Angela Ahrendts Updates Retail Employees on Apple Watch and MacBook Launch Situation

[AdonisSMU]

15 minutes is definitely enough time, like I said if it was guided by a trained sales associate. 15 minutes is longer than you think, it is half the length of most tv shows and newscasts, including commercials. Hardly delusional, you grumpy troll.

...But youve been complaining all night that you didnt get to try on the bands you wanted to and have some nerve calling me a grumpy troll because I dont agree with your baseless criticisms. 15 minutes is not a real world test where you have time to try out all the functionality despite your false claims. You said you wanted to try put the functionality of the watch. That requires set up etc... People who reviewed the watch said it took roughly a day or longer to get used to it. If you are so unhappy with the Apple Watch experience perhaps it is just not for you. So sorry.

 

[Rogifan]

FYI, according to Matthew Panzarino at Tech Crunch:

http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/21/ap...arantees-delivery-by-april-28th/#.f7tkyg:Alzn

It’s likely that several million (I’m hearing more than estimates I’ve seen out there so far) Apple Watch units have been sold already — and that more have been ordered than previously reported.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Beyoncé's watch does the exact same things your watch will do. What privilege does she have? Would you be buying a gold watch with gold link bracelet if Apple offered it right now?

That is a good point. Beyonce can afford 17k or more for a custom AppleWatch. Why shouldnt people spending that kind of money get their product first.

 

[Andrei90]

How is this a blunder? Apple has always faced extreme demand pressures with new product launches. Even iPhones are still constrained when the new revision comes out, and that's there most successful product.

Stores are far less efficient than online ordering, so it makes sense when faced with constrained supply to deal with it that way.

It's not a launch if I can't go to store and buy one. Apple is not a kickstarter nor Amazon, we as customers expect the ability to go to an Apple Store and buy Apple products.

 

[jonnyb098]

That's why it's a blunder. When you're the largest company in the world and you know your product sales are off the charts every single time, citing "supply constraints" at launch is effectively saying "we scheduled our release date earlier than we were going to be able to satisfy orders" - that's a blunder. Nobody forced Apple to even announce the Watch until it was ready except Apple.

As another poster said, there were 6 week delays at the first minute of pre-order. This isn't "supply constraints", this is "our product isn't ready for our advertised release date".

Total blunder.

That's what happens when you have to answer to the Wall Street bozos saying Apple needs to release another groundbreaking product or risk DIVING INTO HELLLLLLL! They released with constrained supply. There was a story months ago that they were having trouble on the yields for either the screen or the glass.

As for the retail experience? Who cares? Apple retail stores are beyond crowded and just think how fun it would be to have dozens of different combinations of watches and bands for employees to deal with on launch day. Enough chaos ensues from having a few colored iPhones in multiple capacities.

Let's not get started on Boris and his chronies trying to buy up the stores lot to resell for thousands each on eBay.....

 

[AdonisSMU]

It's not a launch if I can't go to store and buy one. Apple is not a kickstarter nor Amazon, we as customers expect the ability to go to an Apple Store and buy Apple products.

And you still can with the exception being the launch period for the AppleWatch and MacBook. You are crying over spilled milk.

 

[avanpelt]

I don't remember Craig getting much backlash with the iOS 8 bugs. I don't understand this Angela hate. None of us has the scope of what she ultimately wants to do. And I don't see any disaster. Can someone point me to the ****up she caused?

I think part of the backlash is because Angela Ahrendts is largely unknown to the Apple fan community in general. I think this video is only the second or third time I've heard her voice period. We've all seen Craig several times now.

Angela comes across to some, I think, as someone who thinks she's above speaking to Apple customers and fans. If that was true, it would be ironic considering that she is VP of retail. That perception, though, is largely due to the fact that she's never appeared on stage at an event even for five minutes. She would go a long way toward endearing herself to the Apple customer and fan if she would give the retail update at the next keynote, I think.

 

[ciscored]

But youve been complaining all night that you didnt get to try on the bands you wanted to. 15 minutes is not a real world test where you have time to try out all the functionality despite your false claims. People who reviewed the watch said it took roughly a day or longer to get used to it.

? Speed reader strikes again…. I NEVER said I couldn't try on all the band(s) that I wanted.

What I said (feel free to go back and read it SLOWLY) is that they did not have the color band I wanted in 42 mm. This was disappointing to me because it is the band that I preordered and wanted to see it on my wrist.

I tried on SEVERAL bands including the sport, the Milanese loop loop, classic buckle and leather straps. The employee who was showing them to me was also dumbfounded that they were all set to a dummy loop.

Obviously there is not enough time to master the devise in that time but there is enough time to be guided through the UI and features while it is on your wrist.

