Apple Watch **might** be the biggest Failure to Launch from Apple yet

[H3rman]

The OP and many others on the forums harp on about how Apple have given watches to celebs instead of paying customers. I think what people forget is that Apple DOES have the capability to make small quantities of items in house (for prototyping, etc).

I highly doubt they would stop a fully flowing production line in China to make 1 or 2 solid gold link bracelets, etc when they could do that stuff in the US on a smaller scale to give to a handful of celebs.

The celebs getting their watches won't have any impact on the production run for us mere mortals. However I will admit this has been an odd "launch". Not a flop, but not a proper launch either.

No-one has any valid reason to complain as long as Apple stick to their shipping dates, but I can understand it is frustrating. I am one of the ones waiting. I can also see it hurting sales of the watch as people get over they hype in the next few weeks and begin cancelling orders, or go to scalpels and cancel their orders.

 

[nrubenstein]

The OP and many others on the forums harp on about how Apple have given watches to celebs instead of paying customers. I think what people forget is that Apple DOES have the capability to make small quantities of items in house (for prototyping, etc).

I highly doubt they would stop a fully flowing production line in China to make 1 or 2 solid gold link bracelets, etc when they could do that stuff in the US on a smaller scale to give to a handful of celebs.

The celebs getting their watches won't have any impact on the production run for us mere mortals. However I will admit this has been an odd "launch". Not a flop, but not a proper launch either.

No-one has any valid reason to complain as long as Apple stick to their shipping dates, but I can understand it is frustrating. I am one of the ones waiting. I can also see it hurting sales of the watch as people get over they hype in the next few weeks and begin cancelling orders, or go to scalpels and cancel their orders.

It's called marketing. Some of the celeb watches are clearly bespoke. Many are off the production line.

Complaining about a handful of celeb watches is akin to complaining about Apple supplying demo watches for the stores and to reporters.

 

[techno-Zen]

There needs to at least be exchange stock in the stores.. If my watch dies, or if I want to pay for an upgraded model I need to wait until July now?

That's unacceptable regardless of how you want to spin it.

 

[kupkakez]

There needs to at least be exchange stock in the stores.. If my watch dies, or if I want to pay for an upgraded model I need to wait until July now?

That's unacceptable regardless of how you want to spin it.

Apple tends to always have some stock on hand for exchanges due to issues. IF you want to upgrade you are screwed.

 

[Steve686]

There needs to at least be exchange stock in the stores.. If my watch dies, or if I want to pay for an upgraded model I need to wait until July now?

That's unacceptable regardless of how you want to spin it.

For warranty replacements, I agree with you. Yes, there needs to be available stock, for the most part.

But, if you merely want to walk into a store because now you are not happy with the model that you purchased, that's a different story with a brand new product introduction. This would make the supply chain even worse than it already is. Maybe instead of just a watch band swap site, someone can start up a site that lets owners get together to switch whole watches?

 

[Neutral Milk]

I really like how the title of this thread really emphasizes "might". Talk about using emphasis to devalue your whole point.

"Apple Watch **might** be the biggest Failure to Launch from Apple yet" but then again it **might** not be.

 

[bunnicula]

There needs to at least be exchange stock in the stores.. If my watch dies, or if I want to pay for an upgraded model I need to wait until July now?

That's unacceptable regardless of how you want to spin it.

I do believe they have stock for defective units. As far as upgrades, why should people be able to buy the quickest-shipping watch only to go to the store and trade it for the hardest-to-get model ahead of others who preordered that model for launch?

That's weird.

 

[xPad]

I just hope you realize how you sound in this thread. Militant, very militant.

Lay off the hyperbole. Someone calling a bunch of whiny brats out is not militant.

My opinion is that Apple should have waited a little longer before launching the watch.

Then no one would have a Watch!

Every launch, products sell out in short time, and some people get their products on launch day (as many of us did with our Apple Watches), and others get later shipping dates.

