In store I put the Milanese loop with the space grey sport watch. It looked fantastic.
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Apple to Offer Band Only Exchanges for Apple Watch
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In store I put the Milanese loop with the space grey sport watch. It looked fantastic.
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.
Is this confirmed? I can't see any reason why they shouldn't exchange black for white. As I read it the rules are only to prevent swapping sport for leather bands.
Just got off the phone with Apple support and they confirmed that you CANNOT swap a white/pink/green/blue sport band for a black one. Pretty annoying that they didn't make the silver watch available with the black band to begin with... I know a heap of people (including myself) who are now having to buy the black sport band separately.
FYI, if you bought your watch using PayPal, they won't allow you to exchange bands as they have to charge your PayPal account the price of the new band and then refund your PayPal account when they receive the old band (this is common exchange process for Internet orders).
I was able to initiate a swap (from white 42mm sport to black band) via online chat - I'm in Canada.
Like an earlier poster said, you may need to keep trying and find an Apple CS agent that will do it for you.
I just ran into this issue too. So annoying. It shouldn't matter what payment method you choose. The band exchange program should include everyone who is willing to put up a credit card to swap.
For the record, despite what Apple's Web site says the classic black buckle (up to 215mm) actually fits tighter and feels smaller than the milanese loop (up to 200mm).
Just sent you a pm. But ya I was blown away and kind of chewed them out. I said you realize hundreds of thousands of customers won't be able to exchange their bands? This wouldn't be an issue if you offered in store band exchanges, as no money is exchanged if it is an even swap. Really annoying
Ok, you must've gotten an idiot because that makes no sense. Why would they have you return the ENTIRE watch and band when they can just swap out the band, regardless of color? Returning the watch costs them a ton of money to refurbish it and sell it at a discount. It would make no sense to color restrict the band swap seeing that they are the same price point.
Hooefully
A lot of Apple staff have said a lot of things related to the watch that ultimately turned out inaccurate.
A lot of Apple staff have said a lot of things related to the watch that ultimately turned out inaccurate.
Ineligible if any Apple Gift Cards used.
There is one more very odd and disturbing requirement not mentioned in this article.
- You are ineligible for the Apple Watch Band Exchange Program if you use any Apple Gift Cards for your Apple Watch Purchase. Even if you only use them for partial payment.
I have been on the phone with Apple and they have suggested returning the Watch and placing a new order or buying an additional band for $50 more.
I sent an email asking if this policy could be reviewed as it strikes me as penelizing customers for using Apple Gift Cards which seems counter productive and would encourage people not to buy them.
I was called back and was told they are looking into it and would call me back within 24 hours.
There is one more very odd and disturbing requirement not mentioned in this article.
- You are ineligible for the Apple Watch Band Exchange Program if you use any Apple Gift Cards for your Apple Watch Purchase. Even if you only use them for partial payment. I have been on the phone with Apple and they have suggested returning the Watch and placing a new order or buying an additional band for $50 more.
I sent an email asking if this policy could be reviewed as it strikes me as penelizing customers for using Apple Gift Cards which seems counter productive and would encourage people not to buy them.
I was called back and was told they are looking into it and would call me back within 24 hours.
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Do the watch band exchange orders show in order history online?
I called Apple and the lady knew of the program. She asked what watch I bought and what band I wanted. She said it is a $300 difference. She said in a short while I'll get the emails and I will get an email when new band ships.
So far I got
1. An email for a return label for the old band.
2. An email saying they "got my return request" for CB ($157.94)
I have yet to get an email for the new band I wanted. I also still don't see it in my account. I called about 15 mins ago.
Any ideas?
NEVERMIND: I see the new band order. They attached it to the original watch order.
I called Apple and the lady knew of the program. She asked what watch I bought and what band I wanted. She said it is a $300 difference. She said in a short while I'll get the emails and I will get an email when new band ships.
So far I got
1. An email for a return label for the old band.
2. An email saying they "got my return request" for CB ($157.94)
I have yet to get an email for the new band I wanted. I also still don't see it in my account. I called about 15 mins ago.
Any ideas?
NEVERMIND: I see the new band order. They attached it to the original watch order.
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In all fairness this is a rumor forum containing internal information leaked by Apple Store employees.
In reality for a customer, they can at present buy the watch of their choice online, and in a few weeks it will arrive. If when they get it they don't like the band or the watch, they can return or exchange it.
How is this complicated?
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That's always the answer. If you can't get help, ask for a supervisor. If they can't help, call back and try again.
I just a refund for a Priceline.com non-refundable ticket with a quick online chat.
Just because something is officially not possible, doesn't mean you can't make it happen with the right approach and attitude.
Silver Aluminum Watch Black Sport Band
So I was informed by Apple Employees both at my try on appointment and on phone support prior to making my purchase that if I were to purchase the silver with white band I would be able to swap the band to black later on. Having owned "space gray" apple products in the past and seeing how scratched they got I wanted the silver watch.
I ordered the Sport with white band on release day just received it the other day. The white band is standing out way too much I need the black band.
During an online support chat and was told yes, you can swap the band to black. I was very excited and about 10 min later they said "I have to get a supervisor to finish the process." The customer service person was also unaware of this gray policy. The supervisor wouldn't allow it.
