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Broken watch trouble

G

gvan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 22, 2015
23
0
My watch broke. It’s my fault and I’m happy to pay full retail price to purchase a replacement. However, Apple REFUSES to sell me a replacement watch (aka a watch with no band). Numerous Apple employees have told me that the retail price for a 42mm Stainless Steel watch is $550 but they will not let me order one. They are insisting that I have to purchase a second expensive new band first. That’s ridiculous. I do not wish to purchase a new band. I’m very happy with the nice leather band I already have. Their sales people are hell bent on upselling me a new band before they will allow me to purchase a replacement watch. I wonder if they work on commission. They are pushier than the average used car sales man.

I want to be really clear. I’m not asking Apple for any special treatment. All I’m asking for is to purchase a replacement part. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but apparently Apple does. Please feel free to add you broken watch experience to this thread.
 
gvan said:
My watch broke. It’s my fault and I’m happy to pay full retail price to purchase a replacement. However, Apple REFUSES to sell me a replacement watch (aka a watch with no band). Numerous Apple employees have told me that the retail price for a 42mm Stainless Steel watch is $550 but they will not let me order one. They are insisting that I have to purchase a second expensive new band first. That’s ridiculous. I do not wish to purchase a new band. I’m very happy with the nice leather band I already have. Their sales people are hell bent on upselling me a new band before they will allow me to purchase a replacement watch. I wonder if they work on commission. They are pushier than the average used car sales man.

I want to be really clear. I’m not asking Apple for any special treatment. All I’m asking for is to purchase a replacement part. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but apparently Apple does. Please feel free to add you broken watch experience to this thread.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that, dude. Totally agree with what you're saying about selling the body independently and suspect we will see that later in the model cycle and more definitely with the future generations. The sales people are just going on the instructions received. If you do order another one, I suspect you would be able to sell the extra band and recoup some of your additional expense.

I have only had mine for 48 hrs. A bit protective of it still but had two firm inadvertent strikes against a doorjam but no injury fortunately. If you don't mind saying, what happened to yours to toast it?
 
gvan said:
My watch broke. It’s my fault and I’m happy to pay full retail price to purchase a replacement. However, Apple REFUSES to sell me a replacement watch (aka a watch with no band). Numerous Apple employees have told me that the retail price for a 42mm Stainless Steel watch is $550 but they will not let me order one. They are insisting that I have to purchase a second expensive new band first. That’s ridiculous. I do not wish to purchase a new band. I’m very happy with the nice leather band I already have. Their sales people are hell bent on upselling me a new band before they will allow me to purchase a replacement watch. I wonder if they work on commission. They are pushier than the average used car sales man.

I want to be really clear. I’m not asking Apple for any special treatment. All I’m asking for is to purchase a replacement part. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but apparently Apple does. Please feel free to add you broken watch experience to this thread.
Click to expand...

Don't take this wrong, but have you heard of the Genius Bar?
 
gvan said:
My watch broke. It’s my fault and I’m happy to pay full retail price to purchase a replacement. However, Apple REFUSES to sell me a replacement watch (aka a watch with no band). Numerous Apple employees have told me that the retail price for a 42mm Stainless Steel watch is $550 but they will not let me order one. They are insisting that I have to purchase a second expensive new band first. That’s ridiculous. I do not wish to purchase a new band. I’m very happy with the nice leather band I already have. Their sales people are hell bent on upselling me a new band before they will allow me to purchase a replacement watch. I wonder if they work on commission. They are pushier than the average used car sales man.

I want to be really clear. I’m not asking Apple for any special treatment. All I’m asking for is to purchase a replacement part. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but apparently Apple does. Please feel free to add you broken watch experience to this thread.
Click to expand...

Contact applecare for repair service
 
gvan said:
My watch broke. It’s my fault and I’m happy to pay full retail price to purchase a replacement. However, Apple REFUSES to sell me a replacement watch (aka a watch with no band). Numerous Apple employees have told me that the retail price for a 42mm Stainless Steel watch is $550 but they will not let me order one. They are insisting that I have to purchase a second expensive new band first. That’s ridiculous. I do not wish to purchase a new band. I’m very happy with the nice leather band I already have. Their sales people are hell bent on upselling me a new band before they will allow me to purchase a replacement watch. I wonder if they work on commission. They are pushier than the average used car sales man.

