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Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,828
3,700
United Kingdom
Ordered the A quality versions of the 42mm link and leather loops, ordered on the 6th and delivered by the 8th. Excellent speed!

Still nothing arrived, guess I have to give them the rest of this week to deliver it before I complain.

The link and leather bands are delivered special delivery, sport bands are not, it's due to the price of said item. Hence why yours came so fast.
 

youngbro

macrumors newbie
Sep 13, 2015
7
0
Still nothing arrived, guess I have to give them the rest of this week to deliver it before I complain.

The link and leather bands are delivered special delivery, sport bands are not, it's due to the price of said item. Hence why yours came so fast.
Yea unfortunately
 

Defender2010

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 6, 2010
3,131
1,097
I finally ordered a 38mm SS Link Bracelet from CEX after weeks of checking their website....ordered yesterday for £120 Grade A. Today it arrived, but some numpty has sent me a Space Black one instead. It's in mint condition (checked it with a torch for nicks and scratches, having read about those issues for some users here) but it obviously doesn't go with my SS watch so it's going back to my local store tomorrow. I knew it was the wrong colour since 1pm when it was delivered (my partner opened it for me), so I went into a CEX in London and they confirmed that they refund returns bought online, no issues as long as you have the invoice. It also states this on the website. So reluctantly, I'll return it tomorrow and wait again for the one I actually want. Bit disappointed in the error they made as I had my heart set on wearing the new strap to an event this weekend. Bar this experience CEX have been great for me.
 

nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Finally pulled the trigger on an SS Link Bracelet! I stopped by an Apple Store today to try one on (it's been a while since I've had a hands-on) and found myself unable to leave without one.

View attachment 610197

What an amazing piece of engineering and craftsmanship. I've briefly tried them on before, but this is the first time I've really spent quality time with one. Very excited to finally have it after months of thinking about it. I'm not sure how often my leather loop is going to get used, going forward. I guess I'll come up with an excuse eventually.

I debated on going the CEX route but opted to get a new one from Apple instead. Having the piece of mind of Apple's support is important to me. No knocks against those who opt for second-hand -- CEX is certainly offering a great deal. If I lived close to a store I might have done it.

my only worry about a link bracelet from CEX is getting a knockoff and not being able to tell. with a sport band it would be more obvious as nobody is making them with the colour matching bumpers.
 

markhort

macrumors 68000
Aug 28, 2010
1,690
1,617
UK
Checking CEX this morning looks like most of the grade a straps have sold out. Still haven't been able to get my hands on a blue leather loop in medium.

my only worry about a link bracelet from CEX is getting a knockoff and not being able to tell. with a sport band it would be more obvious as nobody is making them with the colour matching bumpers.

CEX won't except OEM, knock off's or 3rd party versions.
 

nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Checking CEX this morning looks like most of the grade a straps have sold out. Still haven't been able to get my hands on a blue leather loop in medium.



CEX won't except OEM, knock off's or 3rd party versions.

because their workers aren't humans and don't make mistakes? how can you be sure there's not been a switch and bait, unless the box is still sealed, obviously. is that even guaranteed with grade A, though?
 

Defender2010

Cancelled
Original poster
Jun 6, 2010
3,131
1,097
because their workers aren't humans and don't make mistakes? how can you be sure there's not been a switch and bait, unless the box is still sealed, obviously. is that even guaranteed with grade A, though?
3rd party straps usually (in fact - I have seen none) do not have the exact markings of the official ones. Eg. The size of the leather loop printed on the inside 38mm/42mm, or the size on the inside of the butterfly enclosure. If you do some research you know what to look out for.
 

markhort

macrumors 68000
Aug 28, 2010
1,690
1,617
UK
because their workers aren't humans and don't make mistakes? how can you be sure there's not been a switch and bait, unless the box is still sealed, obviously. is that even guaranteed with grade A, though?

A very very small chance at best. Glass half empty kind of person?

it's pretty easy to tell a real strap / band from a 3rd party. 9 times out of 10, grade A's are sealed. If it's not seal then it will come complete with it's box etc.
 
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nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
A very very small chance at best. Glass half empty kind of person?

it's pretty easy to tell a real strap / band from a 3rd party. 9 times out of 10, grade A's are sealed. If it's not seal then it will come complete with it's box etc.

I'm in China and I'd be relying on a family member to check it before bringing it out to me next month.

"You can't be too careful" I suppose is what I'm thinking. I need my dad to be able to say "it's legit" or not with certainty and sort it for me before it's too late!
 

redman042

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
I believe CEX is trying to do the right thing (and normally does) based on the reports of many MacRumors members who I believe could tell right away if their link bracelet was genuine or not. Now, in a year or so the Chinese copycats might be so dialed in that it would be much harder to tell, but not yet.

My reason for not going the CEX route is the potential to get the wrong band or have the band break in six months and need to call on their warranty, and when that happens, having trouble and delays getting the case resolved. I have little free time for all that. I don't have a store near me either. I know when I go with Apple, I can just walk in with my defective strap and walk out with a replacement. I paid a lot more to go that route, but I can afford the purchase. Also I was able to experience opening a brand new strap.
 

Sigoogle

macrumors member
Dec 26, 2015
65
33
UK
So far, my Link Bracelet (Grade C from CEX) has been amazing, even with the Silver Sport, it still looks beautiful :D

I honestly feel like it is worth the price, and to have that little unboxing feeling is just an extra bonus! (who doesn't like unboxing Apple products?)
 

redman042

macrumors 68040
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
So far, my Link Bracelet (Grade C from CEX) has been amazing, even with the Silver Sport, it still looks beautiful :D

I honestly feel like it is worth the price, and to have that little unboxing feeling is just an extra bonus! (who doesn't like unboxing Apple products?)

