Area Woman's Apple Watch Causes 'Big Red Spot' on Her Wrist for Months, Despite Company's Claims of Extensive Testing
A 90-year-old woman from the San Francisco Bay Area has been dealing with a mysterious red spot on her wrist caused by her year-old Apple Watch. The issue started about three months ago, and Anita De Marais was forced to take her watch off due to discomfort.
"I noticed it on October 27th," De Marais said in an interview. "When I awakened in the morning... my wrist was all red." She claimed that despite taking her watch to a Stoneridge Apple store, she was only offered a $130 discount to purchase a new one. The customer service representative didn't seem concerned or offer any apologies.
De Marais went back to the store weeks later, and after another evaluation, the same offer was made to her once again with no additional assistance. It wasn't until she contacted 7 On Your Side that De Marais received a new watch at no cost to herself.
The Apple Watch SE or later, Series 4 or later, or Ultra series all have features designed to detect when the wearer has fallen and send for emergency services if necessary. The company claims it undergoes extensive testing, including thousands of material composition tests, over a thousand prototypes worn by trial studies, toxicological assessments, and consultations with board-certified dermatologists.
However, despite this extensive testing, some users may experience reactions to certain materials. Apple Watch bands contain nickel and acrylates, which can cause allergic reactions in individuals who are sensitive to these materials.
De Marais is glad to have her watch back but acknowledges that the issue highlights a need for greater attention from companies like Apple regarding their products' safety. She notes that the watch's life-saving features are essential to her, and she will continue to use it responsibly.
As Apple continues to develop new technology, the company must prioritize consumer safety above all else. While extensive testing is a step in the right direction, there should be more empathy and understanding towards users who experience unexpected side effects from their products.
A 90-year-old woman from the San Francisco Bay Area has been dealing with a mysterious red spot on her wrist caused by her year-old Apple Watch. The issue started about three months ago, and Anita De Marais was forced to take her watch off due to discomfort.
"I noticed it on October 27th," De Marais said in an interview. "When I awakened in the morning... my wrist was all red." She claimed that despite taking her watch to a Stoneridge Apple store, she was only offered a $130 discount to purchase a new one. The customer service representative didn't seem concerned or offer any apologies.
De Marais went back to the store weeks later, and after another evaluation, the same offer was made to her once again with no additional assistance. It wasn't until she contacted 7 On Your Side that De Marais received a new watch at no cost to herself.
The Apple Watch SE or later, Series 4 or later, or Ultra series all have features designed to detect when the wearer has fallen and send for emergency services if necessary. The company claims it undergoes extensive testing, including thousands of material composition tests, over a thousand prototypes worn by trial studies, toxicological assessments, and consultations with board-certified dermatologists.
However, despite this extensive testing, some users may experience reactions to certain materials. Apple Watch bands contain nickel and acrylates, which can cause allergic reactions in individuals who are sensitive to these materials.
De Marais is glad to have her watch back but acknowledges that the issue highlights a need for greater attention from companies like Apple regarding their products' safety. She notes that the watch's life-saving features are essential to her, and she will continue to use it responsibly.
As Apple continues to develop new technology, the company must prioritize consumer safety above all else. While extensive testing is a step in the right direction, there should be more empathy and understanding towards users who experience unexpected side effects from their products.
i think its time for apple to take responsibility for their products' safety theyre making millions off these devices and yet they dont care if users get a weird rash or whatever... i mean, we all know about the nickel and acrylates thing but come on, ppl shouldnt be suffering just cuz they bought an $800 smartwatch 
idk what apple can do, but de marais's experience highlights how important it is for companies to put consumers first. maybe if they were more empathetic, these kinds of issues would get solved way faster 
. I mean, yeah, they gotta do somethin to make sure it's safe 2 use, but this woman's story is like, totally mind-blowin 
. She gets a big red spot on her wrist from wearin her watch for months, and Apple's all like "oh, sorry not our problem" 
. And then she has 2 go 2 some news show 2 get it fixed 4 free 
. It's just not right. Companies gotta be more responsible & take care of their customers, especially when it comes 2 somethin that's supposed 2 save lives 
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. But come on, Apple, you guys say your products go through extensive testing? Like, thousands of material composition tests, over a thousand prototypes worn by trial studies, toxicological assessments... yeah, okay 
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. If a user experiences an unexpected reaction to their product, shouldn't Apple be willing to work with them to make it right? I mean, De Marais is only glad to have her watch back because 7 On Your Side intervened 
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. Thousands of material composition tests? Toxicological assessments? That's just corporate jargon to make themselves sound good 
. What about users like Anita who are actually affected by these products? Do they not count? It's all just a big marketing gimmick to make people feel better while the company continues to make money 
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. But yeah, this whole thing just highlights the need for companies like Apple to prioritize consumer safety above all else 
. Maybe they can learn from this and be more empathetic towards their users in the future 
I'm still thinking about this Anita De Marais lady and her Apple Watch issue... like, I get it, she's happy to have her watch back, but $130 discount isn't really a lot of money, right? 
And yeah, I totally agree with Anita about consumer safety being the number one priority. Companies gotta step up their game! 
I mean, who wants to live without an emergency alert feature on their watch? Not me! 
It just goes to show that even with all the tech and testing in the world, sometimes things still go wrong. And when they do, we should be able to get some kind of help or support from the company. That $130 discount offer was just not enough for Anita, and I don't blame her for wanting a full refund or replacement. 
. This lady's deal is crazy - a $130 discount for a watch that's been giving her a huge rash for months? That's just not right 
. This woman's watch causes her a big red spot on her wrist for months, and Apple just gives her a $130 discount to get rid of it? 
. I'm not surprised someone got a reaction from it. Companies need to take responsibility for their products and make sure they're safe for us to use. It's not just about making a quick buck, it's about our health and well-being 
. There's gotta be some explanation for why so many people are getting these weird reactions from Apple Watch bands. I'll tell you one thing, it's not just a coincidence 
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. According to the FDA, nickel is a common allergen that can cause skin irritation and redness 
. The fact that Anita was only offered a $130 discount after multiple returns is shocking 
. I'm glad Anita got her watch back for free, but it's a pretty scary experience that no one should have to go through 
but at least she got it working again yay! 
. I remember when my grandmas first got those iPhone thingies, they were so fancy! now everyone has one, and it's all about these smartwatches. what's next? smart glasses or something? anywayz, i feel bad for this lady tho... i would've been pretty upset if i was her