I want to be really clear. I’m not asking Apple for any special treatment. All I’m asking for is to purchase a replacement part. I don’t think that’s unreasonable but apparently Apple does. Please feel free to add you broken watch experience to this thread.
Click to expand...

$329: https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/10/apple-watch-out-of-warranty-express-replacement/
 
It has a cracked screen. Banged it on a door. I have done some research since and it sounds like this Saphine is very strong but brittle. I have always been confused as to why they do not use Lexan. That's the stuff Nascar windshields are made of.

From looking at the watch it's obvious that it impacted right on the corner witch must be a weak spot. I'm sure that 99 out of 100 times the watch survives this impact at any other angle. For the record I have owned many nice watches over the years and I have never cracked the glass.

I have been to the Genius bar twice and talked to Apple Care on the phone multiple times. They are useless in this situation because they don't sell watches. Only the on-line sales department is selling watches and related products. This is a pure sales issue after all.

Every time I talk to someone new at Apple they have the exact same reaction which is "Oho we never considered that someone might need to purchase just the watch". Maybe they will get a clue if they get enough feed back.

As it sits right now I'm probably stuck buying a new band... If that's the case I might also downgrade to a Sport model as it looks like that glass might be a lot less brittle (but more prone to scratching).
 
gvan said:
It has a cracked screen. Banged it on a door. I have done some research since and it sounds like this Saphine is very strong but brittle. I have always been confused as to why they do not use Lexan. That's the stuff Nascar windshields are made of.

From looking at the watch it's obvious that it impacted right on the corner witch must be a weak spot. I'm sure that 99 out of 100 times the watch survives this impact at any other angle. For the record I have owned many nice watches over the years and I have never cracked the glass.

I have been to the Genius bar twice and talked to Apple Care on the phone multiple times. They are useless in this situation because they don't sell watches. Only the on-line sales department is selling watches and related products. This is a pure sales issue after all.

Every time I talk to someone new at Apple they have the exact same reaction which is "Oho we never considered that someone might need to purchase just the watch". Maybe they will get a clue if they get enough feed back.

As it sits right now I'm probably stuck buying a new band... If that's the case I might also downgrade to a Sport model as it looks like that glass might be a lot less brittle (but more prone to scratching).
Click to expand...

Do you have AppleCare+?
 
gvan said:
It has a cracked screen. Banged it on a door. I have done some research since and it sounds like this Saphine is very strong but brittle.

From looking at the watch it's obvious that it impacted right on the corner witch must be a weak spot. I'm sure that 99 out of 100 times the watch survives this impact at any other angle. For the record I have owned many nice watches over the years and I have never cracked the glass.

As it sits right now I'm probably stuck buying a new band... If that's the case I might also downgrade to a Sport model as it looks like that glass might be a lot less brittle (but more prone to scratching).
Click to expand...

Not sure how much better the sport will fare if you see some of the other threads out there. A sport owner says the watch lightly hit a wall and he had corner damage also. Can you post some pics?

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1877225/
 
Apple Care has repeatedly quoted me the same price for a used repaired watch. That is $550 + CA Sales Tax + $79 + $29. Obviously, this is a horrible deal as it even more expensive than purchasing a brand new watch with rubber band. That $329 number is totally false, I have asked repeatedly about that.

However, this deal is only available if you have a credit card! I have a debit card. Note that credit cards are a scam that I choose not to be victimized by. So those Apple Care deals are not available to me.

----------

I have seen the cracked Sport Watch pictures too. It would be nice if someone independent like Consumer Reports did a complete analysis of both watch face types. I would be especially interested in how these compare to Lexan.
 
Night Spring said:
This. Make a Genius Bar appointment. Do not talk to sales associates.
Click to expand...

suntannedmonk said:
Contact applecare for repair service
Click to expand...

Azzin said:
$329: https://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/10/apple-watch-out-of-warranty-express-replacement/
Click to expand...

J.gerbes said:
Beat me to it :)
Click to expand...

FrancoisC said:
Ask for an out of warranty replacement.
Click to expand...

4h2D2fW.jpg


This is what you want. They will replace just the watch and you don't have to buy another band.
 
