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Apple Responds to Concerns About Apple Watch Launch: Deliveries Could Arrive Sooner Than Estimated
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I understand how the casual observer might not understand that given some lazy reporting
However, anyone who would actually want to get one early should understand it. It wasn't exactly a state secret. If not, then they probably couldn't figure out how to use the watch anyway
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there is no way stores will have stock before those online pre-orders have been delivered (and almost all models are showing June now online ). We're probably looking at July-September for in-store.
Not to sound like an old fart, but there was a time where "Apple doesn't comment/announce products that will not be available within 90 days" , per Steve Jobs...
Not to sound like an old fart, but there was a time where "Apple doesn't comment/announce products that will not be available within 90 days" , per Steve Jobs...
I ordered mine @ 3:02am EST. and received a confirmation @ 3:03am that I will receive 4/24-5/8... I initially tried the SSB and that was a no go once I saw the time frame (Same as yours) ,I had the other one saved in the SSSB in my cart and grabbed that one instead.
Make that Furbies.
Will never forget, how I got up 4 a.m. and drove from one state to another state to a small town to be at a store at 6 a.m. thinking that people in that town weren't as sophisticated to know about Furbies.
Arriving to lines twice around the block, I got back into my car laughing at myself for being so dumb to fall for that craze.
Only defense was that I was trying to please my daughters.
Ever since then I swore to ALWAYS outwait supply until I can just walk in and buy what I want.
On the funny side, the Furbies annoyed my daughters after a while, so they put them into a dark closet. Just found them again (The Furies that is) after umpteen years.
Better shopping experience
For me, this actually stopped me from buying the watch online, because it was a bit confusing. why make it 20+ items/sku if you are only selling 6 watches and 10+ bands...
If they sell watch separately at $319 + $30 sports band, and it would draw more customers because of lower entry cost.
I walked into the store sunday afternoon without an appointment but was able to get fitted within 1 minute. Does this sound like high demand?
For me, this actually stopped me from buying the watch online, because it was a bit confusing. why make it 20+ items/sku if you are only selling 6 watches and 10+ bands...
If they sell watch separately at $319 + $30 sports band, and it would draw more customers because of lower entry cost.
I walked into the store sunday afternoon without an appointment but was able to get fitted within 1 minute. Does this sound like high demand?
I never understood the way they decided to sell the watch. I thought they should do the same as you suggest. Sell the device in different metals, either with no band, or a very basic band, and then sell all the other bands separately. You would have less skus, and be able to fulfill orders quicker. Not really sure why they decided to complicate things the way they did, it's an order fulfillment nightmare.
And to add to this, the try-on appointments should have been at least one day BEFORE pre-orders. How many cancellations have occurred because people ordered the wrong size?
There are not 6 watches, there are 12 watches. Your other points have problems as well, which you should be able to figure out yourself if you really think about them.
I think you still do yourself and others a favour if you keep your emails short. Increases the likelihood it will be read by someone important and increases the chances that others have their emails read and responded to because the less time they have to spend on your email, the more time they have to consider other emails.
Why would I care about other peoples emails being read as long as mine is read?
I own Apple products damn it!
Like the original iPhone? Or the 2012 iMacs which were announced in October, started shipping in single-digit numbers on 30 November but weren't really available before January? Or the 2013 Mac Pro?
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The fact that all SKUs are backordered into June and later shows in my mind that manufacturing problems are main reason. We did have rumours not too long ago about manufacturing problems. And it cannot be high demand alone, the decision not allow walk-in purchases was made public before the pre-orders began.
You are probably right about manufacturing problems or at least it is a good guess. I am curious why the watch bands are all on back order into May at the earliest? Manufacturing for many of those bands should be simple - right? At least in my mind.
Not arguing with you... just curious.
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Amen! It's almost shocking that people would give advice about what you should do or not do when you don't even ask for their opinion. These forums are becoming ridiculous with the hatred towards people and Apple. My response wasn't to say the person who responded to you was acting with hatred.
Me too... I wouldn't mind getting my watch earlier, though it is Apple products and they are the best made so most will keep and sell for a profit and buy another one. The power of Apple and their quality.
I planned all along to wait and see what people's views were after having the watch and using it for several weeks before I entertained ordering one. Now it looks like I'll just wait for Apple WatchS or two or whatever the next version will be. At this rate if you order one now you'll get it right before they release the next one.
Poor product launch, IMO. And I'm an Apple Fanboy.
Things at Apple are definitely not as they were when Jobs was around.
Poor product launch, IMO. And I'm an Apple Fanboy.
Things at Apple are definitely not as they were when Jobs was around.
Yes, it's expected. This happens for every new Apple product launch, but that doesn't mean people should just get used to it. That being said, I think people are upset that the watch effectively sold out of launch day stock in 2-3 minutes. Telling people "oh too bad, get up earlier" is just rubbing salt in the wound.
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out on launch day, if scores of less informed customers line up outside of stores or not.
I know one thing, if all of these 4/24 - 5/8 pre-orders show up on May 8th we're in for one heck of a show.
You may be right, but lets look at the facts. Since Jobs has passed, sales are up, profits are up, Apple is now the largest company in the world (market cap), loved by wall street, Tim Cook was the man of the year (Time Mag).
For some reason, Apple is loved by everyone that matters to a publicly traded company. We may not like back orders and delays and it does stink, but demand has never been higher for Apple products and then you realize why there are delays. It stinks, but when you make the best of everything in tech (IMO) things like this happen. Apple can't keep up with demand and the more their are back orders, the more people say "I got to have it".
Same, I ordered a Stainless Steel and Stainless Steel Space Black (both with metal links) at 12:01 Pacific, confirmation at 12:02 with both watches 4-6 weeks out
I've got a pretty good feeling our ship dates will move up, I'll be honestly surprised if we have to wait until May 13 at least!
You're right about the original iPhone. But the 2012 iMacs and 2013 mac Pro were under Cook's era...
Since you can consume a movie in a theatre only at location, the comparison is not quite the same. The point is the watch sales are launched online only, the stores are just there as showrooms and delivery pick-up. They still start shipping on 24 April.
Same, I ordered a Stainless Steel and Stainless Steel Space Black (both with metal links) at 12:01 Pacific, confirmation at 12:02 with both watches 4-6 weeks out
I've got a pretty good feeling our ship dates will move up, I'll be honestly surprised if we have to wait until May 13 at least!
Here's hoping. Fingers crossed.
After many iPhone launches it took six weeks or more until they were reliably available in the stores.
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Unless it is the part that slides into the watch body, if there were manufacturing problems with the bands, they would be unlikely to affect all different band types equally. Maybe the bands are manufactured by the same company at the same location and they moved resources from the band manufacture to the actual watch manufacture because not having extra watch bands available for sales is not as bad as not having any watches for sale in the first place.