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Google Won't Repair Cracked Pixel Watch Screens (theverge.com) 27

Posted by msmash from the oops dept.
If you crack the screen on the Pixel Watch, getting it officially repaired by Google isn't on the cards. From a report: Several Pixel Watch owners have vented their frustrations about the inability to replace cracked screens, both on Reddit and in Google support forums. The Verge has also reviewed an official Google support chat from a reader who broke their Pixel Watch display after dropping the wearable. In it, a support representative states that Google "doesn't have any repair centers or service centers" for the device. "At this moment, we don't have any repair option for the Google Pixel Watch. If your watch is damaged, you can contact the Google Pixel Watch Customer Support Team to check your replacement options," Google spokesperson Bridget Starkey confirmed to The Verge.
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Google Won't Repair Cracked Pixel Watch Screens More

Google Won't Repair Cracked Pixel Watch Screens

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  • Right To Repair (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Calydor ( 739835 ) on Friday September 15, 2023 @10:44AM (#63850942)

    This is exactly what Right To Repair is about - especially when companies don't even want to repair things themselves, because just getting another item is so good for the environment.

    • Re:Right To Repair (Score:5, Informative)

      by thegarbz ( 1787294 ) on Friday September 15, 2023 @11:01AM (#63851000)

      The true WTF here is that Google already work with iFixIt to provide repair parts for the pixel phone. It's one thing to not repair something, but quite another to not provide anyone any means to repair something. iFixIt has a procedure listed for repair, and while it may be too difficult to do for 99% of the population, you don't need everyone to be capable of repairing something. Just make the parts available so people can go to their local electronics cornershop and get some kid to repair it for them.

    • Re:Right To Repair (Score:5, Interesting)

      by kiviQr ( 3443687 ) on Friday September 15, 2023 @11:13AM (#63851034)
      Labor to replace costs more than part, hece it is easier for google to replace. To repair it in cost effective way they would have to send it offshore which is not customer friendly.

      • Re:Right To Repair (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Bert64 ( 520050 ) <bert.slashdot@firenzee@com> on Friday September 15, 2023 @11:18AM (#63851044) Homepage

        Which is a moot point if you're doing the repair yourself.
        If they provide instructions and parts, people can decide wether they want to spend the time or not.

        • Which is a moot point if you're doing the repair yourself.
          If they provide instructions and parts, people can decide wether they want to spend the time or not.

          I'm sure AliExpress or BangGood will soon fill the gap. They already offer screen protectors.

      • >Labor to replace costs more than part

        That is because they chose to design it that way. Or at least, not make the effort to design it for replacement.

    • I agree 100% however there has to be a break-even point for the consumer. I use Samsung Galaxy watches and have broken a couple. For the price that Samsung has provided me in the past, getting one fixed doesn't make financial sense. Now if it were a $300,000 Farm Tractor that I needed to have repaired, that's another discussion.

      • I think you are missing the point of the "RIght to Repair". In almost all the cases of some broken electronics (especially LCD/OLED screens for phones, and other devices), the parts are a LOT cheaper than you think. You are being quoted exorbitantly marked up prices from Samsung, to which you then in your mind simply say, "for that price I might as well buy a new one", and that is the entire point. Samsung and these other businesses want you to simply buy another one since it drives up sales, and sales are

      • For the price that Samsung has provided me in the past, getting one fixed doesn't make financial sense.

        The price you're quoted to repair from the vendor is specifically geared to you *not* repairing it. Why do you think people criticise Apple even thought they have a repair program? They charge 3-5x as much as every other independent shop.

        Repairing these devices is not difficult if you know how and have steady hands. It takes between 15-30min depending on your skill. There's no reason for the watch to cost you more than $30+ parts to fix. If you think it doesn't make sense to spend $100 to repair a $300 devi

        • For the price that Samsung has provided me in the past, getting one fixed doesn't make financial sense.