Just pick up one of the SS models with the sport band, and then sell the sport band. Lots of us are waiting for sport bands to ship - I'm sure you can find someone here to take a white or black one off your hands.
 
gvan said:
However, this deal is only available if you have a credit card! I have a debit card. Note that credit cards are a scam that I choose not to be victimized by. So those Apple Care deals are not available to me.
Click to expand...

Where did that come from?
 
gvan said:
It has a cracked screen. Banged it on a door. I have done some research since and it sounds like this Saphine is very strong but brittle. I have always been confused as to why they do not use Lexan. That's the stuff Nascar windshields are made of.

From looking at the watch it's obvious that it impacted right on the corner witch must be a weak spot. I'm sure that 99 out of 100 times the watch survives this impact at any other angle. For the record I have owned many nice watches over the years and I have never cracked the glass.

I have been to the Genius bar twice and talked to Apple Care on the phone multiple times. They are useless in this situation because they don't sell watches. Only the on-line sales department is selling watches and related products. This is a pure sales issue after all.

Every time I talk to someone new at Apple they have the exact same reaction which is "Oho we never considered that someone might need to purchase just the watch". Maybe they will get a clue if they get enough feed back.

As it sits right now I'm probably stuck buying a new band... If that's the case I might also downgrade to a Sport model as it looks like that glass might be a lot less brittle (but more prone to scratching).
Click to expand...


Why are you asking to buy a replacement watch case instead of asking to get that one fixed (replaced)? I think that's the problem. I can't see someone going to a Volvo dealership and asking to buy a car without tires...
 
Did you make your watch purchase with a credit card? If so, there's a good chance that it has accidental damage coverage for a while (my card does 120 days). I know my credit card offers that. You should look into it before shelling out any money. Edit: never mind, it seems you definitely did not use a credit card for the purchase. What a shame.
 
Broken watch trouble

Apple will only let you add Apple care to a product of you can prove you purchased it from them. The same will apply at the Genius Bar... They will only help you buy a new one if you don't have proof of purchase.

CC coverage would be painless in this scenario, but it sounds like that's not an option.
 
jmann said:
Did you make your watch purchase with a credit card? If so, there's a good chance that it has accidental damage coverage for a while (my card does 120 days). I know my credit card offers that. You should look into it before shelling out any money. Edit: never mind, it seems you definitely did not use a credit card for the purchase. What a shame.
Click to expand...

thebuzz said:
Second the CC coverage. Claims are pretty painless for smaller purchases.
Click to expand...

OP said they used a debit card.

From an earlier post: "I have a debit card. Note that credit cards are a scam that I choose not to be victimized by."
 
I have no interest in keeping a broken watch as someone above was asking... I have been working on this issue from 2 different angles at the same time.

Plan A was to get the watch repaired by Apple Care. I’m running into multiple problems in attempting to execute this plan. The biggest problem here is that all the Apple Care systems are set up with the assumption that the customer has a credit card. If I had a credit card the watch would definitely be fixed by now. As I said before I do not have a credit card by choice because they are a total scam! Just think about how much more money you would have from each pay check if none of it went to a bank! Enough said! I have now been working with Apple Care for a week with no verifiable progress. On Monday I’m expecting a call back from an Apple Care Specialist who claims that he can somehow get me a repaired watch by Wednesday. I’m not holding my breath as I have been told this several times already with no luck. The Apple Care department is a FOUNTAIN of conflicting information. The point that they keep stressing is that the watch is new product with all new processes. That’s a nice explanation but it’s not very helpful...

Plan B is to purchase a replacement watch. As of now this plan is cheaper, simpler and maybe faster. I will end up with 2 watches but it is cheaper (unless the specialist comes up with some magic on Monday). I’m really sick of talking endlessly to Apple Care on the phone. So a quick and easy fix like this purchase option has a ton of appeal for that reason as well.
 
gvan said:
Just think about how much more money you would have from each pay check if none of it went to a bank! Enough said!
Click to expand...
... I still have 100% of the funds of my paycheck if it were directly deposited into a bank or paper check that was cashed.

ANYWAYS... use a pre-paid visa/amex gift card. Problem solved.

Also, if they ask for a CREDIT card number you can always give them your debit card number and it will be processed as credit...
 
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