I mentioned once to an Apple employee that I fixed iPads on the side sometimes. She was surprised because, as she said, even Apple doesn’t fix them; they just give you a new one and charge you half price. Maybe that’s changed by now but I wouldn’t be surprised if it hasn’t, those things are miserable to fix and I bet the Watch is just as bad.
iPads tend to get 2-3 out of 10 for repairability from iFixit. Surprisingly the Apple Watch Series 6 gets a whopping 6/10 for repairability.
Apple does sell refurbished watches, so it's probably that it's cheaper and more efficient to just grab a new Apple Watch from a box, give it to the customer and throw the old one in the refurbished parts bin. You also don't need a local shop to do repairs since the customer isn't waiting angrily to get their device back, so you can just bulk ship them to some central place.
It's still true. I went to get an iPad with a screen problem repaired and they said they don't repair it. If there is an issue, they'll just take it and give you replacement. And obviously charge you an arm and leg for it hoping you'd opt to buy a new iPad. I just went ahead and bought a compatible screen, toolkit and learnt how to replace the screen myself (it was a pain).
Except his watch's case is fine, it's the internals that need fixing. The customer shouldn't have to pay more in this case - Apple should either swallow the cost or actually repair the existing device.
I hate these forced software updates with a passion!
If you're sure the software update was what killed your watch, you should demand nothing less than a new replacement watch, at no additional cost to you.
The fact that a routine software update can fail and brick the device is a defect. This problem has been solved over a decade ago with BIOS updates even on entry-level boards by having 2 BIOSes on the board where the second one can be used to recover from if the first one is bricked, so there's really no excuse for this to be an issue nowadays.
An Apple Watch cost is mostly just profit for the fancy materials.
It’s unfair to take that large profit over again on a ‘repair’ where their hardware is the thing at fault.
The internals stopped working, not the case, so they should replace at the cost of the internals. They can keep the case materials if they really are so valuable.
I worked for a time at an Apple Authorized repair shop and watches are not repaired. They’re inspected for warrantable damage, sent to Apple, inspected again for other warrantable damage on the internals, then replaced if authorized. You’re getting a discounted watch, not an inflated repair.
I never understood, with the limited lifespan each Apple Watch realistically has - why on earth folks would opt for these far more expensive steel or ceramic units; anyways.
The biggest atrocity would be the poor folks who spent $10k+ on the original 24k gold Apple Watch Edition Series 0.
They are now stuck with an incredibly slow unit that’s locked to WatchOS 4.
I get that it’s a fashion thing; I mostly own a Watch as a fashion statement - but even with the extra income to afford it - I just could never imagine choosing to.
I find the glass on the Titanium scratches less than the others. Believe it’s different glass but the Stainless may also have it?
AppleCare+ Warranty for Watch Edition is also 3 years (albeit more expensive to buy) and for when it does get damaged, being able to get a new one for reasonable “in warranty” costs is something I value. I believe AppleCare+ for the others is 2 years, but their new monthly plans might support going >24 months before you’re entirely out of warranty?
I didn’t do Edition in the Series 0 timeframe because $10k is ludicrous but the Aluminum vs. Titanium costs are much closer with Series 7.
The glass is intentionally different. The sports one is supposed to be more shatterproof but scratches easier. The stainless model is much more scratch resistant but shatters easier.
My wifes Series 2 lasted a few years with minimal scratching, she got a Series 5 and the face is basically ruined after a year and a bit. It is SO bad.
or they like and appreciate it more than the wealth part
the great thing about expensive watches is that nobody notices or recognizes them, in favor of fawning or expressing disdain over the medium tier brand that they heard in a rap song
I’ve found this is generally true: in any category of goods there are the brands that signal “I have money” (Johnnie Walker Blue) and then there are the brands that people who know what they’re doing buy.
From what you’re saying, it doesn’t look like it. Fashion trends are not meant to be sensible. Plenty of people throw money at stuff they can’t afford. Look at poor people wearing Supreme and Prada.
If I buy a 10k watch it’s because it’s in my budget and will probably buy another one later or replace it with a Rolex.
For people that are into style, the aluminum case is a non-starter. Completely clashes with the rest of the outfit in a very bad way, ie. the eye is drawn to the watch to understand why a contrasting accessory has been chosen for this outfit. The steel case with the premium bands don't completely solve this problem; but, they mitigate it a lot. ie you can get away with wearing a stainless steel case + Milanese loop band with a suit and it isn't going to look so strange. Additionally, in the world of watches, the titanium Apple watch isn't even expensive.
A few weeks ago I dropped by Series 6 Stainless Steel. First time I've ever cracked a screen, so I didn't have Apple Care. Definitely sticker shock. I was able to put a cheap screen protector on it, but in the long run, it costs about the same to buy a new Series 7 and sell the cracked watch as it does to fix it.
I’ve had no problems selling anything yet either. Usually goes within 6 hours here at a well inflated price.
I bought an iPhone 12 December 2019 and decided to swap it out for a 13 pro a couple of weeks back for the camera improvements. Apple accidentally refunded the entire AppleCare cost and I sold it for £190 less than I paid for it. So TCO was £16 a month.
