Thanks for the update. Kind of stinks that they had a problem with this model. I did not get the EOD and wonder if that means anything. My order was really early, at 02:01:40 (CDT)
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Another call from Executive Relations team: Space Grey Update
- Thread starter scwinsett
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How come they didn't send the "cover our ass letter to everyone, who is waiting"
Apples in the strongest position ever. They know it and may very well be trying out different things to gauge public response. Free to do as they like, almost without consequence, they've got nothing to lose.
The issue is a simple one. You always under promise and over deliver. In this case Apple has done the opposite. If it couldn't meet all the orders for this particular watch on 24/04 then the quoted shipping window should not have started on that date.
To send a "covering our backside" email still quoting a date they can't meet just rubs salt into the wounds. All customers want is some honesty and that's something Apple seems to be short on at the moment.
To send a "covering our backside" email still quoting a date they can't meet just rubs salt into the wounds. All customers want is some honesty and that's something Apple seems to be short on at the moment.
I would be at least a smidgen less irritated if they were honest like you said. Just tell me. Hey kupkakez demand was mega high unfortunately you won't see something Friday but should receive it early next week. Then I'd be okay and besides Ill be over my hurt by Saturday as I jet to Vegas and will forget all about it.
hopefully it'll be waiting at ups for me when I get home.Edit: forgot to add the fact my order still says eta 4/24-5/8 is what makes me hold out small hope and gets my hopes slightly up. If they'd change the date I'd give up.
If this is true, I should have a watch tomorrow. I definitely know of more than one person who ordered the same exact model as me, after me, that are already shipping.
Stock value once some TV analysis spins the ridiculously long backorder timetables into a supply failure... I am actually surprised this hasn't happened yet...
I would be at least a smidgen less irritated if they were honest like you said. Just tell me. Hey kupkakez demand was mega high unfortunately you won't see something Friday but should receive it early next week. Then I'd be okay and besides Ill be over my hurt by Saturday as I jet to Vegas and will forget all about it.
Edit: forgot to add the fact my order still says eta 4/24-5/8 is what makes me hold out small hope and gets my hopes slightly up. If they'd change the date I'd give up.
I'm in this camp - I changed my delivery address expecting it to be shipped Friday, and now I'm waiting for any news so I can decide if I should change the address back again. If they would just say "hey, don't expect it until next week" then I could make plans and stop thinking about it.
Everyone really seems to be blindly ignoring the 13 other dates included in the range of April 24 through May 8. I'm disappointed that I probably won't get my watch tomorrow, but the expectation of a 2 week delivery window was established from the moment pre-orders started. With that, I knew from day one, maybe I'll get it on April 24 or maybe May 4 or maybe even April 28. Everyone interpreting that timeframe as "My watch was scheduled to arrive April 24" needs to realize Apple never promised that everyone would get the watch on launch day.
You're arguing stuff I never said. I never said anyone broke a promise and I never said I was entitled to anything. My only qualm is that since the preorders started, it's been really difficult to get a specific date. Sooner the better, but I really just want to know when to expect it so I can plan around it.
Get off your high horse
They have sent this email and worded it this way as a way of communicating expectations while still keeping the traditional Apple vagueness and secrecy veil they pride themselves over.
I believe every move coming out of Cupertino is planned, and this email of death/doom email is very much so. I think they are communicating higher than expected demand, that they expected to fill everyones preorder the first day, but now its looking less likely so please don't expect a delivery on launch day as per previous pre-orders.
It is worded very specifically this way and sent on wednesday because there is still one more day for processing/shipping.
Frankly I agree with everyone else here, if theres 'no stock' till friday or next week or in 2 weeks what exactly is the fulfillment system doing 24/7 then? It would make more sense to spend effort to narrow down shipping times and push out those status updates.
People don't get it. I ordered a white which I'm glad is on the way, but my buddy ordered a Space Grey model, and seeing that people who had ordered with dates in May/June have preparing for shipment etc, does leave him discouraged.
exactly. each apple watch configuration has it's own line. just because may orders for the white sport are getting pushed early doesn't mean that someone is cutting in line in front of you for the gray sport.
People have posted evidence that the gray sport is being moved up to Prepare to Ship, while the legitimate people who have stayed up to preorder are getting the finger.
Keep in mind a few things:
On reading many of the posts here, a pattern of order is definitely apparent but certainly there are outliers (people who ordered late but are getting watches early).
My gut feeling based on everything I'm seeing is that the order windows Apple gave us are conservative by about 1 week. So that means if you are in the 4/24 to 5/8 slot, you will probably get it by 5/1 or sooner, and many will get tomorrow. Depends on your ordering time, body-band combo, and region. If you are in the May 13-27 slot (like me), you may get it as early as the first week of May. I doubt any sooner than that, though a few will be lucky. Again, it depends.