I then called 1-800 Apple's support line and talked to another customer service person who pretty much said that same thing, "sure I can do that for you do you want the all black or the black with steel accents." I was really excited again. Just as he was getting ready to do it for me he said i'm going to need a supervisor to approve it. After about 25min on hold he came back and said "my supervisor said it's not an option for us in the computer." What we can do is charge you for the band and add it to your order. Great solution... lol
Apple is forcefully not allowing this specific band swap and there has been a lot of miscommunication between employees and customers about this.
It's so simple "allow it." It's not about $50.. it's about the fact I would have just selected the Black sport watch from the start. This is some of the worst Apple customer service I've ever received. Not what I usually expect from Apple. The Black band is part of the same series.. doesn't make sense to me. It's even the same price.
So I was informed by Apple Employees both at my try on appointment and on phone support prior to making my purchase that if I were to purchase the silver with white band I would be able to swap the band to black later on. Having owned "space gray" apple products in the past and seeing how scratched they got I wanted the silver watch.
I ordered the Sport with white band on release day just received it the other day. The white band is standing out way too much I need the black band.
During an online support chat and was told yes, you can swap the band to black. I was very excited and about 10 min later they said "I have to get a supervisor to finish the process." The customer service person was also unaware of this gray policy. The supervisor wouldn't allow it.
I then called 1-800 Apple's support line and talked to another customer service person who pretty much said that same thing, "sure I can do that for you do you want the all black or the black with steel accents." I was really excited again. Just as he was getting ready to do it for me he said i'm going to need a supervisor to approve it. After about 25min on hold he came back and said "my supervisor said it's not an option for us in the computer." What we can do is charge you for the band and add it to your order. Great solution... lol
Apple is forcefully not allowing this specific band swap and there has been a lot of miscommunication between employees and customers about this.
It's so simple "allow it." It's not about $50.. it's about the fact I would have just selected the Black sport watch from the start. This is some of the worst Apple customer service I've ever received. Not what I usually expect from Apple. The Black band is part of the same series.. doesn't make sense to me. It's even the same price.
My new band just shipped. So the exchange got the band shipped in just 2 days. Delivery is Monday. I'm not sure how fast it would have been via a normal order. I can not complain.
Band Exchange Limitations
I've confirmed by both telephone and chat that representatives will not exchange a white band for black, instead offering only a return of the watch. That is a very frustrating artificial limitation. I predict they will reverse the decision in a couple months once everyone's 14 day exchange period has ended. Poor customer experience.
I've confirmed by both telephone and chat that representatives will not exchange a white band for black, instead offering only a return of the watch. That is a very frustrating artificial limitation. I predict they will reverse the decision in a couple months once everyone's 14 day exchange period has ended. Poor customer experience.
More than not allowing the exchange I really don't understand that they don't sell Sport with black. Seems like a weird omission. Surely it'd have been a very popular choice. If it's so that people will think "I'll spend only £300 on an apple watch" but then when it comes to it and they see that the colours aren't great they either choose the black Stainless Steel or buy another band and therefore spend more than they planned then that is so cynical and manipulative that it taints it a little.
Swap same band for larger band
I just tried this weekend to swap a small pink band for the large band (at the store) and THEY called Apple support and they were told that it can't be done. I spoke with support while at the store and they said, NO, you have to return the WHOLE watch. The pink band is for sale on their site, yet they made me send the whole watch back just to get the larger pink modern buckle band. Something about wanting to match the band to the watch. It's the SAME band, just the larger wrist size version of it. Even the store employees were in chock that a band swap to s larger size was no possible.
I just tried this weekend to swap a small pink band for the large band (at the store) and THEY called Apple support and they were told that it can't be done. I spoke with support while at the store and they said, NO, you have to return the WHOLE watch. The pink band is for sale on their site, yet they made me send the whole watch back just to get the larger pink modern buckle band. Something about wanting to match the band to the watch. It's the SAME band, just the larger wrist size version of it. Even the store employees were in chock that a band swap to s larger size was no possible.
A policy originally formulated at Burberry no doubt #
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Some people seem blindly to revere Angela Ahrendts as some kind of saint that can do no wrong. What I see is that the complaints I have myself and read about dovetail back to retail management. I have shopped in Burberry and found interesting similarities. All I say is the PanAm logo dominated Park Avenue where I lived only to be replaced by a Beagle. Never get too big for your britches.
I really wish Apple would offer an "expert" mode (enabled through an iCloud profile) where users who know what they're doing can pick a watch with no bands and then buy whatever bands they want. People who are tech-phobic would never see these options, and not need to. The tech savvy crowd can then go in and buy the watches a la carte with whatever combo they want. I'd even like to see a watch piece not even include the charger and charging cable and start at just $249.
Her retail strategy works well for the vast majority of customers. For the vocal minority "geek" customers like me, that strategy can be infuriatingly inefficient. They really should have an expert mode that is intentionally unpublished where we can go in and buy our products exactly the way we want it. The expert mode can be as simple as, step 1: select a watch face, step 2: select the bands you want (even mismatching 38mm bands to a 42mm watch), step 3: pay.