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Apple Watch for Sale in Retail Stores by Reservation Only, No Walk-In Sales

Rogifan said:
Where does it say you have to make a separate appointment to buy one? Just go to store.apple.com and order it.

Or you can use the process below, which MR has chosen not to report for some reason (even though they usually report every other rumor that comes from 9to5Mac):

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/29/apple...aled-magical-tables-demo-loops-sales-process/
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We know that you have to make an appointment to try one on. According to the article you need to make a reservation to buy one. Thus, two appointments, unlike when I bought my iPhone, iPad, or Mac and was able to go into the store try it, see which one fits my personal tastes then buy it on the spot if they had one in stock. I know I can order online I am just saying these are barriers they are erecting between a product and a potential consumer.
 
I am presuming that Apple will have plenty of stock to cope with online pre-orders and enough stock for people that book the 'try on' appointments and want to order a watch whilst they are in the store
 
samcraig said:
Or perhaps it does.
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Then what is this for?

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/29/apple...cal-tables-demo-loops-sales-process/#comments
Additionally, customers who already know which Apple Watch they would like to purchase can buy one via a dedicated purchase station called the Landing Zone. Following the completion of the purchase, customers can access the Personal Setup station to setup the Watch, sync with their iPhone, fit bands, and install Apple Watch apps.
Click to expand...
 
This shouldn't really matter to anyone. With Apples great returns policy you can order 3-4 different models of the watch, try them in the comfort of your home and send every single one back for a full refund if you don't like them.

This is how I've been doing it for years. If I want to try a product I'll buy then send it back if its not what I like.
 
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bbeagle said:
I'm confused. I thought Apple users were all 'sheep' that would buy anything Apple sold. And only 'sheep' will buy the Apple Watch, because it's so awful. Right?

So, why would it matter if Apple made it harder to buy? Won't all the 'sheep' just happily jump through whatever hoops Apple makes? Because they're 'sheep'?

The anti-Apple crowd needs to get their stories straight.
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Wow, that was uncalled for. Where in my comment did I make the sheep rant or say that the watch was awful? All I did was question the strategy given, in fact, it is the most expensive smart watch to date. It is exactly folks like you who get your knickers in a twist every time someone offers anything but a glowing view of anything Apple does that gives the rest of us (yes I own many Apple things) the very iSheep moniker you speak of. Try to relax and enjoy all points of view.
 
Wiesenlooser said:
You mean like they do it with every iphone every year :rolleyes: ?
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You don't wear an iPhone. There's no trying one on involved. Trying on a watch is a completely different experience.

And on launch day, if you're in line to get am iPhone there's no playing with it first at the demo table. You get in, get your iPhone, and get out because there are hundreds of people waiting behind you.

Apple is setting aside two weeks prior to the launch of the watch for people to come in and try it on first. And people here are jumping on the complain wagon about it. I don't get it.

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ninethirty said:
Of course you like Apple's way better. That's what they're allowing you to have, and so you love it.

This is a HORRIBLE way to sell a product. I don't want to make an appointment to go in and get pressured into buying something. I want to walk in, try on what I want, and buy or not buy without any pressure.

In fact, I did this just today, with a Panerai. Luckily they don't require an online reservation process for an appt, else I wouldn't have bothered.
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Not even sure how you could compare the two. The demand will outstrip the supply of Apple Watches for months. And you expect to just walk into a store on a whim and be catered to? What about everyone else who wants a watch?

Maybe Apple should just abandon releasing the watch altogether because the demand it's creating isn't fair to you. Or maybe they could create a reservation system that is fair to most people. Tough call.
 
ggibson913 said:
Wow, that was uncalled for. Where in my comment did I make the sheep rant or say that the watch was awful? All I did was question the strategy given, in fact, it is the most expensive smart watch to date. It is exactly folks like you who get your knickers in a twist every time someone offers anything but a glowing view of anything Apple does that gives the rest of us (yes I own many Apple things) the very iSheep moniker you speak of. Try to relax and enjoy all points of view.
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For some people (not referring to the person who you're responding to) they go into defensive mode automatically. Perhaps for some it's an indication that they feel threatened or that your comment resonates with them and that's hard for them.

People are funny.
 
A sucker is born, or in this case, makes a reservation, every second.

