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

[RnSK]

Wow

Exactly. Ok, can't absolutely predict the future, but they can get pretty close- they've been doing this awhile. New product, yes, but not that different they could not see this coming. Basically sold out in 6 minutes? I got a 42mm SS light brown leather band within 6 minutes of start and order delivery est is not until May 13-27? I mean SIX MINUTES!.

Math is 'hard' but try it. Look, if 1 out of 4 people in just NYC alone have an iPhone, and 1 out of 8 of them have one that could work with the watch...and ALL of them wanted one...that adds up to more than a million...right there. ONE CITY.

Not complex to figure out. They simple did not have, and cannot *make* enough of these things *in the physical world we live in* to satisfy *months and months* of pent-up demand. Pick any number you want from the installed base...divide by any number you want of people that "would buy" you still come up 7 digits. It just wasn't going to happen...

-K

 

[leizerbeam]

You can't respect any employee who leaks company confidential information. It's pretty low and that person deserves to be fired.

I'd be happy to receive any video message from my VP. Most of us only get impersonal email blasts.

They don't need to be perfected as well because it is internal. This kind of video builds empathy.

 

[RnSK]

Ummmmmm...

IMO they should have held SOME back to have in stores, even if just a few. You can't have a launch day if no one can buy it on launch day.

I actually bought more than one of them BEFORE 'launch day' along with, seemingly, maaaaaaaaaannnnnnnyyyyyy other people.

Were you not aware that they went on sale nearly 2 weeks ago?

-K

 

[sualpine]

You can't respect any employee who leaks company confidential information. It's pretty low and that person deserves to be fired.

I'd be happy to receive any video message from my VP. Most of us only get impersonal email blasts.

They don't need to be perfected as well because it is internal. This kind of video builds empathy.

Messages to "retail" only go out because they are expected to be leaked. Apple Retail information is basically considered public at Apple. You want the real stuff? Work at Apple and don't wear a blue shirt or answer phones.

 

[sunwukong]

"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...

I actually bought more than one of them BEFORE 'launch day' along with, seemingly, maaaaaaaaaannnnnnnyyyyyy other people.

Were you not aware that they went on sale nearly 2 weeks ago?

-K

Yes, of course, duh. Did you not see I said I had ordered one 6 minutes after the start time? My point is that on launch day, there isn't anything anywhere that can actually be had, be purchased. None. Even if a few.

Sure you can order online with several months wait, but you can do that now, since 4-10. You can do that two months from now. In fact that is all you can do.

This 'launc'h day is really a 'deliveries begin for those that preordered in the first two minutes ' day.

It is just weird to even call it a launch day, (Apple has since removed 4-24 from its site, btw), if there is nothing different about it, and no product to be had, even if for an hour.

Crap. Wrong reply. /hangs head in shame

 

[CasinoOwl]

By June, the stores will have the watches. Consider April 24 the pre-launch if it bothers you so much that this is how it is rolling out. Most people are going to wait a couple of months before buying one anyway. Right now the biggest fans are ordering theirs and will be wearing them for all their friends to see. June will be here in no time and all this hand wringing will be history.

 

[JJsnyder]

I don't think this will be last time for online sales only for a new product. I expect we will see this again. Apple went with built to order on the watch. This wasn't like the iPad or a Macbook Pro order.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

This launch feels so mangled and like Apple is flying blind but leaving store staff to take the hits from annoyed customers. Availability @ launch quickly shifted to June but hasn't budged from that month since. That tells me it's not a demand issue but rather Apple didn't have much stock at launch. Demand was satiated within hours of launch. You can order one today for a similar delivery date as if you ordered at 9 AM Eastern on the 10th.

(have a Sport black/black on order for May delivery. Just being honest about what I see Apple doing here. I'm an Apple fan but it's not a deity to me, just a company w/ products I enjoy).

 

[Ljohnson72]

Irrelevant. Preorder started shortly before "previewing" the product in person, and we've been preordering all our iDevices sight unseen.

It's not irrelevant because that's clearly what she's referring to.

 

[bluski9]

Every product launch Apple always says it's overwhelming, demand off the charts etc etc..it seems it's always cut and paste press release..nothing new here in terms of news...what's new is not being able to walk into a store when they say watch will be available and not being able to walk out with one...even when iPhones were short supply some still managed to walk out with on on launch day...