It's a great thing that CEX's deals have made it comfortable for more people to purchase and experience this strap. It's obvious the minute you put it on that this is the strap the watch was made for. There's no reason not to get it for the silver sport. My wife has a Milanese with her silver sport and it looks great.

I am curious who is selling their link bracelets to CEX for such low prices that they can resell them for less than $300, barely used. This has me a little dumbfounded.

I agree on the worth. The precision involved in manufacturing this strap easily justifies the retail price, especially considering that link bracelets from other watchmakers often sell for even more, despite not being as nice as this.
 

Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,828
3,700
United Kingdom
My blue sport band is still not here, I did manage to snag the green sport band off CEX for £8 today though, wonder if this one will turn up before my blue one......
 

Samh92

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2016
118
15
U.K. Essex
Ordered a midnight blue and product red sports strap from cex, based on everyone else's experiences on here.

I walk past a cex shop everyday at work and noticed an apple strap in the window and never realised they stocked loads. So tomorrow I'll be popping in there to see what else they have. Really trying to find a blue or black leather strap in medium.

Also does anyone know what sizes they send the sports straps in as it doesn't say on the website whether it's s/m or m/l
 

nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Ordered a midnight blue and product red sports strap from cex, based on everyone else's experiences on here.

I walk past a cex shop everyday at work and noticed an apple strap in the window and never realised they stocked loads. So tomorrow I'll be popping in there to see what else they have. Really trying to find a blue or black leather strap in medium.

Also does anyone know what sizes they send the sports straps in as it doesn't say on the website whether it's s/m or m/l

it should be complete, if it's grade A - if it isn't, it's not top grade!
 

Samh92

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2016
118
15
U.K. Essex
it should be complete, if it's grade A - if it isn't, it's not top grade!

Both bands were grade A, excuse my ignorance but I haven't brought just a strap from Apple, I assumed you buy which size you want and you don't receive both small & larges straps like you do with the watch. Is this not the case when buying the sports strap then?
 

nicho

macrumors 601
Feb 15, 2008
4,250
3,250
Both bands were grade A, excuse my ignorance but I haven't brought just a strap from Apple, I assumed you buy which size you want and you don't receive both small & larges straps like you do with the watch. Is this not the case when buying the sports strap then?

you receive both S/M and M/L and a shared portion with the pin so you can use one or the other.

reason being, for those in the middle of the sizing, theres some overlap and for those holes there's in between sizing, if that makes sense. ie if you were between holes in one band you might find a perfect fit with the other.
 

Samh92

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2016
118
15
U.K. Essex
you receive both S/M and M/L and a shared portion with the pin so you can use one or the other.

reason being, for those in the middle of the sizing, theres some overlap and for those holes there's in between sizing, if that makes sense. ie if you were between holes in one band you might find a perfect fit with the other.

Excellent :)

Think I've got myself a nice bargain then. Brought today and already been dispatched.

Cheers for the heads up
 

Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,828
3,700
United Kingdom
Excellent :)

Think I've got myself a nice bargain then. Brought today and already been dispatched.

Cheers for the heads up

A heads up, I ordered one from CEX last thursday, was dispatched last thursday and nothing has arrived yet. Also ordered one yesterday, wonder which will arrive first.
 

Samh92

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2016
118
15
U.K. Essex
A heads up, I ordered one from CEX last thursday, was dispatched last thursday and nothing has arrived yet. Also ordered one yesterday, wonder which will arrive first.

From what I've read I believe anything under £40 is sent first class, being 5 working days delivery. I hope I don't have to wait out too long for mine. Are you in the UK or US?
 

Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,828
3,700
United Kingdom
From what I've read I believe anything under £40 is sent first class, being 5 working days delivery. I hope I don't have to wait out too long for mine. Are you in the UK or US?

I am in the UK, I contacted CEX but no reply, that was yesterday morning. Been disappointed so far but I've always had good experiences in the stores having sold/bought thousands of pounds worth of stuff with them.
 

Samh92

macrumors regular
Jan 4, 2016
118
15
U.K. Essex
I am in the UK, I contacted CEX but no reply, that was yesterday morning. Been disappointed so far but I've always had good experiences in the stores having sold/bought thousands of pounds worth of stuff with them.

Sorry to hear that, with a bit of luck it turns up today or tomorrow for you.

Recently in generally I've been waiting ages on deliveries from Royal Mail. Royal Mail could well be the problem?
 

Fried_Gold

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2013
3,828
3,700
United Kingdom
Sorry to hear that, with a bit of luck it turns up today or tomorrow for you.

Recently in generally I've been waiting ages on deliveries from Royal Mail. Royal Mail could well be the problem?

Yeah don't get me wrong, CEX don't control the postal service so I'm not blaming them. Royal Mail are the issue.
 

DeutscheMark

macrumors regular
Jun 25, 2015
129
260
Nuremberg, Germany
I even imported the link bracelet with grade A from CeX to Germany because of the very good price (£115). No problem with the delivery (just a few days), but unfortunately the packaging of the band is completely missing. Just the white box and the strap itself. The band is genuine and in very good shape though and I think the band was never worn before. Guess thats the risk you have with these pawn shops. You can't always get a sealed one.
 
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