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The lines get reported every year. Because it gives the reporters some easy pickings for the Apple-related clickbait. There's usually a couple that compare the length of the lines to previous years and get those anecdote stories from the sad guy who camps out for days on end to be first.

Do you have any links to the media stories about iPhone 6 lines (aside from stories on scalpers)?
 
There is nothing worse than going in store and being told you then have to go online to arrange to come back in store - really getting fed up of the Apple Store experience, which I used to rate so highly.

This is the how the entire Apple experience has become. They ship products that aren't finished, software that has bugs, rarely and sometimes do not even fix the bugs, intentionally cripple products, tell us carrying a bunch of hubs around is more convenient than having the ports on the laptop itself, and now this. They've lost their way. I hate to say it but Android makes more and more sense.
 
I laugh at all the haters....Most of them prob wear a samsung watch which I have had (worthless) and hate when fulling knowing they will eventually cave and buy one.

Wrong thread. This is not about people not wanting to buy.

This thread's about people who do want to buy an Apple Watch, but at a time of their own choice, not by mail or with try-out reservations.

Especially in cities like NYC with millions of people, one can imagine that the lunchtime reservations would be difficult to get, since many workers can only get free at that time. (By evening, they need to catch a train home.)

So these people are just going to have to be patient and wait until the stores are full enough of inventory, that they can come in on their own during lunch and try out / buy.
 
Wrong thread. This is not about people not wanting to buy.

This thread's about people who do want to buy an Apple Watch, but at a time of their own choice, not by mail or with try-out reservations.

Especially in cities like NYC with millions of people, one can imagine that the lunchtime reservations would be difficult to get, since many workers can only get free at that time. (By evening, they need to catch a train home.)

So these people are just going to have to be patient and wait until the stores are full enough of inventory, that they can come in on their own during lunch and try out / buy.

There aren't millions of people in NYC waiting to run into the Apple store and buy a watch.
 
So from what I am gathering the buying process will be separate from the try on, although the try on will have ordering as an option involved.

Its a case of knowing which one you want before you pre-purchase it.

The purchase system will be the same as with an iPhone. You pre-order it ahead of time either online or for in store pick up.

But unlike the iPhone which comes in 3 colors, now you have dozens of matching choices with the bands. When you see one on display you can't put it on your wrist like you can just grab a phone and hold it simply.

So to help make the choice, they set this time up. Its a time that is not mandatory for purchase. But when you see one on display, since you can't put it on your wrist to figure out what color looks good on you, or if you need to see specifically how it feels on the wrist, you make this appointment.

There is no need for anyone to complain. You wouldnt be able to get an iPhone on time either if you wanted to hold it in hand before purchase. You wouldnt "just walk in and buy" as some of you are saying in any other major release scenario either.

Nothing bad happened here.
 
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Do you have any links to the media stories about iPhone 6 lines (aside from stories on scalpers)?

You're asking for the next to impossible. A news story is going to report relevant related info. So once it is brought up there are scalpers, every story about iPhone lines is going to talk about scalpers and how many of the people in the line might just be scalpers.

This one doesn't seem to mention them though from my scan-through.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2468851,00.asp

GigaOm's only brought them up in it's second half:
https://gigaom.com/2014/09/19/apple-fans-and-resellers-line-up-for-the-iphone-6/

BusinessInsider's is a slideshow:
http://www.businessinsider.com/pictures-of-iphone-6-lines-around-the-world-2014-9

Here's a fluffy piece that's mostly other folks Twitter posts:
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/09/embarrassing-smh-moments-from-iphone-6-lines.html

Here we are. The article talking to the camp-out people, like I mentioned:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...ine-for-iphone6-newyork-apple-story/15024255/

Here's techCrunch's story:
http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/19/apples-iphone-6-and-6-plus-go-on-sale-to-long-lines-of-fans/

All these stories were easy to find, btw. This company named Google has a web search engine...
 
They have definitely gone all out on this. They don't seem to have the confidence that the watch will sell itself like their other products, but to be fair it is a new category. They are trying very hard to convince people that this is a must have.

You know when a company has to try very hard to convince people that a product is a must have? When it's not.

Generational devices sell themselves. This device is not going to totally flop, but it's not going to be a hit either. It's just going to be there. And unless something truly revolutionary comes out of the watch space within the next 5 years, it will slowly be phased out, when something better comes along.
 
You know when a company has to try very hard to convince people that a product is a must have? When it's not.

