It was the same way with the iPad. Apple never said when the Air 2 was going to be in stores. I called my local store, they weren't sure when they would be getting any in so I ordered online. Pretty simple.
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Angela Ahrendts Updates Retail Employees on Apple Watch and MacBook Launch Situation
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It was the same way with the iPad. Apple never said when the Air 2 was going to be in stores. I called my local store, they weren't sure when they would be getting any in so I ordered online. Pretty simple.
you know what? I take back what I said... after over 1 week, there is finally 1 display model in the entire Canada.
of course none sold in this country, because the "Demand is off the roof" (who cares about the demand when the supply = 0?)
Well played! The gender and race card in one sentence. As Apple's highest paid corporate exec, Ahrendts is owed no slack or apologies.
And this is what I don't understand. How is this product something that somebody absolutely has to have on the 24th? If I pre-ordered one and it arrived that day, great. If not, no big deal. It's not like I can't function without it.
She's the head of RETAIL, the PUBLIC side of the business. And, we're not talking about local businesses here. It's Apple and she is a major exec.
1. You're on Macrumors, you knew that it would be online only. They've been saying that for weeks. Asking an employee when manufacturing is going to make enough for general walk ins is just crazy. If the website doesn't say available now, why would you even think there would be some lying around at an Apple Store?
2. Where do you live where they didn't have a display model? Mine had them and it was a very pleasant experience trying it on. It told me I wanted one, it told me I didn't need the stainless steel one and it told me that the leather magnet strap looks great on the sport too so now I also want that.
No, it's the way they decided to go to market or try to go to market, assuming she was responsible for the change, that I'm talking about. Apple, with their ever growing consumer base and ability to market the hell out of just about anything they make, will keep having supply issues at launch.
Trying to transition launches to online only is foolish in my opinion, especially as Apple keeps opening more stores globally. Why have brick and mortar if you're effectively telling people to not go to the stores?
Even the seemingly strange allocation of rMB's with stock available at BestBuy, but not in Apple stores may have made BB happy (and that might have been the very point in doing it that way), but I don't believe Apple stores should suffer to make another retailer happy.
Or if Apple was simply behind on getting the product made, then they should have pushed off the launch. Wouldn't it be better to say you're launching in stores on May 15th with stock on hand, than say you're launching on April 10th, but many stores won't even have display models and if they do, they won't have boxed product to sell? At that point, you're making customers mad, albeit most will likely stay mad and hold out for the product to arrive then hand over the cash anyway, so I get Apple can effectively do whatever they want as long as they're making products that people want to buy.
That's because Tim Cook isn't the COO anymore. He's a good CEO but was a much better COO.
People need perspective here.
Look, I love Apple products. I would love to have an Apple watch as soon as this Friday. But I won't. I'm in the "June" deliveries category so it will arrive whenever it arrives. The ONLY reason I'm slightly disappointed in not having the watch sooner is because A, it is a gift for my wife for our anniversary which is in early May and B, because the fitness features would be handy for me since I've already started working out as it has gotten much nicer out. But you know what? I'm lucky in that my wife is understanding when I explain her gift is not in yet due to issues beyond my control and I can still workout even though I don't have the watch yet. I will just have to continue to use my big iPhone 6+ but at least I can still workout.
I'm not calling anyone out here; those who ordered early in the morning of April 10 I feel for because from what I've read, even after only 2 minutes the shipment dates fell well past April 24th for those hoping to get one on launch day. By the way, why does Apple insist on making ordering start at midnight Pacific so people have to stay up so damn late to order anything if they so choose? In the end though, you made the choice to do this and you took a chance. There was never a guarantee that you would get April 24th as a delivery date and this IS a new category of product for Apple.
I don't think this is Ahrendts' fault at all and the hate towards her I feel is very unwarranted. She flat out doesn't control the manufacturing aspect of the product they are selling. I work in Manufacturing myself so I can tell you firsthand that there are any NUMBER of issues that can come up with products that would cause delays. One little thing can create chaos easy; from what I've read it's due to the haptic sensor. No matter how much money Apple can pay a manufacturer, if there are issues like these (and I'm sure there are more) there is no control over how many products can be produced and what timeframe the delivery will be.
Do you guys really think Apple is happy about this? You think this is what they wanted? If they can't produce this product quick enough, they risk losing customers. All those orders that are processing right now? Those orders can be cancelled and therefore, Apple loses that money. They want to make these as soon as they can, they want to sell them and they want to make money. Sure, I agree that not selling in stores sucks, but they just don't have enough supply yet for that. It is what it is.
