Best Buy Accelerating Apple Watch Rollout to All 1,050 Stores Amid Strong Demand

[Reds622]

Some spend $500 on a good night out, some spend that on one golf club or on a pair of shoes. So it's hard to justify how everyone spend their money. For me, I buy a watch every 3-5 years and spend around $3-400 anyway. So I have no problem spending $500 on a watch (my last watch was bought 3 years ago).

I don't see how spotting it in the wild should influence if you buy one or not. There are people here who say they see the watch in the wild every day. It depends where you live. If you live in a city with an Apple store would help.

Seeing them in the wild was just to illustrate my point that Apple is not selling as many as they anticipated.. The reason I'm not buying one is because I'm not willing to spend 500 on a notifications wrist computer that has no real independent function. I mean, the device needs ANOTHER device to actually operate. And even when you have the other device making the Apple Watch (accessory) operable, what does it really do? It sends notifications, allows you to look at pictures on a smaller screen (why would you?), allows you to draw messages to another with the device (why would you?), allows you to talk to another person through the device (why would you?), allows you to respond to a text message with some sort of canned response (why would you?).

We can agree to disagree on the function of the device, but please don't say the reason I'm not interested in the product is because other people aren't buying it. The reason I'm not buying it, and the reason I'm not seeing many (any?) in the wild is because its an expensive flawed product that serves no real independent purpose. I don't spend money just to spend it.

 

[igorsky]

Every move Apple has made in the past several years by the CEO bean counter has been to appease shareholders, not customers. You can argue businesses exist to maximize profits... But they're already #1 in the world. When is it enough? When can you take a step back and start caring about your products just a little? The endless pursuit of money will eventually cause any business to fail, because they lose sight of their roots: Building good products. As an Apple enthusiast, THIS is why I'm pissed.

You should buy some Apple shares. That way you can be pleased with their financial decisions while also enjoying their great products.

You're welcome.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

A $600 watch costs basically $1.64 per day. Many people spend more than that per day on a coffee. Just today I spent $16 on sushi for lunch. Go out to a nice restaurant and you can easily spend a couple hundred on food, drinks and tip.

Yes, I agree with you. You can buy many things if planned appropriately. But perception is key. Dumping $600+ on a tech gadget that provides similar functionality as your $600 phone is not the same thing psychologically as paying for a cup of coffee a day.

And spending $16 on lunch at work is not the norm, at least for me or people around me.

But I agree, many people who complain about not being able to afford certain things can definitely cough up the funds if they stopped eating out, happy houring, or golfing for a while.

 

[nurban1992]

I have barely seen this device in the wild, if ever. Frankly, not only do I not have the urge to buy it, but I have now completely forgot about the product.

This thing has been a disaster. It's starting to get digs in influential media now too. That's not to say that any smart watch is a hit. None of them are, because they are currently pointless expensive devices with no clear exceptional function. Those who say otherwise must just be trying to justify their 500 dollar iPhone accessory.

I live in a fairly small town with a good number of well-off adults/retirees; I'm younger and work at a grocery store. I own an Apple Watch, as well as my brother, mother, and uncle. I see many people come and go throughout the day. Aside from us, since the Watch launched, I have seen probably 7-10 different customers with it that I had just noticed in passing. Surely, there's more that I just haven't seen yet...
For a small town, and for a brand new Apple product that is of a fairly niche market yet, I'd say that's pretty good. It all depends on where you live, I suppose, but I do get the impression that the Apple Watch is largely the smart watch people are inclined to buy. Aside from it, I see *many* people with those cheap, entry-level Fitbits, and I think a few Pebbles (they could be Andrew Wear watches or higher end Fitbits -- I can't tell the difference between them yet.)
I believe Apple and Best Buy when they say the Watch is doing well. Every time I see one in public, a small smile grows on my face — because I love mine for all the small ways it makes everyday life easier and more proficient, and I'm glad others are experiencing it. It'll only be getting much better, and that already starts soon with watchOS 2.0.

 

[applegigs]

Meanwhile in Denmark we're still waiting for it launch... by the time Apple Watch 2 comes out probably..

 

[JustThinkin']

This advertisement/marketing hype was a little hard to digest.

It's not that the Apple Watch is doomed - nor that I want it to be. But both the author and the highly biased corporate CEO pronounce into existence the success and "strong demand" for the Apple Watch, while offering no proof whatsoever.

