Apple Supplier Numbers Suggest Apple Watch Sales Are Below Analyst Expectations

[Benjamin Frost]

Dude -- no offense but I OWE Steve Jobs a debt of gratitude because his Mac taught me how to monetize my talent and take myself to heights I could never have imagined without a Mac.

Steve Jobs and Tim Cook are two very different people. I'm confident when I say that BOTH have strengths in some areas and failures in others. That true of EVERYBODY ON EARTH.

I will say that respectfully Tim Cook has never ever presented himself in ANY interview as "the" person and only person behind any of the products. That rests on the heads of those who were all hired by Jobs.

"I won't even talk about Apple Music or the new notebook..." What does that mean? Again "Cooks" debacle?? Dude or dudette apparently you really did not live during Steve Jobs reign at Apple. But I'm not going to give you a history lesson but Apple has had misfires throughout its history so chill. Did somebody say Newton? MobileMe? Jobs cutting the price of the iPhone and REFUNDING people like me for "overcharging". etc etc etc.

You gotta be able to admit that nobody is infallible - not even Jobs who I cite as a mentor. But even I can easily admit that I too am not a jack of all trades and admit that I'm not good at things outside the s one of my knowledge. So? Tim Cook was hand selected by Jobs. That's the bottom line.

Jobs made mistakes, even as he changed the world.

Perhaps one of those was mistakes was choosing Cook as CEO. He's done okay as an interim CEO, and let's face it, anyone following Jobs was not going to live up to him. But it's clear that Cook's time is over.

We need a CEO who can make the hard decisions and can say No. Tim Cook only knows how to say Yes.

 

[gijoeinla]

Jobs made mistakes, even as he changed the world.

Perhaps one of those was mistakes was choosing Cook as CEO. He's done okay as an interim CEO, and let's face it, anyone following Jobs was not going to live up to him. But it's clear that Cook's time is over.

We need a CEO who can make the hard decisions and can say No. Tim Cook only knows how to say Yes.

Your right. What a fool Cook was to green light the 6/6+. What a colossal mistake.

So colossal that it catapulted Apple to the MOST VALUABLE COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

Um yeah that happened under COOK's "watch". No pun intended.

Btw -- Jobs "magical" iPad sales have steadily declined along with the tablet market. Cooks fault too??? Cmon.

I mean Apple Music, the Watch today... today are immaterial to the strength of the company . Personally I've said for a long long time that Apple TV would be Apples next big thing.

Cook may need to rethink his top lieutenants that may, may have run their coarse.

 

[mccldwll]

Jobs made mistakes, even as he changed the world.

Perhaps one of those was mistakes was choosing Cook as CEO. He's done okay as an interim CEO, and let's face it, anyone following Jobs was not going to live up to him. But it's clear that Cook's time is over.

We need a CEO who can make the hard decisions and can say No. Tim Cook only knows how to say Yes.

"We"? Hah. Maybe Benjamin Frost should be CEO. He only knows how to say no to anything AAPL.

 

[cuhulin]

I said it before and I reiterate. The entire market for an Apple watch has theirs already.

Meaning, since some sold between when you first said it and now, that you were wrong then. Probably wrong now too, as I doubt sales are zero.

 

[mccldwll]

Jobs made mistakes, even as he changed the world.

Perhaps one of those was mistakes was choosing Cook as CEO. He's done okay as an interim CEO, and let's face it, anyone following Jobs was not going to live up to him. But it's clear that Cook's time is over.

We need a CEO who can make the hard decisions and can say No. Tim Cook only knows how to say Yes.

Over 1000 post--starting with the introduction of the Apple Watch. Just a coincidence?

 

[mdlooker]

Aww the dreams...

The minute the AW becomes untethered to the phone and has full functionality linked to the same iTunes account and cell phone carrier...

off the charts the sales will go.

 

[Felix01]

Tim Cook's "exceeded expectations" is totally meaningless since there's no timeline and no numbers associated with his statement. In my circle of Apple-using friends, I count one in 21 who bought the Gen I watch. IMO, that's well below Apple expectations, Cook's comment notwithstanding. OTOH, five more say they'll revisit buying an Apple watch as later generations of the device are released.

Despite having every major Apple product produced since '85, I don't see myself ever buying one at the present price points. I just don't find anything terribly exciting about wearing my phone on my wrist and having to put on my reading glasses to see the display.

