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macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 13, 2009
891
81
San Jose, CA
...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

but a 38MM sport watch is $350

included in that is

the watch band (which they sell separately for $50)
charging cable (which they sell separately for $40)
charger (which they sell separately for $20)

so the watch itself is only $240...or the watch is more, but they throw in the accessories free, but for which they charge a small fortune for you to buy separately.

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)
 
All the parts of my car purchased separately would cost like $200k. My car costs $80k new.

Welcome to the world

Edit - to clarify I mean if I walked into the dealership and ordered every single part for my car from their catalogue.....
 
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...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

but a 38MM sport watch is $350

included in that is

the watch band (which they sell separately for $50)
charging cable (which they sell separately for $40)
charger (which they sell separately for $20)

so the watch itself is only $240...or the watch is more, but they throw in the accessories free, but for which they charge a small fortune for you to buy separately.

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)

I too am thrown off by the pricing, and I assume that many more young customers my age are. The watch in my eyes is simply an accessory to the iPhone, sure it has extreme potential, but is not there yet. The main attraction the first announcement of the watch had for me was the fitness tracking capabilities, although now they have proven to be subpar, and not worth this amount. Instead, I can get an amazing fitness tracker like the Jawbone Up 3(hopefully sometime this year:roll eyes:) and a classier Fossil watch which will provide much more for me.

For me, Apple just hasn't solidified how the watch will impact my life $350 worth.
 
What's worse is the band model. You want black SS , sure but you have to buy this ugly black band for 600 dollars . After how loyal we have all been , that there is a big F you to the customers that make this company rich as they are

It's almost like a arrogance they are showing
 
All the parts of my car purchased separately would cost like $200k. My car costs $80k new.

Welcome to the world

No... it doesn't. You may think it does, but no... it doesn't. Your car that cost you $80,000 could be built by an individual for probably around $30,000 in parts. That is why they make "kit" cars that are a model replica of the real thing, include the same engine, transmission, suspension, radiator, brakes, wheels, etc with aftermarket shell for a fraction of the price.

Maybe you are welcoming him to your world of imagination, but in the real world the parts of something are never more than the cost of the whole thing. That is why you pay extra for the whole thing so that you don't have to take the time to assemble it yourself. Ever wonder why people build their own computers when according to logic "in your world" they could just buy a preassembled computer for cheaper?

Yeah I won't be drinking your kool-aid
 
I think the pricing will evolve. They threw out the top-ceiling as a feeler to see the commercial response. Give it time. The market will adjust.
 
No... it doesn't. You may think it does, but no... it doesn't. Your car that cost you $80,000 could be built by an individual for probably around $30,000 in parts. That is why they make "kit" cars that are a model replica of the real thing, include the same engine, transmission, suspension, radiator, brakes, wheels, etc with aftermarket shell for a fraction of the price.

Maybe you are welcoming him to your world of imagination, but in the real world the parts of something are never more than the cost of the whole thing. That is why you pay extra for the whole thing so that you don't have to take the time to assemble it yourself. Ever wonder why people build their own computers when according to logic "in your world" they could just buy a preassembled computer for cheaper?

Yeah I won't be drinking your kool-aid

I'm thinking he means that if he bought each part individually with markup.
 
No... it doesn't. You may think it does, but no... it doesn't. Your car that cost you $80,000 could be built by an individual for probably around $30,000 in parts. That is why they make "kit" cars that are a model replica of the real thing, include the same engine, transmission, suspension, radiator, brakes, wheels, etc with aftermarket shell for a fraction of the price.

Maybe you are welcoming him to your world of imagination, but in the real world the parts of something are never more than the cost of the whole thing. That is why you pay extra for the whole thing so that you don't have to take the time to assemble it yourself. Ever wonder why people build their own computers when according to logic "in your world" they could just buy a preassembled computer for cheaper?

Yeah I won't be drinking your kool-aid

I wish my car dealership subscribed to your same philosophy.
 
I too am thrown off by the pricing, and I assume that many more young customers my age are. The watch in my eyes is simply an accessory to the iPhone, sure it has extreme potential, but is not there yet. The main attraction the first announcement of the watch had for me was the fitness tracking capabilities, although now they have proven to be subpar, and not worth this amount. Instead, I can get an amazing fitness tracker like the Jawbone Up 3(hopefully sometime this year:roll eyes:) and a classier Fossil watch which will provide much more for me.

For me, Apple just hasn't solidified how the watch will impact my life $350 worth.

Yep I agree with you. I think most people here on these forums consider price no object, but we are living in a recession and most people can reconcile the decision to spend $199-$299 for a subsidized iPhone 6/6+, even spending $499 for an iPad that can be used for school/work, but a smartwatch that costs $349-$549 for base model sport/stainless steel is asking a lot. Then consider moving up to a stainless steel or leather band costs an additional $100-$400, it seems just a bit ludicrous.
 