If you want to ask questions, I would ask: for a product that was unveiled last year in September (Tim Cook already had one on his wrist), why did they wait until March 2015 to start production knowing they had an April release planned out? I'm guessing there were so many bugs and other issues to perfect before March that they didn't have a choice but we really don't know that for sure. How much preparation went into this before the launch and did time catch up to them? I don't know. It's a valid point though; it isn't like they just unveiled the watch 2 weeks ago for the first time so you have to wonder what exactly happened with a product that we've known about for 7 months now (and that's not including how many months it already was in existence given Cook had a working one on his wrist).
In the end, while I think Apple could have done some things better in preparation for this launch, I do think there are factors well beyond their control that they have to deal with and as a result, they will have these delays in orders and the inability to have product in stores. How much it will hurt them in the long run remains to be seen ( I'm banking that they will sell millions of these devices regardless) but in the end, people just need to have some perspective.
Look, I love Apple products. I would love to have an Apple watch as soon as this Friday. But I won't. I'm in the "June" deliveries category so it will arrive whenever it arrives. The ONLY reason I'm slightly disappointed in not having the watch sooner is because A, it is a gift for my wife for our anniversary which is in early May and B, because the fitness features would be handy for me since I've already started working out as it has gotten much nicer out. But you know what? I'm lucky in that my wife is understanding when I explain her gift is not in yet due to issues beyond my control and I can still workout even though I don't have the watch yet. I will just have to continue to use my big iPhone 6+ but at least I can still workout.
I'm not calling anyone out here; those who ordered early in the morning of April 10 I feel for because from what I've read, even after only 2 minutes the shipment dates fell well past April 24th for those hoping to get one on launch day. By the way, why does Apple insist on making ordering start at midnight Pacific so people have to stay up so damn late to order anything if they so choose? In the end though, you made the choice to do this and you took a chance. There was never a guarantee that you would get April 24th as a delivery date and this IS a new category of product for Apple.
I don't think this is Ahrendts' fault at all and the hate towards her I feel is very unwarranted. She flat out doesn't control the manufacturing aspect of the product they are selling. I work in Manufacturing myself so I can tell you firsthand that there are any NUMBER of issues that can come up with products that would cause delays. One little thing can create chaos easy; from what I've read it's due to the haptic sensor. No matter how much money Apple can pay a manufacturer, if there are issues like these (and I'm sure there are more) there is no control over how many products can be produced and what timeframe the delivery will be.
Do you guys really think Apple is happy about this? You think this is what they wanted? If they can't produce this product quick enough, they risk losing customers. All those orders that are processing right now? Those orders can be cancelled and therefore, Apple loses that money. They want to make these as soon as they can, they want to sell them and they want to make money. Sure, I agree that not selling in stores sucks, but they just don't have enough supply yet for that. It is what it is.
If you want to ask questions, I would ask: for a product that was unveiled last year in September (Tim Cook already had one on his wrist), why did they wait until March 2015 to start production knowing they had an April release planned out? I'm guessing there were so many bugs and other issues to perfect before March that they didn't have a choice but we really don't know that for sure. How much preparation went into this before the launch and did time catch up to them? I don't know. It's a valid point though; it isn't like they just unveiled the watch 2 weeks ago for the first time so you have to wonder what exactly happened with a product that we've known about for 7 months now (and that's not including how many months it already was in existence given Cook had a working one on his wrist).
In the end, while I think Apple could have done some things better in preparation for this launch, I do think there are factors well beyond their control that they have to deal with and as a result, they will have these delays in orders and the inability to have product in stores. How much it will hurt them in the long run remains to be seen ( I'm banking that they will sell millions of these devices regardless) but in the end, people just need to have some perspective.
So Apple releases 2 new products that basically take a lottery to "win" the ability to buy one (online only), and one of the products (Macbook) is a complete no-show at most Apple stores, and in the end, most people could not see or buy one...explain again how this is good and how this is one of the best launches ever? I certainly don't recall ever having this kind of non-availability on other product launches.
I swear, Apple is worse than N. Korea or China in spining the truth when they are spewing propaganda to their masses.
Truly amazing.
I swear, Apple is worse than N. Korea or China in spining the truth when they are spewing propaganda to their masses.
Truly amazing.
If there's a 3-4 week delay online does it surprise you there's no stock in store? Do you really think Cook & Co. are happy with these delays? I mean how many people see that 4 week delay and say 'no thanks' or go order something else. Obviously that's not what Apple wants.
if selling a few million units in a few hours is a blunder, sign me up -- I'd love for this type of blunder to happen to my company. every month.
serious what nonsense. it's a resounding success.. now the haters have to say the success is a failure, because they can't get the units fast enough. hahahahahaha.
and what's more mad -- waiting in line for days, to maybe get a product, or just ordering it online. hmmm.
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yes, probably because she's female -- you certainly don't have any other actual data to go off of. and I assume you've never met her, either.
