Rolex didn't design their bands to be user-swappable. You're the one who made the claim, so the onus is on you to back it up. Again, where did Apple say swapping out daily results in excessive wear and tear and is not recommended?
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Link Bracelet Issue
- Thread starter bcollett
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Rolex didn't design their bands to be user-swappable. You're the one who made the claim, so the onus is on you to back it up. Again, where did Apple say swapping out daily results in excessive wear and tear and is not recommended?
Seriously, one of their MAIN points throughout the life of the marketing of the Watch was that the bands are easily and frequently swap-able. It's ridiculous to suggest that this is not the "intended use" of the Watch.
Whoops quoted the guy I am agreeing with, but same point either way.
So the manual just says to use the quick release button at the, and put the bracelet in two parts then remove. Something like it's quick and easy to change the band out. Now I don't believe it says either way. Weather it could be daily or not. What I am saying is I am not switching it out daily because I know the band is not going to hold up to that kind of wear and tear. I guarantee that if Apple starts seeing a lot of these band comes back because of this issue. They will change the user guide. You guys can keep switching the band out daily, but serious don't come crying on this site when the band is not working correctly in several months. This is not rocket science. Nothing can hold up to that kind of wear and tear.
Yes it was that they were easily swap-able, but you kind of have to use some common sense with a steel band. Do you really think a quick release button with steel links can hold up to pulling in and out on a daily bases for months at a time? I will not be doing that to my band. Maybe Apple needed to be more clear, but I just can't see a way this could hold up. Apple could try and redesign, but honestly what could they do?
bmac4... Considering I wear something different every day, and Apple's primary angle was fashionable yet useful timekeeping device... Yes it's a fair assumption to assume that people will change bands daily. This was HUGE for their marketing piece.
Lots of people exercise every day... So switching to a sport band to run or work out is out of the question? You are just wrong here, plain and simple. Apple's intention was 100% for swapping out the bands super frequently.
Oh I guess I was supposed to buy a sport watch too and pair that up when I work out?
JayLenochiniMac,
Let's just let this guy ramble.
Moving on...
That isn't the point though. This is a supported product, even if you change bands 10 times everyday. As such, you follow manufacturer instructions if you expect to be supported when/if there is a problem.
If those instructions change or there is a recall, only then do you do it a different way.
Sure I understand what you are saying, but what I am saying is this is just not going to hold up to this kind of wear and tear. Keep doing it the way the instructions suggest. That way when you have an issue you can tell Apple you followed the instructions. Again don't be surprised when you band breaks.
I can agree with the "do it how they say so you have support when it fails" philosophy. However, I think we're all acting as though ALL OF THE LINK BANDS are doing this, which isn't the case apparently. Mine is just fine and I remove it almost every day. Who knows if it's a quality issue or not. Until there is a larger sample size of data, you can't make broad judgments like you are in your previous posts. Wait and see!
So I understand Apple's marketing was being able to switch out bands, but like I have said before. You have to use some common sense. It's a metal link that snaps into another piece with a release button on it. How many times do you think a release button will be able to hold those links together? I don't think Apple has been clear either way about using the linked band, but if you think about it just a little you will see a band like this was not made for this kind of wear and tear. I know Apple says changing out bands is a big part of the experience, but I am not sure they had the linked band switching out daily in mind.
Like I told JayLenochiniMac. Kind doing what the Apple user guide suggest. You will have no issues getting a replacement I am sure. Just don't be surprised when the band breaks, and also don't be surprise if Apple changes the user guide.
I can agree with the "do it how they say so you have support when it fails" philosophy. However, I think we're all acting as though ALL OF THE LINK BANDS are doing this, which isn't the case apparently. Mine is just fine and I remove it almost every day. Who knows if it's a quality issue or not. Until there is a larger sample size of data, you can't make broad judgments like you are in your previous posts. Wait and see!
How long have you had your linked band? I am not suggesting it will happen as fast as the OPs did. These may be a rare case, but I do feel like doing this on a daily bases for months is going to case issues down the road. My board statement is simply I can't see this not going wrong. It may not be in a couple of weeks, but I see it happening more months from now.
If Apple recommends you do it that way and you do it that way and it breaks, contact Apple. That's either a flaw in the product or a flaw in the documentation.
That said, I was wondering how to get the link bracelet on/off more easily. I was doing it as a unit, but popping a link open would definitely be easier.
