I was in the Apple store yesterday and the employee specifically told me that swapping a sport band for another band would void the warranty. He said this was because the SS/edition bands have a stainless steel metal piece on the ends where they clip in and that it will scratch the aluminum on the sport watch. He said 3rd party bands would be a better option for the sport model. Any thoughts on this?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
swapping bands void warranty
- Thread starter Fallon-AppleFan
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
As a professional metallurgist and composite engineer, I too, was concerned about this. However, I suspect they have applied anti-corrosion coatings to both metals to reduce the energy potential gap between the two metals...barring any sort of catalyst or a salt/moisture rich environment, I suspect these coatings bring the kinetic rate of rxn down sufficiently that they won't visibly corrode (within the life of the device at least).
Absolutely false.
My milanese loop wasn't locking in place on my 42mm Sport Watch. Took it to the Genius Bar on the 10th, they verified the issue within a few minutes, determined that both the watch and band needed to be replaced. Picked up my replacement Watch and milanese loop this Monday, the 18th. Before calling me they checked to make sure the replacement band & Watch worked together properly.
Apple has said VERY clearly that they designed the bands to be interchangeable between all (aside from size) models of the Watch.
Galvanic corrosion IS a concern but not likely to be an issue thanks to the heavy coating on the different metals. Someone who changes bands multiple times a day, in a careless manner, actively scratching away at the coatings in key areas, might notice an issue but this will by no means be the norm.
OP, you just got bad info from an Apple Specialist who likely hadn't heard correctly.
edit:
Just to add, I asked for verification on one thing I wasn't clear on. With larger Apple devices (Macs, iPhones, etc) AppleCare covers the accessories that are purchased alongside the device. i.e. If you purchase an Airport Extreme with your iMac then the Airport is covered under the iMac's AppleCare for three years as well. I asked if this was true for the Apple Watch and the different Apple Bands. The Genius working with me was pretty sure it did but called the lead Genius (essentially the defining voice of AppleCare in retail stores) over to ask for sure. The lead Genius commented that he had checked on that just a few days earlier and that it IS true. So, if your Link Bracelet has an issue in a year and a half, and you bought AppleCare with your Apple Watch Sport, then it will be covered under that same warranty.
My milanese loop wasn't locking in place on my 42mm Sport Watch. Took it to the Genius Bar on the 10th, they verified the issue within a few minutes, determined that both the watch and band needed to be replaced. Picked up my replacement Watch and milanese loop this Monday, the 18th. Before calling me they checked to make sure the replacement band & Watch worked together properly.
Apple has said VERY clearly that they designed the bands to be interchangeable between all (aside from size) models of the Watch.
Galvanic corrosion IS a concern but not likely to be an issue thanks to the heavy coating on the different metals. Someone who changes bands multiple times a day, in a careless manner, actively scratching away at the coatings in key areas, might notice an issue but this will by no means be the norm.
OP, you just got bad info from an Apple Specialist who likely hadn't heard correctly.
edit:
Just to add, I asked for verification on one thing I wasn't clear on. With larger Apple devices (Macs, iPhones, etc) AppleCare covers the accessories that are purchased alongside the device. i.e. If you purchase an Airport Extreme with your iMac then the Airport is covered under the iMac's AppleCare for three years as well. I asked if this was true for the Apple Watch and the different Apple Bands. The Genius working with me was pretty sure it did but called the lead Genius (essentially the defining voice of AppleCare in retail stores) over to ask for sure. The lead Genius commented that he had checked on that just a few days earlier and that it IS true. So, if your Link Bracelet has an issue in a year and a half, and you bought AppleCare with your Apple Watch Sport, then it will be covered under that same warranty.
The "barring any sort of catalyst or a salt/moisture rich environment" would still concern me for a device that is supposed to be water resistant. Salt or chlorine combined with moisture would seem to be a common scenario.
Yep - the biggest thing is sweat...very salty water. Only time will tell in this case. I'm sure one could do the calculations and figure out what the rate of rxn would be, but theory only works until it's proven in the real world. If it corrodes too slowly that it can only be noticed after several years of use, it would be pointless to make a fuss about it from a product design perspective.
If you think about it Apple uses the same white and black sport bands (sans the space grey pin) on the SS Apple watch. I don't think they would have done that if you where going to have a problem using the two together.
That just sounds absurd. When I had my try on appointment the Apple employee knew I had a space gray on order and i told him I was thinking of getting the Milanese band and leather loop and he said no such thing about it voiding warranty or causing any kind of problems. Then he actually let me try them both on a space gray model.
Yes, but it's irrelevant anyway because sport bands do not have metal connectors.
Again, this is unfortunately a mis-understood apple store rep.
The terms and conditions of AppleCare (which will overrule anything you've been told) quite clearly state that only accessories originally shipped with the watch are covered.
It's clear in black and white.
I bought the 38MM SS with WSB and bought the link separate so that I could have the watch on launch day. Anyways, this means if my link (which was purchased separate) will be covered under AC+? This is good news as I thought it wouldn't be covered under AC+
You're correct that the T&C of AC+ says nothing about this; however, there are rumors (or rather, unwritten policy) that separately purchased bands would be covered under AC+. Unfortunately, they're refusing to update the T&C to reflect this (claiming that the T&C as it's currently written is clear enough, which makes absolutely no sense) so members will have mixed results trying to get Apple to enforce this, especially given that the alleged Apple Store employee AppleSnitch disputes this.
Also in black and white though is the receipt/invoice that shows they were purchased together, hence why it would be covered.
It would be different if someone bought a Watch, then bought an extra band a few days later.
Good to see the store staff saying this now (as it's what the AC+ Agreement Administration staff told me) - see the link that JayLenochiniMac posted).
Bottom line - whatever band it attached to your Apple Watch at time of damage is covered by your AC+. (so, if it's not attached to your watch and it's damaged, no dice).
Don't believe me? Call and ask to speak to AC+ Agreement Administration.
That bottom line isn't in writing and until then, employees won't be consistent with this policy (such as the alleged Apple Store employee AppleSnitch who disputes it).
AppleSnitch was also saying that if your band and watch were damaged at the same time that it would be two AC+ "accidents" to get both replaced/repaired.
Me, I'll believe the people I actually know to work there.
And, yeah, not happy that Legal didn't agree to update the T's & C's of the agreement. That would have closed the loop completely, but at least we're seeing the retail staff are towing the line now. I keep checking, hoping I'll see the agreement updated - hopefully it will in time.
Don't hope so......know so.
Of I was that guys manager, I'd fire him for saying so stupid.
So they told you Apple's steel bands would void the warranty and then suggested the third party market, full of sketchy steel adapters made before Apple's specs were released, as a safer alternative that wouldn't void your warranty? I would've laughed out loud.
No. He suggested third party bands that did not have metal on them. And the specs are already released. Hence the no laugh out loud.
You ought to think about letting a manager at that store know. They're not too hot on employees giving out false information.
I work as manager in Apple authorised service centre UK, and this is directly copied from GSX article on servicing the Apple watch, does not mention other bands.
AC+ Coverage
1) AppleCare+ (AC+) covers Apple Watch and all in-box accessories.
That is all... The people you all talk to on the phone and also the "genius" guys are only people who are knowledgable in Apple products, they do not service them, they haven't a clue most of the time with technical questions #
AC+ Coverage
1) AppleCare+ (AC+) covers Apple Watch and all in-box accessories.
That is all... The people you all talk to on the phone and also the "genius" guys are only people who are knowledgable in Apple products, they do not service them, they haven't a clue most of the time with technical questions #