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PSA: New Apple Watch Owners Have to Return Entire Device for Ill-Fitting Solo Loop or Braided Solo Loop
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Literally dealt with this yesterday when my 6 arrived. Had two people over chat tell me (prior to watch being delivered) that should the band be large or small on me, an exchange of band only would be no issue. Of course, it was larger than the measuring tool said. When chatting both over phone and chat yesterday, agents said not possible. Have to return the entire set and go to the end of the line to wait for a new one.
In addition to the paper sizer, Apple could have come up with a table showing Sport Band equivalents, with different size case and band combinations. That would have made it easy for many.
Seems like it would have been better / more accurate if Apple provided a conversion tool from the adjustable sport bands, where you enter your current watch series, watch size, band size, and which hole you use. This would have eliminated measuring error and also would have accounted for different wearing preferences. I would guess 90% of people buying a new Apple Watch own a previous one and an adjustable sport band. And the current printable measurement tool should have only been a backup for those who are buying their first Apple Watch.
edit: lmao, JulesK beat me to the punch. It’s so obvious... why Apple didn’t do this is beyond me.
edit 2: Maybe someone should start a thread where people post previous watch series, case size, band size, which sport band hole they use, and which solo band size ended up fitting them the best / same.
edit: lmao, JulesK beat me to the punch. It’s so obvious... why Apple didn’t do this is beyond me.
edit 2: Maybe someone should start a thread where people post previous watch series, case size, band size, which sport band hole they use, and which solo band size ended up fitting them the best / same.
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This whole launch has been a cluster, just take a look in the Shipping/Order Status Thread.
I ordered a 44mm, blue, gps, charcoal sport loop within 15 minutes of the online store coming back up.
it was still stuck in preparing to ship (from China) on the 18th. so i ordered it at my local Apple Store on the morning of the 18th, which had it in stock no problem. had it picked up and on my wrist by lunch.
even though it hadn't shipped yet on the 18th, apple support said the online order was too far along to cancel. so i'm still waiting for it to arrive and will have to return it whenever it ends up delivering.
i've pre-ordered many apple products over the years, and this seems like a really big botched effort on their part. there are so many other users in the same boat, waiting on orders they placed within minutes of the store coming back up that hadn't even shipped by the 18th and yet were available at local stores. that's pretty bad, especially when you throw COVID into the mix and most people won't be going to local stores to get them anyway.
I ordered a 44mm, blue, gps, charcoal sport loop within 15 minutes of the online store coming back up.
it was still stuck in preparing to ship (from China) on the 18th. so i ordered it at my local Apple Store on the morning of the 18th, which had it in stock no problem. had it picked up and on my wrist by lunch.
even though it hadn't shipped yet on the 18th, apple support said the online order was too far along to cancel. so i'm still waiting for it to arrive and will have to return it whenever it ends up delivering.
i've pre-ordered many apple products over the years, and this seems like a really big botched effort on their part. there are so many other users in the same boat, waiting on orders they placed within minutes of the store coming back up that hadn't even shipped by the 18th and yet were available at local stores. that's pretty bad, especially when you throw COVID into the mix and most people won't be going to local stores to get them anyway.
I didn't have access to a printer, so I measured my wrist using a sheet of paper like the iOS app told me to. They suggested a size 12 band. I got the watch yesterday, and it's SUPER loose. I'm back home now, so I printed out the sizing tool. It recommends that I wear a size 9 band.
Of course, Apple wants me to send the whole watch back and wait a month on a new one.
Of course, Apple wants me to send the whole watch back and wait a month on a new one.
Hmmm...what to do.
I got the size 4. It is just a...little...loose, but returning it seems like a hassle. There are no size 3 bands anywhere near me in any open retail store. I will probably just keep the one I have, unless it starts to slide around when I go running later today, which is the true test.
I got the size 4. It is just a...little...loose, but returning it seems like a hassle. There are no size 3 bands anywhere near me in any open retail store. I will probably just keep the one I have, unless it starts to slide around when I go running later today, which is the true test.
When you buy a watch + band the band comes in it’s own box. Naturally people would think if the band doesn’t fit they could swap it out for one that does rather than having to replace the entire watch which means unpairing, sending it back, waiting for a new one, repairing, possibly cancelling and resubscribing to Apple Care+. In my case (and I’m sure I’m not alone) I already have several bands so even if there was a delay in getting one of the new bands I’d still be able to wear my Watch. Anyway if this is Apple’s policy it should have been explicit at time of purchase in big bold letters.
I’m in a similar boat. But I think these bands will stretch over time and size 3 will probably end up being the best option.
NOT a big deal - you have to order SOME band with your watch - I order the solo rubber loop in 9 and HOPE it fits - IF not , I'll simply use one of my other bands (3 for 10 bucks) - they all fit .. AND lI'll be checking for 3rd party solo loops for 10 bucks
Talk about first world problems here.... Yes having to return everything is a bit silly but come on, it is a fitted product of course there were bound to be fitment issues.
You didn't get lucky. I'm sure the majority of customers have the same great experience as you had in terms of fit. It's just that when less than 25 customers have an issue they bring it to the internet and make it appear as everyone is having the same issue when 9 times out of 10 it's not true. Not to mention MR members love to exacerbate an issue and dramatize everything when it involves Apple. BTW your pic looks great!!!
The other natural thing for people to think is that launch products have constrained supplies. The watch itself can be constrained and the new bands can be constrained. Apple's return policy isn't really the problem. Normally, a full return wouldn't be an issue in terms of timeframe. It would likely be very similar to only returning the band. For a launch, either type of return could easily be delayed due to supply constraints.
Chances are it hasn't been a mess and I'm sure the hundreds of thousands who bought the new Apple Watch with the braided band had a perfect fit without issue. MR and other Internet forums exaggerate issues when it comes to Apple. There are usually a very small amount of people that have an issue. Thanks to Twitter people can instantly make a mountain out of a molehill.
i’ve used the one that Apple provides at the store as well, and it was exactly the same thing, between 9 and 10 🤷♂️ In any regard I’m glad I got 7, because now that I’ve been wearing it for a few days it’s starting to stretch a little bit. Apple Store employees have mentioned that as well during the purchase
It's going to be extremely wasteful now.
Also, you can't really give it as a gift on the solo loop.
I don't think Apple would fire someone just because a customer posted a chat log on the Internet.
According to some posts I’ve read on this chain it could very well happened based on the CSR’s response. Let’s hope that’s not the case.