With an estimated 2.3 MILLION units ordered the first weekend I think Apple probably got the pricing model correct. I am thankful it was not MORE expensive. Many thought the SS Model with Sports band would start at ovr $1,000. I personally thought they found a good balance.
 
...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

but a 38MM sport watch is $350

included in that is

the watch band (which they sell separately for $50)
charging cable (which they sell separately for $40)
charger (which they sell separately for $20)

so the watch itself is only $240...or the watch is more, but they throw in the accessories free, but for which they charge a small fortune for you to buy separately.

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)

You must be new to Apple.
 
Future generations of the watch will be more streamlined and more powerful sensors, better battery life and all for the same price of the gen 1. I can hear it now.
 
I wish my car dealership subscribed to your same philosophy.

Haha. You consider pricing of parts from a dealership to be real world you are definitely drinking the kool-aid.

BMW uses ZF 8-speed transmissions in some of their cars. If I were to buy directly from a supplier it may cost around $4,000. Buying it from BMW parts and repair would be at least $6000. Dealerships mark up all parts they sell to customers.

They mark up the part and they then charge you for service. That is how they make their money. Ever wonder why dealerships get mad if you buy your tires from tirerack.com and then ask the dealer to put the tire on for a small fee? Go to your dealership and see what happens.
 
...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

......

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)

You pay for the privilege of being an early adopter, tester, and bragging rights with your friends and neighbors.

Go try one on and your tune will change.
 
...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

but a 38MM sport watch is $350

included in that is

the watch band (which they sell separately for $50)
charging cable (which they sell separately for $40)
charger (which they sell separately for $20)

so the watch itself is only $240...or the watch is more, but they throw in the accessories free, but for which they charge a small fortune for you to buy separately.

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)

You may want to update your signature. You cannot swap bands because the Sport watch only comes with 3 pieces which form 1 complete large band or 1 complete small band. Not 1 of each.
 
I haven't bought chargers or cables from Apple in years if ever. Third party parts at a fraction of the price are readily available. Just steer clear of the ultra cheap knock offs and you should be able to get a perfectly fine cable or charging device for a very reasonable price.

I may end up charging my watch at work some days and then using a sleeping App at night (assuming some sort gets developed), so I might want a second charger. I suspect their availability will beat my "June" watch delivery date anyway.
 
You pay for the privilege of being an early adopter, tester, and bragging rights with your friends and neighbors.

Go try one on and your tune will change.

The cable is still $40 in 6 month. All Apple's profit comes from only one place, our pockets. Unless someone is a stockholder, Apple's profit is a measure on how much they ripped us off.
 
Haha. You consider pricing of parts from a dealership to be real world you are definitely drinking the kool-aid.

It seems like you're both more or less on the same side of this argument. nasa25 is just saying that parts cost more if you buy them individually from the maker (whether it's Apple or the car manufacturer). Could you theoretically buy an OEM version of the cable for less? Probably. But that's not the point here.
 
Yep I agree with you. I think most people here on these forums consider price no object, but we are living in a recession and most people can reconcile the decision to spend $199-$299 for a subsidized iPhone 6/6+, even spending $499 for an iPad that can be used for school/work, but a smartwatch that costs $349-$549 for base model sport/stainless steel is asking a lot. Then consider moving up to a stainless steel or leather band costs an additional $100-$400, it seems just a bit ludicrous.

If the watch is too expensive for you don't buy it. It really sounds to me like you should buy one of the cheaper alternatives like a pebble.

----------

The cable is still $40 in 6 month. All Apple's profit comes from only one place, our pockets. Unless someone is a stockholder, Apple's profit is a measure on how much they ripped us off.

If you feel that Apple products are a ripe off, don't buy them. There are plenty of lower cost alternatives.

You get what you pay for.
 
Makes total sense that the full product costs less than buying all the parts separately - product pricing is far more complex than that one variable.

However, I do find some of the individual strap pricing ridiculous, especially £130 for a pretty average leather loop. £130. For a leather watch strap. I think Apple see no incentive yet to price the straps competitively, as they will be being bought by affluent early adopters who can not only afford an Apple Watch, but accessories.

Hopefully the playing field will level in time and strap prices will return to Earth.
 
Makes total sense that the full product costs less than buying all the parts separately - product pricing is far more complex than that one variable.

However, I do find some of the individual strap pricing ridiculous, especially £130 for a pretty average leather loop. £130. For a leather watch strap. I think Apple see no incentive yet to price the straps competitively, as they will be being bought by affluent early adopters who can not only afford an Apple Watch, but accessories.

Hopefully the playing field will level in time and strap prices will return to Earth.

Apple will keep their prices high and they will sell. 3rd parties will release cheaper alternatives. Apple will continue selling at their higher prices.

Look at cases for iPhone and iPad. Those prices are high for the Apple version and prices don't come down. The watch will be no different.
 
If you feel that Apple products are a ripe off, don't buy them. There are plenty of lower cost alternatives.

You get what you pay for.

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?
 
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