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That is how it works with other Apple products.

If you have Apple care+ you nee to go into the store and they will put you into customer care over the phone to arrange collection and then replacement of your watch. I only know this because my friend cracked his on his car door and he has a courier picking up his watch next week. The only instance where apple won't replace it under apple care is if it looks like you deliberately smashed it.
 
So are you saying Apple Care+ is not what it seems?

I have every reason to believe that people who have a credit card are getting the good service you would expect from Apple Care+. Clearly, I'm a case that they never planned for because I do not have a credit card. Maybe the Specialist call back on Monday will rectify this situation? In the mean time I'm trying to figure out plan B which is to simply purchase a replacement.

If only I could purchase a replacement watch then it would be no big deal for me to wait forever for Apple Care to create policies and procedures that work without a credit card.
 
I have every reason to believe that people who have a credit card are getting the good service you would expect from Apple Care+. Clearly, I'm a case that they never planned for because I do not have a credit card. Maybe the Specialist call back on Monday will rectify this situation? In the mean time I'm trying to figure out plan B which is to simply purchase a replacement.

If only I could purchase a replacement watch then it would be no big deal for me to wait forever for Apple Care to create policies and procedures that work without a credit card.

Again.. AppleCare+ has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with needing a credit card. I don't understand why you don't understand that.
 
I have every reason to believe that people who have a credit card are getting the good service you would expect from Apple Care+. Clearly, I'm a case that they never planned for because I do not have a credit card. Maybe the Specialist call back on Monday will rectify this situation? In the mean time I'm trying to figure out plan B which is to simply purchase a replacement.

If only I could purchase a replacement watch then it would be no big deal for me to wait forever for Apple Care to create policies and procedures that work without a credit card.

Well I bought my Apple products and Apple Care (+) with a debit card and I assume that I will be covered without a problem.
 
Again.. AppleCare+ has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with needing a credit card. I don't understand why you don't understand that.

I have called Apple Care at least 5 times and ran through their script. Here is EXECTLY how the conversation goes each time:

[Apple Care Rep] Did you buy Apple Care +?

[me] Yes.

[Apple Care Rep] Do you have a credit card?

[me] No, but I do have a Debit card.

[Apple Care Rep] Oho, we prefer/recommend a credit card for that service but if we can still do it with a debit card for $719.20.

[me] WHAT!!! That is more expensive than simply purchasing a brand new replacement.

[Apple Care Rep] I do apologize but this is a new product with new procedures…
 
[Apple Care Rep] Oho, we prefer/recommend a credit card for that service but if we can still do it with a debit card for $719.20.

I bet that's a deposit. After all, they're shipping you a new watch and you ship back the broken one... of course they're gonna need to make sure you don't run off with both of them. For CCs, it's just a hold, but with a debit card a hold actually subtracts from your balance until released, which people often don't understand and either complain about or get overdrawn.

I'd ask Apple to clarify, of course, but I can't imagine they're telling you the repair will cost you $719.20 in the end.
 
I bet that's a deposit. After all, they're shipping you a new watch and you ship back the broken one... of course they're gonna need to make sure you don't run off with both of them. For CCs, it's just a hold, but with a debit card a hold actually subtracts from your balance until released, which people often don't understand and either complain about or get overdrawn.

I'd ask Apple to clarify, of course, but I can't imagine they're telling you the repair will cost you $719.20 in the end.

This.

Debit cards always are "charged" with these services, because I'm pretty sure they can't put a long-term hold on your card like they can with credit cards. So yes you have to have that much in your account, but you'll get it back once you return the old watch.
 
I have called Apple Care at least 5 times and ran through their script. Here is EXECTLY how the conversation goes each time:

[Apple Care Rep] Did you buy Apple Care +?

[me] Yes.

[Apple Care Rep] Do you have a credit card?

[me] No, but I do have a Debit card.

[Apple Care Rep] Oho, we prefer/recommend a credit card for that service but if we can still do it with a debit card for $719.20.

[me] WHAT!!! That is more expensive than simply purchasing a brand new replacement.

[Apple Care Rep] I do apologize but this is a new product with new procedures…

Its basically a hold to make sure you return your watch, once they receive it the charge will get credited. They have to have protection that you actually send the watch.
 
I have called Apple Care at least 5 times and ran through their script. Here is EXECTLY how the conversation goes each time:

[Apple Care Rep] Did you buy Apple Care +?

[me] Yes.

[Apple Care Rep] Do you have a credit card?

[me] No, but I do have a Debit card.

[Apple Care Rep] Oho, we prefer/recommend a credit card for that service but if we can still do it with a debit card for $719.20.

[me] WHAT!!! That is more expensive than simply purchasing a brand new replacement.

[Apple Care Rep] I do apologize but this is a new product with new procedures…

As 3 others have said. This is merely a deposit to make sure you return your original watch. But you can also send your watch in and they will send you a replacement and charge you the $329 or $79 if you use AppleCare+ and no hold will be required. The reason why there is the hold is because they are assuming you want an advanced/express replacement. If you are willing to send them the watch first then they have no need to take a deposit.
 
gvan you are either trolling or seriously misinformed.

You are correct! I am seriously misinformed! Everyone at Apple has given me different information half of witch has later proven to be incorrect. I'm doing my best to piece together different pieces of information into a complete picture. That's all I can do at this point.
 
