New Balance watches have not fared well on several consumer product review sites. Amazon.com featured New Balance's Vent Mini watch with a 2 out of 5 rating. REI.com also featured the Vent Mini, which had a customer rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars. The same watch on Buzzillions.com, a site for consumer product reviews, also garnered only 1.5 out of 5 stars. Some common complaints were that the watch functionality was not user friendly and that watches being billed as "water resistant" were in fact damaged by water.

On the Other: New Balance has Great Return and Warranty Policies

New Balance offers what they call "88 Points of Service," which means, according to their website, "100 percent satisfaction in the product and the service that backs it up." The details of their 88 Points of Service reveal that products that are found to be unsatisfactory must be returned within 30 days of purchase. The return shipping is free. This, coupled with a manufacturer's warranty of two years on many New Balance watches, means that purchasing a New Balance watch carries low risk to the consumer.

Bottom Line

Consumer reviews of some New Balance watches are not positive. Many state that the watch features and functionality are not intuitive. Others state that New Balance watches that are billed as "water resistant" are actually not. Before purchasing a New Balance watch, look at consumer reviews of the exact style you are considering. Also find out what the warranty period is to reduce your risk.

Source:

Back Country Customer Reviews

Amazon Customer Reviews

New Balance Returns Policy

More Information:

Esquire's How to Buy a Watch