This is not an easy launch, it's WAY different for Apple than a MacBook or an iPhone. Consider for example the outsourced leather bands that they do not have the same level of production control as they would for parts made in Shenzen. They are relying on suppliers they've probably never worked with before.
Hang in there.
- It's really hard for us to tell exactly what "order" we are listed in in Apple's order queue.
- With all the combos of watch bodies and straps, Apple is maintaining dozens of separate order queues, each with its own supply and demand.
- They also have an order queue for each region and country, times the number of watch combinations. There are a LOT of queues.
- We are judging our position in the queue by the confirmation email date stamp. Who knows if that is an accurate reflection.
- Apple probably has distributed ordering system and after preorders are placed they have to merge a bunch of databases, prioritize the lists, then break them up by watch type and reason. There's plenty of opportunity for things to get a little "out of order"
- Orders are also getting cancelled or changed, which messes with the queue.
On reading many of the posts here, a pattern of order is definitely apparent but certainly there are outliers (people who ordered late but are getting watches early).
My gut feeling based on everything I'm seeing is that the order windows Apple gave us are conservative by about 1 week. So that means if you are in the 4/24 to 5/8 slot, you will probably get it by 5/1 or sooner, and many will get tomorrow. Depends on your ordering time, body-band combo, and region. If you are in the May 13-27 slot (like me), you may get it as early as the first week of May. I doubt any sooner than that, though a few will be lucky. Again, it depends.
This is not an easy launch, it's WAY different for Apple than a MacBook or an iPhone. Consider for example the outsourced leather bands that they do not have the same level of production control as they would for parts made in Shenzen. They are relying on suppliers they've probably never worked with before.
Hang in there.
Oh please, give it a break, don't you know that when they are actually shipping you will get a notice and you can actually track it on it's way to your house? And if you are really, really worried about, then wait until August and go into a store and buy one then. Oh let me guess, "but I want it nooooowww, and I deserve to be told exactly when it will show up."
I am really excited by this product and launch and as mentioned before, it is like watching the Santa Tracker at Christmas time. I just think it is comical how so many people here feel entitled to get it when they want it.
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Got it!!
So unless they could meet ALL orders they should not stop shipping any orders on the 24th.
So in your world, the quoted shipping date should have been something like
4/24/2018 - 5/8/2018
I'm just commenting on your mention of 4.24 being the advertised launch date.
That remains true.
Not quite. If Apple couldn't meet ANY of the orders for a particular Watch on 4/24, THEN the delivery window for that model should not have started on that date. That is what some people are afraid has happened with the 38mm SG Sport. The delivery window should start on the first date that SOMEBODY can reasonably expect a delivery.
The two-week window thing was the big mistake here, regardless of how many of us are surprised to receive Watches tomorrow. Both on April 10, and increasingly as time went on, they should have narrowed the date ranges as they got a better idea of who would get what and when. Then people could have had a little more confidence in them throughout this agonizing week.
If Apple sent out an honest email saying you wouldn't receive it on day one of the window people would be even more pissed.
You all would be demanding free accessories because they only met the later part of the only window they ever provided.
You all would be demanding free accessories because they only met the later part of the only window they ever provided.
I can't speak for anyone else, but that is absolutely not true for me. If I got an email from Apple earlier this week that said, "Based on your position in our order queue, we have adjusted your ship window to be more accurate. We expect to ship your order for delivery between 4/27 - 5/1," I would have been disappointed, yes, but not upset. By contrast, this little game of "Where's Waldo?" with Watches is beginning to make me upset, especially since I ordered one of only a couple of models (if not the only model left) that so far has not seen any movement in the U.S. at all. Even so, I'm still holding out more hope than most.
Silently behind the scenes Steve Jobs worked furiously and very successfully to bring decision makers, movers and shakers from every industry imaginable making them Apple Faithful.
Even now many years later it's obvious if you pay attention to the choice of words in thousands of Pro-Apple articles released constantly. The headlines alone on the greater majority are always predicting success, calling Apple brilliant or some equivalent.
Conversely the worst weakness of Android is they never get this kind of positive slant in any of the coverage. Much of this can be blamed on Google and comparatively their nearly zero hype, very poor marketing, and unbelievable failure to truly recognize the threat Apple poses.
The Cupertino company is hands down more successful and skilled at manipulating and managing their public image. It's simply no contest.
Thus it's this stellar image Apple has that dissuades many analysts and other pundits from making predictions and taking actions they'd otherwise take without hesitation.
That's why I often say that Apple operates nearly without consequence. No other company has hoards it devotees and dedicated excuse making supporters that act like any challenge against Apple is a personal affront to them.
It's quite an amazing, enduring phenomenon.
