Today the watch face popped off my series 0 watch. The battery appears swollen and when I googled it, it is a known problem. I contacted Apple and my extended warranty expired 1 month ago. I was told it would be $199 to repair it. I made an appointment to get the battery replaced but I am afraid they will not just replace the batter for $79 due to the screen already being popped off. I found a place called rxtechrepair.com that will fix it for $69, I just have to ship it to them. Any thoughts or experience with this specific problem?
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Series 0 Watch face popped off, batter swollen
- Thread starter shellysand72
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If it is just a few bucks difference, I would just take it to the Apple Store. It possible they may give you a free upgrade to Series 1.
I am going there and see what happens. I guess they were offering replacements for 3 years and my 3 years was up December 25, 2018. Just my luck
Yeah I would go to the Apple store too. Over the phone they will say what is stated in the warranty. When you go in, they will look at the Watch and determine what needs to be done.
Don’t do this. If anything, allow Apple to repair it, that is even if they decide to do that, being that if they do make an exception, since your past your warranty, they will just issue you a replacement device. And maybe now is the time to consider upgrading if you can, because the first GEN watch isn’t supported with future WatchOS any further. Also, Apple does not make repairs in store, nor do they carry Apple Watch replacements in store, so they would have to ship your watch outs to a repair depot.
Apple store won't do much for you. Just get the apple support app. You're going to need to send it in. I'm sure it's still covered
Apple doesn’t carry replacement watches or parts in store for the Apple Watch. It has to be sent out to a repair depot. There is no other option.
So what you are saying is that Apple has never replaced anything in store? So all of the iPads, Macs, iPods, iPhones they have never replaced in store? Each store stock is different. I remember back in the day some Apple stores sold open boxed MacBook Pros. That didn't happen either huh? Really I didn't say what they will replace it with. I'm not sure when the OP purchased their Apple Watch so possibly when they go in store and if its still under warrantee they might replace it with either a Series 0 or maybe a Series 1-2. I've seen customers have their iPhones replaced with the next model because they didn't have that model in stock. It's possible.
Again, I repeat, Apple does _not_ carry replacement Apple Watches (Or parts) in store, that applies to all Apple stores, they have to be sent out for repair and if Apple deems a replacement is necessary, they ship out the replacement device from repair depot to either an Apple store or the person‘s home. You can call Apple yourself and verify, this has been a known fact for quite some time, please do your research.
[For the record, iPhones, iPads, are a completely separate category for Apple, and they don’t apply to the Apple Watch in the same instance here.]
My Watch (original Sport Stainless) just "released" its display. It gets used two days a week, the rest of the time it sits on my desk.
Whats the latest news on repair/replacements? I was going to get a new one anyway but I would have liked to gift this one to someone. It doesn't look like there was much of anything holding the display on to begin with. Should I just bust out the JBWeld?
Whats the latest news on repair/replacements? I was going to get a new one anyway but I would have liked to gift this one to someone. It doesn't look like there was much of anything holding the display on to begin with. Should I just bust out the JBWeld?
No, a swelling battery is an indication that it is defective and can be dangerous. Don’t attempt to recharge or continue using it. I don’t know if Apple would still exchange it since it is well past warranty, as they have in the past, but you might get a sympathetic manager.
Message me your serial number and I’ll check if you’d be eligible for a free replacement. If not you can get an exchange for $79 battery cost from Apple which is honestly a good deal.
If you're past your three years, Apple won't help you. I've tried. Here's a post I tried to post in the Apple community forums explaining my issue. They immediately (and I mean within seconds of when I hit the post button) deleted it.
Hi Robert,
Thanks for participating in the Apple Support Communities.
We’ve removed your post Apple Watch and Apple's Lack of Customer Care because it contained either feedback or a feature request that was not constructive.
To read our terms and conditions for using the Communities site, see this page: Apple Support Communities - Terms of Use
We hope you’ll keep using our Support Communities. You can find more information about participating here: Apple Support Communities - How To Articles
If you have comments about any of our products, we welcome your feedback: Apple - Feedback
We’ve included a copy of your original post below.
Thanks,
Apple Support Communities Staff
I'm very disappointed with Apple. I've purchased a retina iMac, many iPads and iPhones, Apple TV's, base stations, keyboards, pencils, trackpads, etc...even a T Shirt from the HQ. And, I was a fairly early adopter of a beautiful Stainless Steel 42mm Apple watch on June 18, 2015. I teach and proudly wear my Apple Watch during lectures and demonstrations where my wrist is clearly visible on a projected image via a document camera for all my students to see. It's always been a fun experience for me to show a little functional bling to my classes. I do love technology.
Earlier this week I removed my watch from the charger on my nightstand and tapped it to see my schedule for the day. I was met with the sound of a loose crystal. I've taken good care of it, it's never been dropped, or submerged in water so I thought it just must be the adhesive just wore out somehow.
