Apple Watch Beats Original iPhone and iPad in Customer Satisfaction Among Early Adopters

[citysnaps]

It's WAY too early to see whether people overall gain utility from the product. I'm not talking about personal anecdotes - I mean solid measurable evidence that the product changed the workflows of some people or businesses. That said, even Apple executives in charge of the Apple Watch explained that they first designed the product before seeing a utility for it - and that is it's fetal flaw.

With respect to the bolded text above, that's amazing. Please provide a link to that assertion.

Regarding "solid measurable evidence that the product changed the workflows of some people or businesses," can you cite organizations that collect such information and present it in the form of solid evidence?

For now, you will have to rely on real owners who are willing to talk about their personal experiences. I could talk about mine, as many others have done, but I suspect you would simply dismiss that as coming from a fan.

In the meantime, please provide that link proclaiming that the Apple watch was designed before seeing a utility for it.

 

[Kroo]

I'm an Apple fan but returned my watch to the Apple store at two weeks. There was another guy in line behind me to return his. Looks like the survey picked up only those who kept their watch.

Sounds a bit fishy, but if you did buy the watch, why would you return it to the store? You can't return an item just because you don't like it. A real person would've just sold it on. That story of yours is pure BS.

 

[iConnected]

... So they decided to make a watch before knowing what for? That is the antithesis of what makes a good product. ....

Quite the opposite.

A great product is one that satisfies latent demand (something that you didn't realise you valued, until it existed and you could have it) - an area in which Apple excels.

 

[QuiteSharp]

Deffiantly an interesting idea, but it may be a while till we can fit battery and power in such a small package.

Thanks. That's the beauty of it; a large part of the battery of iOS devices today go to running the screen. With a small screen on the watch the battery will be sufficient. The dummy screens will have their own batteries (probably rechargeable through solar cell functionality). One can dream.

 

[GenesisST]

I am satisfied it with the sport edition I have... but I didn't pay for it (dev).

Would I have paid myself for one? probably not this time around. I do love the activity feature, but I could have gone for a fitbit and whatnot.

 

[MrXiro]

How about that. .but still a flop of course

It's a flop dammit because we demand it to be!!!!

 

[MrXiro]

I'm pretty sure that the very satisfied rates for the iPad were much higher than that. As such, this is the most disappointing reception for an Apple product in the post-Steve Jobs era, and probably the worst customer satisfaction rating for a new product since Steve Jobs returned to Apple in the 90s.

But I guess that sales have been dismal and the return rate substantial, so this is a desperate scrap to cling to.

So you're saying despite some facts you're basing your conclusion on a guess and non-facts... cool

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

Only a person who hasn't used the watch would say this. Mine has 60-70% battery left each night after a full 15 hours of use. So much for your "terrible battery life". You must be mistaking it with that samescum watch.

This proves my point perfectly. Non-smart watch batteries last for years, but Apple have successfully reduced your expectations to the point where you expect me to be impressed with 70% left after 15 hours.

 

[Kroo]

How did they select the people in the population who they surveyed? The article just said it was a survey of people in the "watchly network" or whatever. Hardly sounds like a representative sample.

Yes, they should survey people who don't have an Apple watch. Makes sense, in your tiny mind.

 

[oliversl]

So you pay a lot of money and then think you made a mistake? That does not happen

 

[filmantopia]

Why is it so impossible for people to believe that a very well design, very well built, and well liked product could also be a flop?

As I typed that, I was reminded of the Sega Dreamcast. It had better graphics than any other game console out at the time. It was the first game console with a built-in modem for online multiplayer. Not to mention dozens of other innovations. Everyone that had one absolutely loved it. Yet, it is considered a huge flop.

Maybe the pricing isn't quite right. Maybe some of the functionality is released too soon - there is a "right time" for new features to really flourish. Maybe the product is amazing, but it is a solution in search of a problem.

Sometimes great products flop. It's not impossible.

Yeah, I guess in spite of the large estimated sales numbers (over 3m in the U.S. only, much more worldwide...) and very high customer satisfaction, it's pretty clear this is a flop. After all, nothing illustrates a flop more than the comments of a few out of touch people on an online forum.

 

[Sinequanon83]

I am really satisfied with my Apple Watch but I am also very excited for what happens in September when we can have fully-native apps. I feel like we're in the in-between state when the iPhone was first released but before third party apps. There will be an explosion of talent and software and it'll be very interesting to ride that wave.

(I do build apps and very much identify with the spectrum graph for "App Builders".)

 

[greytmom]

It's like running an Apple satisfaction survey on this site - the results will be skewed far more in Apple's favour than they would be if you asked a randomised group of customers.

What message board are you reading? Most people on this site exist just to hate Apple.

 

[thekeyring]

'sitive. In particular, the survey found that traditionally "non-tech" users liked the Apple Watch more than those with a closer connection to the tech industry. '

Of course this is the case! We're massively over thinking it. Normal customers won't be.

Also, wasn't iPad the most successful consumer product ever launched? If the Watch has beaten it, then that means the Apple Watch is the most successful product ever launched?

