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They already delivered more then they had expected... Quote from Tim Cook's conference:

"We were able to deliver Apple Watch to more customers over the weekend than we initially expected. I’m generally happy with how we’re moving with the ramp. With any new product, you end up taking more time to ramp. By some time in late June we currently anticipate being in a position that we could begin to sell the Apple Watch in additional countries."

so, reading this forum, there are quite a lot of people waiting for a watch that they hoped would be available 24th April (original date quoted by apple). Despite the delays, Apple are saying that they have done better than expected.

Which begs the question, just how low were their own expectations that despite the slippage from 24th April to mid/end of May within 2 mins of the ability to order, they feel that they are doing better than they expected?
 
I have no idea why this slice company is taken as such a credible source. People are opting in to having their email scanned. How is that assured to be a representative sample to try and extrapolate information from?

I hereby predict 17% of people got their watches and apple will 3.145 million watched this lunar year. Source: some future telling rocks I found in my driveway.

Good question . . . I don't know (if they are a credible source).
I just found it interesting.
 
- My 38mm Milanese watch was pre-ordered at ~4:25 PST in SoCal
- My card was charged sometime early this morning.
- Status changed to "Preparing for Shipment" at around 10am maybe.
- Status quickly changed to shipping sometime after 12PM today. It says I should be receiving the package sometime tomorrow (from Harrisburg, PA).
 
- My 38mm Milanese watch was pre-ordered at ~4:25 PST in SoCal
- My card was charged sometime early this morning.
- Status changed to "Preparing for Shipment" at around 10am maybe.
- Status quickly changed to shipping sometime after 12PM today. It says I should be receiving the package sometime tomorrow (from Harrisburg, PA).

Congrats!
 
My credit card has been charged for 30+ hours. Yet no movement on my order. Still processing. Can still edit and cancel.
Getting very impatient
 
so, reading this forum, there are quite a lot of people waiting for a watch that they hoped would be available 24th April (original date quoted by apple). Despite the delays, Apple are saying that they have done better than expected.

Which begs the question, just how low were their own expectations that despite the slippage from 24th April to mid/end of May within 2 mins of the ability to order, they feel that they are doing better than they expected?

Has nothing to do with expectations or projections. We are just glorified beta testers. They probably missed a lot of internal launches due to part problems and quality yields. Just like with the first iPad, early adopters pay for it. Literally and figuratively.

Their yields are low. It's a small device and probably way behind schedule.
 
People have commented on movement on those, so there is hope.

Much more hope than us in the Leather Loop group :)

Amen Brother! 42mm Blue Leather Loop....shoulda got a.....no wait, I got what I wanted damnit now I just gotta learn the patience of a monk
 
Me last week:

4) Given this is a whole new product category, Apple had to make some very very tough guesses about how many of any particular model to make. There is almost no precedent or frame of reference that they can look to build their assumptions. Even if somehow they had managed to guess perfectly which of the dozens of combinations were going to be pre-ordered and in what quantities they still have to deal with the fact that sometimes there can be unexpected issues in the production of a product, in the supply chain that provides the materials for that product, in the quality assurance of that product, etc, etc. There are tons of variables that could have led to some combination of models not being produced in the quantities they desired. There is also the fact that some of combinations are simply more difficult to make then others (the link bracelets are brushed BY HAND). In other words, it is not shocking that some models are more difficult to get then others.

Tim today:

We are learning quickly about customer preferences between the different configurations. Much larger breadth of possibilities for customers than in our other products. In some cases we called that well, in some cases we're making adjustments to get in line with demand. Confident that this is something we understand how to do.

Predicting demand for a completely new product with dozens of different configurations is tough folks.
 
Me last week:



Tim today:



Predicting demand for a completely new product with dozens of different configurations is tough folks.

should have sold the bands independently. Send each watch except edition with a basic band. Allow customers to trade the band and pay whatever fee in store. Would have solved the problem.Then all you have had to worry about is making a 38mm or 42mm alum case or ss case. Could have had a ton more watches in peoples hands and they could have either kept the band or traded it for another one.
 
Did anyone with an original date of 4-6 weeks get an estimate update today on the SS BSB?

I ordered on April 10th around 11am ET and still says 4-6 weeks (May 13-27th).
 
should have sold the bands independently. Send each watch except edition with a basic band. Allow customers to trade the band and pay whatever fee in store. Would have solved the problem.Then all you have had to worry about is making a 38mm or 42mm alum case or ss case. Could have had a ton more watches in peoples hands and they could have either kept the band or traded it for another one.

Except people probably would not want to wait for their preferred band, and they might not care for the basic band at all and see this as a huge inconvenience to have to go back and exchange the basic band for the one they really want.

