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Apple needs to communicate.
- Thread starter Seesh
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Yeah, that is weird. They were all over the possibilities of delays before the launch.
Rumor: Apple Watch display yields low as assembly trickles
Rumor: Apple Watch faces staggering manufacturing issues, initial production run halved
Apple Watch low yield rate may lead to long delivery delays
Pretend you’re surprised: Apple Watch might be hard to find at first because of production issues
Apple Watch super difficult production process: first, or less than 60% yield
But they did communicate the 4-6 week delivery prior to the customer's placing the order.
As upsetting as it was to not receive my Watch on launch date after ordering on 4/10 at 3:04am my order eventually came through and I received the email of death. I ordered a 38mm Space Grey Sport and it was delivered on 4/27 with that EOD as the only form of communication before I was charged.
I was never pissed because when I preordered the Watch I was given a delivery window. I understand how anxious we get when a new gadget comes out and believe me, I was so excited I lost sleep.
In the end I 100% agree that an email or two from Apple giving their customers updates along the way would have helped tons. For example, an email stating that the model you have chosen has seen tremendous demand and will most likely be delivered towards the end of your estimated delivery window.
Small stuff like that would only help.
I was never pissed because when I preordered the Watch I was given a delivery window. I understand how anxious we get when a new gadget comes out and believe me, I was so excited I lost sleep.
In the end I 100% agree that an email or two from Apple giving their customers updates along the way would have helped tons. For example, an email stating that the model you have chosen has seen tremendous demand and will most likely be delivered towards the end of your estimated delivery window.
Small stuff like that would only help.
I'm beginning to think the EOD is designed primarily to dash the scalpers' hopes of making a quick buck and get them to cancel their orders? Why, for example was it christened the Email of Death? Death to quick profits, perhaps? For a genuine customer, it's simply a confirmation of what they knew already. Not death of any form.
I would't be surprised if the apparent "randomness" of delivery dates for the launch is really Apple hitting back at the scalpers who were undermining previous launches. Suspect scalper orders get sent to the end of (what appears to be) a very long line. The goal is that they'll give-up the chase and so genuine customers - who actually want the devices - will rapidly move up the line.
If this is that case, I'm thinking I may have underestimated Ahrents here. One of her major achievements at Burberry was disassociating the Burberry brand with the numerous undesirables who had adopted it as their, "gang colors", so to speak. That's a bit like Apples recent launches which have been overshadowed and essentially "owned" by the scalper gangs.
So maybe this uncharacteristic disarray and uncertainty is intentional?
I totally agree Kent. By the way, I am one the people that waited until the 12th to order mine and to make matters worse, I ordered the 42mm Sport, Space Gray, with black band. I'm not to hopeful of seeing it anytime soon.
While I'm disappointed I didn't get it on launch day, and frustrated that people who ordered later than me already received theirs (while I'm still endlessly stuck in processing)... I will still give Apple the benefit of the doubt to deliver mine within my date range.
But if it's even one day later, and still not in my hands, I will cancel. I want my Watch, but don't need one THAT badly.
Anyway... 6.5 business days remaining before that deadline becomes impossible. (Next Thu. is last day to ship, to get it overnighted to me on Fri. May 8.) The countdown is on.
But if it's even one day later, and still not in my hands, I will cancel. I want my Watch, but don't need one THAT badly.
Anyway... 6.5 business days remaining before that deadline becomes impossible. (Next Thu. is last day to ship, to get it overnighted to me on Fri. May 8.) The countdown is on.
The ENORMOUS number of people ordering later and yet getting delivery already, with this being repeated in multiple countries, is making preordering folk very unhappy and rightly so.
Preordering folk are Apple's most die-hard fans. Communication is the least Apple could do to assuage people's concerns and bring some certainty. Communication after all costs nothing with an email or two but has the potential to regain Apple our good will.
Apple it seems is just petrified of admitting error and getting bad press. Forgetting their loyal customers in the process.
Preordering folk are Apple's most die-hard fans. Communication is the least Apple could do to assuage people's concerns and bring some certainty. Communication after all costs nothing with an email or two but has the potential to regain Apple our good will.
Apple it seems is just petrified of admitting error and getting bad press. Forgetting their loyal customers in the process.
What would be interesting is to see some stats and the percentage of people that pre-ordered their watches in the first three hours of launch day that have actually recieved their watches regardless off type and combination
I agree and disagree with the sentiments of the OP.
First: If you have been told that your order will not ship for 4-6 weeks, they are not deceiving you and should genuinely wait for your ship window to arrive. It is beyond your control at that point.
Second: When you custom order a foreign car (like a VW or BMW), they give you a way to track the milestones of your car's construction along the factory line. When you order the car, they give you a delivery window (usually 12-16 weeks), AND a way to track the progress on your order. If Apple were to do something similar to this, I can assure you it will put a lot of anxious minds to rest.
First: If you have been told that your order will not ship for 4-6 weeks, they are not deceiving you and should genuinely wait for your ship window to arrive. It is beyond your control at that point.