That's exactly what happened here.

The only difference is that the launch day shipments were given windows instead. Windows which Apple has not yet failed to meet, and in fact has shipped many watches ahead of schedule.

This launch is a stellar success from a "get the products into the hands of customers as fast as possible" point of view. Had they delayed, many of us would have gotten them later. Had they allowed in store purchases, stock would have been allocated less correctly (e.g. stores with tons of 38mm blue sport) and scalpers would have bought up large batches of Watches, leaving many people without anything to show for hours of time wasted in line.

And not a single Apple Watch would have gotten into a customer's hands even a day sooner had they had in store stock (excepting missed delivery attempts).

As for post-launch orders, not having in store stock means you just order and it literally gets shipped to you right off the assembly line. You would not have gotten it any faster by going into stores every day to line up in hopes that the watch combo you want was in that day's shipment, and that the person ahead of you didn't also want it.

You're getting the products faster than ever before, without having to do anything but click a button on a website.

Sheesh!

 

[AdonisSMU]

I am just expressing my opinion and have all the rights to do so. I am not exhibiting a holier than though attitude either, sorry to burst your bubble.

Great and other people posted their opinions too. You posted up your opinion that you are allowed to have but now you can't handle people who have a different opinion than you. If you don't want people to disagree or have their own opinion then it's probably best not to volunteer your opinion when you know you are sensitive about someone having a different opinion than you.

You are upset that Apple didn't stop the world because you decided you wanted your watch after many others had already decided on theirs. We go through this drill with every iPhone release and you still haven't caught on. That is not Apple's fault. You know their devices will be hard to get initially as yield rates are low at first.

 

[Knowimagination]

This launch has done one thing really well.

It has helped me identify MacRumors members that I would totally hang out with in real life... and others that I would avoid at all costs.

 

[kerrikins]

Step 1: Hire a manufacturer that does not make defective Taptic engine parts.

Oh yeah, I guess they just skipped that checkbox...

They pulled the inventory as soon as they realised. If Apple could have done anything to prevent the delays, they would have. Honestly, the level of entitlement in these threads is ridiculous. You will get your Apple Watch in the end.

 

[Jsmil009]

Planes should be landing one after another now.

 

[mrdm]

Most frustrating launch in Apple history...

...yes, first world problems but we are all here talking about watches...so...this is the worst launch in Apple history in my view.

I've never had a live "preview" or "fitting" of any product and then not be able to walk out of the store without the product I was testing. What a joke! This includes products ranging from toasters to clothes to bbq grills.

What is more frustrating is seeing those who ordered the watch later than I did receive theirs just because they ordered the "right" model/version and it was in stock.

In 6 months no one will care because Apple will have caught up with demand but they missed an opportunity to reward their early adopters. Those who stayed up into the wee hours of the night, placed their orders within 2 minutes of the store opening and still have to wait until June to receive their product.

BTW - this is a company who posted probably the best quarterly results of any company in history for Q1 2015 - net profit of $13.6 billion.

I think they could have afforded to have a small surplus of inventory, even for Apple watch edition. Delay the shipping date for a quarter or more but get it right.

It seems anyone who criticizes Apple these days is roasted but...flame away...I still think there was a better way to do this. The watch was announced 6+ months ago and they could have taken pre-orders at the time to better schedule the manufacturing builds. Maybe they will do so in the future...

 

[MartyCan]

...yes, first world problems but we are all here talking about watches...so...this is the worst launch in Apple history in my view.

I've never had a live "preview" or "fitting" of any product and then not be able to walk out of the store without the product I was testing. This includes products ranging from toasters to clothes to bbq grills.

What is more frustrating is seeing those who ordered the watch later than I did receive theirs just because they ordered the "right" model/version and it was in stock.

In 6 months no one will care because Apple will have caught up with demand but they missed an opportunity to reward their early adopters. Those who stayed up into the wee hours of the night, placed their orders within 2 minutes of the store opening and still have to wait until June to receive their product.