Generational devices sell themselves. This device is not going to totally flop, but it's not going to be a hit either. It's just going to be there. And unless something truly revolutionary comes out of the watch space within the next 5 years, it will slowly be phased out, when something better comes along.

So I guess Samsung Galaxy phones weren't a must have because Samsung had to spend billions on that The Next Big Thing™ campaign. :p
 
So I guess Samsung Galaxy phones weren't a must have because Samsung had to spend billions on that The Next Big Thing™ campaign. :p

Samsung did that to try to get people to buy a Galaxy instead of an iPhone. Apple is trying to do it in a new product category.
 
Maybe Apple should just setup a trough full of Apple Watches that customers can just rummage through.

Thousands of people gorging themselves at a trough a mile long outside every Apple Store.

They can hire temporary workers to stand behind every customer so the moment they find the watch they want they can get checked out and be on their way.

They can train the temporary workers in first aid, too. Ideally.

Beyond that, I don't see how anyone expects to be able to "just walk in", as the chorus has been shouting, "and buy one".

You're not the only one looking to buy the watch. Not by a long shot. Just think about that for a moment and try to understand that Apple have thought about it just a hair longer than that and they have devised a way to give people a sensible way to try on and purchase this thing.

Seriously, if you can think of a better way, go to apple.com/feedback and let them know because I'm sure they would be interested.

Couldn't Apple have just put the watches on another couple tables, tether them, and let customers see what the experience is like? Why do I need to have an employee put a watch on my wrist? Apple is ok with attaching computers worth thousands of dollars to a table, so why is the watch different?

Seems to me this is all a big marketing play to create demand. Some won't mind, but I become offended when a large corporation thinks it can manipulate me into wanting a device. To be frank, the last 12 months at Apple has been disappointing. They still look out for their customers, and want to create the very best products of great quality, but if a squint and really look closely, there seems to be a little bit of "big corporation" starting to squeeze through, if that makes any sense. Certainly doesn't feel like the "think different" company that embraced the likes of Bob Dylan. Now we are getting Gold iPhones, gaudy overpriced Beats headphones, Gold MacBooks, and expensive watches where Apple seems to be relying a great deal on their marketing expertise.

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So I guess Samsung Galaxy phones weren't a must have because Samsung had to spend billions on that The Next Big Thing™ campaign. :p

Samsung sucks. They make glitchy products of low quality. People always try and say that people who buy Apply products are the "sheep." That was always crazy to me. The real sheep were the ones who were buying the inferior products, just because. The iPhone is 10 times anything Samsung has ever been able to put out in the phone space.
 
I find it odd that Apple is restricting the high end customers to a mere 30 minute appointment.

Yet as crazy as it sounds perhaps Apple executives like Cook and others have never entered a Tiffany's or other luxury shop.

I have and can tell you one is given the royal treatment, without the slightest hint of a rush, much less being made to feel like you're limited as someone is waiting behind you to take your place. Nor are you dealing with a sales person.

The individual on the other side of the counter is acting like your personal concierge. You're encouraged to take all the time you like, because they know busy wealthy people are not there to window shop, they're there specifically to buy. In cash. Rarely by credit card. It's a world only those who live in, truly understand.

I would have expected Apple to approach this in a more welcoming, dignified, respectful manor.

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Couldn't Apple have just put the watches on another couple tables, tether them, and let customers see what the experience is like? Why do I need to have an employee put a watch on my wrist? Apple is ok with attaching computers worth thousands of dollars to a table, so why is the watch different?

Seems to me this is all a big marketing play to create demand. Some won't mind, but I become offended when a large corporation thinks it can manipulate me into wanting a device. To be frank, the last 12 months at Apple has been disappointing. They still look out for their customers, and want to create the very best products of great quality, but if a squint and really look closely, there seems to be a little bit of "big corporation" starting to squeeze through, if that makes any sense. Certainly doesn't feel like the "think different" company that embraced the likes of Bob Dylan. Now we are getting Gold iPhones, gaudy overpriced Beats headphones, Gold MacBooks, and expensive watches where Apple seems to be relying a great deal on their marketing expertise.

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Samsung sucks. They make glitchy products of low quality. People always try and say that people who buy Apply products are the "sheep." That was always crazy to me. The real sheep were the ones who were buying the inferior products, just because. The iPhone is 10 times anything Samsung has ever been able to put out in the phone space.

Samsung is a separate entity having nothing to do with Apple other than to draw out the emotions of those that can't get Samsung envy out of their minds.
 
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...Just like making phone calls isn't the most important function of the iPhone.