 

[jaykk]

...people like me and seemingly, a crapton more, would have been less happy

The fact that they actually had the foresight to attempt this level of customization and this level of build quality clearly signifies they understand the larger consumer market far better than anyone previously...and you

I absolutely would not have wasted money on a cookie-cutter 2¢ band or a plastic watch. No one with any taste wants such a thing.

-K

totally get your point, Apple have been doing BTO stuff forever. if i want a preconfigured iMac, i can just go to apple store and pick up one, or BTO via website.

 

[JJsnyder]

The first day launch countries for Apple Watch isn't much different than iPhone 6 plus.

Did Apple learn something from iPhone 6 Plus lines? Many people didn't walk away with the phone that day or had to wait weeks.

For example, the all-metal Link Bracelet has 100 components and takes an insane nine hours to cut.

As for video maybe it wasn't poor before it was sent to the person in media. This can happen as video is downgraded.

I am ready for Friday morning.

 

[applegigs]

Bunch of BS... For me thats the charm of getting my products... I wanna go down the line with other people who are also excited.. Chat meet new people, connect with people from previous launches... camp out.. Don't tell me to go and buy it online wait for the stupid delivery company to update my status.."shipped".. it's not about the 350 euros I will spend it's about how I would excite myself spending them!

Oh, well that's at least my point of view.. sure people will disagree

 

[szw-mapple fan]

I get the feeling that there is fair bit of misogynist in the forums, even if nobody is openly admitting it. People find small arbitrary things to complain about, but a lot of the complains seem to be directed at her personally, rather than the way she operates. Maybe because this is the first time Apple has had a woman as a high level executive and people feel uncomfortable about that.

 

[Belmont31R]

Bunch of BS... For me thats the charm of getting my products... I wanna go down the line with other people who are also excited.. Chat meet new people, connect with people from previous launches... camp out.. Don't tell me to go and buy it online wait for the stupid delivery company to update my status.."shipped".. it's not about the 350 euros I will spend it's about how I would excite myself spending them!

Oh, well that's at least my point of view.. sure people will disagree

This is the new Apple buying experience...no more thoughtful or fun than buying toilet paper off Amazon.


No one even got a chance to see them in person first to decide what style they wanted. Order sight unseen within 2 minutes of the site going up at midnight to 3AM depending on US time zone or go without for 2-3 months.


Don't understand how people can defend this but they are.

 

[forgot-username]

No one even got a chance to see them in person first to decide what style they wanted. Order sight unseen within 2 minutes of the site going up at midnight to 3AM depending on US time zone or go without for 2-3 months.


Don't understand how people can defend this but they are.

The bit that annoys me is people responding with "oh like you could run Apple better" or "yeah they're successful" like that means they make zero mistakes. I can say a footballer takes a terrible free kick or an actor gave a terrible performance and still be perfectly comfortable with the fact that I couldn't do better or do their job or that other things they've done are good. People are so all or nothing. Love my Apple products, looking forward to receiving my watch (which just changed to "preparing to ship") but it would have been better to have been able to try on first. That's very simple and very obvious.

 

[unregbaron]

I hope Angela gets more of a relaxed Apple-y vibe as the years go by. Reminds me of past managers I have had that put you on edge, completely understandable though, she feels under pressure and anyone would.

 

[RnSK]

No one even got a chance to see them in person first to decide what style they wanted. Order sight unseen within 2 minutes of the site going up at midnight to 3AM depending on US time zone or go without for 2-3 months.


Don't understand how people can defend this but they are.

Like apple has EVER let ANYONE but press and special people see and touch their products before they could buy them. WTF is wrong with people?

DO. THE. MATH. Everyone wants one of these things including the people pissing and moaning about a "botched launch" wherein loads of people (but maybe NOT "YOU"...awww) *will actually have the product in their hands and on their wrists* Friday

Just because Apple has "denied" you the "privilege" of standing in a long-ass line with scalpers that DON'T actually want the thing, people who've been pissing in containers, TaskRabbits and self-promoting startups or strippers handing out cards for their strip clubs does not mean *I* want the Premium Apple Store in my town's upscale shopping area clogged with this nonsense.

Perhaps where YOU are, it is all fun and happy Apple people only, folks making connections/finding true love or whatever, but more often than not in the last couple-three years, what I'm describing is closer to reality.

