Apple Ceases Selling Jawbone UP, Nike Fuelband as Apple Watch Launch Approaches

[dwsolberg]

The point is, Apple should feel secure that their product is the absolute best.

The fact that they're removing any other product from their store that might compete says quite a lot about their confidence in their new product.

This is circular logic. If Apple thinks its product is the absolute best, then why carry inferior products?

Competition is not the point. The point is to sell as many high-margin Apple products as possible. Before they didn't have any products in that category, so they stocked the best products they could find. They did this to support their OWN products so people could find other devices that worked with their iDevices. Now they have something in that category, so they're stocking their own, higher margin product. I don't know why this would confuse people.

 

[spectrumfox]

Quite the contrary, you're reading way too much into this. You think Apple didn't expect criticism regarding the price? As if anyone in Cupertino is appalled that the Edition is well outside of the price ranges for people like you and I? Gruber and few others correctly predicted both the astronomical price of some of the higher-end options, and the backlash that would follow.

So no, I don't think the timing of them pulling these devices is odd at all.

On the contrary, I think Apple expected the world to drool all over the Apple Watch and the new MacBook. But reality painted a different picture. The media has not been kind to them the past 48 hours.

If this was just business as usual, they would have removed these products from their stores the very day they announced the price and release date for Apple Watch.

But they didn't. They tested the waters and waited two days before making the decision, based on the unexpected media backlash.

 

[TechRemarker]

Um duh? Of course there not going to sell a competing product. That would be like an Apple Store selling Windows PCs. You can still order a FitBit or anything on Amazon and have it arrive at your house the next day. But clearly makes 0 sense for them to sell them in Apple Stores anymore.

 

[greytmom]

Are people really giving Apple crap for deciding not to sell a competitor's products?

Sure hope none of those bitching own their own companies and make products.

 

[Tubamajuba]

On the contrary, I think Apple expected the world to drool all over the Apple Watch and the new MacBook. But reality painted a different picture.

If this was just business as usual, they would have removed these products from their stores the very day they announced the price and release date for Apple Watch.

But they didn't. They tested and waters and waited two days before making the decision, based on the unexpected backlash.

First of all, every single Apple product has been met with skepticism upon being unveiled and introduced. Why would either the new MacBook or the Apple Watch be any different, and specifically, what leads you to believe that anybody at Apple would expect things to be any different?

Furthermore, how do you know the decision to remove the products was made today? Or yesterday? Not to mention, they started the process of removing wearables all the way back in November.

You're assuming a lot of things that you simply don't know to be true in order to fit your personal narrative for Apple...

 

[spectrumfox]

First of all, every single Apple product has been met with skepticism upon being unveiled and introduced. Why would either the new MacBook or the Apple Watch be any different, and specifically, what leads you to believe that anybody at Apple would expect things to be any different?

Furthermore, how do you know the decision to remove the products was made today? Or yesterday? Not to mention, they started the process of removing wearables all the way back in November.

You're assuming a lot of things that you simply don't know to be true in order to fit your personal narrative for Apple...

Of course I am assuming, this is just a theory. However, Apple's reactionary moves are actually happening in reality, and the timing is a tad suspicious. Especially when coinciding with the media and public's lukewarm and unsure reception to the new product.

 

[ctdonath]

It's simple fear of open and honest competition. Apple knows that their watch is grossly overpriced compared to competing products and so cannot allow customers to easily compare functionality and prices.

Huh?

Do Ford showrooms include Chrysler and Jaguar cars?
Do Gap stores have a rack devoted to Banana Republic clothing?
Do Movado stores allow customers to easily compare functionality and prices by including Timex watches?
Do Microsoft stores stock iPads?
Duh.
Of course not.

Brand-name retail stores may include products from other brands, but only to augment - not compete - with their core products. Apple isn't a general retail store, it's a manufacturing brand owning retail space to promote _their_ product, not others; insofar as there may be Belkin (blarg) and Parrot and 12 South products, those are only included to persuade additional sales of Apple products and keep customers happy.

 

[dannyyankou]

Oi...

Here, read this.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20825328/

Name a single competitive product to one of apple's main products that they currently sell. Besides headphones, I can't think of many. It's not surprising they want to remove other wearables and focus on selling they're own product which they think is better. But people aren't stupid, they'll go to Target or somewhere like that if they want other options.

