It's funny how when a company makes a product which people doesn't want (Samsung Gear), they have an abundance of them and end up literally giving them away. But when it comes to a successful product (Apple Watch), they sell out in 6 hours. Who'd have thought.
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Apple Watch **might** be the biggest Failure to Launch from Apple yet
- Thread starter phirstube
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x-evil-x
macrumors 603
you say that because you already HAVE the watch...
I order a space grey sport at 12:04 into launch and still in processing.
Horrible launch yes.similar to iPhone 6's but at least the over estimated times where changed and most seemed to get launch day(i ordered two phones within 20 minutes of launch.
SinkOrSwim
macrumors regular
Not might, but it was! You would assume that a gadget 3-4x smaller than the iPhone should have a faster turn around, but it's not. Not to mention that it went to mass production several months before customers can order online. And yet, still can't keep up with the demand. I've read that they had 2 companies providing the taptic engine. One in China and one in Japan. Not a very good idea. 2 seperate factories producing the very same thing, well, not really coz one would be superior than the other. They should've delegated steps 1 to 3 to the China factory, then do quality assurance, then it gets sent off to Japan for the finishing final steps of assembly and another quality assurance. The few steps from one factory to the other creates less error and better production and in uniform with all the watches coming out from it.
Also, purchasing the watch casings and bands should've been separate but still lined with the same price point. The box with the different watch model, the size, and the band were already pre-made. That's why some models ship out early and some don't. If they've set up 2 boxes; one with the watch that can accommodate a band like a jewelry box, and one with just the band that slides flush to the watch box. Turn arounds would be much faster. Like per se, I have an order of one 42 SS SB. Find the box that has it, then what band? Find the box that has it and slide in a fashioned opening on the box of the watch, then done. Next order! Not like waste time trying to find the pre made box with all the stuff on the order in it. Like this order couldn't been it but the band is different or the size is different.
It seems to me that Angela still thinks like she's working for Burberry. Gotta think outside the box a lil bit more for better results on such pricey piece of equipment. Just my 2 cents on what I believe could've been a better move.
Also, purchasing the watch casings and bands should've been separate but still lined with the same price point. The box with the different watch model, the size, and the band were already pre-made. That's why some models ship out early and some don't. If they've set up 2 boxes; one with the watch that can accommodate a band like a jewelry box, and one with just the band that slides flush to the watch box. Turn arounds would be much faster. Like per se, I have an order of one 42 SS SB. Find the box that has it, then what band? Find the box that has it and slide in a fashioned opening on the box of the watch, then done. Next order! Not like waste time trying to find the pre made box with all the stuff on the order in it. Like this order couldn't been it but the band is different or the size is different.
It seems to me that Angela still thinks like she's working for Burberry. Gotta think outside the box a lil bit more for better results on such pricey piece of equipment. Just my 2 cents on what I believe could've been a better move.
Burberry = British Luxury Brand.... That's not Apple (at least I hope it's not)
applepuree
macrumors 6502
Your lucky. I ordered, the exact same as you, and paid by bank transfer on the 10th, still only says June.
I am seriously thinking of cancelling my order as I am slowly starting to think its too expensive. I think if I had some communication, anything at all, from Apple with a delivery date I would be happier, but seeing later orders than mine, for exactly the same product, already being shipped narks me.
😕
I agree! What reallllly would have pissed me off even more if Apple would have taken my money on 4/10. I'm glad they don't take it until it ships. This is dumb though. I ordered a little past 3:10 AM after preorders open and here I am potentially waiting nearly 2 months for the watch (May 27th delivery date).
Sheza
macrumors 68020
From what I'm hearing, the vast majority of people are happy with their watch. This forum being as big as it is, with well over 2500 people viewing this sub-forum during launch week, you're bound to get a few defective watches.
The truth is that although Apple could have spent many more months refining the product, it's not viable.
Customers provide the best feedback. Only customers using Apple Watch in the wild can help Apple to improve the product, you can't hire a sample size of 2 million people to test the watch.
Add to that the fact that technology moves rapidly. By the time Apple had ironed out most of the issues, spending god knows what on testing and Q&A, new sensors, batteries, processors would be available and they would have to start over.
I understand people's anger, but I think it is all mostly based on people not receiving their watches at the same time as everyone else. That was an operations mistake. I wouldn't call it a failure.
Just my two pence.
