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Solo loop split and completely broke apart after barely 8 months. Very frustrating!!! Any compensation for a new watch band??

How can this happen? I now have no watchband.

Posted on Jul 15, 2021 11:05 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 24, 2021 12:49 PM

This is why I just purchase cheaper, third party Watch bands.

I don't see the quality for the prices Apple sells their Watch bands for and when a watch band breaks, Apple is going to try a put up a bunch of roadblocks to get another free replacement?

WT?.....

Also, for some of their higher priced watch bands, you are paying for some designer name and maybe, MAYBE better quality.

Not worth these prices, in my humble opinion.


Cheaper priced Watch bands are easily found for purchase on Amazon that, if they last a year or more then break, cheap to replace.


I have bought two solo braided loop bands in pink and purple for my wife online from Amazon for $35 for both and free shipping.

I purchased two metal Milanese loop bands on Amazon, one a nice emerald green color and one a dark blue/black color and those were $20 each and work just fine with no sharp edges to dig into my wrist and look great!


I see no value in purchasing overpriced Watch bands from Apple when there are cheaper and equal quality bands being produced by other third party watch band makers.

24 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 24, 2021 12:49 PM in response to JackArrow

This is why I just purchase cheaper, third party Watch bands.

I don't see the quality for the prices Apple sells their Watch bands for and when a watch band breaks, Apple is going to try a put up a bunch of roadblocks to get another free replacement?

WT?.....

Also, for some of their higher priced watch bands, you are paying for some designer name and maybe, MAYBE better quality.

Not worth these prices, in my humble opinion.


Cheaper priced Watch bands are easily found for purchase on Amazon that, if they last a year or more then break, cheap to replace.


I have bought two solo braided loop bands in pink and purple for my wife online from Amazon for $35 for both and free shipping.

I purchased two metal Milanese loop bands on Amazon, one a nice emerald green color and one a dark blue/black color and those were $20 each and work just fine with no sharp edges to dig into my wrist and look great!


I see no value in purchasing overpriced Watch bands from Apple when there are cheaper and equal quality bands being produced by other third party watch band makers.

Aug 30, 2021 10:59 AM in response to Dumbo10

Again, we are, mostly, just Apple product users here, in these volunteer user support communities, AND NOT Apple.

Your options are limited.


You will need to search online for your nearest, “local” Apple store location and call contact phone numbers and call to make an appointment to have your Watch issues addressed


Failing that,

You need to contact Apple support via the contact support link located at the upper right hand corner of every Webpage of these Apple support communities.


Use the appropriate support categories.


OR


by installing and using the Apple Support app found in the iOS App Store.


Tap the iOS App Store link below.


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-support/id1130498044


OR


Call contact Apple via the support numbers found in the link bekow.


Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Tap the link below.


https://www.apple.com/contact/



Best of Luck to You!

Jul 22, 2021 5:07 AM in response to Dumbo10

I have only had my apple watch for a short period of time. My watch band solo has broken. I want to order another, but feel there should be some type of discount. Evidently I cannot purchase a different band as my watch only is made for this type of band. Please inform me as to how to get a new band for my watch. For this price, I feel I should get some type of assistance.

Jul 22, 2021 5:30 AM in response to mgeringer

Call Apple support about your failed solo loop. Failure of the band after normal use is covered by the Apple accessories limited 1-year warranty: I was so informed after a very long time on support line with an Apple specialist. (She had to put me on hold several times and check with others before telling me it was covered.) She sent me a box in which I could return the broken watchband. I received it overnight and returned to a Fedex dropbox yesterday. It is already out for delivery to the return center in PA. I presume they soon will be sending me a new solo loop band to replace it. There certainly does seem to be a problem with the solo loop. The need to pull on it to get it on and off is the problem. The joint that slides into the Apple watch where the silicone band is joined with the embedded metal hinge piece fails. Can't take al the pulling. Fails in a matter off months. Design flaw.