Ahrendts needs to go
Her retail rollout of the Apple Watch was a total fail. I'm not sure she fits the Apple culture.
This video makes her look even worse. It is very frantic, unorganized and chaotic, not smooth, to the point and pleasant. Apple has an Image, this IS NOT it.
No one was able to try out the watch, we could only try on the watch and watch a demo loop, this is a far cry from experiencing the watch. Fiddling with a watch that is mounted on a stand and not on your wrist does not cut it. We could not experience the taptic feedback, check our pulse or know what it is like to interact with the watch while it is on our wrist.
The April 24th release date was a total joke, I had a watch in my cart for the 24th, by the time I switched to use a different credit card than what was on file it was pushed back to mid May. Apple is known for a UPOD (Under Promise Over Deliver) approach. This was the complete opposite.
I think it's time for Apple to look for a replacement. Not only for her but for everyone responsible for this horrid launch.
Her retail rollout of the Apple Watch was a total fail. I'm not sure she fits the Apple culture.
This video makes her look even worse. It is very frantic, unorganized and chaotic, not smooth, to the point and pleasant. Apple has an Image, this IS NOT it.
No one was able to try out the watch, we could only try on the watch and watch a demo loop, this is a far cry from experiencing the watch. Fiddling with a watch that is mounted on a stand and not on your wrist does not cut it. We could not experience the taptic feedback, check our pulse or know what it is like to interact with the watch while it is on our wrist.
The April 24th release date was a total joke, I had a watch in my cart for the 24th, by the time I switched to use a different credit card than what was on file it was pushed back to mid May. Apple is known for a UPOD (Under Promise Over Deliver) approach. This was the complete opposite.
I think it's time for Apple to look for a replacement. Not only for her but for everyone responsible for this horrid launch.
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They better have some pretty good security in the store. This scene of people waking out with an expensive and small items that's pocket-able is a mugger's happy hunting grounds.
Since there are only pre-order pick ups, the profile of an Apple Watch buyer on launch day is that of a high income individual with at least one expensive item that can fence easy not to mention what other items and cash.
This creates a big have / have-not culture. I guess she knows the first peak of Apple consumers but doesn't know the dark-side second peak that is just as important to drive the company product line.
Since there are only pre-order pick ups, the profile of an Apple Watch buyer on launch day is that of a high income individual with at least one expensive item that can fence easy not to mention what other items and cash.
This creates a big have / have-not culture. I guess she knows the first peak of Apple consumers but doesn't know the dark-side second peak that is just as important to drive the company product line.
Not a very impressive speaker
Hmmm, I wasn't very impressed by her presentation capabilities for someone who's a public face for one of the largest corporations in the world. Lot's of "ums and ahhs", and distracting body & hand movements. Also, the actual message was a bit poorly constructed and worded.
She should enrol on a Toastmasters course.... (toastmasters.org).
I also thought she was British based on her Burberry past..clearly not.
Hmmm, I wasn't very impressed by her presentation capabilities for someone who's a public face for one of the largest corporations in the world. Lot's of "ums and ahhs", and distracting body & hand movements. Also, the actual message was a bit poorly constructed and worded.
She should enrol on a Toastmasters course.... (toastmasters.org).
I also thought she was British based on her Burberry past..clearly not.
you do realize I was poking fun. I was being as ridiculous as the people complaining about Apple not taking their money right this minute for the watch.
yes. I must assume the posters here are trending towards their teens. otherwise it's insane that MR has become a hater stronghold.
if there's a 3-4 weeks delay, why not HOLD OFF on launching a product?
It's one thing to not meet the demand, but another when you don't even have a demo in a first launch wave country. Apple stores near me literally have an entire wall dedicated to new Macbook empty because they have nothing to display there
Great analogy, comparing a company that sells optional technology products to people who WANT THEM, to a dictator driven country that controls it's citizens with fear and oppression. Why don't you just throw in Hitler while you're at it.
no. she is not speaking as an individual, but as the organization itself. this it's completely valid.
shocked that I have to explain this. when did MR get overrun?
But on the Apple store vs Best Buy equation lets assume that Apple kept 90% and BB and other resellers were given 10%. Would that change your thinking? We won't get any sales figures until the 27th in earnings release and the conference call afterwards. Perhaps Apple thought the allocation between the two was enough. This seems like a pretty big laptop launch into a declining market. The reviewers weren't actually telling people to run out and buy it either. So, I will be really curious to see what unit sales were and then judge how badly demand was misjudged.
If you have resellers that sell your products but you don't give them product do you thing they will retain the allotted selling space?
A watch is like clothes-- You really have to try it on before you buy it. These millions of lemmings that bought a watch without even ever having tried it one will be returning a good portion of them after sufficient "play with my new toy time". Unfortunately, Apple will never announce how many returns there are.