My Apple Watch Experience - Just an Information Share

billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 08:23

Thought I would share how my Apple Watch experience went

I grabbed an SE at the recent Amazon day sale, great pricing, have been wanting to get one for quite a while, got it love it

  • Arrived quickly as always from Amazon as always
  • Late on day#1 the swipe function from the top or bottom of the watch failed to work, reboot required
  • Day#2 I factory reset the device just to ensure it wasnt something I had done, it occurred again. I contacted Apple Support who started a case, asked me to monitor

  • Day#3 Failed again, I organised to send it to Apple for repair

  • Apple received the watch, and as expected couldnt recreate the intermittent issue and just sent it back to me, case closed

  • Im still waiting for it to arrive 4 days after it was sent but its obviously still broken. So slow ass delivery and useless support
  • Apple support said there is noting they can do, I would just to send it back until they were able to magically recreate the issue
  • Ive already logged a refund with Amazon and will send back when it happens to arrive on the slow boat delivery

But all in all Ive really felt Apple's management of this issue has been just really below what i expected

I will buy another watch from Apple directly because i really liked it and believe they have a really good no questions refund policy (which i have to confirm yet)

What would you have done, any other thoughts?

:-)

Electrical & Electronics Apple Smartwatch

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Comments

  • k-rokfm on 05/08/2022 - 08:30
    +3

    believe they have a really good no questions refund policy (which i have to confirm yet)

    As long as it’s not damaged you will have no issues. No question asked refund for 2 weeks.

    If you have an Apple store nearby you will have much better service and support going in to them and potentially being able to replicate it in store

    • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 08:34
      +1

      Nice, yeah thats what I was hoping for, easier to access support and someone to get cranky with

      • k-rokfm on 05/08/2022 - 08:37

        Also side note - if you purchase direct from Apple you will get consumer law with them which makes issues and returns very simple.

        Apple only comes with 12 months warranty, so after that any issues raised under consumer law have to go through the retailer which can be a PITA

        • Brian McGee on 05/08/2022 - 09:17
          +3

          Apple only comes with 12 months warranty, so after that any issues raised under consumer law have to go through the retailer which can be a PITA

          Not really, I have used Apple services at the genius bar well into the products 4th year and always had 'free' service. Most of the product I have were bought through other retail channels ('store'@ebay, JB HiFi, Kogan and telco plans).

          • k-rokfm on 05/08/2022 - 09:50

            @Brian McGee: Yes service is always “free” but if you have to get something physically fixed then you will run into issues

            • Brian McGee on 05/08/2022 - 12:01

              @k-rokfm: I had a 2 year old iphone 8 that develioped the camera not opening issue. It was purchased from TGG Ebay. It was repaired free of charge without having to send it from Manly to Penrith TGG for them to organise repair. I know it's a only a sample of 1, but there have been issues with iOS updates stalling and bricking the phones after 3 years, no problems in getting service to reset. And never have I been asked for receipts/proof of purchase, they just go by the activation date.

          • txchou on 16/08/2022 - 11:24

            @Brian McGee: seconded. same here in my experience.

        • bbinc on 06/08/2022 - 11:20

          Buying from Amazon shows as being from the Apple store. So is Apple the retailer and Amazon just the Marketplace???

        • ColtNoir on 06/08/2022 - 16:28

          Not true, as long as it's within warranty they're good. Even just outside as long as you throw in ‘do you think this is reasonable, I would be expected this to last longer based on the price’ and purchased in Oz, then you're good.
          I've only ever bought iPhones through my provider, and unless it was dead on arrival they'll help.

      • Brian McGee on 05/08/2022 - 09:14
        +3

        Why not just take the SE you have into the apple store and show the "genius" how its not working?

        • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 09:22

          Thats a valid option, i didnt know that was a thing, I'm not an apple guy (well i now have a lot of apple gear, but i still consider myself a google guy). I live an hour drive plus Brisbane's parking costs to get to the apple store so thats a last resort thing but good to know they are helpful

          • Brian McGee on 05/08/2022 - 09:31
            +4

            @billdsl: Obviously if its not too far away, but there are apple stores in Chermside and Carindale.

        • DJM on 06/08/2022 - 09:45

          Been there, done that. ECG stopped working, confirmed by ‘Genius’ as not working but when tested by software the watch passed their tests so, ‘sorry, but it tests ok, nothing we can do for you. Complaining to Apple, sending to Sydney, then several weeks without a watch, more complaining and finally received a replacement under warranty. Really disappointing process for an obvious fault. I expected better service from Apple.

          • billdsl on 17/08/2022 - 08:07

            @DJM: Its strange huh given you sort of go with them for simplicity and service, but the service once things break looks to be sub optimal

            Thankfully Amazon just sent me a new watch, problem solved, ill move on and know a little more than i did previously about a few things

  • cameldownunder on 05/08/2022 - 08:31
    -5

    "I will buy another watch from Apple " ……

    Fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame on Amazon ?

    Seriously, first watch is a dud, you still going for a second one. Fanboy !

    • Axelstrife on 05/08/2022 - 09:53
      +2

      1 item is faulty so every single one must be faulty as well right?