There is nothing academically sound about this article. It's pure fluff - cotton candy picked from the sky. Therefore it's an advertisement.

 

[ericinboston]

Hey Eric, you are all over the place. You say there is a "fire sale", but there is no evidence of discounting. You agree with another poster that you would never buy one in the future, but then one of your reasons is that it is a first generation product. Are you thinking this through?

I don't believe I am contradicting myself (if that is what you mean). The fire sale I am referring to is Apple selling the Watch to BB at a greatly reduced price in order to sell the Watches...I'm not saying a fire sale TO THE CONSUMER. I don't recall Apple ever putting any Apple product on super sale or clearance.

I very likely would never consider an Apple Watch in the future...and probably never any kind of smart watch. My idea of a watch is a watch...just like my shoes are shoes. I don't need all the extra bells and whistles and promises other than it telling me the date and time. But that's me...and likely millions/billions of other people around the world.

Yes, one of my reasons for me (and others) not buying/needing the Watch is because it is first generation. It's not the most important reason on my list...my list was in no particular order and each point could be weighed differently in each consumer's eyes.

In a few months we will likely know just how well the Watch sold if Apple releases the numbers. If they don't release the numbers, then everyone will have to figure out over time if Apple is still dedicated to the Watch and releasing new updates and that will surely tell us how this product sold.

 

[kcirtap00]

This advertisement/marketing hype was a little hard to digest.

It's not that the Apple Watch is doomed - nor that I want it to be. But both the author and the highly biased corporate CEO cite (more like pronounce into existence!) the success and "strong demand" for the Apple Watch, while offering no proof whatsoever.

There is nothing academically sound about this article. It's pure fluff - cotton candy picked from the sky. Therefore it's an advertisement.

Why else would BB be stocking the AW in so many stores if its not doing well?

 

[J.blingham]

I live in the Charlotte, NC area and at first I didn't see many. Now I see them quite a bit. I work at a company that has around 1,200 employees and only about 8 of us have one, that I'm aware of. 2 have pebbles, a ton have fitbit (because our company handed them out) and I haven't seen a single moto 360 or samsung gear. Doesn't mean they're not there though. Anyhow, regardless of who has or doesn't have one, I'm loving mine. Having small children, it helps to not have to have my phone on me at all times when chasing them around the house. I get home from work, place my phone on the dock and go about my business. I'm really not getting why so many people come on here and post the reason's they don't want to buy one. We get it, you don't want one. Do you go to your favorite grocery store or other retailer website and leave comments on how many of their products you don't want to buy? I'm not talking about the people being called out, but the ones that just come by on their own free will to post reason's whey they don't want one. What are you hoping to accomplish? You'll never convince me that I made a mistake by getting an apple watch. And I'll never convince you to want one. I understand this is a "comments" section, I just don't understand the will to come and rain on the parade all the time. And it appears to be the same people over and over again. I am posting this to share in the celebration of how I use the watch and to share a positive experience. I'm sure some of the posters will shoot this down. Have at it. For the others, I hope you're enjoying the watch as much as I am. Cheers and here's to Watch OS 2!

 

[ericinboston]

5% of society buying a single product from a single manufacturer would make this one of the greatest product successes in modern history. Apple won't achieve that, of course, as it is entirely unrealistic. But sad???-- LOL.

Percentages don't lie. If only 5% drink milk and 95% do not, the milk company certainly doesn't have a large % of the consumer base. Millions of units? Sure...but 5% is a very low percentage of the audience. And then there is the margin factor...if the milk company is making a great margin, sure, the milk company is going well as far as cash.

I think you are lumping society as the full 6+ billion people on this planet...I didn't mean all 6+ billion...I was referring to the audience that Apple is currently selling to...bad choice of words on my part.

 

[MrX8503]

Apple Watch is pretty good for a 1st gen product. I think people forget that. Once it gets its own cellular chip and native apps, it'll take off. I imagine it being a controller for IOTs.

 

[Duane Martin]

This thing has been a disaster... Those who say otherwise must just be trying to justify their 500 dollar iPhone accessory.

If you get a moment you should read the article. Best Buy has decided to expand their retailing of the Apple Watch significantly due to demand. That is pretty clear proof that the Apple Watch is not the "disaster" you espouse.

