Apple to Offer Band Only Exchanges for Apple Watch

[jmgregory1]

I've said this before, but I'll repeat it again. Apple has the chance to make watch buying different and allow customers to choose cases and bands separately would seem like the smart thing to do (as well as being better for managing sku's for Apple).

The fact that they made the attachment point so much better and easier to work, compared to the typical double sprung pins used by most watches, that swapping bands is just a matter of pushing a couple of buttons and sliding out the old band for a new band. Or when buying a case and band combo (if they move to doing that), the consumer or store employee can quickly slide the bands into place.

I can't tell you how many double ended spring pins I've lost or damaged swapping bands on old watches. There is a reason why watch makers effectively punt when it comes to changing bands, hoping the consumer either returns the watch to a jewelry / watch store or buys an entirely new watch when they really might just need a new band.

 

[HopefulHumanist]

This is great news. Now, I can have the white sport band that is coming with my watch swapped for the link band I ordered separately! It's important because AppleCare only covers the band that is listed with your watch.

At least, this is how I'm understanding all the official reports I've seen.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Seems fairly obvious. They don't want a bazillion used watches because the customer didn't like the band.

 

[gazmac]

I'm with you. I ordered a silver sport with white band, but what I really wanted was a silver sport with black band (just plain silly this isn't an option). But I think based on the wording of the what they are saying here, they won't exchange a white band for a black one, because the silver doesn't come that way. Again...not offering the black band makes no sense.

Same problem here. Why the hell weren't we able to have a black band with the silver aluminium model? And this swapping thing seems like it's not going to solve the problem. This is so lame Apple, which is why I'm going third-party with a Click adapter.

 

[gymnastboatman]

This is great news. Now, I can have the white sport band that is coming with my watch swapped for the link band I ordered separately! It's important because AppleCare only covers the band that is listed with your watch.

At least, this is how I'm understanding all the official reports I've seen.

You didn't read the article. You can swap ONLY the band you got with the watch, for a band of the same monetary tier.
Sport for Sport
Mil Loop for Leather loop
Link for Link
You can return bands in their boxes for a refund, but you CANNOT get a refund on the band in your watch box.

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Same problem here. Why the hell weren't we able to have a black band with the silver aluminium model? And this swapping thing seems like it's not going to solve the problem. This is so lame Apple, which is why I'm going third-party with a Click adapter.

SAAAAAME. I got 2 bands (1 sport leather, 1 metal band) and 2 Aluminum Clicks for $35. Yay 3rd parties.

I still want my black band though.

 

[V.K.]

This product launch is getting more Byzantine by the minute. Who can keep track of these rules? Launch date ranges? etc. Absurd. The whole thing is giving me a headache.

+1. this is getting less user friendly by the minute and just accentuates the fact that they should have completely decoupled buying a watch from buying a band. these should be completely separate transactions and you should be able to order any band you want regardless of what watch you have.
or, if you want, you should be able to buy just a watch and get a third party band or buy an Apple band later.
of course that might lose some money for Apple but would be easier for the customers.

 

[aduzik]

I bought a SS Watch with the white sport band, but I'd rather have blue or green. Since only white and black are offered with the SS watch, would I not be able to exchange my because the other bands are from the Sport collection? This is confusing!

 

[jjk454ss]

Nope. But you probably could return the Milanese loop in the box, for a refund, and then swap the Classic buckle for Milanese because I believe they are both $150 tier bands.

Why does it matter the price tier? Maybe I missed it, but I thought you just call and order the one you want, then send back the other one.

 

[gazmac]

+1. this is getting less user friendly by the minute and just accentuates the fact that they should have have completely decoupled buying a watch from buying a band. these should be completely separate transactions and you should be able to order any band you want regardless of what watch you have.
or, if you want, you should be able to buy just a watch and get a third party band or buy an Apple band later.
of course that might lose some money for Apple but would be easier for the customers.

Amen to that.

 

[hmbtnguy]

I am also in the camp of people who would like to swap their white sport band for a black one.

Hopefully Apple will allow this as they are technically in the same price range.

 

[mattopotamus]

hmm, I wanted the stainless steel, and this might push me to it with a $150 credit from the classic buckle.

 

[doelcm82]

This product launch is getting more Byzantine by the minute. Who can keep track of these rules? Launch date ranges? etc. Absurd. The whole thing is giving me a headache.

You don't have to memorize all the rules if you don't want to.

Let's say you buy an Apple Watch with a band that you are happy with. Do you take it to the store and try to exchange it? No. You live your life, and this rule doesn't affect you.


Let's say you buy an Apple Watch and you realize the band you ordered clashes with your eyes. Do you need to know the rules? No. If you take it in within the return window, a helpful Apple employee will walk you through exchanging your band for a more pleasing color from the same collection.

 

[Jetfire]

Did you remove links from the link bracelet to size it properly?

Each link has a release button.

No but I can. I was afraid it would be too tight. Being loose is a good thing since I can make it tighter.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

That's not what I meant. I am in agreement with you. What I meant is that Apple could have stacked the watch inventory seperately from the band inventory. They could still enforce the specific combinations but intsead of assembling them together before shipping could have simply shipped two boxes. This would have been faster or in store let the sales clerk put them together. Waiting to recieve the order to then put the band on the watch, package it up and finally ship it just isnt working.

