So, Polar asks to send HR monitors in for battery replacement. I did that 2 weeks ago. They received it 10 days ago. They expect to work on it in 7-10 days. So, that will leave me for 4 weeks without the HRM just to get the battery replaced. Ridiculous! Beware of this when you think about buying a HRM.
Has anyone tried changing the battery without sending it to them? Any problems?
Try Creative Health Products at 800 742 4478. They are an authorized Polar Warranty Service center ands they do a great job. I know you will have good service from them.
I agree, last year I called them with some technical questions about the S-510 and they could not find me one person that knew squat about the watch. After taking a 15 week semester course on how to operate the watch I figured out most of its functions (if available I would have) but I still can’t get the darn thing to give me cycling data after timing the swim portion of a tri? And even worse is that no one at Polar can tell me either!
Dave from VA
This gives you a tremendous opportunity to work on your perceived exertion.
Yeah, I take mine to a jeweler. They won’t take responsibility for it if it loses it water seal but most will do it.
If it makes you feel any better, Timex CS / warranty repair dept. doesn’t appear to be any better. I call Feb. 2 to report erradic button behavior on my new Timex HRM watch–this is a warranty issue, mind you. The lady there tells me to put “attn: ” on the box, and that the turnaround should be pretty quick. I promptly send it off, they receive it on Feb. 6. I call the next Friday, the 13th, and she tells me that she’s got it and it’s in her “pile” of things to check in…should be able to turn it around on Monday or Tues (of this week). So I call back again today and talk to a different guy who checks on my “ticket” in the system, and he claims it was just checked in yesterday. “Since it is such a new watch, we don’t have that many replacements available …that’s probably why it took a little while…” Whatever. He claims they should be sending it back today or Monday. I’m not getting my hopes up. Argh.
That’s odd. I sent my watch in and got the watch and a new strap back inside of 10 days. I sent in a “customer satisfaction” reply card and got a free T-shirt 10 days after that.
BTW – the only reason I sent the watch in instead of having a jeweler do it was that the back case cover was corroded, and I wanted Polar to tell me if it would still be waterproof. They simply sent me a brand new watch, even though it was almost 3 years old.
I was *VERY *satisfied with that.
Polar sent a rep out to meet with our local Tri club…hell I knew more than this guy. He was more concerned with how you say “Po laaar”, not “pole - er”. This guy could not even tell me how to set the time in my S710
Well I sent my Polar s710 in two weeks ago and just got it back today. The battery had died as expected after 2-3 years of use. What I noticed is they charged me $2.95 to return the watch, just fine with that, and oh it looks like they sent me a brand new watch and chest strap. Its February and I can easily handle not using my HRM for a few weeks, so I would disagree I would say my expierence has been seemless and great. Thanks Polar for the service and commitment to your products and customers.
BM
Yah What Tom said.
If you want to talk to a human regarding anything related to Polar call Creative health products. www.chponline.com Thier a Polar service center.
My 2yr old 710 just came up with a low battery. So off it goes, better now that close to a race.
Jim
I talked to CHP the other day. Since I’m local, I wanted to know if they could change the battery in my S710i while I waited, but they said it took 24 - 48 hours. 
If I remember right, there was a Polar tech at B & L during Kona this year.
BTW, the service center part is www.polarservicecenter.com.
I know it doesn’t help you guys stateside, but I have, over the last 7 years sent my HRMs into Polar for fresh batteries and each time they are returned within 3 working days not the 5 stated in their literature and on their site. Also when I have been unsure of the fault their service department has been excellent, even to the extent of replacing the chest belt transceiver and elastic strap free of charge. Can’t knock that.
That’s about the time they told me. I’km figuring a bout a week total turnaround time. Perfectly timed with a rest week so nothing major missed.
I had that service center link too, it’s also at the bottom of their main page.
By the way, because I’m a cheapo, I actually have replaced the battery myself in both my polar beat and in my polar accurex plus which is super easy. But they are old and didn’t even think they were worth sending back (I bought the accurex for 50 bucks on clearance). All it takes is getting the right lithium battery and unscrewing the case and being careful of the rubber seal. However, if you spend 200 plus dollars on an S520 or higher, you probably should keep the waranty going and send it back to polar, kuz I would.
I just picked up my S710i and older Edge NV from the Polar Service Center in Ann Arbor. Less than 24 hour turn-around, and only $10 for the service. $2 battery, $8 labor which included installing the battery and testing the watch and transmitter. A little spendy for just a battery, except that it’s $300 HRM, so might as well treat it as such. Of course, the battery for my Suunto Vector was nearly $4 by itself.
Their customer service in Australia is excellent. I suppose it varies from country to country depending on who the distributor is because they don’t go back to Finland for repairs.
I just got my 710 back from CHP. They turned it around in a couple of days.
Best part is they did a courtesy swap out on the transmitter for a new one becuase old one had a “rattle”
Their customer service is right up there with DeSoto’s
Jim