If you feel special because Apple helped you put on a watch then you are the right kind of idiot Apple is targeting.
 
Has there been any indication for when we'll be able to start setting up appointments?
 
I agree with a couple of posts that I've read in here.

Apple is creating a false scarcity and a false "buzz" by doing this. It has zero to do with "returns". If Apple wanted to lower returns, they'd simply say "you can't return the watch unless it's defective". That would be cut and dry. How making a customer stand there while you talk to them about something is going to prevent them from changing their mind when they see their friend with something different is beyond me. It's a sales pitch.

Also, I personally think demand will NOT be huge so putting barriers in place like this is going to possibly turn away some early adopters. I for one will not be checking out the watch within a month or so of launch. BUT if I were interested, having to physically go to an Apple store for an appointment to buy would surely turn me off. My closest apple store is (now) 45 minutes away in the ghetto. By the time I'm there, parked, have my appointment, and drive home (presumably empty-wristed) I will have wasted a 1/2 of a day. Ironically, my time is more important to me.
 
The problem with this is that over the years Apple has abandoned their "need of appointment" strategy they used to have with personal shopping and other services so that they could appease, well, a "different" type of customer. Now a culture has been created that you can just walk into a store whenever you want for whatever you want and they will find a way to make it happen.

Now Apple wants to go back to this reservation system with only one product...we'll see how well that goes...
 
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.
 
darcyf said:
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.
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I maybe wrong - but I think what people are actually rebuffing against is the idea (tbd) that you can't just go into a store and buy one. IE - wait on line (or not if there isn't one ha ha) and say "42mm, sport, etc" and walk right now. There seems to be "some" confusion on whether or not you need to reserve (make a reservation - not appointment - two different things) ahead of time.
 
I can get a watch from a bubble gum dispenser without hassle and it looks just as good.
 
samcraig said:
I maybe wrong - but I think what people are actually rebuffing against is the idea (tbd) that you can't just go into a store and buy one. IE - wait on line (or not if there isn't one ha ha) and say "42mm, sport, etc" and walk right now. There seems to be "some" confusion on whether or not you need to reserve (make a reservation - not appointment - two different things) ahead of time.
Click to expand...

Well according to 9to5Mac this 'Landing Zone' will allow people who know what they want to just go to the store and order it. Also supposedly there will be mobile demo units that can be placed anywhere in the store for those not interested in a try-on appointment.

watch2.png
 
Rogifan said:
Well according to 9to5Mac this 'Landing Zone' will allow people who know what they want to just go to the store and order it. Also supposedly there will be mobile demo units that can be placed anywhere in the store for those not interested in a try-on appointment.

Image
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Yes. So you've noted. What will be reality is a different matter given the conflicting information from the press release, MR's comments from the training manual and the 9to5 piece.

Time will tell.
 
samcraig said:
Yes. So you've noted. What will be reality is a different matter given the conflicting information from the press release, MR's comments from the training manual and the 9to5 piece.

Time will tell.
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What is the conflicting information? It seems like 9to5Mac has more information, that's all. And honestly I'd trust Mark Gurman most because his leaks are usually the most accurate.
 
SeaFox said:
And with this online reservation system, it will be less apparent. ;) There wont be a (lack of) long lines for it on launch day for the media to report.
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Long lines are so passé. I don't remember any media outlet talking about lines after the 6 launched.
 
Rogifan said:
Long lines are so passé. I don't remember any media outlet talking about lines after the 6 launched.
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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.
 
Rogifan said:
What is the conflicting information?
Click to expand...

Just before the part you quoted about buying from the "Landing Zone" (which is not the demo Watch/iPad unit in that image), is this:

"From here, a customer with a reservation can purchase the Watch, or if they don’t have a unit reserved, they can make a reservation or order via Apple’s Online Store. Apple, at launch, won’t have stock for customers without reservations, as we reported last week."

That eems to conflict with the later "Additionally, customers who already know which Apple Watch they would like to purchase can buy one via a dedicated purchase station called the Landing Zone."

Unless we assume they're referring back to the customers with reservations.
 
Hahahah

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.

Im buying one because "I can" in fact buying one for my daughters as well with multiple bands.
 
Orderin watch

You can still mail order the watch and have delivered to your home. Whats the problem in doing that. This is only for people wanting to walk into a store and buy. No big deal at all. Just order to the house
 
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