Resolved Higher Battery Repair Cost

[Parowdy]

Just left the only ACSP (Apple Certified Service Provider) we have outside of big electronic stores and was surprised that they had a MUCH higher price for the battery replacement than Apple quoted on their website.

Apple quotes 106€ (I’m in Germany) but the store is charging 169€.

Why? How? They asked me if they wanted me to have Apple handle the repair/exchange, but YOU ARE representing Apple and are merely sending the watch in, the Support App brought me here for the repair, so, why the different prices?

For anyone in Germany, I went to the BSB Media/Telekom/Jessen Lenz store in Rostock for reference.

Edit:
my last comment concludes the situation

 

[goldmac2006]

Man, that is ridiculous! Had you checked the repair regulations for your country? Sometimes certain nations go a different route for offering repairs, some must be done without any offsetting fees, especially the EU. Also, Apple Authorized Service Providers are allowed to replace batteries at or lower than Apple Store/mail-in prices but cannot be higher than the posted size. Which series and size Apple Watch are you getting a battery replacement done?

 

[Parowdy]

Man, that is ridiculous! Had you checked the repair regulations for your country? Sometimes certain nations go a different route for offering repairs, some must be done without any offsetting fees, especially the EU. Also, Apple Authorized Service Providers are allowed to replace batteries at or lower than Apple Store/mail-in prices but cannot be higher than the posted size. Which series and size Apple Watch are you getting a battery replacement done?

Series 7, 45mm, aluminium, GPS, whatever dark blue

I’m very confused about all of this and am really not happy with my decision. Initially I was worried about the condition as the frame was very very scratched up but they didn’t care or mention it at all, I brought it up but it didn’t matter.
Had I simply just asked if they would service such a scratched watch in the first place I would have kept for a couple more months.

 

[goldmac2006]

Series 7, 45mm, aluminium, GPS, whatever dark blue

I’m very confused about all of this and am really not happy with my decision. Initially I was worried about the condition as the frame was very very scratched up but they didn’t care or mention it at all, I brought it up but it didn’t matter.
Had I simply just asked if they would service such a scratched watch in the first place I would have kept for a couple more months.

Alright, that’s the Apple Watch Series 7 which matches the blue iPhone 13 and 14. Here in the USA it is $99 for the model you specified if you picked Apple Store or mail in, if you have AppleCare + use the benefits in leiu of it and even get an express replacement. 106 euros would be equivalent to $111 dollars in USA which is much higher than the states.

 

[vyspirit]

You should chat with Apple Support to inquire about the final cost of replacing your Apple Watch battery.

 

[goldmac2006]

You should chat with Apple Support to inquire about the final cost of replacing your Apple Watch battery.

This is also another great way to dispute about it for the OP. sometimes AASPs may be shady in some cases, don’t know how they work in EU but AASPs should comply with consumer law and regulations.

 

[Haga]

You should chat with Apple Support to inquire about the final cost of replacing your Apple Watch battery.

That is useless. Parowdy isn’t/wasn’t doing business with Apple. He is/was doing business with an ACSP. That is something completely different.

 

[Parowdy]

Alright, that’s the Apple Watch Series 7 which matches the blue iPhone 13 and 14. Here in the USA it is $99 for the model you specified if you picked Apple Store or mail in, if you have AppleCare + use the benefits in leiu of it and even get an express replacement. 106 euros would be equivalent to $111 dollars in USA which is much higher than the states.

Yeah, I think I’m going to contact Apple support about this and ask them why the price is higher and how I could’ve paid less because they made it seem like I could choose between them and Apple, then said they would send it into Apple anyway and Apple’s prices would be the same end, with shipping and all. But, that makes no sense either.

 

[Maxis]

Just left the only ACSP (Apple Certified Service Provider) we have outside of big electronic stores and was surprised that they had a MUCH higher price for the battery replacement than Apple quoted on their website.

Apple quotes 106€ (I’m in Germany) but the store is charging 169€.

Why? How? They asked me if they wanted me to have Apple handle the repair/exchange, but YOU ARE representing Apple and are merely sending the watch in, the Support App brought me here for the repair, so, why the different prices?

For anyone in Germany, I went to the BSB Media/Telekom/Jessen Lenz store in Rostock for reference.

I have been thinking the exact same question. Good raise. And this is up North Europe.

 

[mkittyMarina]

Directly asking Apple support would probably be better.

 

[axantas]

The standard cost for a battery change is indeed €109, if the battery states "service". I did it with an old S4 recently. What has to be kept in mind: They are looking at the condition of the watch. If it is damaged more than cosmetically, not working properly anymore, has any electronic defect, then it becomes a "watch repair", which is more expensive than just a battery change. I did the change in an Apple Store and they checked the condition of the watch before accepting it as "battery change".

It does have some kind of logic, but is not really logical, because they just recycle the old one and replace it by a brand new watch.

 

[JPack]

They gotta eat too.

