I have had the
x6hr for some time now. Since 2002 I have returned the watch
ELEVEN times for service. I have been thru both models. I have had 2 models of the first watch and three models of the second -- I.e. 5 different serial numbers! Various things go wrong with the watch. Mostly the face turns black. Sometimes the altimeter stops working as well. I swim a lot -- 10 hours a week, and use the watch to keep a record of my heart rate. I AM VERY CAREFULL not to push buttons while I am in the water. I have detailed the history of my problems at epinions under
Suunto x6hr if you are interested in a blow by blow description.
I most recently returned the watch because the face went black and the altimeter stopped working. They claimed they were rebuliding my watch. After 8 weeks they sent an
X6 not an
X6HR back to me.
So much for "rebuliding." I finally got a brand new
X6HR back from them. Everytime I have sent the watch in, it has taken at least 5 weeks to get it back. Let's see... 10 times service, times 5 weeks each time = 1 year I have been without this watch.
I love the watch, just wish I could use it more often. I have found that the latest
X6HR model with the crystal flush with the top of the watch NEEDS A WATCH GUARD or else the crystal gets all scratched up. I have been using one for the last 5 months. (It did not protect the watch from other systemic problems which required my recent return.)
Update 11/21/07: On 10/15/07 The altimeter registered -9,000 ft, after a recent airplane trip. Nothing else untoward happened to the watch within recent memory before that. The rest of the watch seemed to work properly.
I returned it to
Suunto for service. They have a new procedure which makes it far simpler to get service. You just fill out a request form and it generates a FedEX shipping label which has them cover the cost of the shipping. It is tracked and insured.
I did not hear from them for nearly 4 weeks. When I called they told me that the watch was still under warranty and could not be fixed. They said they were sending me a replacement. They shipped me an
X3HR worth about $200 less than the
X6HR. I then had to return that. I just received my
X6HR. So I was without the watch again for another 30 days.
We will see how long this one lasts.
Maybe using the watch so much in a wet environment is the cause of all my problems. Any ideas?
Well the watch lasted about a year and a half. Took a plane trip and after I got back the altimeter registered -4500 feet. Shortly after that the face turned black again. Other people on this forum have had this exact same problem. Makes it kind of hard to read the face. I guess I will have to send it in for service again.
This will make 12 times in for service.