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I bet Apple will only swap for different sizes of the same band and color.

What a nightmare if you could go and get the band on your watch switched out to whatever. Do not see that happening.

Yeah, really no different from Apple's policy of not budging from allowing you swap out for a different color or storage capacity iDevice.
 
You can try trading it with someone. I went for a sports band for my SS because I'd want one for training either way and I save $10 (not much but something) buying it with the sports band and then buying one of $199 (CAD) bands separately. Still unsure which one I want. I was set on the classic buckle but I'd be more sold if it came in navy blue.
 
You are all forgetting – this is Apple's most personal device yet! I think we may start to see a bit more of "the customer is always right".

Slightly OT: what do we reckon for swapping out case sizes? I need to go from a 38 to 42, and would happily pay the uplift. Will a first shipment get you anywhere with that in store?
 
You can try trading it with someone. I went for a sports band for my SS because I'd want one for training either way and I save $10 (not much but something) buying it with the sports band and then buying one of $199 (CAD) bands separately. Still unsure which one I want. I was set on the classic buckle but I'd be more sold if it came in navy blue.

I think trading might be the best option too. I have a classic leather band that I am going to try to trade/sell, as I don't think apple will let me trade it for another.
 
I disagree. You have (in most places) 14 days to make a return or an exchange.

Given that there is a stock of bands and you are unsatisfied with your purchase, it is in Apple's best interest to just swap your band as opposed to refurbing the entire watch and sending you a NEW unit and another band. If you can return it and rebuy, they can just simplify the process for everyone and swap your band.

Much cheaper for them in the long run and most likely easier.
 
Weird. My store wasn't sure, but maybe they changed the policy since the try on launch. They seemed overwhelmed on launch day.

Store employees were kind of nervous about touching peoples' wrists and arms and stuff.

Yeah, I wouldn't wanting them touching my "stuff" anyway. :eek:
 
I disagree. You have (in most places) 14 days to make a return or an exchange.

Given that there is a stock of bands and you are unsatisfied with your purchase, it is in Apple's best interest to just swap your band as opposed to refurbing the entire watch and sending you a NEW unit and another band. If you can return it and rebuy, they can just simplify the process for everyone and swap your band.

Much cheaper for them in the long run and most likely easier.

You can disagree all you want but it's not going to happen. The watch and band are sold as one SKU. It's not possible for them to just swap the bands out like that from an inventory point of view as well as a practical point of view.
 
I spoke to several Apple Watch reps during each of my appointments, and all of them stated that after you receive your WATCH, you can swap out your flouroelastomer band for the color of your choosing. If you think about, it makes sense for Apple to allow to change a $50 band than having you exchange and return an entire watch.
 
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Right... that would be anyone's logical guess. But don't you think it wouldn't be unreasonable within the 14 day period?

The product is both the case and the band. you want to return, you have to return both. There is also the additional issue that if the stores aren't selling watches they won't likely have bands either. So even if they were willing to do a swap what will they do it with. Stores very possibly won't have stock until June, and it could be late June, so a fair chunk of folks will be past the 14 days anyway. So you are asking for two exceptions.



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I spoke to several Apple Watch reps during each of my appointments, and all of them stated that after you receive your WATCH, you can swap out your flouroelastomer band for the color of your choosing. If you think about, it makes sense for Apple to allow to change a $50 band than having you exchange and return an entire watch.

I asked my BF the same question and he said nothing they have been told or has been published internally agrees with that. it might be a local policy for that store cause the store leader doesn't want to come off like an *******. or it could be that the staff misunderstand that the bands are removable and you can buy an additional one to swap
 
I'm wondering about this, because I ordered the wrong size band on 1 of the 2 watches I ordered.

Apple having to refurbish the watches at their expense for the sake of avoiding a customer having to purchase an additional, high-margin watchband at their own expense and resell the original band... seems like kind of a hassle/waste either way. Given the retail handling of watches with swappable bands and try-ons and all that, it seems like swapping bands of different types/origins wouldn't be a huge issue. You could maybe just return a band of the equivalent value in the other's packaging.

With that said, any returned watches would have to be refurbished and repackaged by Apple... so it's not like they don't have the logistical system in place to handle band reassignment. So, for returns, bands aren't necessarily permanently paired to their original packaging/watch.

What do you think?

I asked this question to a Apple rep via chat and she said you'd have to return the entire watch and get one with the band you want. Given the limited stock (if any) on launch day you may not be able to.
 
If it's the same band, and only changing sizes, I think they will do it in store.

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Yeah, really no different from Apple's policy of not budging from allowing you swap out for a different color or storage capacity iDevice.

Agree on colour and storage of devices, though of watches I have bought in the past, I never had to return the watch to get a replacement band that fit me. We are talking like for like replacement of the bands , just the correct sizing. If Apple wants to enter the luxury watch markert they need to treat this like a watch and not an iPod.
 
I'm really thinking of changing the color to brown for the leather loop and get a cheaper knock off black option. I hope there isn't too long of a wait.
 
You can disagree all you want but it's not going to happen. The watch and band are sold as one SKU. It's not possible for them to just swap the bands out like that from an inventory point of view as well as a practical point of view.


Wow you must feel pretty stupid.
 
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