Apple Watch Series 9

Wasn’t on my want list, but loving it – (One star removed as it is a very expensive item, and not something I’d buy for myself.) As a mostly stay-at-home non-techy retiree, I happily live in the easy-to-use idiot-proof Apple universe with my MacAir, iPad and iPhone. An Apple watch was not in my want list as I don’t even wear an ordinary watch regularly. But my children gave me one as a… Read more

present, so ….

After nearly 2 months, I can say it has added a whole lot of convenience to my daily life. After being shown how to set it up and to change stuff around to tweak it to what I discover I use/need/want in my daily life, I’m loving it.

The magnetic metal bracelet the watch came with, makes it easy to put on and take off. The provided charger charges the watch very, very fast, charging to nearly 100% from <20% in about 20-30 minutes. However, only a charging cable is provided, not a wall plug and I am lucky that I have spare Apple wall plugs from my many years of using Apple products.

I don’t use the watch’s capabilities to its fullest extent, but the little I do use is so very useful. The things I do use daily are: 1. Track that I am getting off my [Content Removed] and moving, standing and exercising, like getting a tap on the wrist with a reminder to stand/move when I’ve been sitting too long. 2. Reminders to take and log my medicines and supplements. 3. Ask Siri for answers e.g. convert 200 gm of flour to cups, instead of having to look it up. 4. Check the weather conditions, time etc without looking for my phone or iPad. 5. Feeling a tap on the wrist when a message or call comes in when I’m out and about and my phone is in my handbag.

Healthwise, the background tracking and alerts to deviations from trends e.g. heart rate, walking steadiness etc would be especially useful at my age and as I grow older. The built-in oximeter to measure oxygen in the blood, and the ECG app are also useful should I need it.

The fall alerts and emergency location/alerts also give my children peace of mind as they can track Mum and know that they’ll be alerted in case of emergencies.

All in all, I’m very fortunate and am loving this extremely useful gift.

Flawed product and TERRIBLE customer service – LONG story short, some of the issues I encountered included: - Watch cellular capability had issues - Watch face not waking up on receipt of notifications (therefor unable to answer calls etc) - Watch randomly going to sleep even while in use (eg after 2 seconds of wake up or while trying to use Wallet to pay for something) After several months… Read more

back and forth to the Apple Store (a 40min drive each way), numerous phones calls, and the watch being sent off for diagnostics, it was replaced. Some of the same issues persisted, namely: - Handwashing app and reminders never working - Notifcafions randomly going straight to Notification Centre without an audible alert or vibration. - sometimes calls and sms fail, both incoming and outgoing, even if my phone is nearby and both are connected properly to Bluetooth or the same wifi network. This is important because I bought the watch primary, as a busy mum who cannot whip out my phone all the time, to be able to communicate with my children’s father and caregiver easily when needed.

Again, several months back and forth to the store, phone calls, still no fix.

I have worked unsuccessfully with seven senior technicians and probably double the amount of non senior staff.

I understand it takes time to resolve software issues, however, my main complaint is the lack of customer support - particularly not receiving call backs as promised and having no way of communicating directly with my case manager therefore leading me to have to start from the beginning of basic triage and support each time.

The email with messaging/audio recording options that I have received from only three of the seven case managers go completely unanswered. Absolutely a pointless as a means of communication!

I had lodged a formal complaint including to Ombudsmand. And in more than four occasions, I asked Apple about the status of my complaint, to see their complaints policy, to obtain a refund, etc. Apple train their staff to very expertly to evade any such questions or statements.

How do u get a huge organisation like Apple to show their customers any respect as far as consumer rights and customer service. I’m a busy working parent and have spent 45 hours trying to resolve my issues not to mention the costs of travel, parking, time and energy wasted when I need to work or care for my child, and the distress it’s caused me which has been visible to my child witnessing me getting upset.

I’ve been a loyal, loyal, loyal Apple customer for like 12 years. Never had an issue until now upon purchasing my watch and new phone, the 15 pro max. I was about to swap to Android but I went with the Apple phone because you need it in order to have and use the Apple Watch. I regret buying this watch and phone and wish I went with Android.

Hoping Ombudsman can help me now to refund both items. What is the use of buying the phone in order to use the watch when the watch doesn’t even work properly. And what’s worse is giving your hard earned money to company who treats you like crap.