Well, it happened...

[blwade]

I dropped my watch on the tile floor, screen first...

First shattered screen I’ve ever had too!

Went to the Apple store and the only option I was given was to mail it in... I thought stores keep a small stock of replacement devices?

I ended up starting a chat with Apple support from my car in the parking lot to start my express repair since I do have Apple care... what happened to great support?

 

[MattA]

I just had my AirPods replaced under warranty. They had me send them in, and replacements were sent back. I did all of this through best buy. I thought it would be a long wait, but it wound up being an incredibly short turnaround. I dropped them off on Thursday last week and got them back Tuesday. Considering the weekend was in there, that was pretty darned good. I suspect your watch will be similar.

 

[millerj123]

Ouch! That just bites.

 

[blwade]

I just had my AirPods replaced under warranty. They had me send them in, and replacements were sent back. I did all of this through best buy. I thought it would be a long wait, but it wound up being an incredibly short turnaround. I dropped them off on Thursday last week and got them back Tuesday. Considering the weekend was in there, that was pretty darned good. I suspect your watch will be similar.

With Apple care, I’m opting for them to send me a replacement (and put a hold on my card) so I won’t be without it. I just had hopes that they would have a replacement available to swap out in store. Guess they don’t!

I’ve not felt like the Apple reps at my location have been super helpful.. seems like most of the time I’m better off contacting support online or over the phone which seems kind of crazy to me.
[doublepost=1563479470][/doublepost]

Ouch! That just bites.

It does! I knew when it was falling in slow motion it would be a miracle if it survived...

It makes me thankful I opted for AppleCare.

 

[entropi]

ahw, it must have bounced? (both upper left a n d lower right corner seems to have hit something?)

 

[44267547]

Went to the Apple store and the only option I was given was to mail it in... I thought stores keep a small stock of replacement devices?

I ended up starting a chat with Apple support from my car in the parking lot to start my express repair since I do have Apple care... what happened to great support?

No, Apple Watch stores don’t supply replacement Apple Watches. Those are shipped directly from a repair depot to your house or the Apple store of your choice. They also don’t complete repairs for the Apple Watch, those are also completed offsite.

 

[blwade]

ahw, it must have bounced? (both upper left a n d lower right corner seems to have hit something?)

I mean, it fell from about 5 ish feet, so there was definitely some bounce

It hit the tile floor in the shower which isn’t level.. Its likely the top left and bottom right took the brunt of the fall with decent contact along that whole right side! The bottom left side must have landed where it sloped down. I can’t say I was paying too much attention to how exactly it hit the tile though since I was dying a little inside as I watched it fall!

No, Apple Watch stores don’t supply replacement Apple Watches. Those are shipped directly from a repair depot to your house or the Apple store of your choice. They also don’t complete repairs for the Apple Watch, those are also completed offsite.

I know that now.. it’s a shame! Don’t get me wrong.. Apple will ship the replacement super fast and I’m thankful for that. But superior support would be being able to walk in the store and swap it out! Also, I have other qualms about my local Apple store - it’s not based solely on this incident.

 

[Closingracer]

I dropped my watch on the tile floor, screen first...

First shattered screen I’ve ever had too!

View attachment 848885




Went to the Apple store and the only option I was given was to mail it in... I thought stores keep a small stock of replacement devices?

I ended up starting a chat with Apple support from my car in the parking lot to start my express repair since I do have Apple care... what happened to great support?

Maybe the ran out ?

 

[blwade]

Maybe the ran out ?

The support people I have spoken to say they don’t keep replacements in stock.. and I looked at a couple other recent threads where other people have said the same thing... so I don’t think they have them in stores anymore.

 

[pika2000]

I dropped my watch on the tile floor, screen first...

First shattered screen I’ve ever had too!

View attachment 848885




Went to the Apple store and the only option I was given was to mail it in... I thought stores keep a small stock of replacement devices?

I ended up starting a chat with Apple support from my car in the parking lot to start my express repair since I do have Apple care... what happened to great support?

That's the great support.
I was trying to get support for my AW with its paint chipping, and even the genius told me to just call and do the express repair since it will be faster than going through the store's process. Plus you'll get a watch to use instead of having to wait. But their express repair is that, express, pretty quick and painless once the phone support is initiated. You'll receive a box with a new watch and just mail back your broken one

 

[Newtons Apple]

Sorry about your loss but you broke the cardinal rule and putting on or taking off your AW over a hard ceramic floor results in this, sooner or later.

 

[Shadowbech]

Went to the Apple store and the only option I was given was to mail it in... I thought stores keep a small stock of replacement devices?

From my understanding, Apple store doesn't keep small stock of replacement watches. I've asked them the same question and they pretty much have been instructed that all Apple watches must be mailed in to their repair depot, which has been the case since the Original Apple Watch and nothing changed with their policy with this. Usually you have the option to have them mail it out, or you can do it on your own at your convenience.

 

[The Game 161]

Ouch but least you have apple care...i’ve Never had it for my watch or any device. May get it for my next iPhone though.