As 3 others have said. This is merely a deposit to make sure you return your original watch. But you can also send your watch in and they will send you a replacement and charge you the $329 or $79 if you use AppleCare+ and no hold will be required. The reason why there is the hold is because they are assuming you want an advanced/express replacement. If you are willing to send them the watch first then they have no need to take a deposit.

Thank you for the info. I will definitely ask the specialist I'm working with about this cheaper "send them the broken watch first" option. This is the first time I have heard of that option so it is really valuable information.

Some Apple employees have mentioned this "Partial Refund After Repair" option to me. Apple has been unable to explained it in any detail and that's fine. I really don't like that plan as it leaves me without the money for an extended period of time and all I get is a vague verbal IOU. Getting refunds from big companies can be very difficult some times.

Also, I would remind everyone that my intention was not to complain about Apples warranty repair process. It's a new product with a new process and I'm sympathetic to that fact. However, I do wish to complain loudly and bitterly about the fact that I have not been able to purchase a replacement watch a full retail price. If Apple would just sell me a replacement watch then they could take all the time in the world with the repair of my broken watch and I would have no complaints!
 
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.

All you need to do is buy one of those prepaid Visa cards. Use it one time for this and you're done with it.
 
As 3 others have said. This is merely a deposit to make sure you return your original watch. But you can also send your watch in and they will send you a replacement and charge you the $329 or $79 if you use AppleCare+ and no hold will be required. The reason why there is the hold is because they are assuming you want an advanced/express replacement. If you are willing to send them the watch first then they have no need to take a deposit.

Lol... 3 pages of reading and we finally understand what he is trying to say.

Yes express replacement requires this. Soon the in store experience will be like his iPad swap.

OP... Once they get your broken watch back they will refund everything except the deductible
 
Besides getting my mind off my eternal Order Processing status this thread has convinced me to purchase the Apple Care for my mythical :apple: watch. Thanks for that!

Oh, and good luck to the OP, maybe a little more listening will help? I've seen many great suggestions for you but you just keep ignoring them.
 
Ironically I’m actually a lot less likely to purchase Apple Care in the future after this broken watch experience. I usually do not purchase warranties and I have never broken a phone, electronic device (or watch) before so it’s really unlikely to happen again any time soon. My current iPhone 6 and Watch are the only products I have ever purchased Apple Care for. Truth be told I only purchased Apple Care after the insanely good and easy experience with my daughters ipad.

This experience has not been the super easy thing I was expecting which reduces the value even more for me. Obviously, everyone needs to evaluate how likely they are to break things when deciding on Apple Care. It’s different for everyone…
 
BREAKING NEWS! While I was grazing at Costco earlier today, I received a call from the Apple Specialist. They shipped a warranty replacement watch yesterday! He does not know what time or have a tracking number. So, it could arrive Monday or Tuesday. I will not be required to cough up the ridiculous $719.20. I will be paying the $79 that everyone else is being charged. I can pay this in cash as the replacement is being shipped to my local Apple Store which is more convenient than my house anyways. It sounds like the warranty swap is finally going to happen!

Don’t get me wrong I’m still ticked off that I will have had to wait 7 days for the exact same warranty service that credit card debtors are getting in a day or two without all the hassle. At least it appears to be getting done!
 
Don’t get me wrong I’m still ticked off that I will have had to wait 7 days for the exact same warranty service that credit card debtors are getting in a day or two without all the hassle. At least it appears to be getting done!

Thats due to you though and not on Apple. Sounds like Apple went out of their way to make this work for your individual needs. Glad this is now resolved.
 
They sent this guy a watch body only because of an issue with the glass separating. This is different but they can do it. As with any new product launch from Apple, there is a ton of miscommunication between departments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJUtK6pcC4U

----------

Apple is offering replacement units in store already?

No. They won't even get stock until June because of the amount of orders. If you need a replacement, they will have to ship it to you.
 
They sent this guy a watch body only because of an issue with the glass separating. This is different but they can do it. As with any new product launch from Apple, there is a ton of miscommunication between departments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJUtK6pcC4U

----------



No. They won't even get stock until June because of the amount of orders. If you need a replacement, they will have to ship it to you.


Do you get to keep the current watch until the replacement comes?
 
Wish there was a "bang head" emoji.... I am pretty sure the 719.20 was for an "express" replacement. Where they ship you the watch and then return yours. And then when they get yours you get your money back.

I have never done an express replacement through Apple. And maybe if you had a credit card they wouldn't actually charge you, but would still want a credit card JUST in case. That is what Amazon does for a lot of stuff. They ship the replacement and I designate which credit card they can charge if I don't ship back the original within 30 days.

Maybe get 1 credit card for reasons like this? It is a very very very common practice.

I didn't read all of your posts, but did you ask if you could have shipped your broken watch first? As that wouldn't be an "express" replacement. What do you do if you need to rent a car or stay at a hotel?

Really glad everything worked out for you. But I don't see where apple did anything wrong, or that the 719.20 is "ridiculous" or a rip-off.

Maybe part of the confusion from Apple and even most on here is that you do not have a credit card. Not to have at least 1 these days is pretty rare.
 
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