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SS Series 3 AC+ replaced with Series 4?

S

snawaey

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 20, 2019
48
23
Hi everyone. I have a SBSS Apple Watch series 3 that I had dropped awhile ago with a hairline crack on the back ceramic sensor. Everything works fine and the crack doesn’t bother me. The watch came with AppleCare+. Money is a bit tight for me at the moment as I’m a college student and $79 is not what I’d like the spend right now. The only way I see my self forking out the money for a replacement is if I have a shot at getting upgraded to a series 4. My question to you all is; who has recently got their series 3 replaced with a series 4? If so can you please state the model and size watch you had? Greatly appreciated :)
 
snawaey said:
Hi everyone. I have a SBSS Apple Watch series 3 that I had dropped awhile ago with a hairline crack on the back ceramic sensor. Everything works fine and the crack doesn’t bother me. The watch came with AppleCare+. Money is a bit tight for me at the moment as I’m a college student and $79 is not what I’d like the spend right now. The only way I see my self forking out the money for a replacement is if I have a shot at getting upgraded to a series 4. My question to you all is; who has recently got their series 3 replaced with a series 4? If so can you please state the model and size watch you had? Greatly appreciated :)
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No chance - there’s plenty of Series 3 watches in the supply chain to replace it with. Heck, they’re still selling the S3s.
 
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Yes there is a chance! It all comes down to the model. The OP has a SS Series 3 and right here on Macrumors there was Front Page article from May 20th that covered the details of the Apple internal memo.

Dave

Link: https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/20/apple-watch-series-3-replacement/

Some Apple Watch Series 3 Repairs Can Now Qualify for Series 4 Replacement

Monday May 20, 2019 7:25 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple has informed its retail staff that it will substitute some Apple Watch Series 3 repairs with the Apple Watch Series 4, due to low inventory on the older model. The announcement was spotted by an internal memo delivered to staff and Authorized Service Providers, seen by 9to5Mac.

Now, customers looking for a repair or replacement of the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS and cellular, can instead receive the stainless steel Series 4 model with GPS and cellular. The change is said to apply to Apple retail stores and ASPs globally, but it's unclear at this time if the Series 4 upgrades are a permanent solution to the Series 3 shortages.

Apple's new repair/replacement upgrade for the Apple Watch is the latest of several instances of the company substituting Apple Watch repairs with newer models. This began in January, when the company announced that some first-generation Apple Watches and Apple Watch Series 1 could qualify for Series 2 replacements, due to supply constraints on repair parts for the older models. Then, earlier in May, Apple confirmed that repairs of certain Apple Watch Series 2 models will be fulfilled with equivalent Series 3 models due to temporary shortages of unspecified Series 2 parts.

To initiate a repair, head to the Get Support page on Apple's website and book an appointment with an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. As usual, it's not guaranteed that all locations will acknowledge existence of this internal policy, especially given that there is no definitive end date, so your mileage may vary.
 
dave006 said:
Yes there is a chance! It all comes down to the model. The OP has a SS Series 3 and right here on Macrumors there was Front Page article from May 20th that covered the details of the Apple internal memo.

Dave

Link: https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/20/apple-watch-series-3-replacement/

Some Apple Watch Series 3 Repairs Can Now Qualify for Series 4 Replacement

Monday May 20, 2019 7:25 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple has informed its retail staff that it will substitute some Apple Watch Series 3 repairs with the Apple Watch Series 4, due to low inventory on the older model. The announcement was spotted by an internal memo delivered to staff and Authorized Service Providers, seen by 9to5Mac.

Now, customers looking for a repair or replacement of the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS and cellular, can instead receive the stainless steel Series 4 model with GPS and cellular. The change is said to apply to Apple retail stores and ASPs globally, but it's unclear at this time if the Series 4 upgrades are a permanent solution to the Series 3 shortages.