          The price you're quoted to repair from the vendor is specifically geared to you *not* repairing it. Why do you think people criticise Apple even thought they have a repair program? They charge 3-5x as much as every other independent shop.

          Repairing these devices is not difficult if you know how and have steady hands. It takes between 15-30min depending on your skill. There's no reason for the watch to cost you more than $30+ parts to fix. If you think it doesn't make sense to spend $100 to repair a $300 device then you are part of a global consumerism problem.

          Wanna pull some more shit outta that ass?

          Prove every claim you just made, or GTFO!

  • Time to switch (Score:4, Informative)

    by The-Ixian ( 168184 ) on Friday September 15, 2023 @11:11AM (#63851030)

    Casio's G-Shock watches are damn near indestructible.

    Some of them can even do a lot of what current "smart" watches can do.

    • I have a Garmin Instinct Crossover (Solar) and it's also near indestructible. 19 days+ battery life (even more if I'm outside often).. GPS (and other location services) is included. Biometrics info. In case of emergency, someone is advised with my precise location (I had an health issue 3 months ago).

      I don't need color screen, reading my email on my watch, talking to my watch, ... There is a lot of apps to add to it if you really want/need it and everything is sleek/optimized.

      • That sounds like the profile of my g-shock. Biometrics, GPS, BT + notifications all with a solar trickle charge that means I only charge it once every few weeks if that.

      • To be fair, Pixel/iWatch/Samsung Watches are comparable to Garmin's VivoActive line, rather than Instinct/Fenix ones. Having said that, Garmin devices are -technically- vastly superior, but this is not about features, but style(?). They're just targeted to different demographics.

    • Google has a really stupid design. The screen should be inset into a frame. Instead, they're doing the whole smartphone without a case thing except you can't put a case on it. It's even glass around the side edges.

      I guess technically you can buy a case for your smart watch, but it's a bit bulky for the wrist compared to what could be built-in.

  • Different brand, but... (Score:3)

    by bradley13 ( 1118935 ) on Friday September 15, 2023 @12:34PM (#63851290) Homepage
    I have a different brand, with a cracked screen. Had a watchmaker look at it, and he said it wasn't designed to be repairable, at least, not for any reasonable cost. I expect that's generally true for these devices...

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by gweihir ( 88907 )

      Indeed. Most things can be designed to be repairable, but making them disposable instead is often better for profits. Greed at work.

  • Well, people "want" no bezels, no crown, edge to edge displays. THAT is what happens when you don't have a bezel or crown. Reason #1 why when the Samsung watch 5 series came along I said NOPE! No rotating crown to help protect the screen. Apparently Samsung got enough feedback from users that they put the rotating bezel back on the 6 classic. And it's why I traded up from the 4 to the 6.

    • Agreed.
      When I decided to finally buy a smart watch, I obviously looked at Samsung smart watches first, being a mostly-Samsung family (TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, phones...). It was disappointing, when I looked at specs and design. After much consideration, I settled for a Honor Watch GS Pro. Its reviews were mostly stellar, and indeed it does not disappoint. Almost two years after I bought it, there is absolutely nothing I could complain about, regarding the watch itself. Battery lasts between two

    • No. Not at all. Having a bezel less display is not a reason a company is refusing to offer repair accessories.

  • Google Pixel Watch Screen Replacement
    https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/G... [ifixit.com]

  • It would likely cost just as much to repair it as to replace it. Just buy a new one.

  • If Google can't even support a device as they release it, much less for any length of time, why should anyone buy anything from these carpetbaggers?
  • I'm amazed at how unprepared Google is to repair their own products. Wife has washed my Series A buds twice. Both times the case was destroyed but the buds still worked and no replacement case is available. Have to buy from EBay instead. More irritating, it would take about $0.05 of gaskets to seal the USB port and charging pogos and the case would be as waterproof as the buds.

  • Great, no repair, replace the whole watch. But I'm sure they have some ad somewhere bragging how green and planet-friendly a company they are.

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