 

[spectrumfox]

Name a single competitive product to one of apple's main products that they currently sell. Besides headphones, I can't think of many. It's not surprising they want to remove other wearables and focus on selling they're own product which they think is better. But people aren't stupid, they'll go to Target or somewhere like that if they want other options.

Why are you excluding headphones?

They sell competitors' headphones as well as their own in their retail stores.

 

[MeFromHere]

The watch doesn't even come out for a month.

The excuse that they need more room, or expect to sell less of another product, would only make sense if they did this closer to release date.

They're concerned. It's totally obvious.

One thing Apple has, that we don't have, is data on the recent sales trends for these products. If sales have been drying up (due to Apple Watch anticipation or any other reason), Apple knows it.

Lots of things are "totally obvious" to armchair quarterbacks, but still wrong. In this case, we just have no way of knowing Apple's reasons.

 

[gnasher729]

Apple needs room in its stores for Watch, Watch bands and accessories. I never did understand why people think Apple should have to sell non-Apple products in their stores. It's the Apple store not Best Buy.

Apple should sell (a) Apple products and (b) products that increase the value of Apple products. That's why they have an App Store full with hundreds of thousands of non-Apple apps, because they increase the value of Apple products. And lots of accessories in the store that Apple doesn't offer itself.

 

[DeathChill]

I have 0 friends who are purchasing the Edition.

Jokes on you: I have zero friends, period.

 

[dannyyankou]

Why are you excluding headphones?

They sell competitors' headphones as well as their own in their retail stores.

Apple treats accessories very differently than their main products. The reason Apple was happy selling Jawbone and Fuelband was because they were accessories to the iPhone, which Apple is very open to (cases, headphones, wearables, etc.) But now Apple has their own wearable coming out and they want to treat it as a flagship product and not an iPhone accessory, which is why they're removing competition. They don't currently sell anything competing with their flagship products, but they sell plenty of competing accessories because they don't make as much revenue on that.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

I actually find the Apple retail store to be less and less interesting to visit the more that they stop selling wares from other companies. You used to be able to look at a wide array of phone cases, today if you don't want an Apple made case then there is no point in looking at the Apple Store. The same is true for the other product categories as well. I used to walk through the Apple Store as a form of entertainment, but I am pretty familiar with their whole lineup (of excellent products) and would like to see interesting accessories. I like to see accessories before I buy them and I used to be able to do that at the Apple Store.

 

[Tubamajuba]

Of course I am assuming, this is just a theory. However, Apple's reactionary moves are actually happening in reality, and the timing is a tad suspicious. Especially when coinciding with the media and public's lukewarm and unsure reception to the new product.

I guess where you and I disagree is that I think Apple entirely expected to get the reaction they did. Based on their plans to allow people a chance to try them on two weeks before going on sale, it seems like they're betting that people's opinion will change once they put it on their arm.

Put another way, I think that removing competing wearables is simply a logical and expected consequence of producing their own watch. You see it as a reactionary move, and I can respect that... because even though I don't do a great job of conveying it, I am very well aware that my own comments are no more rooted in reality than yours, as neither of us have an inside perspective. Again, we can agree to disagree. It's all in a good day's argument!

 

[Tech198]

so, this would replace the Apple Nike+ app previously.

https://www.apple.com/au/ipod/nike/

 

[gnasher729]

What you all fail to realize is that before today, Apple was perfectly happy with selling products such as the Jawbone UP Move and Wahoo TICKR X Heart Rate Monitor in their store. The only reason why they're suddenly pulling these items is because they're afraid they'll look better to customers than Apple Watch, because they're a lot cheaper.

If these products are sold a lot, then that's a good reason for Apple to remove them from Apple stores, because those sales cost Apple money.

If these products are not sold a lot, then that's also a good reason for Apple to remove them from Apple stores, because these products take expensive shelf space.

So no matter what, Apple has good reason to remove them. Being afraid is not the reason, just common sense. You don't give a competitor a helping hand. Why would you? It would be stupid.

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The point is, Apple should feel secure that their product is the absolute best.

The fact that they're removing any other product from their store that might compete says quite a lot about their confidence in their new product.