Obviously some people will need more time fitting than others, but there is no excuse for completely ommiting the ability to truly experience the capabilities of the device.

In my opinion, the majority of customers who preordered as well as those who are still deciding want to feel the taptic feedback, experience the health sensors and interact with the watch while it is on their wrist.

 

[Andrei90]

I believe that she meant allowing customers to demo/use/try on the device in store before its official launch.

But the official launch was April 10th, or are we able to buy the product on the 24th? No we aren't.

 

[V.K.]

This is Macrumors. We discuss first world problems, newbie.



Of course this is a fair point. But I was talking about the MacBook. And that should have had a delayed launch IMO.

That's why it's a blunder. When you're the largest company in the world and you know your product sales are off the charts every single time, citing "supply constraints" at launch is effectively saying "we scheduled our release date earlier than we were going to be able to satisfy orders" - that's a blunder. Nobody forced Apple to even announce the Watch until it was ready except Apple.

As another poster said, there were 6 week delays at the first minute of pre-order. This isn't "supply constraints", this is "our product isn't ready for our advertised release date".

Total blunder.

exactly. it is beyond obvious that they have very serious production issues with the watch. they delayed the launch as long as they possibly could without completely breaking the promise of "early 2015" launch but that was clearly not enough. they even warned in advance before a single preorder was made that supplies will be low - they never do that. None of this is really Ahrendts' fault but it is her fault for spouting the PR BS that customers will like the experience of not even having an option of buying a watch in-store on launch day. I am also not sure whose fault it is (perhaps hers?) for poor in-store marketing of watches. the demo units you can play with can't be put on your wrist so it's impossible to test a large portion of functionality. and during try-on appointments you can't do it either. all they let you do is to try it like a piece of jewelry. IMO this is a mistake. Also, when I was an Apple store in Toronto a few days after launch the store employees were mostly clueless about how the Watch and what it could be good for. they knew how to change watch faces but not much beyond that.

 

[Rogifan]

That is a good point. Beyonce can afford 17k or more for a custom AppleWatch. Why shouldnt people spending that kind of money get their product first.

Who knows if she's paying for the watch or not. But a handful of celebrities getting a watch a week or two early has zero impact on you or anyone else that ordered a watch.

 

[Andrei90]

She is either on unstable ground with this whole launch fiasco or she is uncomfortable on camera, and I'm guessing the later. I preordered on Friday. Does that mean I still will get mine the 24th despite the May 13-27 estimate I have? I don't think so, but I hope. Also, it seems like the single port on the new Macbook is causing issues. Maybe you shouldn't have made a single port laptop, or at least made the adapter sold desperately for a extremely high price.

Haven't you seen Angela on video before? She's very good at it. She's obviously nervous in this video though.

 

[AdonisSMU]

? Speed reader strikes again…. I NEVER said I couldn't try on all the band(s) that I wanted.

What I said (feel free to go back and read it SLOWLY) is that they did not have the color band I wanted in 42 mm. This was disappointing to me because it is the band that I preordered and wanted to see it on my wrist.

I tried on SEVERAL bands including the sport, the Milanese loop loop, classic buckle and leather straps. The employee who was showing them to me was also dumbfounded that they were all set to a dummy loop.

Obviously there is not enough time to master the devise in that time but there is enough time to be guided through the UI and features while it is on your wrist.

Obviously some people will need more time fitting than others, but there is no excuse for not having the ability to truly experience the capabilities of the device.

In my opinion, the majority of customers who preordered as well as those who are still deciding want to feel the taptic feedback, experience the health sensors and interact with it while still on their wrist.

If the band the color or size that you wanted to try on is unavailable for you to try on, then you couldnt try on all the bands you wanted to. You might want to read what you wrote. You are not going to be able to experience all the capabilities of an AppleWatch in the Apple Store so sorry to say. Poor Thing. Apple has a 14day return policy for a reason. They dont want you running around the store to see if the heart rate monitor works or not. Sorry.

 

[Andrei90]

And you still can with the exception being the launch period for the AppleWatch and MacBook. You are crying over spilled milk.

And what are we talking about here? The Mac Pro, the iMac? No, right? So please shut up if you aren't going to talk about the relevant topic.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Who knows if she's paying for the watch or not. But a handful of celebrities getting a watch a week or two early has zero impact on you or anyone else that ordered a watch.

Apple isnt marketing to the faithful. Thats what Apple events are for. Apple giving watches to Bey and others is to market to the general public.

 

[Andrei90]

"Ahrendts again told employees that the Apple Watch is only available online due to global demand exceeding supply."

How can this happen in only 5 minutes...