Try telling that to someone who needs an ambulance and can't find the dialler, on an iPhone. If it wasn't the most important part, iPhone owners would make do with an iPod touch, surely?
 
I love it. Basically a big FU to resellers, credit card fraud and theft.
If there is money to be made they will have people waiting outside. I have seen it for iPads and iPhones. I just pre-order now. There is no chance of getting it even if you go an hour early before the store is opened.

Remember this?

http://www.cnet.com/news/woman-tasered-after-trying-to-buy-too-many-iphones/

I have seen this store, it is small and crazy busy because there is not sales tax in NH.

If you look at the video, the town where is lives is a rich town and about an hour south in MA. Local newspaper did mention that she is local and is married to a US citizen. (more than sure that she speaks and understands enough English).
 
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There aren't millions of people in NYC waiting to run into the Apple store and buy a watch.

Of course you're correct. The point is that even a small percentage of all those people really adds up, and the capability of the stores to give lunchtime appointments is limited.

For instance, during the three hours of normal lunchtimes (1100AM-0200PM), each appointment station can only handle 12 fifteen-minute appointments. Even five stations could only handle 60 people per store during lunch. I figure it could take most of a year to give out lunchtime appointments even if only 3% of just the daily commuters into the city wanted one.

Anyway, I'm sure that supplies will build up and soon appointments won't be necessary to buy. Making this whole discussion moot.

-- But why can't potential owners actually try one out?

One thing that struck me, is that according to 9to5mac, the "try-on Apple Watches will run in demo loops."

In other words, even an appointment holder won't be able to try out the crown, or force touch, or launching an app or responding to a notification, on their own.

I guess it's assumed they're getting the watch no matter what, and they're just there to pick out colors.
 
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Try telling that to someone who needs an ambulance and can't find the dialler, on an iPhone. If it wasn't the most important part, iPhone owners would make do with an iPod touch, surely?

Maybe I should have worded it better. Most peoples main use of an iPhone isn't making phone calls. And the main use of the Apple watch won't be telling time for most people.
 
So you're going to walk into the store, say I want an Apple watch and you wont be able to get one.

Ugh, they can't be serious.

This isn't going to end well for Apple. Was this Angela's idea or what exactly is going on here? Do they want to irritate their customers?

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This is just simply not the way I buy things. i dont want to be bothered by salesmen. when I want to buy something I would like to at least test it without making a reservation.

Same here. I don't want to be bothered by salesman, sales pitches or anything like that.
 
I find it odd that Apple is restricting the high end customers to a mere 30 minute appointment.

Yet as crazy as it sounds perhaps Apple executives like Cook and others have never entered a Tiffany's or other luxury shop.

I have and can tell you one is given the royal treatment, without the slightest hint of a rush, much less being made to feel like you're limited as someone is waiting behind you to take your place. Nor are you dealing with a sales person.

The individual on the other side of the counter is acting like your personal concierge. You're encouraged to take all the time you like, because they know busy wealthy people are not there to window shop, they're there specifically to buy. In cash. Rarely by credit card. It's a world only those who live in, truly understand.

I would have expected Apple to approach this in a more welcoming, dignified, respectful manor.

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Samsung is a separate entity having nothing to do with Apple other than to draw out the emotions of those that can't get Samsung envy out of their minds.

Maybe the high-roller clients should buy the Apple Watch at one of the non-Apple store venues then. I don't know why they would expect to get a champagne/cushy chair level of service at an Apple Store where the rest of us losers shop ;)
 
Maybe the high-roller clients should buy the Apple Watch at one of the non-Apple store venues then. I don't know why they would expect to get a champagne/cushy chair level of service at an Apple Store where the rest of us losers shop ;)

Many simply wouldn't go to an Apple Store, not because of the environment, but simply because they're not interested in the product. I haven't heard a single person bring it up.

Personally I like the Apple store that's only fifteen minutes from me, but I'm an Apple enthusiast of many years. I've made a mind boggling profit off Apple Stock I bought at $20 per share, and sold a couple decades later at a share price of $700.

I would have never imagined that in 1991 when I bought a huge quantity only to have friends and family think I was crazy.

Such is life... You win some and some people lose some.
 
So you're going to walk into the store, say I want an Apple watch and you wont be able to get one.

Ugh, they can't be serious.

This isn't going to end well for Apple. Was this Angela's idea or what exactly is going on here? Do they want to irritate their customers?

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Same here. I don't want to be bothered by salesman, sales pitches or anything like that.

Ever heard of store.apple.com?
 
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