While Apple customers in the United States have the option to replace their Apple Watch battery for a battery service fee of USD 79 places like India do not have a battery replacement option. Indian customers have to replace the whole unit and are forced to pay USD 349 nearly 5x the cost of USD 79 just because Apple isn’t bothered to setup similar service options world wide.
https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service/pricing
The most frustrating part is that Apple has been selling the watch in India for over 5 years and continues to be least bothered of setting up basic service options.
So essentially once the battery gets depleted you’d be better off throwing away your watch in India rather than getting service.
Every customer should have the basic right to replace the battery which is a consumable at a reasonable cost. When devices cost the same or more globally customers have a right to same service levels. Else Apple should add a disclaimer of non replaceable batteries at the time of sale in non-US markets.
Great way to force customers to upgrade and create e-waste. Guess Apple doesn’t really care of customers or the environment unless the law forces them to care.
UPDATE - As on March 29th, 2022, Apple has taken feedback from Indian consumers into consideration and has started offering battery replacements for Apple Watch where battery health less than 80%. Instead of the near-new cost that Authorized service centers were asking from customers for battery replacements, I have been offer a much-reduced cost of Rs 8272 in Mumbai which is equivalent to the USD 79 battery service cost globally. I am glad Apple has come around and revised their policy on battery replacement in India. Thank you, Apple for playing fair.
https://support.apple.com/watch/repair/service/pricing
The most frustrating part is that Apple has been selling the watch in India for over 5 years and continues to be least bothered of setting up basic service options.
So essentially once the battery gets depleted you’d be better off throwing away your watch in India rather than getting service.
Every customer should have the basic right to replace the battery which is a consumable at a reasonable cost. When devices cost the same or more globally customers have a right to same service levels. Else Apple should add a disclaimer of non replaceable batteries at the time of sale in non-US markets.
Great way to force customers to upgrade and create e-waste. Guess Apple doesn’t really care of customers or the environment unless the law forces them to care.
UPDATE - As on March 29th, 2022, Apple has taken feedback from Indian consumers into consideration and has started offering battery replacements for Apple Watch where battery health less than 80%. Instead of the near-new cost that Authorized service centers were asking from customers for battery replacements, I have been offer a much-reduced cost of Rs 8272 in Mumbai which is equivalent to the USD 79 battery service cost globally. I am glad Apple has come around and revised their policy on battery replacement in India. Thank you, Apple for playing fair.
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