With recent iphones I’ve yet to have one that didn’t already have cracks on the back glass around the time applecare was about to end, that seems to immediately qualify for a device replacement.
Also, doesn’t applecare+ cover scratches and dents anyway? They’d probably swap out a perfectly functional phone over minor damage if you insist, never tried that though.
I’m in the UK so I charge the shipping and handling to the buyer, sell on an offer day and there is no sales tax on private sales. Total cost to me is usually £1 to sell it.
In my local market, I prefer a modified version of this.
I buy a second hand last generation Apple device from someone that comes with a year of AppleCare or warranty. I then sell that device and repeat every year or so.
AppleCare does not add THAT much value to devices sold on my local aftermarket, so you get a deal on it.
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[ 0.95 ms ] story [ 94.5 ms ] threadWhat surprised me is for the exact same internals, they will charge you substantially more to fix it depending on the case material.
Aluminium is the cheapest at about £150. Steel costs just over £300 and if you were foolish enough to opt for ceramic, that will be £750.
To fix the exact same thing!
I call foul play.
Definitely something to bear in mind when buying one though.
Apple does sell refurbished watches, so it's probably that it's cheaper and more efficient to just grab a new Apple Watch from a box, give it to the customer and throw the old one in the refurbished parts bin. You also don't need a local shop to do repairs since the customer isn't waiting angrily to get their device back, so you can just bulk ship them to some central place.
https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/watch
You’re getting a new Apple Watch.
Should a processor upgrade cost more because my case has led lights and a glass door?
Seems fine by me?
If you're sure the software update was what killed your watch, you should demand nothing less than a new replacement watch, at no additional cost to you.
It’s unfair to take that large profit over again on a ‘repair’ where their hardware is the thing at fault.
The internals stopped working, not the case, so they should replace at the cost of the internals. They can keep the case materials if they really are so valuable.
The biggest atrocity would be the poor folks who spent $10k+ on the original 24k gold Apple Watch Edition Series 0.
They are now stuck with an incredibly slow unit that’s locked to WatchOS 4.
I get that it’s a fashion thing; I mostly own a Watch as a fashion statement - but even with the extra income to afford it - I just could never imagine choosing to.
AppleCare+ Warranty for Watch Edition is also 3 years (albeit more expensive to buy) and for when it does get damaged, being able to get a new one for reasonable “in warranty” costs is something I value. I believe AppleCare+ for the others is 2 years, but their new monthly plans might support going >24 months before you’re entirely out of warranty?
I didn’t do Edition in the Series 0 timeframe because $10k is ludicrous but the Aluminum vs. Titanium costs are much closer with Series 7.
My wifes Series 2 lasted a few years with minimal scratching, she got a Series 5 and the face is basically ruined after a year and a bit. It is SO bad.
Sapphire is more expensive than chemically strengthened glass.
Incidentally the initial working title for the UK science fiction series bearing that name was "The Time Menders" :-)
If you are spending $10k on a 24k gold watch, I would contend two things are true:
1: You are not poor and can afford to upgrade
2: You are more interested in the display of wealth than the functionality that it has
the great thing about expensive watches is that nobody notices or recognizes them, in favor of fawning or expressing disdain over the medium tier brand that they heard in a rap song
From what you’re saying, it doesn’t look like it. Fashion trends are not meant to be sensible. Plenty of people throw money at stuff they can’t afford. Look at poor people wearing Supreme and Prada.
If I buy a 10k watch it’s because it’s in my budget and will probably buy another one later or replace it with a Rolex.
1. Buy the cheapest premium device plus one minor upgrade (more storage etc) as that has the lowest total depreciation.
2. Get AppleCare and pay up front
3. Sell it the moment the AppleCare runs out on eBay. Don’t part exchange it.
4. Your monthly TCO is the sticker price plus AppleCare minus the sale price all divided by the months you owned it.
Make sure all the costly events are someone else’s problem.
I’m running a whole stack of apple devices with little incidental cost if anything happens and lowest overall ownership.
Edit: keep one iphone back which isn’t yet entirely obsolete if you need a backup. Still got a working 6s here.
If you destroy the device a day before AppleCare runs out you can swap it for a brand new one, easier to sell.
I’ve had no problems selling anything yet either. Usually goes within 6 hours here at a well inflated price.
I bought an iPhone 12 December 2019 and decided to swap it out for a 13 pro a couple of weeks back for the camera improvements. Apple accidentally refunded the entire AppleCare cost and I sold it for £190 less than I paid for it. So TCO was £16 a month.
Also, doesn’t applecare+ cover scratches and dents anyway? They’d probably swap out a perfectly functional phone over minor damage if you insist, never tried that though.
The iPhone SE is indestructible, I have a few of them. Never managed to break one.
I buy a second hand last generation Apple device from someone that comes with a year of AppleCare or warranty. I then sell that device and repeat every year or so.
AppleCare does not add THAT much value to devices sold on my local aftermarket, so you get a deal on it.