Second: When you custom order a foreign car (like a VW or BMW), they give you a way to track the milestones of your car's construction along the factory line. When you order the car, they give you a delivery window (usually 12-16 weeks), AND a way to track the progress on your order. If Apple were to do something similar to this, I can assure you it will put a lot of anxious minds to rest.
Ordered a Pink 42mm (one min. after, with confirmation email two min. into 4/10).
I have not yet received it, but its apparently shipped. However UPS is now the problem as much as it is Apple. No tracking locations for 4 days, today has arrived in my city, but no commitment from them either about Delivery date: Unknown. Problematic Apple, chooses a problematic delivery service (why not FedEx?).
I know that many of us should be lucky even to think of buying such an expensive toy while others are struggling in the ruins of Nepal or Syria. But I cannot comprehend that I have allowed Apple to make me embarrassed of letting myself into euphoria of beating the clock and putting myself among the first ones in the line and to naively think that therefore I will be rewarded for my determination and readiness. It was that little game of being a winner that Apple has changed with lunching of this product.
I admit publicly that I will never again be so foolish and get sucked into an Apples pre-order histeria.
I will thank them for all these year of wonderfulness and progressiveness, but now I will treat them as any other company.
If I get this watch by 5/8 I will click on the button of terms and conditions and accept that Apple delivered this item on time, but also I will make my own promise never to get up early to order something from Apple.
I have not yet received it, but its apparently shipped. However UPS is now the problem as much as it is Apple. No tracking locations for 4 days, today has arrived in my city, but no commitment from them either about Delivery date: Unknown. Problematic Apple, chooses a problematic delivery service (why not FedEx?).
I know that many of us should be lucky even to think of buying such an expensive toy while others are struggling in the ruins of Nepal or Syria. But I cannot comprehend that I have allowed Apple to make me embarrassed of letting myself into euphoria of beating the clock and putting myself among the first ones in the line and to naively think that therefore I will be rewarded for my determination and readiness. It was that little game of being a winner that Apple has changed with lunching of this product.
I admit publicly that I will never again be so foolish and get sucked into an Apples pre-order histeria.
I will thank them for all these year of wonderfulness and progressiveness, but now I will treat them as any other company.
If I get this watch by 5/8 I will click on the button of terms and conditions and accept that Apple delivered this item on time, but also I will make my own promise never to get up early to order something from Apple.
1. OK, whatever makes you happy (even though you really didn't say anything other than give Apple excuses when some of us are only asking for a more detailed explanation. You are not curious the least? I mean Apple is the one that set the arbitrary pre order and launch dates.)
2. Never said Apple doesn't charge till it ships. The OP said he wished Apple WOULD charge before his shipped just out of relief. I only asked him why since IF Apple charged before shipping he'd be liable for interest even if he still had not received the AW by the time the grace period expired.
I'd bet the 3am preordering folk contain a very high percentage of scalpers and habitual returners.
With preorders only for the watch, Apple declared war on the cash-in-hand scalper gangs that crowded-out previous launches. Automatically putting "minutes-past-midnight" folks into June delivery buckets may have been an additional tactic? A delivery date was communicated. It's just one that a scalper won't want.
Obviously some innocents are going to get hurt in the crossfire.
This is all speculation on my part, but there's got to be more to this apparent shambles of a launch than meets the eye? This is Apple after all.
I respect your decision, but the Stainless steel with sapphire DOES have better specs, the one's just mentioned.
Then why before me? Why not to tell the truth that no one who ordered a pink one should not get it on 24th?
No, its not late, we all know that, but Apple = Everyone else.
Meaning, Apple is now nothing special in being effective.
This is the letter I wrote to Apple, feel free to copy any or all of it. (Beware I say I'm handicapped in it, so if you aren't, might want to remove that part. 
)
Dear Apple Brass,
I am writing you to register my extreme disappointment with the product launch for the Apple Watch. I, along with many others who decided to purchase the 38mm Space Gray model with the black bank, pink band, and others, seem to have somehow fallen through he cracks during the massive chaos of the first new Apple product launch since the iPad Mini. I am afraid that your company has forgotten just what it means to be an early adopter, and Apple fan, and a true, day-one, believer.
First, let me address the “delivery window” protocol, which, by the way, has never appeared during a product launch before. You must have known that early adopters like myself, who ordered their product within the first four or five minutes of availability, would have expected to receive their watch at the beginning of the “window.” If you did not expect that, then your public relations division has seriously dropped the ball. Besides that, a delivery window should mean that people who ordered at the beginning of the available time get theirs at the beginning of the window, and those who ordered at the end of the window, receive their product on the last dates of the window’s posted time. You had to know this going in, I cannot believe that after so many different product launches that you would have failed to learn this very simple lesson. You have forgotten what it truly means to be a diehard Apple supporter. I hope this reminds you.