AASPs can set their own prices. One of the selling points for Best Buy for example, is “We will price match Apple service and repair costs of any Apple Authorized Service Provider.” In other words, they will match other third party providers, but not Apple prices.

 

[JPack]

The standard cost for a battery change is indeed €109, if the battery states "service". I did it with an old S4 recently. What has to be kept in mind: They are looking at the condition of the watch. If it is damaged more than cosmetically, not working properly anymore, has any electronic defect, then it becomes a "watch repair", which is more expensive than just a battery change. I did the change in an Apple Store and they checked the condition of the watch before accepting it as "battery change".

It does have some kind of logic, but is not really logical, because they just recycle the old one and replace it by a brand new watch.

“Other damage” repair is typically at least 2-3x the cost of a battery replacement. In this case, the AASP markup is only 60%.

 

[headlessmike]

The standard cost for a battery change is indeed €109, if the battery states "service". I did it with an old S4 recently. What has to be kept in mind: They are looking at the condition of the watch. If it is damaged more than cosmetically, not working properly anymore, has any electronic defect, then it becomes a "watch repair", which is more expensive than just a battery change. I did the change in an Apple Store and they checked the condition of the watch before accepting it as "battery change".

It does have some kind of logic, but is not really logical, because they just recycle the old one and replace it by a brand new watch.

I believe they refurbish the watches as well, so the replacement models were ones originally sent in by another user, hence why they check the condition first. I just did the process as well with my S6 last week.

 

[headlessmike]

Just left the only ACSP (Apple Certified Service Provider) we have outside of big electronic stores and was surprised that they had a MUCH higher price for the battery replacement than Apple quoted on their website.

Apple quotes 106€ (I’m in Germany) but the store is charging 169€.

Why? How? They asked me if they wanted me to have Apple handle the repair/exchange, but YOU ARE representing Apple and are merely sending the watch in, the Support App brought me here for the repair, so, why the different prices?

For anyone in Germany, I went to the BSB Media/Telekom/Jessen Lenz store in Rostock for reference.

Apple sets a price for the service, but the official service providers can set their own prices even if they send the device off to Apple for the actual work. I can search for a certified service provider to swap the battery on my iPhone using Apple's support pages and the prices vary a lot, some being slightly cheaper than Apple and others being significantly more expensive. The attached screenshot shows a few options in the Malmö, Sweden area. Apple's price of 1195 SEK (option 3 is an Apple Store) is equivalent to $108 or €103.

Ultimately it's up to the company to decide what they want to charge you for helping you. There's an Apple Certified Service Provider near my workplace in Stockholm that charges insane prices for both service and accessories, but people use them anyway out of convenience (at by not knowing better).

 

[Bichon]

If you're not happy with the price quoted by the authorized service provider, then why not just pack up the watch and send it to Apple yourself?

If I was a third party service provider, spent a fortune to rent a store in a location convenient to you, hired Apple certified technicians to help you, and took the time and incurred the expense of sending your watch to be serviced by Apple, you can bet I'd want to be compensated. Unless Apple paid me directly for facilitating your repair, I'd certainly mark up their repair cost enough to cover my expenses and make a reasonable profit.

 

[Parowdy]

Directly asking Apple support would probably be better.

Yeah well going to their store was my only option, I think. At least, at the point of making the reservation, I didn’t think about why not to go to the store the Support app showed me.
As I don’t have an AW right now, I can’t even check if „Pick Up“, were you get a box from Apple, would be available. Will check that once I get it back some time next week.

 

[mansplains]

They have to make money somehow. They don’t take a cut of Apple’s sweet $2T for helping those in your area. You’re paying for the convenience of a location, let alone the physicality and overhead of a location itself.

For instance, SimplyMac started offering screen glass (not the panel) repairs as another income source. Servicing another company’s devices while being entirely dependent on said company isn’t very profitable. Hence SimplyMac’s demise.

 

[goldmac2006]

Yeah, I think I’m going to contact Apple support about this and ask them why the price is higher and how I could’ve paid less because they made it seem like I could choose between them and Apple, then said they would send it into Apple anyway and Apple’s prices would be the same end, with shipping and all. But, that makes no sense either.

Go dispute with them regarding that and consult consumer law and regulations for your country.

The standard cost for a battery change is indeed €109, if the battery states "service". I did it with an old S4 recently. What has to be kept in mind: They are looking at the condition of the watch. If it is damaged more than cosmetically, not working properly anymore, has any electronic defect, then it becomes a "watch repair", which is more expensive than just a battery change. I did the change in an Apple Store and they checked the condition of the watch before accepting it as "battery change".

It does have some kind of logic, but is not really logical, because they just recycle the old one and replace it by a brand new watch.

This is the typical procedure done at Apple Store for repair. I would prefer if the AASP just replaced the part directly instead of a replacement Watch like the below 👇 example

They have to make money somehow. They don’t take a cut of Apple’s sweet $2T for helping those in your area. You’re paying for the convenience of a location, let alone the physicality and overhead of a location itself.