 

[MH01]

Interesting, I was somewhat satisfied but returned two watches.

 

[Kroo]

This proves my point perfectly. Non-smart watch batteries last for years, but Apple have successfully reduced your expectations to the point where you expect me to be impressed with 70% left after 15 hours.

And what was your point again? That regular watches aren't smart watches? So what would you expect out of a smart watch battery life on a daily basis? And if you can make one with more than a years worth on one charge, sign me up, but you can't. Sadly my expectations of the reduction of stupid comments on this forum hasn't been fulfilled. Thanks.

 

[iConnected]

This proves my point perfectly. Non-smart watch batteries last for years, but Apple have successfully reduced your expectations to the point where you expect me to be impressed with 70% left after 15 hours.

How does that "prove your point perfectly"?

Comparing two completely different products proves nothing at all.

My Casio digital watch is in no way directly comparable to an Apple Watch (which is as easily recharged overnight as you are by sleeping).

Oh wait, you already know this

 

[FieldingMellish]

Of course it's positive. It's a survey of the entire market of Apple watch owners that consists solely of early adopters.

These are folks who couldn't wait to own yet another device to troubleshoot, download updates for, search out and try apps for, with a longing to justify the purchase and who are too lazy to slip an iPhone out of the pocket to look at.

 

[QCassidy352]

I don't know that in these forums I have ever heard that argument. Generally it is put forth it is a flop because of <insert negative reason here>. Whilst what you say [edit: in regard to products n general] is true, in this instance, in regards to the Apple Watch, it reeks of moving the goal posts.

Well, I've said it before. A "flop" to me is a commercial failure. I suppose you could qualify that by saying something is a "critical failure" or something of that nature, but I'd say the general meaning of flop is that the product failed in the marketplace.

That said, I don't think the Apple watch is a flop. I'm not a huge fan, but sales are good for a first gen product, esp one that needs the buyer to also have a new-ish iPhone. It's certainly not a flop compared to other wearables.

 

[thekeyring]

Why is it so impossible for some to understand that that well-designed and built product is indeed a great solution for many people?

There are some people who think the watch is just a tiny screen version of an iPhone and will immediately judge it as lacking in what a smartphone should do and be. That's silly.

Others will get the Watch's utility immediately, and know it was not intended to be a phone replacement, rather an assistive communications device that helps people get through a busy day much more efficiently providing curated information and data (including time/day/date) that is easily read and digested through quick glances while their phone stays in their pocket. That, as well as other aspects (such as health tracking) is its value.

This. It's your way of staying connected when you're not using any of your devices. It's the notification centre of Real Life. People seem to want it to fail.

Bad News causes 'Yep, we knew the watch was rubbish.'
Good News causes 'no... The data is wrong.'

 

[iConnected]

... The article just said it was a survey of people in the "watchly network" or whatever. Hardly sounds like a representative sample.

Of course it's positive. It's a survey of the entire market of Apple watch owners that consists solely of early adopters.

No it didn't / it isn't. Re-read the article.

MR: "Wristly says that ... the panel ... represented a healthy range of consumers"
Wristly: "When we asked ... questions to help us profile the panel, we found a healthy range of consumer profiles were represented".​

But don't let that stop you from trying to misrepresent the facts.

 

[thekeyring]

Only the most die-hard of Apple fan boys would have purchased the totally superfluous appendage in the first place, thus the population that is being surveyed is a very narrow segment of the overall population. Is anyone surprised the Apple fan boys are hesitant to express buyer's regret?

Not surprised Benjamin Frost liked this as he seems to have been put on this Earth to hate Apple, but I have to ask: did you read the article? This is not just die hard Apple fans.

 

[doelcm82]

Only the most die-hard of Apple fan boys would have purchased the totally superfluous appendage in the first place, thus the population that is being surveyed is a very narrow segment of the overall population. Is anyone surprised the Apple fan boys are hesitant to express buyer's regret?

Assuming that is true, why are the Apple Watch customers different from the die-hard fan boys who purchased the initial iPad and iPhone?, except for the higher satisfaction levels, I mean.

 

[iConnected]

How about that. .but still a flop of course

I've said it before and I'll say it again: here are some other famous Apple "flops".

Sales in the first quarter of availability:

iPod - 125,000 units.
iPhone - 1.1 million units.
iPad - 3.3 million units.
Mac - 50,000 units.

Apple Watch = probably the most successful Apple launch to date.

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

And what was your point again? That regular watches aren't smart watches? So what would you expect out of a smart watch battery life on a daily basis? And if you can make one with more than a years worth on one charge, sign me up, but you can't. Sadly my expectations of the reduction of stupid comments on this forum hasn't been fulfilled. Thanks.

Seeing as you're too lazy to just go look up what my point was, or think back to earlier today when you replied to it...

The survey simply shows that Apple managed people's expectations well, nothing more. People who bought it knew exactly what they were getting, and are therefore are satisfied with it. People who wouldn't be satisfied with (for example) a battery that lasts days instead of years didn't buy it, and are therefore not showing up as 'dissatisfied' in the survey.