Jul 24, 2021 12:23 PM in response to JackArrow

A DAY OR TWO AFTER POSTING MY PREVIOUS REPLY, I checked the status of my "repair" after I had sent back the band in the box provided by Apple. Its status was shown as "cancelled." No further explanation. I have now spent 2 hours on chats and on phone over 2 days trying to find out what's going on. Apple support people seemed greatly puzzled, have to put me on long holds. Now I have just been told that I will receive the band back from Apple with a letter explaining why the case was cancelled and, when I do receive that, I'm supposed to leave a voicemail with my latest Apple support person telling her what the letter says. ..... All this to have a failed watchband replaced under its 1-year warranty, with success not assured.



Aug 1, 2021 5:15 PM in response to MichelPM

Following an hours long "chat" with apple support, when I finally was able to speak with a real person over the phone, who said he had spoken with his supervisor about my broken watchband, I was told that I could go to the apple store in my city and that they would replace the broken watchband. I went to the store at my scheduled appointment time, and after a rather long wait, was informed that the single loop watchband break was NOT covered under warranty. The only break that would be covered, he said, was if it had broken at the point where it connects to the watch. I had sent photos of the watch break to the apple support person on the chat so it was clear that my watchband split and broke on the actual band itself, not where it attaches to the watch. To make matters worse, the apple store did NOT have a replacement band in stock-- if I wanted to purchase a new one for $49, it would have to be ordered, take about a week, and I would have to return to the store to pick it up. Super annoying. I have looked on Amazon at the cheaper knock offs, but the sizes are a wider range, and reviews not great. Very disappointed in apple service, or rather, lack thereof, and the quality of their watchbands.

Aug 1, 2021 5:28 PM in response to Dumbo10

The cheaper bands I purchased on Amazon for my wife and I are still standing up and look great and clean very easy.

Have not had any issues yet.

Not sure what you are looking at for third party bands, but the ones I purchased online seem to be OK.

My wife and I have no complaints, so far.

Depends on what kinds of bands you are looking for.'

Also, you still need to acurrately measure your wrist where you usually have your watch and watch band placed on yiur wrist.

Most third party bands DO have a range of wrist measurements for certain band sizes.

Aug 19, 2021 8:07 PM in response to MichelPM

Warranty does not cover. Given the numerous reports of split and broken solo loop bands after just a few months of use, it's clear that this is a huge design and manufacturing flaw, and the band should be a subject of a recall and replacement at Apple's expense. Simply put, the band develops cracks and then splits entirely. The cheaper knock-offs sold on amazon have the same flaws, as reported there by purchasers. Plus, the cheaper ones are thinner and stretch out more quickly, so are not a remedy. Apple really messed up on this one.

Aug 19, 2021 8:20 PM in response to JackArrow

Warranty does not cover. Given the numerous reports of split and broken solo loop bands after just a few months of use, it's clear that this is a huge design and manufacturing flaw, and the band should be a subject of a recall and replacement at Apple's expense. Simply put, the silicon band develops cracks and then splits entirely. It was not properly tested before being put out on the market. Now customers are stuck. The cheaper knock-offs sold on amazon have the same flaws, as reported there by purchasers. I bought a cheaper one, after reading numerous reviews. While exactly the same length and width, it was thinner and stretchier, so the fit was much looser. There are many reviews saying the thinner, cheaper ones just stretch out after a few months, and are useless. Apple really messed up on this one. If enough people complain and publicize this serious flaw, Apple might be prompted to replace at no charge with a better product to uphold their reputation.

Aug 19, 2021 8:24 PM in response to Rudegar

Warranty does not cover. Given the numerous reports of split and broken solo loop bands after just a few months of use, it's clear that this is a huge design and manufacturing flaw, and the band should be a subject of a recall and replacement at Apple's expense. Simply put, the band develops cracks and then splits entirely. The cheaper knock-offs sold on amazon have the same flaws, as reported there by purchasers. Plus, the cheaper ones are thinner and stretch out more quickly, so are not a remedy. Apple really messed up on this one. If enough people report this serious problem, Apple might take remedial action and replace the bands at no charge with a better product, to uphold their reputation.

Solo loop split and completely broke apart after barely 8 months. Very frustrating!!! Any compensation for a new watch band??

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