Replacing Apple Watch battery

[ecschwarz]

Thought I'd piggyback on this thread as my S4's battery is starting to show its age (74%). While a new watch would be nice, I wouldn't mind hanging onto mine for a few more years as it's good enough. Plus it could still be a decent hand-me-down if I did upgrade. For $79, I thought that would be a worthwhile purchase and then things got a bit counterintuitive:

As I moved and now live 2 hours from three Apple Stores (the 2nd biggest city in my state doesn't have one, yet the 1st and 4th biggest do?), running it by isn't as convenient as when I lived a half hour from one. Apple Support said (and confirmed with another advisor) that to do mail-in battery service would be $320, but if I went to a store, it would be $79. Has anyone else run into this? I get if they find other issues the "repair" would increase, but for the same thing, it's more than a new SE (would only lose ECG).

Apparently that's similar for S5 and S6 models, too. At that point, I'll just take some time and go to an Apple Store, but I'm guessing they don't have refurbs in stock, so they'd end up shipping it off anyway? If they did, would I be able to have the replacement sent to me instead of back to the store (saving 4ish hours roundtrip and more gas to go pick it up). I've had some trouble finding that detail and thought I'd ask here.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

Thought I'd piggyback on this thread as my S4's battery is starting to show its age (74%). While a new watch would be nice, I wouldn't mind hanging onto mine for a few more years as it's good enough. Plus it could still be a decent hand-me-down if I did upgrade. For $79, I thought that would be a worthwhile purchase and then things got a bit counterintuitive:

As I moved and now live 2 hours from three Apple Stores (the 2nd biggest city in my state doesn't have one, yet the 1st and 4th biggest do?), running it by isn't as convenient as when I lived a half hour from one. Apple Support said (and confirmed with another advisor) that to do mail-in battery service would be $320, but if I went to a store, it would be $79. Has anyone else run into this? I get if they find other issues the "repair" would increase, but for the same thing, it's more than a new SE (would only lose ECG).

Apparently that's similar for S5 and S6 models, too. At that point, I'll just take some time and go to an Apple Store, but I'm guessing they don't have refurbs in stock, so they'd end up shipping it off anyway? If they did, would I be able to have the replacement sent to me instead of back to the store (saving 4ish hours roundtrip and more gas to go pick it up). I've had some trouble finding that detail and thought I'd ask here.

Mail in at that price? Surely not?
I would go with the replacement if you get a more sensible mail in price, arrange your own courier to the store maybe?
I’ve just replaced the battery in my S5 and finally opened the strap that was in the box when I bought it and it is like having a new watch, should do me until the 10 comes out.

 

[NoBoMac]

Yeah, does not sound right. Seems like you got a bad phone rep and or they miscommunicated. Sounds like they were trying to describe the "if they find some other problems with the Watch" scenario where you will need to pay three digits for the "repair" (again, will be a replacement with a refurb) vs simple "battery replacement" for $79.

But you'll get the same speech at an Apple Store. Happens with all the products, just that Apple Store is a bit more re-assuring in that probably get the "diagnostics came up ok, everything physically looks ok with product, but until the techs open it up..." speech in realtime and can plan on $79.

 

[ecschwarz]

Mail in at that price? Surely not?
I would go with the replacement if you get a more sensible mail in price, arrange your own courier to the store maybe?
I’ve just replaced the battery in my S5 and finally opened the strap that was in the box when I bought it and it is like having a new watch, should do me until the 10 comes out.

I thought it was odd, too. I could see paying the shipping for an out-of-warranty product or that that would be the deposit if I did express replacement, but nope. I'm sort of with that same mindset - the S4 is fine enough and if I get a few more years out of it for just a new battery, great.

Yeah, does not sound right. Seems like you got a bad phone rep and or they miscommunicated. Sounds like they were trying to describe the "if they find some other problems with the Watch" scenario where you will need to pay three digits for the "repair" (again, will be a replacement with a refurb) vs simple "battery replacement" for $79.

But you'll get the same speech at an Apple Store. Happens with all the products, just that Apple Store is a bit more re-assuring in that probably get the "diagnostics came up ok, everything physically looks ok with product, but until the techs open it up..." speech in realtime and can plan on $79.

Yeah, I didn't think it made sense either, but I was quoted the same price from someone on chat and two different advisors on the phone, including a manager. It seems that the only option for requesting mail-in service is "out of warranty" device replacement. It's almost as though the battery-only tier only exists at Apple Stores or maybe people don't get their Apple Watch batteries "replaced"?

One advisor even went over https://support.apple.com/watch/repair with me and saw the same price and then couldn't see that as an option on her system (no language like "up to $320" either). I asked if it was a variation of the "if they find more" speech (just had the battery in my phone replaced, so I'm familiar with the process), but they said I'd be charged the full amount since that's the only option to request service that way.

The manager I spoke with had me try the request online again, which didn't work earlier this afternoon (had to pick from one of a few predetermined options and went with "battery won't charge")—this time it did let me request it and shows an estimated out-of-warranty repair of $79+$6.95 shipping+tax, which is what I was expecting.

I don't know if some systems weren't working particularly well with the start of the new year, as well as people being unfamiliar with it, but fingers-crossed this will work!

 

[ecschwarz]

Just an update…two days after they received it at the depot, they sent it back and the repair is still being “diagnosed” on the web site. I’ll probably head to an Apple Store when I have some free time since it seems Apple has no mechanism for out-of-warranty battery service otherwise.