That's a lie and she knows it. All the iPhones sell out after a couple hours and we can still go to the store on launch day, get in line and buy one.

 

[AdonisSMU]

And what are we talking about here? The Mac Pro, the iMac? No, right? So please shut up if you aren't going to talk about the relevant topic.

Read the whole post. I clearly stated Apple Watch and MacBook. Stop getting yourself worked up.

 

[ciscored]

If the band the color or size that you wanted to try on is unavailable, then you couldnt try on all the bands you wanted to. You might want to read what you wrote. You are not going to be able to experience all the capabilities of an AppleWatch in the Apple Store so sorry to say. Poor Thing.

I went in there wanting to try on all the bands, so to say I couldn't try on all the the bands that I wanted to try on makes no sense... at all… in any way… in fact the word DUH comes to mind

Of course you can't experience ALL the capabilities of the watch, I just find it ridiculous that they won't let us experience ANY of the capabilities of the watch while we are wearing it.

Now settle down Beavis

 

[AdonisSMU]

That's a lie and she knows it. All the iPhones sell out after a couple hours and we can still go to the store on launch day, get in line and buy one.

Apple made 80million iPhone 6s. iPhone is a proven product.

 

[Andrei90]

I agree. It would've made a lot more sense to let users try it on for 2 weeks before making it available for sale online.

And if they wanted to gauge demand, they could've directed users to the website or store app to"favorite" the ones they liked.

Lastly, I would've made the try ons FIFO so that anyone could just walk in, put their name down and try on the watch. That could've led to longer lines, but that's a good thing to help build hype and interest.

That's why her exuses doesn't make sense. The launch date was April 10th, the 24th is just a shipping date so they didn't let us try the product 2 weeks before launch as she says.

----------

Apple made 80million iPhone 6s. iPhone is a proven product.

So? You need some reading comprehension man.

----------

Read the whole post. I clearly stated Apple Watch and MacBook. Stop getting yourself worked up.

I read the whole post. We're talking about not being able to walk into a store and buy the Apple Watch, then you answered something about being able to walk into a store and buy other products except the Apple Watch and MacBook. So again, your answer has nothing to do with what I said.

 

[Kenrik]

I think it's pretty clear what's going on here. Apple usually does not have so many SKUs for a device and this is a new product. So they played it safe and did not match bands to cores until they could see the way the preorders swung. In the past two weeks they have ramped up production of the bands based off the preorders and started boxing and shipping them out. Some bands are easier to produce and thus have a sooner ship date vs the stainless steel band which was may/june practically from the start. Also as far as sport bands went the blue was unpopular and so they offered it to developers as a guaranteed delivery on the 28th since they did not sell out of the initial blue band stock.

 

[Andrei90]

I think it's pretty clear what's going on here. Apple usually does not have so many SKUs for a device and this is a new product. So they played it safe and did not match bands to cores until they could see the way the preorders swung. In the past two weeks they have ramped up production of the bands based off the preorders and started boxing and shipping them out. Some bands are easier to produce and thus have a sooner ship date vs the stainless steel band which was may/june practically from the start. Also as far as sport bands went the blue was unpopular and so they offered it to developers as a guaranteed delivery on the 28th since they did not sell out of the initial blue band stock.

Exaclty this, that's what I said too. Angela played it safe, she didn't start productin until after the preorders got in.

 

[A MacBook lover]

I agree that Apple is changing how customers are treated based on what they purchase (VIP services, etc), and I don't like the classism, either. But don't blame Angela; that strategy comes from the top, and from marketing (Phil Schiller). It's central to how the Watch is being marketed and sold: through the lens of fashion.

We can't really blame Angela for the stock shortages, either. That also falls on Tim, and on the COO.

What we can blame Angela for is not allowing people to try on the Watch before it went up for preorder. That was a horrible, horrible decision, as it left people to either buy both sizes, buy one and hope it fits, or wait for an in-store demo and not get a Watch until June or later.

Thank you for the clarity

 

[Andrei90]

Not so sure about the 'Unforgettable launch' but sure is an unforgettable, unprofessional video from a highly paid nervous, dancing, echoing Apple Executive.

In her defense, the video wasn't meant to be public.

 

[jaykk]

Apple should have made it so easy with the SKUs, but they complicated all this SKUs for maximum profit (thats what corporation should do), but they sacrificed user experienced.

All they have to do is this.

1. Apple Watch Sport comes default with Black fluoroelastomer
2. Apple Watch with black leather (paying premium for this anyways)
3. Apple Watch Edition with black leather.

Then buy all the color combination as extra bands.. so anyone can walk into the store and buy a watch, and get the experience of having whole watch with bands, but same time, can upsell on bands.