 

[Dmunjal]

Your right. What a fool Cook was to green light the 6/6+. What a colossal mistake.

So colossal that it catapulted Apple to the MOST VALUABLE COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

Um yeah that happened under COOK's "watch". No pun intended.

Btw -- Jobs "magical" iPad sales have steadily declined along with the tablet market. Cooks fault too??? Cmon.

I mean Apple Music, the Watch today... today are immaterial to the strength of the company . Personally I've said for a long long time that Apple TV would be Apples next big thing.

Cook may need to rethink his top lieutenants that may, may have run their coarse.

One could say that the 6/6+ were one or two years late and let Samsung and Android get traction where they didn't before.

 

[ThorntonArt]

I would like to buy an Apple Watch if it wasn't entirely dependent on the iPhone.

This. I would've bought one for exercise if it had a gps. If I have to take my phone to track a run, then I'll just take my phone. Bluetooth for wireless earbuds would be important too (can it do that now? independent of the phone?) or a loud enough speaker for music, etc

I have considered other products for runners, but the bonus would be it's a great smart watch.

 

[ThorntonArt]

To be fair, the first round of watch sales were specifically for early adopters. iPad, and perhaps iPod, are their only products that jumped right over early adopters in the curve, straight to mass market.

All the other products started with early adopters, and the mass market jumped on board once the products were established and improved. Which is much more common than millions of iPads all the sudden everywhere.

 

[Carlanga]

The only hope for this device is medical. It needs to measure blood o2, glucose, heart rate, and skin health ( skin is your largest organ)

skin health? skin is the largest organ BUT a watch can only do the area below it afaik.

 

[Andrei90]

Isn't this the issue with the entire non-medical wearable tech market?

Yes, and that's why apple made a bad call entering this particular market. It's like if Apple had entered the tablet market in 2002 insted of 2010. The product just wasn't ready.

 

[I7guy]

Yes, and that's why apple made a bad call entering this particular market. It's like if Apple had entered the tablet market in 2002 insted of 2010. The product just wasn't ready.

In my opinion, i applaud Apple for that call. Wearable tech is where it's at and clearly they are in it to win it. However people may feel, the horse has left the barn.

 

[gijoeinla]

One could say that the 6/6+ were one or two years late and let Samsung and Android get traction where they didn't before.

Baloney. In fact I think Apples timing was spot on. If we take your point that Apple was late in this size segment then how do you explain Apples gain in market share and Same-songs drop? Apple iPhone owners weren't ready for a large screen phone two years ago. Today they are embracing them. Given that iPhone sales are up 30-40% over last year I'd say Apple absolutely hit it out of the park.

Proof is on the latest number showing Same-song sales declining when they *finally* dropped making a plastic Galaxy. That almost turns your point on its head no?

 

[Keirasplace]

Tim Cook's "exceeded expectations" is totally meaningless since there's no timeline and no numbers associated with his statement. In my circle of Apple-using friends, I count one in 21 who bought the Gen I watch. IMO, that's well below Apple expectations, Cook's comment notwithstanding. OTOH, five more say they'll revisit buying an Apple watch as later generations of the device are released.

Despite having every major Apple product produced since '85, I don't see myself ever buying one at the present price points. I just don't find anything terribly exciting about wearing my phone on my wrist and having to put on my reading glasses to see the display.

There are numbers and a timeline, exceeced Ipad sales in same initial period said by CFO (those numbers and time period are known) and the increase in Others category mostly linked to watch since its the only product with any likelyhood of having an increase during this period. Do you really think that an Apple TV, about to be renewed, the pre upgrade Ipod on its last leg, or Beat had a sudden surge in sales?

Cook also said that June was the month with the most sales, while everyone else said sales were plummetting. Want to call him a liar? You do know he's liable if he doesn't tell the truth.

Considering the Ipod and Apple TV likely decreased in sales with possibly Beat increasing a bit, it gives us a ballpark idea about sales, profits and units. Doesn't tell us which model sold though.

Seems you heard whatever you wanted to hear.

BTW, every single word coming from Cook and the CFO has to be the truth, unlike the words coming from commenters on this thread...

 

[AppleScruff1]

Baloney. In fact I think Apples timing was spot on. If we take your point that Apple was late in this size segment then how do you explain Apples gain in market share and Same-songs drop? Apple iPhone owners weren't ready for a large screen phone two years ago. Today they are embracing them. Given that iPhone sales are up 30-40% over last year I'd say Apple absolutely hit it out of the park.

