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Apple Watch Orders Will Remain Exclusively Online Through May, Deliveries Begin April 24

Locoboof said:
Not true....there are plenty of people who just see a commercial and think that's the date. Not everyone is glued to the news or tech sites. I've been outside with people who were inline that didn't know the account holder had to be present to buy the phone. Or thought they could get a out-of-contract phone day one.
Also keep in mind,there are no ropes set outside of mall entrances where the Apple Store is located inside. There's simply too many entrances.
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But there are rope lines outside the store in the mall. At least that's always been the case at my Apple stores. I'm sorry but I dont think it would take very long for someone to figure out there's nothing to line up for. And if someone traveled a long way without first confirming the product would be available in store they only have themselves to blame. Apple's press release specifically said orders would be online only during the initial launch.
 
Personally, they should have made the Watch case and straps a la carte. Instead of trying to anticipate which model in their "curated" collection would be most in demand, it should have been 1) select your watch and 2) select your band. That way, Apple could have readily stocked all four versions of the case in both sizes, and could have put a disclaimer stating that not all bands would be available April 24.
 
Chrjy said:
But not everyone will read the press release...
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That's their problem. Apple never said when iPads would be available in store last year. So I called my local store to confirm if they had any in stock before I drove there. They didn't, so I ordered online instead.
 
"adding that both Apple and its customers love the long lines and that there will be many more of them to come in the future"

Hmm when Paraphrasing becomes Libel.
 
why even have a brick and mortar store if you are not willing to see your own damn product in it, you get people in to try it on then you tell them to order it online. this makes zero sense.
 
syndalis said:
I am genuinely surprised that there will not be a single watch available for sale in stores on launch day.

I mean, I preordered mine and can't wait to get it, but I feel like there was a missed opportunity here.
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not a single macbook has been sold in an apple store. It launched 4.10
 
cardfan said:
With a given amount of supply and initial demand, perhaps Apple shouldn't be so ambitious. Launch in the US, provide a better experience, then move on to other countries as production ramps up. Apple had choices to make here. But that's neglecting your other markets and they would face criticism over a US only launch. Then there's the problem of moving the long lines on a US only launch day with people wanting to try them on first, it takes time to sync to iphone, etc.

Did they make the right choice? I think they did. It's a problem I'm sure other companies would love to have.
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The problem with releasing it initially only in the US is the magnification of the scalper problem. I'm sure more than a few apple employees saw the YouTube video of the unwashed masses and cops beating Asian ladies over the iPhone 6 launch last year.
 
Locoboof said:
That's assuming the store is open when the person goes outside to line up. Some people get outside at 1,2,3am. I just hope no one sleeps outside,that would be awful.
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What a great story they will have to tell their grandkids about, someday.

If they are that interested in the Apple watch, they will get the word, or someone will tell them, or they will read the sign on the door. If anyone manages to slip through the cracks and spend the night in a lawn chair, it's not the most awful thing that's ever happened.
 
BeyondtheTech said:
...as well as take a calculated risk to ramp up the initial supply.
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"Ramping up production" for a product launch typically means more equipment for production, more people to operate it and more facilities to hold them. All extra expenses. After the launch, when all these extra machines, staff and facilities are no longer needed, What do they do? They have the expense of storing or scrapping the equipment or selling it (for far less than it was purchased) and laying off the extra staff (a PR nightmare).

Apple likely did their research and determined that steady, consistent production would be more economical than ramping up (and later scaling back) production.
 
Rogifan said:
One would assume these "campers" are die hard Apple fans. Are you suggesting they would have no clue the product won't be available in store on the 24th? Or wouldn't confirm it before they decide to camp out? They're just going to blindly show up at an Apple store and stand about for hours even though the store will have no rope lines, no store employees hanging about (that would normally manage lines). That's idiotic. Seems to me it wouldn't take long to figure out there's nothing to stand in line for.
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I wish they were still die hard fans! These days it's either smelly bums hired to stand in line or a bunch of scalpers!
 
jacobh101 said:
why even have a brick and mortar store if you are not willing to see your own damn product in it, you get people in to try it on then you tell them to order it online. this makes zero sense.
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I went to the Apple Store again today and they said that they have the MacBooks in the store but they were not selling them until 4/24.
 
If it tackles the scalping issue, I guess its a positive move.
 
CJM said:
Nice bit of mild sexism there.

Shops are a thing of the past. Order it on your phone.
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That was my first thought, BUT…..Had it been a guy, the post I’m sure would have read;
Get this guy out of Apple. He's in way over his head., and not;
Get this person out of Apple. They're in way over their head., so no sexism involved.
 
jacobh101 said:
why even have a brick and mortar store if you are not willing to see your own damn product in it, you get people in to try it on then you tell them to order it online. this makes zero sense.
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Lots of companies with brick and mortar stores have "online only" items on their websites. I remember Sears used to have "catalog stores" in small towns, where you could place orders for washers and dryers, etc.

It's made sense for many companies for decades.
 
SixtyK said:
"Ramping up production" for a product launch typically means more equipment for production, more people to operate it and more facilities to hold them. All extra expenses. After the launch, when all these extra machines, staff and facilities are no longer needed, What do they do? They have the expense of storing or scrapping the equipment or selling it (for far less than it was purchased) and laying off the extra staff (a PR nightmare).

Apple likely did their research and determined that steady, consistent production would be more economical than ramping up (and later scaling back) production.
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So what, there are lots of instances where companies ‘invest’ to improve future sales or better their image.
 
Rogifan said:
"This woman"? Wow, sexist much? What does her gender have to do with anything? And if they don't have enough supply to stock stores right now how is that her fault?
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Since when is the word "woman" derogatory ? One refers to a woman with the word Woman/Female/Girl/Lady/Gal/Chick/etc.. One refers to a man with the word Man/Male/Boy/Gentleman/Guy/Dude/etc.. (depending on context of course ) .You're not going to call her "chair" or "processor".
 
Rogifan said:
That's their problem. Apple never said when iPads would be available in store last year. So I called my local store to confirm if they had any in stock before I drove there. They didn't, so I ordered online instead.
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But Apple's commercials clearly stated 24 April and on the website. To the general public that is all they know- they have a chance possibly of getting one on the 24th and there after by walking into an Apple store and catching stock in hand just like iPhones etc.

Apple was not clear in their messaging. They messed up.
 
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