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Apple Watch and extra band pricing anomaly

S

smr

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 14, 2007
821
201
Shropshire, UK
Apologies if this has been posted before – a quick search didn’t reveal anything.

I’m looking to get a 42mm :apple:WATCH with Link Bracelet and a Black Classic Buckle strap. I assumed that it would cost the same if I bought the watch with the Link Bracelet and added the Buckle Strap or vice versa. But it doesn’t – at least not in the UK.

42mm :apple:WATCH with Link Bracelet @ £859 + Buckle Strap @ £129 = £988
42mm :apple:WATCH with Buckle Strap @ £599 + Link Bracelet @ £379 = £978

So you pay a £10 premium to get the :apple:WATCH with the link strap fitted compared with the other combo. This isn’t the case on the US Apple Store where the two combos cost the same ($1148).

I assume this is due to UK prices being rounded up or down to end in a 9. However, non-US customers looking to get two straps with their watch might want to check if one of the combos is cheaper.
 
Last edited:
I noticed this too with pricing in Canada.

ex.
42mm Apple Watch with Milanese Loop + Sport Band = $988
42mm Apple Watch with Sport Band + Milanese Loop = $978

Kinda odd.

Also, for the combo you were speaking of, the difference is more:

42mm Apple Watch with Link Bracelet + Classic Buckle = $1498
42mm Apple Watch with Classic Buckle + Link Bracelet = $1518

Makes no sense to me. But realistically I think it's because they want people to "up sell" themselves to multiple bands because they see it's cheaper.

For me, I'm not going to make the choice of multiple bands off the gate. I'm going with just one (Milanese Loop), and if I really make the decision to get multiple bands, so be it.
 
DeusInvictus7 said:
I noticed this too with pricing in Canada.
...
42mm Apple Watch with Link Bracelet + Classic Buckle = $1498
42mm Apple Watch with Classic Buckle + Link Bracelet = $1518

Makes no sense to me. But realistically I think it's because they want people to "up sell" themselves to multiple bands because they see it's cheaper.
...
Click to expand...

So the Canadian price difference on the Link Band and Classic Buckle combos is the opposite way around from the UK store :confused:

I think that supports the rounding argument, not just targeting a 9 as the last digit, but targeting e.g. 1299 rather than 1309. Still surprised Apple didn't try to rationalize this as they have with the US prices.
 
That's assuming the straps are compatible. I just spoke with Apple and they could not confirm that they would all be able to fit each edition.

I was working off of the assumption that I wanted the 42mm Apple Watch with Milanese strap, which is £599 ($883).

Then I noticed that if I purchased the 42mm Apple Watch Sport at £339 ($500) and the Milanese strap at £129 ($190) this comes to £468 ($690), which is £131 ($193) cheaper AND I have two bands...

Why would Apple allow this to happen?!
 
DeusInvictus7 said:
I noticed this too with pricing in Canada.

ex.
42mm Apple Watch with Milanese Loop + Sport Band = $988
42mm Apple Watch with Sport Band + Milanese Loop = $978

Kinda odd.

Also, for the combo you were speaking of, the difference is more:

42mm Apple Watch with Link Bracelet + Classic Buckle = $1498
42mm Apple Watch with Classic Buckle + Link Bracelet = $1518

Makes no sense to me. But realistically I think it's because they want people to "up sell" themselves to multiple bands because they see it's cheaper.

For me, I'm not going to make the choice of multiple bands off the gate. I'm going with just one (Milanese Loop), and if I really make the decision to get multiple bands, so be it.
Click to expand...

I noticed too the odd pricing. I'm going with the link bracelett first and if I feel the need to swap out bands I'll buy the sport band later on.
 
coffeemadmanUK said:
That's assuming the straps are compatible. I just spoke with Apple and they could not confirm that they would all be able to fit each edition.

I was working off of the assumption that I wanted the 42mm Apple Watch with Milanese strap, which is £599 ($883).