Apple's new repair/replacement upgrade for the Apple Watch is the latest of several instances of the company substituting Apple Watch repairs with newer models. This began in January, when the company announced that some first-generation Apple Watches and Apple Watch Series 1 could qualify for Series 2 replacements, due to supply constraints on repair parts for the older models. Then, earlier in May, Apple confirmed that repairs of certain Apple Watch Series 2 models will be fulfilled with equivalent Series 3 models due to temporary shortages of unspecified Series 2 parts.

To initiate a repair, head to the Get Support page on Apple's website and book an appointment with an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider. As usual, it's not guaranteed that all locations will acknowledge existence of this internal policy, especially given that there is no definitive end date, so your mileage may vary.
Click to expand...
Yes exactly what I’m wondering
 
Fozziebear40 said:
If you really want to swap out your watch under Apple Care+ for $79 before it runs out, does their have to be anything wrong with the watch? I couldn't bring myself to have an 'accident'.
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That’s probably a good thing, because if Apple detects any type of malfeasance with the watch that wasn’t actually a valid accident’, they flat out will deny the AppleCare claim, which has happened to Other members in here.
 
The store just confirmed that my SS Series 3 is being replaced with a Series 4!
 
snawaey said:
38mm tho. I’m sure they have more SS 42 mm’s left on th inventory compared to the 38.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is true. It’s also silver so I don’t know if that made a difference either. I picked it up today and so far I’m loving it!
 
Sent out my SSSB 42mm S3 Apple Watch today via the Apple store. Will keep you guys updated.
 
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I am currently in ShenZhen China, own SSSB S3 42mm. They told me due to the pats shortage I might get S4. Sending in on 8th will get back to you guys when I have my replacement. cheers
 
philipno1 said:
I am currently in ShenZhen China, own SSSB S3 42mm. They told me due to the pats shortage I might get S4. Sending in on 8th will get back to you guys when I have my replacement. cheers
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I would be curious what ‘Part shortages’ are you referring to? (I.e Displays, batteries, ect)
 
Relentless Power said:
I would be curious what ‘Part shortages’ are you referring to? (I.e Displays, batteries, ect)
Click to expand...
Relentless Power said:
I would be curious what ‘Part shortages’ are you referring to? (I.e Displays, batteries, ect)
Click to expand...
Don’t think it’s a shortage of any specific part but them just not making replacement series 2 SS watches anymore. So in order to ensure they have replacement units for a SS series 2 getting replaced they’re holding all the SS series 3’s for that and series 3’s in service now get upgraded to a series 4. Apple is prob just going to replace all SS series 2s and under with a SS series 3. And until they can get plenty of replacement SS series 3’s in stock they’ll upgrade series SS S3 customers with a S4 for the time being.
 
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Relentless Power said:
I would be curious what ‘Part shortages’ are you referring to? (I.e Displays, batteries, ect)
Click to expand...
I really don't know, the guy told me that iPad have message display on the screen with "Part shortages". I do see part shortages on the screen might exchange to S4
 
My Series 3 SS 38mm has an issue with the crown so I’m going to see if mine is swapped with a series 4.
I’ll give Apple support a call to see what they say?
 
My S3 42mm SBSS suffered a fall in the bathroom and was replaced with another S3, so YMMV but I wouldn't go out of your way to hope for an S4.
 
Marco123 said:
My Series 3 SS 38mm has an issue with the crown so I’m going to see if mine is swapped with a series 4.
I’ll give Apple support a call to see what they say?
Click to expand...
My 38 mm was replaced with a Series 4. It seems that most 42mm are getting back the same series 3 so maybe it is specific to the size?
 
marvlaw said:
My 38 mm was replaced with a Series 4. It seems that most 42mm are getting back the same series 3 so maybe it is specific to the size?
Click to expand...
I returned it after a phone call on Monday to AppleCare, they picked it up Wednesday, received it today and have already sent out a replacement. But they’v given no information as to whether it’s a series 4.
 
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