What a worthless warranty!

[xenoako]

I ordered iW8C/SS graphite 45 mm with Milanese loop from BB on 10/17/22. Delivery was day of launch.
I have been active in the thread about mic issues with my device. One app in particular that uses the mic is my justification for buying an iW.
I could not get an Apple appointment until Sunday, one day after I leave for Asia.
I used BB elite status to go to the Greek squad today. They tell me I am out of warranty for a cellulsr device as the free exchange starts on the day of purchase regardless of how long I must wait for delivery.
They offered to exchange two midnight aluminum 8s, one C was 41 mm and the other was 45mm non-C.
What happens if I just show up at the Apple store since the clock is ticking on the 'cellular' 'warranty' - I do have Apple Care - in addition to my Saturday flight? No other BB near me has my specific iW.

 

[nippyjun]

I would bring it to an Apple store. Your Apple warranty is one year. Hopefully they will just swap it with another one.

 

[xenoako]

I would bring it to an Apple store. Your Apple warranty is one year. Hopefully they will just swap it with another one.

Since they would not give me an appointment before Sunday with a 'genius', how do they respond if I show up unannounced?

 

[FunkyTang]

Just return and rebuy. No appointment needed.

 

[xenoako]

Just return and rebuy. No appointment needed.

I know that options but depend on my watch daily particularly during major international trips.

 

[webbuzz]

Since they would not give me an appointment before Sunday with a 'genius', how do they respond if I show up unannounced?

Depends on how busy they are.

I would go and explain that you are leaving on an international trip on Saturday, they will most likely accomodate and squeeze you in. You might have to wait a bit.

 

[perezr10]

Just return and rebuy. No appointment needed.

He purchased at Best Buy, not the Apple Store.

 

[Shadowbech]

If you need to go for a genius bar appointment without an appointment, you can make an attempt to go there at store opening, and see what availability they may have for walk-ins. In the past I was able to do this without making any appointments. Not sure if that has changed but it's worth a try.

 

[xenoako]

That is my plan and tomorrow morning is my only option prior to the international trip so not sure what if anything is left on the table should that fail.

 

[JWGold]

I learned my lesson a long time ago.. I only buy Apple products from Apple. I won’t buy any Apple products from Walmart, Best Buy, AT&T or any other secondary retail outlet for the reason you are going through.

 

[xenoako]

Using BB this time around accounted for significant savings that I reported elsewhere.
I have never had this kind of problem with an iW and my particular issue might be unique to cellular models which apparently is a curse word for BB.
I have to say the Greek squad guy played me pretty good today. He told me to unpair my iW, etc., while he was going to pick up a replacement watch. It took 10 minutes to find a manager and another 10 perhaps to show up with equipment that I considered an insult.

 

[papbot]

I believe an Apple Watch can be serviced or even replaced if still under their original or Apple Care warranty at an Apple Store, as long as it was purchased at a authorized retailer, just have your receipt with you. The microphone issue you mention isn’t particular to cellular models, at least my wife’s cellular Apple Watch 8 has no such issue, yet. But since many have said that it seems common among those on the watchOS beta and that the latest beta release fixes it for them then I’d just wait for a software update. Those who did get their Apple Watches replaced experienced the same issue, although in at least one post the issue had not reoccurred. Odds are it’s software so running around to different stores when a big trip is looming doesn’t seem productive.

 

[xenoako]

I read the thread differently but respect your insight.
My issue is that I need the iW to fully function during this trip as I am currently handicapped sincethis issue has damaged my productivity.
I will spend a week inside a church that claims 750K members with countless global leaders on hand. Not a time to say well if the updates had come through I would have kept pace with developments.

 

[akidokraja]

I am not sure if I understand your issue correctly but microphone issue seems to be software related so it will likely be fixed by update. It happens on my watch once every few days. Restarts fixes it for a while.

 

[JWGold]

I read the thread differently but respect your insight.
My issue is that I need the iW to fully function during this trip as I am currently handicapped sincethis issue has damaged my productivity.
I will spend a week inside a church that claims 750K members with countless global leaders on hand. Not a time to say well if the updates had come through I would have kept pace with developments.

If this information is so vital to you, I would think I would have an iPhone or even iPad with me as well. My watch is just an ancillary device, but I certainly don‘t rely on it for business critical data.

 

[papbot]

I read the thread differently but respect your insight.
My issue is that I need the iW to fully function during this trip as I am currently handicapped sincethis issue has damaged my productivity.
I will spend a week inside a church that claims 750K members with countless global leaders on hand. Not a time to say well if the updates had come through I would have kept pace with developments.

As others have said it appears to be software related and even if you get it replaced you will likely experience the same issue, but you will have also wasted valuable time that you would seem to require for your journey.

 

[xenoako]

The mic issue is inconsistent which means making audio memos using JustPressRecord is not reliable now.
Since some got new iW8s no longer encounter this problem and others have not seen it at all could suggest there is a hardware component not software only.
The 14 day clock is ticking which is an issue independent of my international trip.

 

[xenoako]

If this information is so vital to you, I would think I would have an iPhone or even iPad with me as well. My watch is just an ancillary device, but I certainly don‘t rely on it for business critical data.

The primary app in question is JustPressRecord which transfers audio memos to my iPhone. I often go without my iPhone and depend on my iW to work even during a major global conference outside the USA.
Before getting the iP14P and iW8C, I updated my iP13P and iW7C to 16.x and 9.x respectively. I do not remember any issues with JPR. If that memory is reliable it would again suggest that there can be a hardware component.