Then I noticed that if I purchased the 42mm Apple Watch Sport at £339 ($500) and the Milanese strap at £129 ($190) this comes to £468 ($690), which is £131 ($193) cheaper AND I have two bands...

Why would Apple allow this to happen?!
Click to expand...

Because Apple does not care which bands your pair with which Watch, however, that doesn't mean that each band will match with each watch.

If you look at the finish on the "hook" of the Milanese band, you'll notice it is a different finish from the Sport's body. This is a way they try to upsell you, because to get most alternate bands and have them match, the best  Watch model for the consumer to buy is Stainless Steel.
 
zea mays said:
This is the case in the US as well.

watch 38 sport band + milanese $678.00
watch 38 milanese + sport $698.00

So, if you want to pick a sport band color other than black or white, you'll pay $20 more.
Click to expand...

I don't see that. The stainless steel watch is $549, and the Milanese loop is $149. If you get the stainless steel watch with Milanese loop it is $649, plus $49 if you want a sport strap. Either way it works out to $698.
 
KPOM said:
I don't see that. The stainless steel watch is $549, and the Milanese loop is $149. If you get the stainless steel watch with Milanese loop it is $649, plus $49 if you want a sport strap. Either way it works out to $698.
Click to expand...

Ack! You're right! I had the 38 mm milanese down for 129 - thanks for catching that.
 
DeusInvictus7 said:
I noticed this too with pricing in Canada.

ex.
42mm Apple Watch with Milanese Loop + Sport Band = $988
42mm Apple Watch with Sport Band + Milanese Loop = $978

Kinda odd.

Also, for the combo you were speaking of, the difference is more:

42mm Apple Watch with Link Bracelet + Classic Buckle = $1498
42mm Apple Watch with Classic Buckle + Link Bracelet = $1518

Makes no sense to me. But realistically I think it's because they want people to "up sell" themselves to multiple bands because they see it's cheaper.

For me, I'm not going to make the choice of multiple bands off the gate. I'm going with just one (Milanese Loop), and if I really make the decision to get multiple bands, so be it.
Click to expand...


Also if you get the sport band seperatl u then you get 2 instead of just one
 
JayLenochiniMac said:
You're paying $193 less for mismatched shiny chrome hinge (on the Milanese Loop) adjacent to matte aluminum case.
Click to expand...

See I don't think it looks mismatched at all. I think it looks perfectly fine.

If it's a matter of the bands simply not being compatible with the various watches then fine, there is no argument to be had.

However they haven't said that this won't be the case.

If it is the case then if you don't mind the look of the Sport and the Milanese band (which I don't) then you've got yourself a bargain.
 
This is the case in UK as well.

38mm SS with sport band £479
Milanese loop £129
SS with sport band plus extra strap total £479 + £129 = £608

Now if you buy 38mm SS with Milanese loop £ 559
Sport band £39
SS with Milanese Loop plus extra sport band £559 + £39 = £598

So if you buy the watch with one of the premium straps and add the sport band to it, works £ 10 cheaper.... for some reasons only known to Apple I guess.
 
macness said:
Also if you get the sport band seperatl u then you get 2 instead of just one
Click to expand...

Actually, from what I understand, if you get the one that's included with the watch, you still get both sizes.
 

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macness said:
Only if you purchase it separately
Click to expand...

That doesn't look to be the case.

If you select a 42mm Apple Watch with Sport Band on the store, it says "fits 140-210mm wrists." This corresponds exactly to the two-band sets being sold separately, where the S/M band fits 140-185mm wrists and the M/L band fits 160-210mm wrists.

On the other hand, with a 42mm Apple Watch with Leather Loop, the store makes you pick a band size, either M fitting 150-185mm or L fitting 180-210mm.
 
The sport band probably comes with three parts. One side of the band will fit with both of the different sizes on the other side of the watch. You probably won't be getting two complete bands.
 
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