The truth is that although Apple could have spent many more months refining the product, it's not viable.
Customers provide the best feedback. Only customers using Apple Watch in the wild can help Apple to improve the product, you can't hire a sample size of 2 million people to test the watch.
Add to that the fact that technology moves rapidly. By the time Apple had ironed out most of the issues, spending god knows what on testing and Q&A, new sensors, batteries, processors would be available and they would have to start over.
I understand people's anger, but I think it is all mostly based on people not receiving their watches at the same time as everyone else. That was an operations mistake. I wouldn't call it a failure.
Just my two pence.
1. Apple said the watch would be in tight supply
2. Apple said they would launch and ship on the 24th and did.
3. If you ordered one you got a delivery window. I have not seen anyone say they have gone past that window without receiving a watch.
Could they wait another six months and stockpile more of these? Maybe, but I'm guessing they didn't want to overlap the next iPhone launch and further clog the system.
In the end if you are personally unhappy that you have to wait so long then I understand the disappointment. Apple had no way to know how many people would step up and order one and clearly it is a lot of people. But to say they botched the launch is a bit dramatic. The watch was released on time and a lot of people received them (and continue to) in the time frame Apple told them.
2. Apple said they would launch and ship on the 24th and did.
3. If you ordered one you got a delivery window. I have not seen anyone say they have gone past that window without receiving a watch.
Could they wait another six months and stockpile more of these? Maybe, but I'm guessing they didn't want to overlap the next iPhone launch and further clog the system.
In the end if you are personally unhappy that you have to wait so long then I understand the disappointment. Apple had no way to know how many people would step up and order one and clearly it is a lot of people. But to say they botched the launch is a bit dramatic. The watch was released on time and a lot of people received them (and continue to) in the time frame Apple told them.
SinkOrSwim
macrumors regular
I never said Burberry is Apple. If Burberry is Apple then it wouldn't Burberry.
SinkOrSwim
macrumors regular
It is funny how a very simple opinion as to what might have been done to make the experience of acquiring and having the watch at hand could make the person saying it angry? Very interesting.
No issues for me, ordered two watches and received two watches. One on launch day and the other a week later. Very happy.
SinkOrSwim
macrumors regular
Botched? So you are saying that people who wants to launch a new product intentionally screws it up? Now that comment is dramatic and very stupid.
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Exactly! That's the point of ordering online right? You order it online, then you get it after a week or two. Not order it then it magically appears in your front door...... And rings the bell too. People didn't get the post.
I'd say it should be pretty clear that Apple is undercharging for the watches. If they charged more, everyone who ordered on the 10th would have received theirs on launch day.
?
I think you need to re-read what I wrote. I didn't say Apple botched/failed the launch. I said that it is dramatic to say this was a failed launch.
People like to complain, huh?
I was the same way back with the iPhone 4.
Didn't get one on day one so spent the next few weeks being salty, getting upset whenever I saw one and complaining about how such a large company should be able to meet the demand. Then I got my iPhone 4.
If you're genuinely offended by Apple's inability to get a product to you on a certain date, show them with your money, cancel your order. Not only will this send the message to Apple, it also means you'll be free of the wait, plus it gives someone behind you in the queue a chance to get theirs a bit faster.
I was the same way back with the iPhone 4.
Didn't get one on day one so spent the next few weeks being salty, getting upset whenever I saw one and complaining about how such a large company should be able to meet the demand. Then I got my iPhone 4.
If you're genuinely offended by Apple's inability to get a product to you on a certain date, show them with your money, cancel your order. Not only will this send the message to Apple, it also means you'll be free of the wait, plus it gives someone behind you in the queue a chance to get theirs a bit faster.
Wally©
macrumors member
I beg to differ...specially for those who 'pre-ordered' one...
Preordering means that your product will be shipped to you upon its official release...
And that my friend has not occured for countless people...
200% agree.
It's not even a real pre-order because all you do today is still normal ordering.
It is not available anywhere and you still have to wait.
Technically Apple is correct calling all 4/10 to 4/24 pre-orders.
But since it is not available after launch, the destination doesn't really matter.
Pre-order means that you are purchasing a product before it is actually available. That's it. It could be shipped on the very day it 'officially' becomes available. It could be two months after. In fact most of the time that I have pre-ordered something it has not come on the first possible day it was available. There is usually a further wait involved.
