Apple to Offer Band Only Exchanges for Apple Watch

[jjk454ss]

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.

I must be confused. I ordered the black classic buckle($150) with the watch. I want a Milanese Loop($150). Apple will let me swap these if I'm not mistaken. So, I already ordered the Milanese Loop, what's th difference if I swap it for the one they already sent me or a different one they send me and I return the first one I bought? Besides they save the shipping and hassle of the return.

Unless the swap is maybe not in retail packaging? Either way I guess it doesn't matter to me if I can swap eventually.

 

[uid15]

Those customers found to be trying it on, will be banned from the store.

 

[charlituna]

Maybe I should have ordered a silver Sport Watch and exchanged the colored band for a black one..

You can't. Silver with a black band is not a SKU you can purchase. So you can't do that swap. All swaps have to make one of the preset SKU.

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That surprises me, and yet confirms that the entirety of Apple Watch is pretty much, build to order.

Not really. This is basically no different than how you can swap the BT keyboard for a wired one in store for your iMac rather than having to custom order online. But you can't trade in the keyboard for credit for an airport

 

[gymnastboatman]

I must be confused. I ordered the black classic buckle($150) with the watch. I want a Milanese Loop($150). Apple will let me swap these if I'm not mistaken. So, I already ordered the Milanese Loop, what's th difference if I swap it for the one they already sent me or a different one they send me and I return the first one I bought? Besides they save the shipping and hassle of the return.

Unless the swap is maybe not in retail packaging? Either way I guess it doesn't matter to me if I can swap eventually.

You wouldn't be able to do that just because of the process Apple has set up to switch bands.

 

[kdarling]

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.

Pretty smart of Apple to do it this way.

Customer has to pay for the replacement first, then send in the old one to get a refund for it.

They know that a lot of people will never get around to mailing in the band for the refund.

 

[random person]

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.

I know, I know. I'm just bitter because when the watch I wanted (pink sport) had the later shipping window I ordered the blue one instead and paid extra for the pink band separately. Annoying now knowing I could have simply exchanged the blue for the pink. If I ever get anything, that is.

 

[forgot-username]

IMO, in person it does look a bit mismatched, but it won't bother some people.

I like it. Lots of watches have shiny stainless steel bodies with brushed bracelets so I don't see the problem.

 

[powerbook911]

How would this work if you want to swap bands and the one you want won't ship for several weeks?? Will Apple let you keep the one you want to return for several weeks until the replacement arrives?

 

[ArmCortexA8]

This "restriction" will not be allowed under Australian Consumer Law - one of the toughest Consumer Law's in the world - and also at least 26 months hardware coverage for all Apple devices, so Applecare is not required - http://www.consumerlaw.gov.au/content/Content.aspx?doc=the_acl.htm

 

[V.K.]

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.

ROFL. As a customer I don't give a damn about that. as a shareholder too. If you worry more about the size of Apple's profits than your own convenience you've got problems.

 

[baller1308]

Seems like they should have done this from the beginning. Sell the timepiece separately. Then choose the band you want. They then could have dropped the starting price to $299.

 

[Brian Y]

This "restriction" will not be allowed under Australian Consumer Law - one of the toughest Consumer Law's in the world - and also at least 26 months hardware coverage for all Apple devices, so Applecare is not required - http://www.consumerlaw.gov.au/content/Content.aspx?doc=the_acl.htm

This restriction is nothing to do with consumer law. It's above most consumer law rules. What Apple are saying is "we know you ordered the wrong one, so we'll let you swap it for a different one" if you want, rather than going through the hassle of going without a watch.

 

[dwin77]

It seems that for the silver aluminum sport watch you can't either get, or swap for, the black sport band.

You can purchase the black sport band separately - but can you replace then (eating the cost)? Does that void the Applecare? Or is the new band not covered under Applecare?

 

[forgot-username]

This restriction is nothing to do with consumer law. It's above most consumer law rules. What Apple are saying is "we know you ordered the wrong one, so we'll let you swap it for a different one" if you want, rather than going through the hassle of going without a watch.

Yeah it's almost like they should have had the preview and appointments available for a week BEFORE opening the pre-orders.

 

[Brian Y]

Yeah it's almost like they should have had the preview and appointments available for a week BEFORE opening the pre-orders.

Agreed. What with that, the 2 week delivery window and lots of people reportedly not getting tin on launch day, it's been a bit of a shambles.

 

[pacalis]

Head spinning. This is the most complicated Apple product launch ever.

Hashtag, wondering what Steve would have done...

His launches were iconic. Then color. So this suggests:

Black, white watch and edition.

Then sport and customizations at wwdc.

 

[Millionaire2K]

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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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.

It's ironic that you tell him "he" didn't read the article. WOW. lol

 

[jmharris3678]

Easy? not so fast...

See -- not so hard, was it?

So you're saying if you bought a silver aluminum watch you can exchange the white band for a black band... because that is not a band originally available as per the description of which bands can be swapped for which.

Perhaps it's more difficult than you imply...

 

[stanhope]

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.

There are more turkeys in this launch than on Thanksgiving Day. Dump Angela Ahrendts!

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Agreed. What with that, the 2 week delivery window and lots of people reportedly not getting tin on launch day, it's been a bit of a shambles.

Bit of a shambles is understatement....it's been a ----- storm of epic proportions LOL and for no real justifiable reason.

 

[Tech198]

I welcome the band swaps as opposed replacement to the entire watch..

however, if its just the color, i could see a disagreement, as a different band may not make any watch look better, if its the wrong color ordered

Apple should also do these replacements for gold edition too... Maybe they think its so expensive anyway, users who buy them should know what band they are after before giving us all that $$$. *grins*

 

[jmharris3678]

Band Replacement? What Band Replacement...

I just got my Apple Watch in the mail and I called Apple Support immediately to swap the band, the guy on the phone has no idea what I'm talking about and suggested I return the whole watch for a replacement if I don't like the band.

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Apple WILL NOT exchange a black band for a white band. The color MUST be original to the watch.

I got the Silver Aluminum sport with the white band (nice, by the way) and I'd rather have the black band. They won't do it unless I exchange the whole watch for the all black one.

So I ordered an extra black band and I'll sell the white ones on eBay to someone who got the black one and wanted white...

 

[denverrand]

Can't exchange white/colors for black

I *HATE* that you can't exchange the white or color bands for a black band. You can only exchange colors/white for colors/white. If you want a black band and the silver aluminum case then you have to buy a black band.

 

[Jstill71]

Very confusing and lots of misinterpretation it seems. Is it 100% clear whether or not you can upgrade the band or not? For example, if I have a SS with BSB, can I get a black classic buckle instead?

 

[doxielover]

I like it. Lots of watches have shiny stainless steel bodies with brushed bracelets so I don't see the problem.

I like it too.

 

[seatton]

Has anyone tried this for real yet? In order to do that, should I try to tell them I want to return my watch first because I do not like the band color?