      • vinnychase on 05/08/2022 - 11:44
        +2

        Yes, according to mathematical induction

  • 87percent on 05/08/2022 - 08:32
    +4

    I would have just contacted Amazon and gotten them to send a new one

    • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 08:35

      Good point, i havent actually chased a replacement manually through their support team

      The website when i submitted the return request gave me a message that a replacement wasnt an option, probably because of the sale price

      I'll give that a shot

    • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 08:51
      +2

      This worked a treat, they are sending me a replacement before I even send the old one back

      Kudos to Amazon, this goes further than what I expected (kinda the service i hoped Apple would provide)

      Thanks for the idea

      • cuteseal on 05/08/2022 - 08:56
        +1

        Congrats on the replacement.

        But what's with the avatar? Impostor!!! :P

        • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 08:59

          No thats really me, honest

          Tis a little out of date now though isnt it, might be time for an update

        • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 09:01

          Oh wtf, i didnt notice you had the same thing mwuhaha

  • ThithLord on 05/08/2022 - 08:59
    +2

    That is a poor experience, indeed. Intermittent I.T. issues are the worst, because the support team likely didn't want to hold onto your watch all day to see if this issue could be replicated.

    Glad to see you have a resolution in motion, though

    • AndyC1 on 05/08/2022 - 10:37

      Intermittent issues seem to be dealt with in two ways:
      1) Good companies check the product to see that it has not been abused and works, but replace it as they cannot find a fault and it will cost them way too much time and effort to find the fault. The replacement may be replace major components in the product.
      2) Cheap companies test the product and as NFF return it as it did not play up in the allocated 5 or 10 minutes of testing.

      I know from experience if the overseas supplier or importer wants to have good company reputation then they would have replaced it, but outsourced repair centers can stuff this up.

      • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 10:44

        Exactly, I thought Apple would have fallen into slot#1 for support, clearly I was mistaken :-)

      • ThithLord on 05/08/2022 - 11:20
        +1

        I understand what you're saying.

        But in all my experiences with Apple support they provided fantastic support, even outside of ACL Warranty. They replaced my iPhone SE 2016 on the spot, 2.5yrs after I purchased it, when I reported poor battery issues.

        I had to take a handful of iPhones to Apple support (I worked in the corporate office of a large retailer in their I.T. department) and had zero issues getting faulty iPhones replaced.

        1) Good companies check the product to see that it has not been abused and works, but replace it as they cannot find a fault and it will cost them way too much time and effort to find the fault. The replacement may be replace major components in the product.

        Got any examples?

  • stirlo on 05/08/2022 - 10:09
    +1

    Are you using a case/screen protector on the watch? These frequently interfere with the edges of the screen…

    • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 10:46

      It initially happened after about 4hrs of firing it up, no screen protector or case just as it came out of the box

      I then installed a protector and it failed again after that, i removed it and the third time it failed was without the protector

      Something going wrong with it, my wife and daugher both have the watches and hadnt seen the issue before on theirs

  • El cheepo on 05/08/2022 - 10:33
    +1

    Hows your battery life?

    Not too sure i could handle having to charge one every day before bed.

    • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 10:50
      +1

      To be honest i didnt have it long enough to get a really good bead on battery life or know if excercise burnt it more or not, but it would be pretty much a daily charge setup

      I had started to get into a routine of putting it on charge for an hour or two when i either came home at night, or came inside at night and was kicking about with dinner, showers etc, and then would put it back on prior to bed to track sleep etc

      I had a Garmin Fenix previously which last ages, but also did no where near as much

    • Morien on 05/08/2022 - 11:43

      My battery lasts about a day and a half, but yeah. Def needs to be charged daily.

    • Kayrhcp on 06/08/2022 - 08:46

      I’m the same. I have quite a few apple products, but the watch is one that’s never really interested me because I don’t want to charge everyday. And Fitbit has better sleep tracking data.

  • Morien on 05/08/2022 - 11:37
    +2

    Wondering why you didn't return to Amazon for a replacement?

    Edit: Ah, see that you now have. GG

    For future reference, you should never be sending something back to the manufacturer for repair when it had early life failure. Within the first 30 days (at least), so straight to the retailer for a swap over.

  • OMGJL on 05/08/2022 - 13:42
    +1

    day#3 Failed again, I organised to send it to Apple for repair

    Should've contact Amazon straight away.

    FYI for future reference, when you have received a faulty product, contact the retail store you purchased it from before contacting manufacturer —— as long as your retailer is one of those with relatively big names.

  • davidtse916 on 05/08/2022 - 14:16
    +1

    I would get a refund from Amazon AU right away and get it directly from Apple. You should check out their refurbished store as well: https://www.apple.com/au/shop/refurbished/watch

  • billdsl on 05/08/2022 - 16:16

    Good points about seller refund first when its pretty much broken out of the box, makes sense and I dont know why i didnt go that route

    Thanks for the link @davidtse916

  • ozboygsl on 06/08/2022 - 12:56

    Better apple "service" than usual. - one of the reasons I'll never buy an apple product again.

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