Absolutely. Apple _does_ feel secure that their product is the absolute best. That's why offering less good products made by competitors is completely pointless. It says a lot about Apple's confidence; they don't expect anyone to complain about this move because nobody will miss the other products.

 

[chrisbru]

There's that space excuse again.

The watch doesn't come out until April 10. It doesn't take a month to make space in a retail store.

And removing 2-3 tiny products from their shelves won't provide them with that much more space anyway.

This is a reactionary move because of the lukewarm media reception. They don't want their customers to know that there are other options available to them.

I'm willing to bet that Apple doesn't care one bit about the "lukewarm media reception." If it doesn't sell well (it will) then they would care, but the media reaction means nothing.

 

[Soccertess]

Yeah, you're right. They should also sell Samsung phones and Windows PCs.

nope, they should continue to sell products that compliment there current line up of iphones. The jawbone and nike fuel band hardly compete with the apple watch. But I can see how they could be a small threat and Apple want them out. It's there store and they can do what they want. The Apple ecosystem is great but my thought is the more choice the better. In the end, a happy consumer is a win win for everyone. I don't see those products as a serious threat that directly compete. However Samsung and PC as you mentioned, those don't help the Apple ecosystem (well samsung makes parts for apple, but directly compete.)

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The point is, Apple should feel secure that their product is the absolute best.

The fact that they're removing any other product from their store that might compete says quite a lot about their confidence in their new product.

Actually you have it exactly backwards. If Apple didn't feel confident then they would display a diversity of brands to make a sale -- any sale. A customer doesn't like the Apple Watch, no prob says the sales staff, try out this Fitbit Surge. Don't like that, hey, we have a Fuelband here. No go? You'll love this Jawbone UP.

Instead Apple is betting on one watch, it's own. It must be doing so because it thinks customer will love it. If a customer doesn't like it they walk... over to another store in the mall and buy a Fitbit, or Fuelband, or UP. Apple lost a sale. High stakes - all or nothing.

You seem to forget about that last part, that Apple can't keep customers hostage until they buy a watch in their store or that malls are full of stores that sell watches and activity bands.

 

[Stella]

Those devices aren't competition to the Apple Watch - for several reasons:

For starters, all those devices have far better battery life and do not depend solely on an iPhone. Additionally, have better software than Health App - IMO. Also the prices are more affordable. If I wanted a health strap ( which I actually do) , I wouldn't go for the Apple Watch. Too limited connectivity - for example, won't connect to ANT+ devices.

To its credit - the Apple Watch will reliably track heart rates, which I don't think Up 3 will do reliably - given the description of how it work.

Nike Fuelband is a discontinued product anyway - there won't be another - only software upgrades.

This isn't a loss anyway - these devices can be found in most electronic stores.

 

[theheadguy]

Apple deprecates its own products (floppies, CD's, hard drives, iPods, Thunderbolt, Lightning), and also retail partner's products (fit bit, etc.) Apple does that. They are moving to a distant future with both advanced and narrow products. Those plans are private but clear. Hang on! Rocketman

Huh?

 

[anek007]

Apple needs room in its stores for Watch, Watch bands and accessories. I never did understand why people think Apple should have to sell non-Apple products in their stores. It's the Apple store not Best Buy.

Apple sell their cases next to third party manufacure cases as well as other non Apple accessories. Like others have said it's fear of price comparison. IMO fitness bands are in a different category than smart watches.

 

[Tech198]

Regarding anything, if Apple removes something in favor of their own, then obviously they must think our products are better/

And that's just 'cutting your nose off, to spite ya face"

I do like using Apple gear, but a company that can do this because THEY think they are better, is just loosing ground. Let "your users" be the judge of that.

Removing content or products to make way for new stuff is all good, but doing it because we think/believe ours is better is saying another thing.

You don't remove products just because we prefer our own only.... What about keeping it along-side?

 

[brendu]

It doesn't work that way. Tech products don't raise in value over the years, they decline in value.

Doesn't matter what it's made of. In 2-3 years, that 1st gen gold Apple Watch will be obsolete in Apple's eyes and will be worth a mere fraction of $10,000.

It does work that way when it's made of solid gold. The gold holds its value. Now, it totally depends on how much of a markup apple charges over the value of the gold in the watch and what the gold market does but it's fair to say the gold watch could actually increase in value over time.