That said, I was wondering how to get the link bracelet on/off more easily. I was doing it as a unit, but popping a link open would definitely be easier.
It's called wear and tear lol. If you do something in a repetitious manner to an item, it breaks. Bend a paper clip enough times, it breaks.
They didn't mention this as a recommendation, but society has a way of finding a way to break something. Just like the warnings on every bag that covering your head with a bag will suffocate you and you die. Or, don't drink bleach...
Oh my god people on this thread are ridiculous. Apple CLEARLY states the proper way is to put it in two pieces, employees are trained in the same manner and yet people are bashing OP for doing it the right way? If OP is having issues with his links not even two months in from doing something Apple clearly recommended, then it is a defect. Clear and simple, Apple is not perfect and everyone needs to hop off and be realistic. I have the Link Bracelet and that's how I swap out my band, it's the right way without causing any torque to the band while removing it. Plain and simple, honestly any other argument is completely invalid at this point. Stop being so foolish and entitled people.
Apple knows fully well that people might swap out to the sport band on a daily basis for working out, especially given their disclaimer that the leather bands aren't water resistant and some might not like exercising with the link bracelet and Milanese loop. As such, they most likely designed them well enough to tolerate this level of wear and tear.
I have tried it both ways on my SBSS Link and although both methods work as has been said, I too prefer to unlink the band to remove the Bracelet, as the link is so ridgid I feel I have more of a risk damaging the DLC coating when reattaching the link band as its metal-on-metal and you have to be more carful aligning/re-inserting the sliding fastener into the grooves.
IMO with the link band in two pieces the process is much easier and less likely to chip the DLC but I fully agree that doing this daily will certainly lead to wear on the linkage mechanism and probably lead to failure sooner or later. Better to limit yourself to swapping it out less frequently.
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Hey all, I have an update for you here.
I went to the Apple Store last week and had a Genius check out the issue.
I demonstrated the issue and the Genius instantly understood the problem. They had never seen or heard of the issue before and said they would like to get it replaced and send it to engineering.
Copied and pasted from the Work Auth...
- OP
I went to the Apple Store last week and had a Genius check out the issue.
I demonstrated the issue and the Genius instantly understood the problem. They had never seen or heard of the issue before and said they would like to get it replaced and send it to engineering.
Copied and pasted from the Work Auth...
Issue: Customer reports that the watch band doesn't properly connect to the links.
Steps to Reproduce: Observation. A nylon probe shows that two of the link connectors are coming loose. No abuse found.
Cosmetic Condition: Normal sweat and wear.
Proposed Resolution: Replace link bracelet and send to engineering.
Also, I told the Genius that I change bands frequently and asked how I should remove the Link Bracelet - he told me to do it exactly as I had been. Until Apple changes something, that is the only official way to do it and doing it any other way may cause damage and be considered abuse - and won't be covered by warranty.Steps to Reproduce: Observation. A nylon probe shows that two of the link connectors are coming loose. No abuse found.
Cosmetic Condition: Normal sweat and wear.
Proposed Resolution: Replace link bracelet and send to engineering.
- OP
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I agree with disregarding the manual or any genius.Unhooking the links often is gonna be trouble. I push both bottons, releasing the band a hair and slide both sides together. Works every time. Sometimes common sense overrides instructions written by who knows why they wrote it that way. Won't be the first time .....car manuals are full of stupid stuff proved wrong long term.
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I switch bands often for exercise. It is unbelievably easy (not the first time) to take the link band on and off without removing a link. I take great care and do it smoothly but it is still a matter of seconds to remove the link and put on the sport band. I cannot imagine taking a link off, even if that is the recommendation.
I am getting my link bracelet today. I will not be taking a link out every time I change a band. Takes way to long, and in a couple of months my band will be trash. Prefer to use common sense.
Just do it slowly at first... you'll see what I mean when you try it. Particularly when you put it back on, only put a small amount in on one side before you put the other side in. Somehow that didn't sound right.
Don't you think this is a bit ridiculous? What about the clasp itself? Isn't the wear any tear similar? If the quick release is failing, it's most certainly a design issue.
The clasp was built much different than the quick release taps on the links. The one major thing I have notice since owning the link bracket, is after you use the quick release you still have to give a firm pull to separate. This is going to be major wear and tear on the band. It's only a matter of time before it fails. I don't call it a design flaw because there is no way to build a link band like this that will not be put throw this kind of stress daily.