For instance, SimplyMac started offering screen glass (not the panel) repairs as another income source. Servicing another company’s devices while being entirely dependent on said company isn’t very profitable. Hence SimplyMac’s demise.

This is another way to reconsider if you want to have it done at a third party and you do not have AppleCare + on your Apple Watch Series 7. Make sure the price is the same or below what Apple is charging you in their stores or for mail in.

 

[Parowdy]

If you're not happy with the price quoted by the authorized service provider, then why not just pack up the watch and send it to Apple yourself?

If I was a third party service provider, spent a fortune to rent a store in a location convenient to you, hired Apple certified technicians to help you, and took the time and incurred the expense of sending your watch to be serviced by Apple, you can bet I'd want to be compensated. Unless Apple paid me directly for facilitating your repair, I'd certainly mark up their repair cost enough to cover my expenses and make a reasonable profit.

Don’t get me wrong I understand that. Despite their competence (referring to many prior experiences) I’m sure they earn a good wage and the store being, literally, the only one for over 100km in all directions (the only one in north EASTern Germany), they surely are making quite the profit anyway, especially since they are also partnering with Telecom and their insurance company.
He even asked whom I wanted to handle the watch after I asked him why the prices are different, them or Apple, I said Apple because I dont have enough cash on me for the other option, he said that’s fine as I pay once I get it back, and then just proceeded it’s seems with their own option, and then just saying it might as well say 169€ (instead of 109€) on Apples website because the prices aren’t fixed isn’t an explanation to me, I don’t even know who is doing the servicing right now.

 

[Parowdy]

This is also another great way to dispute about it for the OP. sometimes AASPs may be shady in some cases, don’t know how they work in EU but AASPs should comply with consumer law and regulations.

I’ve had a very fair share of experiences with this store in particular and the one before it where they got most of their Apple Certified „Technicians“ from.
I could write for a hour about all of them. But here is my favorite story, I’ll try to be quick:
Went to get dust in my iPhone X front camera removed.
First dude called me 30 min later because my phone was still passcode locked, usually you turn that off with the customer but I forgot and so did he… I was luck I had my old SE with me to insert my SIM.
Came back later that day, 10 min before closing time. Dude gave me the phone, and I saw the screen BULGING. Like what?
Showed him that, he was confused and first didn’t know what I was talking about…
Then took it to the back. He supposedly properly softened and removed the seal to do whatever in their, I don’t know if it was dirt or a connector that wasn’t plugged it, and reapplied a new seal in 3 minutes.
Luckily Apple replaced that phone later because repeated issues after servicing…

 

[Parowdy]

That is useless. Parowdy isn’t/wasn’t doing business with Apple. He is/was doing business with an ACSP. That is something completely different.

Well, I booked my appointment through the Apple Support app and wanted to receive Apple service.

 

[Parowdy]

The standard cost for a battery change is indeed €109, if the battery states "service". I did it with an old S4 recently. What has to be kept in mind: They are looking at the condition of the watch. If it is damaged more than cosmetically, not working properly anymore, has any electronic defect, then it becomes a "watch repair", which is more expensive than just a battery change. I did the change in an Apple Store and they checked the condition of the watch before accepting it as "battery change".

It does have some kind of logic, but is not really logical, because they just recycle the old one and replace it by a brand new watch.

True but the watch had only cosmetic damage, meaning scratches on the screen and chassis, as is expected when using a watch.
But like I said in a different comment, they didn’t care about the condition. I mentioned it and the tech just didn’t care.
But thank you, it is indeed true that your watch has to be in well working condition for them to only count it as a battery replacement.

 

[Parowdy]

They gotta eat too.

AASPs can set their own prices. One of the selling points for Best Buy for example, is “We will price match Apple service and repair costs of any Apple Authorized Service Provider.” In other words, they will match other third party providers, but not Apple prices.

But at least they make that clear, I hope?

 

[Parowdy]

Apple sets a price for the service, but the official service providers can set their own prices even if they send the device off to Apple for the actual work. I can search for a certified service provider to swap the battery on my iPhone using Apple's support pages and the prices vary a lot, some being slightly cheaper than Apple and others being significantly more expensive. The attached screenshot shows a few options in the Malmö, Sweden area. Apple's price of 1195 SEK (option 3 is an Apple Store) is equivalent to $108 or €103.

Ultimately it's up to the company to decide what they want to charge you for helping you. There's an Apple Certified Service Provider near my workplace in Stockholm that charges insane prices for both service and accessories, but people use them anyway out of convenience (at by not knowing better).

View attachment 2458649

Thank you for that comment, I didn’t know or forgot about the support page where you can compare costs. Unfortunately there is no other store nearby but I’ll think about just going to Hamburg or Berlin next time and visit an actual Apple Store.
Considering public transit has become reasonably priced in Germany I wouldn’t have to pay with more than my personal time.