I took it to my local apple store after making an appointment thinking they had the technology and means to simply adhere the crystal back in place. That wasn't their offer. They were happy to offer me a different solution. I would need to pay $250 and they would send me an exact copy of the same model year watch. I originally paid $600 for the watch and expected, at that price, to have the watch last me decade or more because all the other QUALITY watches I've ever owned last for at least that long, if not longer. I knew I could find a better, newer Apple Watch for less than $150 online- though not with a stainless steel case. So their "solution" simply doesn't work for me. I even spoke to the store manager and he offered me no workable solution other than the one the genius offered me. I left the store feeling very unsupported and Apple's store now looks very tarnished to me.
Now that I've done some research, and looked inside it, I can see that the battery is swollen. This isn't likely something that has suddenly occurred. I would imagine that the battery has been slowly swelling for many months, if not longer. So, simply sticking the crystal back on, with an iFixit repair, wont' solve the bigger issue of a defect in the battery. But, Apple doesn't seem to want to help me much.
I understand that the issue has made Apple extend the warranty for three years for this issue. My three years were up in June of last year, some some nine months ago (early adopters, beware!). I purchased Apple Care for the watch, giving me some extended warranty, but that doesn't seem to matter in this case, though to me it feels like it should extend my warranty, just for this battery defect issue, another year to four instead of three- as anyone even without purchasing Apple Care automatically gets the three year extension.
So, it makes no sense for me to try to repair it given the battery defect. If Apple send me a newer stainless steel model for my $250, I'd probably be okay with that. But, given that they have expressed no interest in helping me out, it's likely I won't be wearing a working Apple Watch in the future. And, quite honestly, I am now concerned about the lack of quality and commitment to customer satisfaction.
What I likely WILL do, is wear my Apple watch, with a dangling crystal, to class and let me students, colleagues and staff see the quality of Apple Care and let it serve as an advertisement to those considering purchasing an Apple watch. Many of my students have commented and asked me questions about the Apple Watch when they see it during lectures and demonstrations. I suspect they'll ask even more questions when they see the crystal face dangling by ribbon connectors form the otherwise beautiful stainless steel case.
This is a send-only account. Replies received at this address are automatically deleted.
Hi Robert,
Thanks for participating in the Apple Support Communities.
We’ve removed your post Apple Watch and Apple's Lack of Customer Care because it contained either feedback or a feature request that was not constructive.
To read our terms and conditions for using the Communities site, see this page: Apple Support Communities - Terms of Use
We hope you’ll keep using our Support Communities. You can find more information about participating here: Apple Support Communities - How To Articles
If you have comments about any of our products, we welcome your feedback: Apple - Feedback
We’ve included a copy of your original post below.
Thanks,
Apple Support Communities Staff
I'm very disappointed with Apple. I've purchased a retina iMac, many iPads and iPhones, Apple TV's, base stations, keyboards, pencils, trackpads, etc...even a T Shirt from the HQ. And, I was a fairly early adopter of a beautiful Stainless Steel 42mm Apple watch on June 18, 2015. I teach and proudly wear my Apple Watch during lectures and demonstrations where my wrist is clearly visible on a projected image via a document camera for all my students to see. It's always been a fun experience for me to show a little functional bling to my classes. I do love technology.
Earlier this week I removed my watch from the charger on my nightstand and tapped it to see my schedule for the day. I was met with the sound of a loose crystal. I've taken good care of it, it's never been dropped, or submerged in water so I thought it just must be the adhesive just wore out somehow.
I took it to my local apple store after making an appointment thinking they had the technology and means to simply adhere the crystal back in place. That wasn't their offer. They were happy to offer me a different solution. I would need to pay $250 and they would send me an exact copy of the same model year watch. I originally paid $600 for the watch and expected, at that price, to have the watch last me decade or more because all the other QUALITY watches I've ever owned last for at least that long, if not longer. I knew I could find a better, newer Apple Watch for less than $150 online- though not with a stainless steel case. So their "solution" simply doesn't work for me. I even spoke to the store manager and he offered me no workable solution other than the one the genius offered me. I left the store feeling very unsupported and Apple's store now looks very tarnished to me.
Now that I've done some research, and looked inside it, I can see that the battery is swollen. This isn't likely something that has suddenly occurred. I would imagine that the battery has been slowly swelling for many months, if not longer. So, simply sticking the crystal back on, with an iFixit repair, wont' solve the bigger issue of a defect in the battery. But, Apple doesn't seem to want to help me much.
I understand that the issue has made Apple extend the warranty for three years for this issue. My three years were up in June of last year, some some nine months ago (early adopters, beware!). I purchased Apple Care for the watch, giving me some extended warranty, but that doesn't seem to matter in this case, though to me it feels like it should extend my warranty, just for this battery defect issue, another year to four instead of three- as anyone even without purchasing Apple Care automatically gets the three year extension.
