I was told at the Apple Store there is an Apple sponsored Watch band exchange program. Is this true?
Watch Standard 38mm, iOS 8.3
Ask the person at the Apple Store. I have not heard nor seen any Apple document about such a program. You do have an option to return any purchased product within 15 days from date of purchase for an exchange or your money back. The product must be returned with all packaging material and a dated receipt.
There were reports of this (example below), but no confirmation from Apple
http://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/22/apple-band-only-apple-watch-exchanges/
Try a 3rd party like ibandswap dot com. I haven't used them, but looks promising...
This is how it played out. I visited the Apple Store and was told to call 1-800-MyApple. Eventually I spoke to a human who explained the process. Within 15 days of receipt of the Watch, you may 'exchange' bands. You are charged for the replacement when the order is made. Once the new band arrives, the old band goes back into the same packaging and is returned. Once Apple receives the returned item, a refund for the amount of the original band is made. If the replacement band is in the same price group as the original, it will be a wash. If there is a difference in price (e.g. exchanging Milanese Loop for Sport band or vice versa), you will pay or be refunded the difference. The delivery time varies depending on the band requested. Some bands are much more popular and for those you will wait longer. I am exchanging a Black Classic Buckle band for a Milanese Loop and the new band is set to arrive 7 days after the replacement order.
There is! I just read an article about it the other day. I haven't used the service but I think it's free of charge. http://ibandswap.com
This seems to be in line with what I read on the mac rumors site here: http://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/22/apple-band-only-apple-watch-exchanges/ Think someone else posted this in this thread as well.
I had the same experience. You have to do it online as the stores cannot process the return unless you return the entire watch. It hasn't been easy to get it processed though. The support teams seem very confused about this request.
Update: This is definitely a confusing and broken process at the moment. Had 3 separate sales support people attempt to process a band exchange. Was told so many different things. For ex:
*That you can exchange a link for a sport band (but only black or white)
*That you can't do that
*That only black and white sport bands work with the steel Watch
*That you can return a band while keeping the phone, but it would be easier in-store
*When going to a store, that it was not possible to a return in-store, you have to do it online/over the phone...
Anyway, at the end of each call, a return shipping label was supposed to be kicked back to me but it never came. Finally on the 3rd call, I was told that the Stainless Steel Link band was not eligible for an exchange at all. You can either return the whole Watch or you're stuck with it. I spent about 2+ hours total on the phone about this. Weirdly, after giving up (as I didn't want to be without the Watch for a month), I received a return authorization for the Link band this morning. Maybe they realized the frustration of the process. I really love the Watch but people are going to have issues with the bands. There needs to be a better process for it. The fact I bought it early shouldn't penalize me. Anyway, if this return actually goes through I'm satisfied.
Is there a Watch band swap exchange?
