Apple watch battery does not charge after 15 months - no diagnostics despite paying for it

I have been a loyal Apple brand user and has owned many Apple devices. However my Apple watch which I have only had for 15 months all of a sudden did not charge.

I took it to IStore Brooklyn with the problem statement that the “battery does not charge” and they guided best to send in for technical assessment at a charge of about R300. The technical assessment to came back with assessment “battery does not charge-up” exactly the same as the problem statement. Zero value added by the assessment.

After insisting that I want the root cause the store (who supported in very professional manner) got an email answer back that there is not much more to at the watch could not be opened and it must be component failure.

So a watch at the price it sells for was only of use for 15 months and although it seems to be an unusual failure Apple respond with replace with new at R9000. With no diagnostic for the price which I paid for the technical assessment.

I was about to purchase a tablet but I am afraid Apple as a brand has lost me for life. But I have totally lost confidence in the brand and after sales service.