So, it makes no sense for me to try to repair it given the battery defect. If Apple send me a newer stainless steel model for my $250, I'd probably be okay with that. But, given that they have expressed no interest in helping me out, it's likely I won't be wearing a working Apple Watch in the future. And, quite honestly, I am now concerned about the lack of quality and commitment to customer satisfaction.
What I likely WILL do, is wear my Apple watch, with a dangling crystal, to class and let me students, colleagues and staff see the quality of Apple Care and let it serve as an advertisement to those considering purchasing an Apple watch. Many of my students have commented and asked me questions about the Apple Watch when they see it during lectures and demonstrations. I suspect they'll ask even more questions when they see the crystal face dangling by ribbon connectors form the otherwise beautiful stainless steel case.
This is a send-only account. Replies received at this address are automatically deleted.
I've had that happen to me once before, where in the context of some OS feature that was counterproductive I did a wordy post about how computers seem to just get in the way of getting things done. The post was deleted and I never received so much as a notice. I learned at that point I should just keep my opinions and passive-aggressive threats to myself, keep the post down to the facts and maybe a little context, and then I'd see results. I did that and now I get answers to my questions. Its a support forum, not a discussion forum. Lesson learned on my part.
While I don't want to say "Apple did the right thing" in deleting your post, they were certainly justified. Since they depend on moderators to police the threads instead of having their own people on first-level staff at their support forums, that means someone complained about your thread being more invective than inquisitive. They had no problem with your asking about the swelled battery and popped display, but you didn't need to put a huge story about how loyal you are to the company and open threats
If you want to get an answer to the battery and display issue - and so do I - perhaps reframe your post. Say what happened:
"My Watch is never abused, submerged, or subjected to out-of-the-ordinary stress. Yet I picked it up off the charger, put it on, and found the display had popped loose. The Apple Store said it was out of warranty and I could replace it on my own or pay them $250 for the exact same Watch series. I understand that this problem seems to be widespread and Apple has already offered one warranty extension. Has anyone had success getting their battery replaced for low or no cost out of warranty?"
The difference there is a reduction in narrative expense and a complete lack of invective or threats. You'll get results that way. Good luck to you.
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I tried replacing the battery on my Series 0 with an iFixit battery and new adhesive seal. When charging, though, the watch go SO hot that a thermometer display alerted me that it was TOO hot.
I so depend on my Apple watch for my day to day calendar events and notifications for meetings, that I finally resigned myself to the fact that my stainless steel watch was destined for the dustbin and had no value any longer. Sad for me, I loved the stainless steel model with the weight and shiny metal. But, I couldn't justify spending $250 for an exact replacement. And I can't really justify the expense for replacing it with a newer stainless steel model at the price if it only lasts me for between three and four years.
Thanks for your suggestion, Sill, about how to best post for help to the Apple forums. I'll keep that in mind and, in hindsight, I feel a bit stupid for being so emotionally connected to my Series 0 and for feeling abandoned by Apple. Guess I just needed to vent.
So, I went out yesterday and purchased a 44m aluminum Series 4.
I so depend on my Apple watch for my day to day calendar events and notifications for meetings, that I finally resigned myself to the fact that my stainless steel watch was destined for the dustbin and had no value any longer. Sad for me, I loved the stainless steel model with the weight and shiny metal. But, I couldn't justify spending $250 for an exact replacement. And I can't really justify the expense for replacing it with a newer stainless steel model at the price if it only lasts me for between three and four years.
Thanks for your suggestion, Sill, about how to best post for help to the Apple forums. I'll keep that in mind and, in hindsight, I feel a bit stupid for being so emotionally connected to my Series 0 and for feeling abandoned by Apple. Guess I just needed to vent.
So, I went out yesterday and purchased a 44m aluminum Series 4.
For the price of $47, I would just keep the watch. But it goes to show you, how tech severely depreciates as newer models supersede the original.
my S0 SS 42mm screen also popped off last week. apple replaced it for free.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/my-s0-aw-screen-popped-off.2171861/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/my-s0-aw-screen-popped-off.2171861/
This just happened to mine and they wanted $79 to replace the battery even though the product was clearly defective. Talked to two people at service and by the time the third picked up I had had enough of the conversation. That’s a ridiculous position to take.
Sent a message to shareholder relations about this because - my own issue aside - this is problematic from a quality standpoint and not customer friendly. It should be made right by the company without exception or bother.
Sent a message to shareholder relations about this because - my own issue aside - this is problematic from a quality standpoint and not customer friendly. It should be made right by the company without exception or bother.
This is why I love Apple. I recently bought a Samsung phone for my daughter which developed an issue and their customer service still haven’t got back to me a week later despite several emails.