I did forget the cranky, entitled people leaving the store cursing like sailors with nothing because they still were holding on to the romantic notion of Apple Line-ups long since gone...since a huge amount of stock was absorbed by the aforementioned unsavory types.

HERE'S an idea: form a MEETUP for Friday night or Saturday where all of those people you'd like to be in line with can congregate with you and enjoy the camaraderie of *actually* haven't gotten their Watch Friday! Celebrate!

It could be a whole new thing for Apple launches...Apple Launch Meetups.

-K

 

[consumeritis]

The Watch strategy may or may not be the right one.

But the MacBook launch was awful.

No display models anywhere outside the US. Still no display models anywhere in Europe, nearly two weeks later.

Fair enough get people to order online, but what's the point of having Apple stores if they can't even show you Apple products?

Many people who needed a laptop over the last month will have given up waiting.

 

[recoil80]

The Watch strategy may or may not be the right one.

But the MacBook launch was awful.

No display models anywhere outside the US. Still no display models anywhere in Europe, nearly two weeks later.

Fair enough get people to order online, but what's the point of having Apple stores if they can't even show you Apple products?

Many people who needed a laptop over the last month will have given up waiting.

The Macbook launch is a failure, while I agree with their "online only" strategy for the Watch

 

[RnSK]

Shhhh!!!

I get the feeling that there is fair bit of misogynist in the forums, even if nobody is openly admitting it. People find small arbitrary things to complain about, but a lot of the complains seem to be directed at her personally, rather than the way she operates. Maybe because this is the first time Apple has had a woman as a high level executive and people feel uncomfortable about that.

Nope. SHE is responsible for decisions made by her boss around the supply, a product matrix that was decided before she arrived and a product that was being made LONG BEFORE she actually got there. ALL. HER. FAULT. ARRRRGGHHHHH!!!!

Plus she's "funny looking" to boot. Anything and everything is appropriate because people can't have what they want

-K

----------

The Macbook launch is a failure, while I agree with their "online only" strategy for the Watch

I got mine *last week*...see, when they went on sale on the 10th, I ordered one *on the 10th*...Space Gray Best model w/o BTO to boot...and wouldn't ya know it, damned if the thing didn't arrive before they said it would.

Even before I got it, I went down to the local Apple Store and messed with the exact model I ordered! Crazy, right? Total failure of a launch.



-K

 

[consumeritis]

I got mine *last week*...see, when they went on sale on the 10th, I ordered on *on the 10th*...Space Gray Best model w/o BTO to boot...and wouldn't ya know it, damned if the thing didn't arrive before they said it would.

Even before I got it, I went down to the local Apple Store and messed with the exact model I ordered! Crazy, right? Total failure of a launch.



-K

I take it you're in the US.

No-one in Europe has even seen one. 4-6 weeks shipping even if you ordered it midnight on the 10th.

If they were going to have a later release date in Europe they should have said so.

 

[Aneres11]

[/COLOR]

I got mine *last week*...see, when they went on sale on the 10th, I ordered one *on the 10th*...Space Gray Best model w/o BTO to boot...and wouldn't ya know it, damned if the thing didn't arrive before they said it would.

Even before I got it, I went down to the local Apple Store and messed with the exact model I ordered! Crazy, right? Total failure of a launch.



-K

Clearly in the US. Try reading what people are saying.

Whilst I'm completely overjoyed for you that YOU managed to go to an Apple store and have a play with the one you ordered, NO ONE in Europe can do that.
And I'm in a first wave country for all Apple products.

But hey, I guess people in America can go and play with one in Best Buy, decide if they want it and then fork over over £1000 to pick one up and leave with it like a normal happy customer.

We cannot even look at the damn things. Whilst it may have worked out for you, the launch of the new MacBook is a complete and utter joke.
I don't work in business, and I'm no business man. But anyone with a shred of common sense can see that this 'launch' makes no business sense what so ever and is just plain embarrassing for company the size and scale of Apple.

 

[CJM]

Why is the MacBook launch such a shambles? Are they really that difficult to make? I'm thinking there's a bottleneck somewhere in the production.

 

[maflynn]

Ahrendts said the response to the MacBook has been "overwhelming" and that it was one of Apple's best MacBook launches yet.

On one hand this is a bit surprising, but given the excitement in the MacBook forums it shouldn't come as a total shock. People are loving this new design and new laptop.