I purchased the watch in the fall of 2020 and I love it. However... after about a year of wearing the watch I noticed that the thumb side of my wrist starting to itch and turn red. I took the watch off and cleaned it with soap and a soft toothbrush then put it back on. The itching got worse and my wrist started to look and feel blistered. I cleaned the watch again with alcohol, then peroxide, then vinegar. No change. Blistering got worse, I stopped wearing lotion and body oil. No change. So I finally just stopped wearing the watch. I reached out to Garmin online and was told to contact customer service via telephone. I did so. Spoke to a very nice gal, Sierra, who took my information and sent me to another customer service agent, Debbie, who I can only assume offices in the bowels of the Garmin headquarters far below the sunshine. Debbie asks me to send pics of my wrist and the watch to her. I complied... and wouldn't you know it, all this is my fault! The part of the band that I told Debbie looks like a coating had worn off was actually "residue" to her discerning customer service eyes. And as it turns out, I was wearing the watch incorrectly! She so observantly pointed out to me that it was clear I was wearing the watch too tightly as you could see the indentions on my wrist..... having not worn the watch for several days I was surprised to hear this but, she's the professional, yes? After listening to Debbie explain to me how to properly wear and clean the watch as if I were a toddler with an expensive toy, I asked her to forgo the remainder of her well rehearsed lecture and just let me know If this was something she was going to be able to help me with. It was then that Debbie told me that despite my complete incompetence she would benevolently send me another watch band, along with another copy of the care instructions that I followed the first time. Of note: I had the feeling Debbie had taken a call like mine before so I asked her "I'm guessing you guys have had this issue before", to which she sardonically replied "yes.". Comforting to know I'm not the only schlemiel out here trying to navigate the intricacies of the modern wristwatch.
