Are the chances of finding an Apple Watch in the wild basically 0% for now?

[OrlandoTragic]

I pre-ordered mine, but now that mine is coming, my wife has hinted that she wants one. Her birthday is May 7th, and I'd like to get her one of the Sport models, but I am just operating under the assumption that unless I have preordered, I basically have no chance of finding one without paying Craigslist/eBay prices.. is that a safe assumption to make?

Do you know if other stores (Best Buy, Walmart, Target etc) will be selling Apple Watches?

 

[derekmess]

No

 

[Surfer13134]

Only Apple is selling them as of right now and it's online only. Someone from Apple said this will go on until June I believe.

 

[DreamPod]

Safe assumption, Apple has said they won't be selling them in stores until at least July (unless you want an Edition and go to a very high end designer store...) But for a 38mm Sport, eBay prices aren't that bad, you can find them for just $100 to $150 extra.

 

[Apollonian]

I feel like this June thing is really going to turn off the general public, I don't remember any constraint being this bad previously.

 

[16Paws]

The June constraint is for now. I remember in the past supposed back orders going two - three months out and the supply chain cleared up well before that (iPhone 5s comes to mind).

But Watch is a new beast all together so I guess only time will tell.

 

[Surfer13134]

I feel like this June thing is really going to turn off the general public, I don't remember any constraint being this bad previously.

Apple also said the estimate ship times are a bit "over exaggerated" and could possibly ship sooner. They would rather ship the watches earlier than predicted and have happy customers,then can't ship it and passes the estimated ship time and have a bunch of unhappy customers.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Just have too much hope, but it wouldn't hurt to stop by your local Apple store on random days on or after waves of delivery, and see if anyone returned theirs to the store.

Given the fact that it's touted as the "most personal device," there's always that off-chance that the particular model that they ordered and received might not be the perfect match for the person that bought it (color, model, size, band, price, etc.) prompting them to bring it back to their local Apple store for a return and re-order of the right one.

 

[OrlandoTragic]

Thank you all very much for the replies, I appreciate the insight.

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Does anyone know how warranties, etc work if I do choose to purchase one on eBay? Does Apple require proof of purchase for issues within the one year?

 

[TexasChemE]

Thank you all very much for the replies, I appreciate the insight.

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Does anyone know how warranties, etc work if I do choose to purchase one on eBay? Does Apple require proof of purchase for issues within the one year?

I don't believe they do

 

[bibyfok]

There is a French Store in Paris called Colette, they have 1000 Apple Watch IN STOCK.
They had taken pre order (pre paid) for in stock pickup on Friday until few hours ago. They told people that they have kept a small stock for walk in purchase on Friday.

This story seems crazy but it's true...

 

[sulpfiction]

Just have too much hope, but it wouldn't hurt to stop by your local Apple store on random days on or after waves of delivery, and see if anyone returned theirs to the store.

Given the fact that it's touted as the "most personal device," there's always that off-chance that the particular model that they ordered and received might not be the perfect match for the person that bought it (color, model, size, band, price, etc.) prompting them to bring it back to their local Apple store for a return and re-order of the right one.

Even if someone returns their watch to an apple store, Apple cannot sell it again. It has to go back to Apple to be refurbished, certified and repackaged.

 

[Brewsta]

Thank you all very much for the replies, I appreciate the insight.

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Does anyone know how warranties, etc work if I do choose to purchase one on eBay? Does Apple require proof of purchase for issues within the one year?

Warranty is tied to the serial number and the original date the product went into service. Apple knows when the Watch is activated, so they just start the clock on that serial number at that time.

They look everything up by serial number. Proof of purchase is almost never required, except in very rare circumstances where the serial number's clock seems off or never started. That won't be a problem with the Watch since it's always connected.

Long story short, if you buy on eBay or Craigslist, you'll definitely have warranty coverage. No worries.

 

[OrlandoTragic]

Warranty is tied to the serial number and the original date the product went into service. Apple knows when the Watch is activated, so they just start the clock on that serial number at that time.

They look everything up by serial number. Proof of purchase is almost never required, except in very rare circumstances where the serial number's clock seems off or never started. That won't be a problem with the Watch since it's always connected.

Long story short, if you buy on eBay or Craigslist, you'll definitely have warranty coverage. No worries.

Thanks very much!

 

[Arran]

There is a French Store in Paris called Colette, they have 1000 Apple Watch IN STOCK.
They had taken pre order (pre paid) for in stock pickup on Friday until few hours ago. They told people that they have kept a small stock for walk in purchase on Friday.

This story seems crazy but it's true...

Interesting. So Apple have sent the launch-day sidewalk-queues somewhere else. Clever.

Here's an English translation of the above page for anyone who wants it: https://translate.google.com/transl...ais-plus-de-precommandes-maj-90851&edit-text=

 

[shox2k2]

If you ordering one of the more popular models I don't think you would wait too much longer past may 7. I think the black s/s seems to be the one that is now out until July. Maybe end of may if you preordered now. Or take her to a store on her birthday and order it then and let her pick it out.

 

[shayanhooshmand]

Some of the 38mm SS are still 4-6 weeks. I had a June date for a SG Sport 42mm but then I decided to switch to the 38mm SS White on the 18th and I have Delivers May 21-June 4.

 

[betoarredondo]

This reminds me the present I gave to my girlfriend. Her birthday is on mid August, And I really want to gave her an iPhone, but I will be really pissed because I was going to be paying full price for the 5s and just a month later, the iPhone 6 will be in stores. So I decided to be a little bit creative, I load a box with a lot of chocolates and candies, but in the bottom I put a card with the text "Valid for an iPhone 6 as fast as Apple allow me". When I gave her the box, and she opened it, her expression was priceless (only candies were at her sight), then she saw the card and was really happy with it.

Just my opinion, but maybe if she is willing to wait a little bit more for her present, you can save a few hundred bucks or buy her a more expensive watch that you actually have planned to buy on eBay or add a few extra sports bands for her.