 

[perezr10]

I mean, it fell from about 5 ish feet, so there was definitely some bounce

It hit the tile floor in the shower which isn’t level.. Its likely the top left and bottom right took the brunt of the fall with decent contact along that whole right side! The bottom left side must have landed where it sloped down. I can’t say I was paying too much attention to how exactly it hit the tile though since I was dying a little inside as I watched it fall!




I know that now.. it’s a shame! Don’t get me wrong.. Apple will ship the replacement super fast and I’m thankful for that. But superior support would be being able to walk in the store and swap it out! Also, I have other qualms about my local Apple store - it’s not based solely on this incident.

Ah! That’s my biggest fear. When I’m done running I usually shower with my watch. I undo my sport band to soap up my watch under the shower head. In 3 years I’ve never dropped a watch but I’m always nervous about it.

 

[Hi Tek]

I do have Apple care... what happened to great support?

You have Apple Care support, then ask for where's the support.

OK.

 

[Morrissey]

I know that now.. it’s a shame! Don’t get me wrong.. Apple will ship the replacement super fast and I’m thankful for that. But superior support would be being able to walk in the store and swap it out! Also, I have other qualms about my local Apple store - it’s not based solely on this incident.

I thought they had some "refurbished" watches on stock, just like they swap a bad iPhone with a refurbished one.

 

[blwade]

You have Apple Care support, then ask for where's the support.

OK.

Replacing my watch in store 15 minutes away (unpair current watch, pair new watch, walk out of the store) is much better than having to unpair your watch, start express replacement, re-pair your watch, wait for replacement to arrive in 2 days, unpair watch, pair new watch, send broken watch back, no?

That’s my point. It’s not that I’m not getting support. It is a little frustrating that the Apple store can’t have a small stock on hand for express replacement customers.


Anyways, got my replacement and sent my old one back. All is good again.
[doublepost=1563911220][/doublepost]

Ah! That’s my biggest fear. When I’m done running I usually shower with my watch. I undo my sport band to soap up my watch under the shower head. In 3 years I’ve never dropped a watch but I’m always nervous about it.

I ended up knocking it off a shelf.. it wasn’t even that I fumbled it. 3 years of wearing the watch and having the same habits.. first time I’ve done that! But I definitely don’t recommend dropping it on tile

 

[Hi Tek]

Replacing my watch in store 15 minutes away (unpair current watch, pair new watch, walk out of the store) is much better than having to unpair your watch, start express replacement, re-pair your watch, wait for replacement to arrive in 2 days, unpair watch, pair new watch, send broken watch back, no?

That’s my point. It’s not that I’m not getting support. It is a little frustrating that the Apple store can’t have a small stock on hand for express replacement customers.


Anyways, got my replacement and sent my old one back. All is good again.
[doublepost=1563911220][/doublepost]

I ended up knocking it off a shelf.. it wasn’t even that I fumbled it. 3 years of wearing the watch and having the same habits.. first time I’ve done that! But I definitely don’t recommend dropping it on tile

I undersand [now]. My only answer to that could be. It's easy to break watches... You can't just have a "small supply". Either way people are gonna be like "oh just go to [location] ARS they'll do it... Then people will just go there expecting that anyways regardless if it's a small "stock for express replacement". I don't disagree, I guess I understand why procedure is mail in only.

 

[donlab]

Ouch! That just bites.

Bytes

 

[AppleHaterLover]

My S0 watch died in 2015 and I had to mail it in as well so I guess this has always been the procedure.

The problem is that, without Apple Care, Apple charges the modest amount of $299 to fix the screen.

 

[44267547]

My S0 watch died in 2015 and I had to mail it in as well so I guess this has always been the procedure.

The problem is that, without Apple Care, Apple charges the modest amount of $299 to fix the screen.

Then in that case, I would even repair the watch with that cost versus the watch overall value ratio. Sometimes you have to ‘cut your losses’ and either sell it broken online to pay the difference of buying a new one if need be.

 

[blwade]

My S0 watch died in 2015 and I had to mail it in as well so I guess this has always been the procedure.

The problem is that, without Apple Care, Apple charges the modest amount of $299 to fix the screen.

Prices are crazy...

My airpods bought about 2 years ago are really suffering... I’m not sure it’s JUST battery.. but replacing the battery in all the components is just a few dollars shy of buying new ones.. that hurts!!

 

[preston66002425]

search military grade apple watch 4 band at amazon
Problem solved

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Happened to me today, went swimming, fell out of the bottom locker about 20" onto the tiles face down, smashed corner and screen popped off, SSSB too! I thought it would be a bit tougher tbh.

 

[44267547]

Happened to me today, went swimming, fell out of the bottom locker about 20" onto the tiles face down, smashed corner and screen popped off, SSSB too! I thought it would be a bit tougher tbh.

It does baffle me when other members say things like this, which includes your post. I mean, you dropped your Apple Watch face down on a hard tile surface and you thought it would be a ‘bit tougher’? I’m repeating myself by saying this, when a device is dropped, it’s based on three key ingredients: [angle/impact/surface type], if all of those three are combined and align correctly, that’s exactly what happens to something, it breaks.