All orders came with delivery windows...not specific days. If you didn't like that you could easily cancel your order.
This is a product with very high demand and supply constraints. For many of the models people are going to have a bit of a wait. And it will likely be well into the summer before stores start selling these. As others have said if this whole affair has hurt your feelings and left you angry, don't buy it and show your frustration through the power of spending or not spending.
NT1440
macrumors P6
Sure, it means that....if you can't/refuse to read the shipping range that is presented to you at order time.
But Apple doesn't offer literacy classes....
Wally©
macrumors member
I'm not even gonna respond to this...
But what bothers me more is that for some reason Angela decided to make the watch available to buy in high-end fashion stores in the first wave countries in Europe...
Some have managed to order one on-line from those stores and got their watch shipped to them the next day...Now where's the logic in that..?
Coming from the fashion industry...she should have stuck to selling designer jeans and cardigans...
This is my sixth on-line order from Apple and never have had to wait this long...
Apple's silence on their delivery woes is deafening and unworthy of a company that prides itself for its customer satisfaction !!!
PhillyGuy72
macrumors 68040
Still in "processing" hell, ordered it 3:19am ET 42mm SS. Expected delivery by May 7th. Looked promising...hoping I'd get it by yesterday, but whatever I guess not.
At the point where I'm not even thinking about it (until now obviously..lol) , stopped the "OCD" madness of reloading the order page every 20, 30 minutes - it actually makes the day drag on longer and it's mentally draining! It will come when it comes...but god I hope it's this coming week.
Looking on Apple site now, hell if someone ordered it today, the shipping time has now slipped back until July! Forget the Apple retail stores until mid-summer...unless they release an extreme limited amount one some random day in June? Who knows.
At this point you may find more luck finding the watch in a Nordstrom or some other high end boutique.
I didn't do the iPhone 4, 5 pre-orders, I was lucky enough to get them in ATT stores on launch day (4 was all black, 5 was white) 6 Plus I did not think I would be able to be so lucky on launch day so that was my 1st pre-order..ehh, the site/app was down. Confirmation numbers that went out..finally getting it on Sept 24th. (sucked back then, but in hindsight it wasn't that bad!)
This however has been a very confusing launch!
At the point where I'm not even thinking about it (until now obviously..lol) , stopped the "OCD" madness of reloading the order page every 20, 30 minutes - it actually makes the day drag on longer and it's mentally draining! It will come when it comes...but god I hope it's this coming week.
Looking on Apple site now, hell if someone ordered it today, the shipping time has now slipped back until July! Forget the Apple retail stores until mid-summer...unless they release an extreme limited amount one some random day in June? Who knows.
At this point you may find more luck finding the watch in a Nordstrom or some other high end boutique.
I didn't do the iPhone 4, 5 pre-orders, I was lucky enough to get them in ATT stores on launch day (4 was all black, 5 was white) 6 Plus I did not think I would be able to be so lucky on launch day so that was my 1st pre-order..ehh, the site/app was down. Confirmation numbers that went out..finally getting it on Sept 24th. (sucked back then, but in hindsight it wasn't that bad!)
This however has been a very confusing launch!
Please stop defending the shipping ranges given for orders. Apple has always been exact for preorders. This time they knew they couldn't do it. That's the sad part. They now give two week windows to tell you they don't know how high their yield is.
Why do I claim that? Simple. The iPhone production ramped up much earlier and they knew how many units they could ship per week.
The ranges for the watch are so vague because they don't.
First fun fact is that the bands are packaged with the watch. This forces Apple to actually look at the order distribution beforehand.
Second fun fact is that many have placee multiple orders to cancel.
This means Apple simply waits until the fluctuations calm down.
I really believe this is the worst possible way to do things. They should have shipped all watches with a white sport band and delay the bands as they see fit.
Apple does make enough profit. The sport band is probably less then $1.
Why do I claim that? Simple. The iPhone production ramped up much earlier and they knew how many units they could ship per week.
The ranges for the watch are so vague because they don't.
First fun fact is that the bands are packaged with the watch. This forces Apple to actually look at the order distribution beforehand.
Second fun fact is that many have placee multiple orders to cancel.
This means Apple simply waits until the fluctuations calm down.
I really believe this is the worst possible way to do things. They should have shipped all watches with a white sport band and delay the bands as they see fit.
Apple does make enough profit. The sport band is probably less then $1.