It would be frustrating to try on the watches and different bands, yet you can't purchase that configuration that you like. You have to purchase their basic band and then return/exchange it later for the one you really want. Apple would also then have to produce many more millions of basic bands and still have to figure out what the demand would be for their other bands. And if they still can't meet demand, you are still left with angry customers who don't like their watch because they don't like how the basic band looks on them, and are left waiting for the premium band they want.
 
should have sold the bands independently. Send each watch except edition with a basic band. Allow customers to trade the band and pay whatever fee in store. Would have solved the problem.Then all you have had to worry about is making a 38mm or 42mm alum case or ss case. Could have had a ton more watches in peoples hands and they could have either kept the band or traded it for another one.

For a large corporation driven by profits for their shareholders, it will never happen this way
 
Mine is coming may 20 to may 28. seems like mine is the batch i ordered mine on saturday
 
yup... simple


should have sold the bands independently. Send each watch except edition with a basic band. Allow customers to trade the band and pay whatever fee in store. Would have solved the problem.Then all you have had to worry about is making a 38mm or 42mm alum case or ss case. Could have had a ton more watches in peoples hands and they could have either kept the band or traded it for another one.
 
Ordered my 42mm SS Classic black buckle right and still no movement. I wonder if they are shipping certain models first
 
I agree that it makes for a negative customer experience. But not so negative that we don't want the watch anymore. And not so negative that we are giving up on Apple Products...

So, as far as problems go - this is the one Apple would prefer.

That's like saying cancer is worse than the flu. You hope not to have either one. This was mishandled pure and simple. It would seem to be counter to the original Apple core values.
 
News From Apple

Did anyone with an original date of 4-6 weeks get an estimate update today on the SS BSB?

I ordered on April 10th around 11am ET and still says 4-6 weeks (May 13-27th).

From Apple Online Store Executive Relations

"My sincere apologies for the delayed response. I was unfortunately out of the office in the morning. Currently, the delivery date range provide is accurate and as previously discussed, I will follow your direction on how you want to move forward.

I do appreciate your patience and previous kind words. I can reach out to you tomorrow, not as late, to further discuss options."



Kind regards,

My shipping date is May 13th - 27th :(
 
should have sold the bands independently. Send each watch except edition with a basic band. Allow customers to trade the band and pay whatever fee in store. Would have solved the problem.Then all you have had to worry about is making a 38mm or 42mm alum case or ss case. Could have had a ton more watches in peoples hands and they could have either kept the band or traded it for another one.

That *may* have given their inventory a little more flexibility to adapt to unexpected fluxuations in demand, but the shipping times for each band on the online store certainly indicate that it would not have solved "the problem" if you wanted anything other then the default. Not mention all the bitching I am sure we'd be seeing on this board as people went into the stores only to find out that their preferred band was sold-out or backordered (and the cluster **** of a trade in process that would have been needed when things were sold out at the PoS).

But, I don't think its really that easy...

The biggest problem with it (that I can see) is that it would fly completely in the face of how people have traditionally conceive of purchasing a watch (or really any fashion item I suppose). Apple may have been able to reduce the quoted ship times for a small number customers in the first month or two of launch, but at risk of hurting how the product was perceived (and purchased) in the long-term. That, or they could just do what it seems they've been doing: give it their best guess, quote shipping timeframes that gave them the flexibility, and make adjustments once they saw the real demand.

More risk short term, less risk long term.
 
Didn't realize how excruciating this wait was gonna be. I thought I didn't care but man, my patience is nowhere to be seen! Lol. End rant. Goes to refresh :eek:
 
From Apple Online Store Executive Relations

"My sincere apologies for the delayed response. I was unfortunately out of the office in the morning. Currently, the delivery date range provide is accurate and as previously discussed, I will follow your direction on how you want to move forward.

I do appreciate your patience and previous kind words. I can reach out to you tomorrow, not as late, to further discuss options."



Kind regards,

My shipping date is May 13th - 27th :(

What options is this email talking about? Sounds like a legal letter.
 
From Apple Online Store Executive Relations

"My sincere apologies for the delayed response. I was unfortunately out of the office in the morning. Currently, the delivery date range provide is accurate and as previously discussed, I will follow your direction on how you want to move forward.

I do appreciate your patience and previous kind words. I can reach out to you tomorrow, not as late, to further discuss options."



Kind regards,

My shipping date is May 13th - 27th :(

Not sure what you expected. They're not going to say 'yah it might come early' to get your hopes up. It is likely it will come early, but they don't want you to get pissed in case it doesn't. That's why it's safe to say 'just look at your estimated delivery date'.
 
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