard and asked how I liked the ultra and I was telling him about the alpine band and how it was too small and I came in for a swap but since I purchased through AT&T I’d have to buy the larger band.

He then tells me hold on goes to the back for about 5 mins and he told me he would be able to process my band swap free of charge.

 

[highdefjunkie]

That's great to know! Congrats

 

[parseckadet]

Really wish Apple would be more flexible about this. I think they should stop bundling watches and bands together entirely. Just sell the watch with a non-optional $50-$100 credit for a band of your choice. Make it expire after some amount of time if they must. Hell, the bean counters would probably love it because a non-zero number of people would never use it, meaning even more money for Apple.

 

[Bacasable]

You are lucky because I trying to swap my band and Apple Store told me twice that I have to change all the package with the Watch.

So I wait there is more stock to do it.

 

[pst23]

You are lucky because I trying to swap my band and Apple Store told me twice that I have to change all the package with the Watch.

So I wait there is more stock to do it.

I know I got lucky. But I wanted to share so people could at least try if they find themselves in my situation

 

[Shadowbech]

I just wish Apple would just sell the watch only and band separate.

 

[andrewj]

Similar situation here. I also ordered the Ultra with the Ocean band since it would arrive on release day. I'd prefer the Trail Loop band but of course it doesn't arrive until weeks later. I'd like to swap the Ocean band (which is an unopened box for the band) for the Trail Loop band, but no store has it in stock, and then my concern is that it would be outside of the two week mark.

 

[mikedis]

Pretty sure this has been their new policy ever since the whole solo loop fiasco. Soooo many people were ordering solo loops in the wrong size, they had to change their policy to be able to process band swaps separately to avoid a ton of watch returns.

Now Apple's even selling sport bands as either S/M or M/L when they used to sell them together. I can't imagine this saves them as much money as the headache of returns is worth.

 

[parseckadet]

Pretty sure this has been their new policy ever since the whole solo loop fiasco. Soooo many people were ordering solo loops in the wrong size, they had to change their policy to be able to process band swaps separately to avoid a ton of watch returns.

Now Apple's even selling sport bands as either S/M or M/L when they used to sell them together. I can't imagine this saves them as much money as the headache of returns is worth.

I’ve heard many places that the ability to swap based on size is specifically not allowed for the Ultra.

 

[Mr.C]

I think it was just luck too. I went to the Apple shop on Friday for the exact same reason to swap out the small Alpine Loop for a medium. I was told while it was possible with the series 8 it isn’t with the Ultra. I would have to swap out the whole watch package. As it happened they had the watch with a Trail Loop all be it with the blue/grey one ( I would have preferred the black/grey one ) so just swapped the whole watch package for that one. I much prefer the Trail Loop. I have the black/grey Trail Loop on preorder.

 

[pst23]

I think it was just luck too. I went to the Apple shop on Friday for the exact same reason to swap out the small Alpine Loop for a medium. I was told while it was possible with the series 8 it isn’t with the Ultra. I would have to swap out the whole watch package. As it happened they had the watch with a Trail Loop all be it with the blue/grey one ( I would have preferred the black/grey one ) so just swapped the whole watch package for that one. I much prefer the Trail Loop. I have the black/grey Trail Loop on preorder.

I got my watch from AT&T so swapping the watch out was not an option at the Apple Store.

 

[Boardiesboi]

There’s no consistent policy about this and it all depends on what staff you get on the day you walk into the store.

I walked into one at Sydney Australia last weekend and the staff told me they can’t just exchange the size S alpine loop for a size M because the watch and band needs to be sold as a combo.

I just returned the whole combo and walked out without an ultra.

I finally managed to find a watch with a size M alpine loop today after checking the Apple Store everyday.

 

[shaown]

good service even if inconsistent

 

[Mr.C]

It was a bit of a faff having to return my watch and exchange it for another one especially adding my cellular plan but at the end of the day I ended up with the blue/grey Trail Loop which I prefer to the Alpine band. The Trail Loops feel like better quality then the Alpine and Ocean bands. I do have bands from my previous watches that would work but they have either plastic or stainless steel lugs which don’t look as good.