Proof is on the latest number showing Same-song sales declining when they *finally* dropped making a plastic Galaxy. That almost turns your point on its head no?

And what suddenly made Apple fans ready for a larger iPhone? Because everyone else had them for 2 years. Apple was late to the party.

 

[Keirasplace]

Wasn't aware I'd made any promises. If you're talking about my opinion, I'm more than happy to admit I'm wrong when the Apple watch is a popular product. But it won't be. It definitely, absolutely won't be. I reckon it'll last three years tops before Apple drops the product line altogether. At best, it'll be equivalent to Apple TV.

Well, you just went beyond opinion so I'm expecting you to grovel.

I'm going to do the same. Its a god damn promise from me if I'm wrong.

But, like I said, you' won't admit anything. No one who utters those "prophecy" (sic) ever does.
You'll either disappear or move the goalpost into the stands...

BTW, it is already a success and will probably sell about 15M by January 1.
Apple's not leaving this area for the next 10 years minimum.

 

[BillyTrimble]

My 'tirade' was actually quoting someone who had used the Apple Watch and said that trying to use either Apple Pay or a pass at an airport terminal involved contorting his wrist into an awkward position.

Tremble at the truth, Mr. Trimble.

How silly and unreliable. Let's just say that there was one terminal that required the momentary assumption of an awkward position. You make it sound like the end of the world and something that makes the watch unusable. You will search for the tiniest example of imperfection to propel your hatred of the watch into new dimensions.

Your irrational extremism is obviously apparent to many based upon the many posts that mention you in a negative way. You are simply not worth wasting any more time on. You are your own worst enemy. Enjoy your life of irrational hatred.

 

[peterdevries]

Same-song

Read your post until this word. Are you 12 years old?

 

[Mildredop]

Well, you just went beyond opinion so I'm expecting you to grovel.

I'm going to do the same. Its a god damn promise from me if I'm wrong.

Deal. I don't mind admitting I'm wrong to a random person on the internet.

From,

Another random person on the internet.

 

[unplugme71]

Here is why the watch will never sell millions.... price.

Not that many people can afford their iPhone. You think they have spare money for a device that costs 2-5x more and does half?

Sorry but I'll just use my iPhone to see who texted me and use the watch money for other things that are more important.

 

[xaqt93]

Here is why the watch will never sell millions.... price.

Not that many people can afford their iPhone. You think they have spare money for a device that costs 2-5x more and does half?

Sorry but I'll just use my iPhone to see who texted me and use the watch money for other things that are more important.

This I can agree with. The Apple Watch is great! The only problem I have with it, is the price!

 

[Roadstar]

This I can agree with. The Apple Watch is great! The only problem I have with it, is the price!

It's true that it's expensive, but that 2-5x more as unplugme71 claims doesn't apply when the phone isn't subsidized. With the unlocked price the Apple Watch Sport model starts at approximately 50% of the price of the latest base model iPhone. But yes, a lower price would help a bit here as the phone is rather expensive already and they're expecting me to drop 400 something euros on a watch when I already have a smartwatch that cost less than half of that, delivers notifications, shows the time without any additional acrobatics, and lasts days on a single charge. Yes, I would like to start filling circles too and enjoy the crisp and colorful display, but I'm not quite sure if it's worth the extra money.

 

[peterdevries]

Not that many people can afford their iPhone. You think they have spare money for a device that costs 2-5x more and does half?

Nonsense, The base model iPhone costs at least twice the amount of the cheapest Apple Watch. I'm not arguing that price is not a factor in this, but your comparison to the iPhone makes no sense at al.

 

[threesixty360]

I don't get the negativity about the apple watch. On one hand people expect it to have the functionality and usefulness of a full blown computer like the iPhone or iPad so that they can justify the similar pricing.

On the other hand it's still just an alternative to a regular watch. A product that can start from $50 dollars up to $50000 and still not offer anything like the functionality and usefulness of the apple watch!

So what are people complaining about? That the product is more expensive than regular watches in that class (it's not and it does more). Or that it's the same money and an iPhone but does less (which would be true because it's a watch not a full blown computing device).

The people annoyed at this product wouldn't spend $600+ on a watch anyway. Which says it all really. It's not for you. Move along. Don't worry about it.

And anyone who is wearing a Rolex but thinks that apple watch is too expensive is literally crazy. That person is comparing an item of jewlrey to a device of function.