Of course it would have been faster. Tim Cook as a supposed supply chain guru should never have allowed this to happen. It was probably Angela bsing how a watch and a band have to be prepackaged to increase the prestige of some versions. Any one of my operations management students knows that you want to delay customization as late as possible in the supply chain. In this case, let the customers get a watch and then whatever band is available. If they don't like the colour they will buy another band in a few weeks when they are available. You just increased your sale of bands and decreased the logistics of bringing this product to market.

 

[dampfnudel]

I don't recommend a band swap.

Your box says the band that came with the watch originally. For value and keepsake value, you want to have both the original watch and band as stated on the box.

Maybe Apple can provide a new sticker that matches the new combination?

 

[HopefulHumanist]

You didn't read the article. You can swap ONLY the band you got with the watch, for a band of the same monetary tier.
Sport for Sport
Mil Loop for Leather loop
Link for Link
You can return bands in their boxes for a refund, but you CANNOT get a refund on the band in your watch box.

The article doesn't say what you're saying at all.

The new band must be within the same collection as the watch and must be an available band option for that watch face.

Collection as in Sport for Sport and Watch [buckle, loop, link, etc.] for Watch. Collection ≠ same band.

Also:

Customer support representatives will create a new band order, ship it out to the customer, and provide instructions on how to mail in an old band for a refund.

What else would this possibly mean if you had to do an even exchange?

Maybe you didn't read the article?

The funniest part is that I was gonna keep both bands anyway, just have the link be under AppleCare rather than the sport band. Even if you were right, it wouldn't affect that.

 

[Bigsk8r]

Sounds like a decent policy. Hopefully, the actual application won't be too confusing "in the moment".

 

[bounou]

+1. this is getting less user friendly by the minute and just accentuates the fact that they should have completely decoupled buying a watch from buying a band. these should be completely separate transactions and you should be able to order any band you want regardless of what watch you have.
or, if you want, you should be able to buy just a watch and get a third party band or buy an Apple band later.
of course that might lose some money for Apple but would be easier for the customers.

And right now this forum would be filled with 1000's of people bitching because their watches shipped without a band.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

 

[V.K.]

And right now this forum would be filled with 1000's of people bitching because their watches shipped without a band.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

this is easy to deal with. if you buy a watch and a band at the same time you can ask your whole order to be shipped at the same time. online sellers do that routinely. and even if you order them separately most likely the bands would ship first. I suspect that whatever production issues Apple is having are with the watches and not with the bands.
in any case, this would still be a lot more preferable than the current system.

 

[gymnastboatman]

Why does it matter the price tier? Maybe I missed it, but I thought you just call and order the one you want, then send back the other one.

No. You can't. You CANNOT return the band in the watch box for a refund. You may only return a band with its own, unopened (maybe opened) box. The band in the box can ONLY be traded for the same monetary tier. It's a swap. Not an upgrade.

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this is easy to deal with. if you buy a watch and a band at the same time you can ask your whole order to be shipped at the same time. online sellers do that routinely. and even if you order them separately most likely the bands would ship first. I suspect that whatever production issues Apple is having are with the watches and not with the bands.
in any case, this would still be a lot more preferable than the current system.

Yeah that's why 1% of SS with BSB aren't even preparing yet but AWS with WSB in May and June are preparing. Yeah okay.
They're running short on some of the bands for sure.

 

[rishiomedia]

Apple sends out used bands

This makes me think Apple is collecting bands people want to swap and becoming the gate keeper for swapping. So instead of sending you a new band, they swap it with someone else's used band.

 

[broadbean]

Yeah technically you can wear the milanese loop with silver sport watch but Apple would never actively encourage it. To be honest I cringe when I see sport watch with stainless steel band combinations. I don't think it looks nice at all; it looks just mishmashed.

Have you actually tried it? I did at an Apple Store and it doesn't look bad. While the Watch (Stainless Steel) is much nicer, it's also heavier. The Milanese Loop is light, breathable and would look less "casual". Feel free to cringe, but mishmashed? Did you notice the Link Bracelet is more brushed/matte than the shiny Stainless Steel Watch Case?

 

[Keirasplace]

+1. this is getting less user friendly by the minute and just accentuates the fact that they should have completely decoupled buying a watch from buying a band. these should be completely separate transactions and you should be able to order any band you want regardless of what watch you have.
or, if you want, you should be able to buy just a watch and get a third party band or buy an Apple band later.
of course that might lose some money for Apple but would be easier for the customers.

No they shouldn't, or Apple could wind up losing billions on the band sales from copycats, simple as that. Unless they force you to buy a separately shipped band with your watch at sales time. Then, you'd wind up with the same issue.

 

[broadbean]

Just typical

- not enough options, too restrictive, people complain.
- too many options, allowing swaps and change of mind, people complain.

 

[Euge]

Everything online. For the better customer experience Yeah right. I prefer to walk into one of their stores and swap it there, with ANY band I would like. Apple is always ********ting about freedom and diversity, well, then let me decide which combination of band and watch I want, without the delay of an online process. Thank you.

Holy cow did I just read that? What does freedom and diversity have to do with all your I I I I I's. That's just entitlement.

Every one of your I's is dependent on Apple's products and retail policy. You don't like it, suck it up, or send them feedback. The world doesn't revolve around you.