Apple to Offer Band Exchanges for Apple Watch
Apple is planning to offer customers an opportunity to exchange only their Apple Watch bands rather than an entire Apple Watch if a band is the wrong size or the wrong style. Retail employees have been instructed to suggest a band swap as an alternative to a whole watch return if an Apple Watch is being returned based on size, color, or band style.
A band swap, according to an internal employee training document, can potentially save the customer time as it eliminates the need to set up and sync an entirely new watch. Band swaps are available for the Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch, but will not be available for the more expensive gold Apple Watch Edition.
As pointed out, you won’t get a new band in store. Instead, a new one will be ordered for you and shipped to your address. The good news is that you don’t have to give them your old one. You get to hold onto that until your new one arrives.