Flame away - but I still think there was a better way to do this. The watch was announced 6+ months ago and they could have taken pre-orders at the time to better schedule the manufacturing builds. Maybe they will do so in the future...

There are more threads about this than Apple has sold watches. But thanks! Another one can't hurt.

 

[McDaddio]

I had a lot more concerns about the Lisa launch.
This is nothing but a minor inconvenience.

 

[rvernier]

You clearly didn't experience the iPad 2 launch.

 

[usmcchet]

...yes, first world problems but we are all here talking about watches...so...this is the worst launch in Apple history in my view.

I've never had a live "preview" or "fitting" of any product and then not be able to walk out of the store without the product I was testing. What a joke! This includes products ranging from toasters to clothes to bbq grills.

What is more frustrating is seeing those who ordered the watch later than I did receive theirs just because they ordered the "right" model/version and it was in stock.

In 6 months no one will care because Apple will have caught up with demand but they missed an opportunity to reward their early adopters. Those who stayed up into the wee hours of the night, placed their orders within 2 minutes of the store opening and still have to wait until June to receive their product.

It seems anyone who criticizes Apple these days is roasted but...flame away...I still think there was a better way to do this. The watch was announced 6+ months ago and they could have taken pre-orders at the time to better schedule the manufacturing builds. Maybe they will do so in the future...

No flame here
your right
this launch was a joke

 

[Paulshaqz]

...yes, first world problems but we are all here talking about watches...so...this is the worst launch in Apple history in my view.

I've never had a live "preview" or "fitting" of any product and then not be able to walk out of the store without the product I was testing. What a joke! This includes products ranging from toasters to clothes to bbq grills.

What is more frustrating is seeing those who ordered the watch later than I did receive theirs just because they ordered the "right" model/version and it was in stock.

In 6 months no one will care because Apple will have caught up with demand but they missed an opportunity to reward their early adopters. Those who stayed up into the wee hours of the night, placed their orders within 2 minutes of the store opening and still have to wait until June to receive their product.

It seems anyone who criticizes Apple these days is roasted but...flame away...I still think there was a better way to do this. The watch was announced 6+ months ago and they could have taken pre-orders at the time to better schedule the manufacturing builds. Maybe they will do so in the future...

I completely agree with you every time I bought a day one launch from apple was from retail store or online and even in online weather if it was iPhones or iPads I had them day one so this is pretty stupid.

 

[ddkkpp]

they should've re-structured the launch so that people who Pre-order get their bands for free. All watches would have come with a white/black sports band - whatever was easiest to produce, or any colour, light blue for example, who cares, its free.

That way all the pre-orders wouldve gotten their watches, and people could buy bands to customize their pre-ordered watches later down the line.

Would be kind of like selling the watch without the band, which they will surely do on subsequent versions of this product.

 

[NTurner42]

So, you're mad cause you don't have your watch yet, the watch when you ordered gave you an estimated shipping date of sometime in June.. and it's currently May.

 

[GimmeSlack12]

Remember the iPhone 3G launch?

 

[kingofgreenlake]

I ordered mine as soon as I could on the 10th and low and behold I recieved mine on the 24th..if you didn't want to order the watch at 12:01 pst or whatever time zone you are in then you lost the right to complain about your order taking so long. Do you get mad when you go in a busy restaurant without reservations and you can't get a table? Take credit for the fact you waited to long to order and now are suffering the consequences.

 

[largefarrva]

Gotta say I agree with the OP. This launch has been pathetic so far.

 

[cmichaelb]

I've had my watch for a week now and even though my extra bands are no where to be seen, I think they did okay on the launch.

 

[Michael CM1]

I swear some of you people have never tried to buy enhanced tech that was highly sought-after before. I lined up outside a Best Buy for eight hours to get the Wii. I got mine and didn't see one on a store shelf for probably six months. It took about that long to find a PS2 after it launched.