Many of us who purchase your products have been supporters since before cellular phones even existed. I, myself, am disabled, and my Apple IIe was the only thing that kept me busy during the day. I was never able to play sports, so hopping on my Apple after school was what I looked forward to. Many of the true Apple fans out there have similar stories, and we enjoy a relationship with the Apple brand that does not, nay, cannot exist with other brands – how many relationships last for over thirty years? Not many in this age of short attention spans and 24-hour news cycles. Fortunately, Apple has always stepped up and given us reasons to be loyal, and rewarded those of us who braved the 3am pre-order times and fought off exhaustion the next day simply to be the first to own a new Apple device. You never made us feel like the effort was wasted, and when we were able to be the first in our social circles or office to walk in with the new Apple device and hear the “oohs,” and “ahhs,” from those unlucky souls who didn’t make it in on time was reward enough, and, I might add, a fantastic form of viral advertising for your company. Honestly, though, showing off the new Apple tech we got first was only a small part of the reason early adopters like me brave the long lines and late nights. We do it for ourselves, and to be a part of the launch day madness – to feel closer to the Apple brand itself, the brand we have come to love and respect over many years.
Unfortunately, that ended with the Apple Watch launch, and it was a hard fall. Those of us who braved the late nights to order your 38mm Space Grey and other models of the watch were rewarded this time with nothing but the empty feeling of being ignored by the company we have so faithfully supported over so many product launches, scandals, trials and tribulations. To put an order in at three or four minutes past 12, and to not receive a product or even an update beyond “we are working on your order,” is proof that you have forgotten the crux of what it means to be a proud member of the cult of Apple. Especially when some who ordered other models the day or two before launch had theirs shipped out for April 24. Me and many others are truly shocked that we did not receive our product on the opening of the delivery window as well, and you have taken from us some of that magic that we enjoy touching a small part of whenever Apple releases a new product. I truly hope that you take this letter to heart, and do better next time. I cannot even tell you that most of us wont be there for the next launch, because, as you have given us many launches to be happy about, we, at least, owe you another chance to show us you really do understand that early adopters like us are the beating heart of Apple. Good luck on your future endeavors.
)Dear Apple Brass,
I am writing you to register my extreme disappointment with the product launch for the Apple Watch. I, along with many others who decided to purchase the 38mm Space Gray model with the black bank, pink band, and others, seem to have somehow fallen through he cracks during the massive chaos of the first new Apple product launch since the iPad Mini. I am afraid that your company has forgotten just what it means to be an early adopter, and Apple fan, and a true, day-one, believer.
First, let me address the “delivery window” protocol, which, by the way, has never appeared during a product launch before. You must have known that early adopters like myself, who ordered their product within the first four or five minutes of availability, would have expected to receive their watch at the beginning of the “window.” If you did not expect that, then your public relations division has seriously dropped the ball. Besides that, a delivery window should mean that people who ordered at the beginning of the available time get theirs at the beginning of the window, and those who ordered at the end of the window, receive their product on the last dates of the window’s posted time. You had to know this going in, I cannot believe that after so many different product launches that you would have failed to learn this very simple lesson. You have forgotten what it truly means to be a diehard Apple supporter. I hope this reminds you.
Many of us who purchase your products have been supporters since before cellular phones even existed. I, myself, am disabled, and my Apple IIe was the only thing that kept me busy during the day. I was never able to play sports, so hopping on my Apple after school was what I looked forward to. Many of the true Apple fans out there have similar stories, and we enjoy a relationship with the Apple brand that does not, nay, cannot exist with other brands – how many relationships last for over thirty years? Not many in this age of short attention spans and 24-hour news cycles. Fortunately, Apple has always stepped up and given us reasons to be loyal, and rewarded those of us who braved the 3am pre-order times and fought off exhaustion the next day simply to be the first to own a new Apple device. You never made us feel like the effort was wasted, and when we were able to be the first in our social circles or office to walk in with the new Apple device and hear the “oohs,” and “ahhs,” from those unlucky souls who didn’t make it in on time was reward enough, and, I might add, a fantastic form of viral advertising for your company. Honestly, though, showing off the new Apple tech we got first was only a small part of the reason early adopters like me brave the long lines and late nights. We do it for ourselves, and to be a part of the launch day madness – to feel closer to the Apple brand itself, the brand we have come to love and respect over many years.
Unfortunately, that ended with the Apple Watch launch, and it was a hard fall. Those of us who braved the late nights to order your 38mm Space Grey and other models of the watch were rewarded this time with nothing but the empty feeling of being ignored by the company we have so faithfully supported over so many product launches, scandals, trials and tribulations. To put an order in at three or four minutes past 12, and to not receive a product or even an update beyond “we are working on your order,” is proof that you have forgotten the crux of what it means to be a proud member of the cult of Apple. Especially when some who ordered other models the day or two before launch had theirs shipped out for April 24. Me and many others are truly shocked that we did not receive our product on the opening of the delivery window as well, and you have taken from us some of that magic that we enjoy touching a small part of whenever Apple releases a new product. I truly hope that you take this letter to heart, and do better next time. I cannot even tell you that most of us wont be there for the next launch, because, as you have given us many launches to be happy about, we, at least, owe you another chance to show us you really do understand that early adopters like us are the beating heart of Apple. Good luck on your future endeavors.