Fix, Buy New or Buy Other

[tomegun]

My main use case for a smartwatch is to pump data into the Health app. I have the Withings Body Analyzer, the Withings Go (for sleep until...) and an Apple Watch. Last week, my watch went totally out/off twice. Both times it wouldn't come on until I pressed and held both buttons. Well, I took it to the Apple Store and the Genius did nothing except reset it (I could have done that at home). So I left and wasn't worried about it since I could go back if it happened again. A few days later, I took my watch off of the stand like I have done daily for the past 13 months (note that). The back came off! The wire is still attached and I put it back on, but it isn't whole. I took it to another Apple Store that had a sooner appointment and the guy told me it is one month out of warranty - remember the 13 month thing. This was a present from my wife and she didn't buy the warranty. They wanted $199 to fix it and I said no thank you.

Long story, but I'm wondering what I should do. Get a new watch? I was thinking about trying out the Vivoactive HR from Garmin. The Garmin Connect app works with Apple Health so I will still have that functionality. I have been wearing the Withings Go all day and I look at my wrist to see what time it is at least once a day. I also miss calendar appointments, text notifications and call notifications. I have a TON of Apple gear and have had devices replaced before and I am kind of let down. Fortunately, the watch is one of the cheaper Apple products I have.

What do you think?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Did your wife by any chance purchase it using a credit card? If so, check to see if it offers extended warranty coverage, in which case you can file a claim with the CC company to get reimbursed the $199.

 

[tomegun]

I will ask her.

 

[convergent]

I think I'd try a couple of different Apple stores and be very nice to the genius. I'm really surprised they don't take care of you for one month out of warranty. The back coming off issue isn't that uncommon, and I find it hard to believe that anything you did cause it to happen. You might even have your wife try taking it in, and have her say she bought it for you and is so disappointed that it broke. My daughter had dropped her iPhone 6 and broken the screen... she has AppleCare+, and had it replaced one (of the two that you are allowed) already. Well she dropped it again, but it was still usable ... just cracked in the corner. She didn't want to use her last replacement so kept using it. After about 3 months the backlight died and so it was completely unreadable unless you looked at it very closely. She took it into the genius. He looked at it and determined it was defective because the backlight died... said nothing about the damage. He replaced it for free without using one of her co-pay AC+ replacements, even though it was over a year old.

If that doesn't work out, then you might try to find a good used one. Many people hardly use them. I bought my SS AW used and it was like new and came with AppleCare. It was significantly cheaper than a new one, and I've been hearing bout people getting them for around $200. Of course that said, if you pay them the $200 fee, then you'll essentially have a new watch too. I guess it depends on if you want to keep having an Apple Watch.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

My daughter had dropped her iPhone 6 and broken the screen... she has AppleCare+, and had it replaced one (of the two that you are allowed) already. Well she dropped it again, but it was still usable ... just cracked in the corner. She didn't want to use her last replacement so kept using it. After about 3 months the backlight died and so it was completely unreadable unless you looked at it very closely. She took it into the genius. He looked at it and determined it was defective because the backlight died... said nothing about the damage. He replaced it for free without using one of her co-pay AC+ replacements, even though it was over a year old.

I don't see anything special about that. Manufacturing defects are also replaced free of charge in the second year under AC+. She didn't ask to replace it because of the crack in the corner.

FYI: I don't know if it was the case with your daughter, but single hairline crack is considered a manufacturing defect and is replaced free of charge.

 

[convergent]

I don't see anything special about that. Manufacturing defects are also replaced free of charge in the second year under AC+. She didn't ask to replace it because of the crack in the corner.

FYI: I don't know if it was the case with your daughter, but single hairline crack is considered a manufacturing defect and is replaced free of charge.

I think it was replaced because she was a cute young lady and the genius was a young guy... to be frank.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I think it was replaced because she was a cute young lady and the genius was a young guy... to be frank.

Nope, manufacturing defects are manufacturing defects and are replaced free of charge while still under warranty.

 

[convergent]

Nope, manufacturing defects are manufacturing defects and are replaced free of charge while still under warranty.

It wasn't under warranty... that is the whole reason I brought it up and why it relates to the OP.

It was under AC+, and as such they could have replaced it in the second year with a co-pay, and consumption of my daughter's last replacement in AC+. But he didn't do that, he replaced it for free.

 

[Phil A.]

It wasn't under warranty... that is the whole reason I brought it up and why it relates to the OP.

It was under AC+, and as such they could have replaced it in the second year with a co-pay, and consumption of my daughter's last replacement in AC+. But he didn't do that, he replaced it for free.

AC+ extends the warranty to 2 years for manufacturing defects - no need to use a replacement if it's a defect in the second year either

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It wasn't under warranty... that is the whole reason I brought it up and why it relates to the OP.

It was under AC+, and as such they could have replaced it in the second year with a co-pay, and consumption of my daughter's last replacement in AC+. But he didn't do that, he replaced it for free.

Nope, as another member pointed out, manufacturing defects are covered free of charge in the second year of AC+ just like the first year of standard warranty. You pay the deductible only if you elect to replace it due to accidental damage, and your daughter didn't do this as she took it in for a manufacturing defect.