I waited until recently to get an Apple Watch and after having it a week and a half I forgot it at home one day (haven't worn a watch for 35+ years so hard habit to learn again). I was surprised how often I had to pull my phone from my pocket to check messages, etc, and was frankly amazed how much I used the Apple Watch already. Sure, it sucks that to get the most out of it I have to have my phone with me. It also sucks that my car doesn't fly and drive itself; it sucks that the Six Million Dollar Man level of prosthetics don't exist yet; it sucks that we haven't beaten cancer. I, however, recognize there are limits to what current technology can do, use what there is to the fullest, and look forward to what might be.

When I first learned to program computers I had to mark cards with a pencil and feed them through a card reader. Maybe I am just a little more comfortable with the fact technology takes time to develop but I am not going to sit out until it does everything I have read about in comic books.

 

[unobtainium]

Whether or not the Apple Watch is selling well, the dominant narrative out there is that it's extremely uncool, and that wearing one is like a scarlet letter.

The good news is Best Buy draws people that otherwise wouldn't go to an Apple Store.

The Bad News is unless it's a Best Buy in an affluent major metro city, the demographic of the average Best Buy customer is that of consumers than cannot afford an Apple Watch.

It's a Big Ticket item. If they're at Best Buy they're their to buy a Samsung Widescreen TV, a Refrigerator or XBOX. It's a family centric store.

I mean, the Apple Watch isn't that expensive. It's much less than an average refrigerator. Your post is kind of snobby.

 

[avanpelt]

I would leave my Macbook or iPad at home long before I'd leave my Apple Watch at home.

Really? You must not use an iPad or MacBook for work. Most Apple geeks whose podcasts I've listened to have actually said the opposite of what you said.

They've said for the most part that they could leave the watch sitting on their nightstand at home on accident and be fine; but if they left the house without their phone, tablet, or laptop, they'd have to go back for them.

 

[spiderman0616]

Just don't leave your iPhone at home...

haha--yes, true. I have often wondered though--if/when there is an Apple Watch that needs no help from an iPhone, would I be willing to pare my stable of Apple products down to a watch and my macbook? Very compelling.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Explain why BB would be expanding the Watch to all their stores if it wasn't selling? That makes zero sense. If 1, 2 or 4 was legit then why didn't BB stock them in every store from day one? I'm not aware of only certain BB stores getting the MacBook. My local store has it but doesn't have the Watch.

Explain why Apple would need to expand retail access if the watch were selling well.

 

[cmChimera]

Seeing them in the wild was just to illustrate my point that Apple is not selling as many as they anticipated.

How many did Apple anticipate to sell? You know the answer right?

The reason I'm not buying one is because I'm not willing to spend 500 on a notifications wrist computer that has no real independent function.

How do I use my iPhone's heart rate sensor to monitor my heart rate during workouts?

allows you to draw messages to another with the device (why would you?)

This may be a foreign concept to some, but some people have friends and family they like to communicate with, and this is a fun way to do it.

allows you to talk to another person through the device (why would you?)

Because sometimes you can't grab your phone, or need more time to get to it.

allows you to respond to a text message with some sort of canned response (why would you?).

Because sometimes that's all it needs. Also, this is false, you can dictate a response.

We can agree to disagree on the function of the device,

Well you're objectively wrong. You've completely ignored the fitness tracker aspect, the Apps, the native app support coming soon, and the actual timepiece function of the device. So I mean yeah, we can disagree, but you're still wrong.

The reason I'm not buying it, and the reason I'm not seeing many (any?) in the wild is because its an expensive flawed product that serves no real independent purpose. I don't spend money just to spend it.

For all we know, the reason you aren't seeing any is because you're a hermit in a small cave. A lot of people, including myself, see them in the wild. What you're doing is conflating your own limited experience with the rest of the world's.

But hate on, my friend.

 

[laurim]

Different people have different experiences. I have seen WATCHes in the wild as well as a Moto360 (the guy is in the Windows/Android space so it makes sense for him) and Fitbits. I work in the audio/visual world so it's no surprise there's a lot of tech nerds around me. Every time someone sees my watch, they ask me how I like it. So the interest is there but people are waiting to hear about it from other people before they buy. I don't wear my watch every day if I stay home but I always wear it outside the house. In the house, I've used it as an alternate remote for my TV, a timer for grilling, answered the phone while I was in the backyard, listening to music while I mow the lawn. I use it for Pay at the grocery store. While traveling, I've used it as a boarding pass and to listen to music on the plane and I love that it changes its own time when I change time zones. Also used it for turn by turn directions while walking in Albuquerque, although I haven't yet mastered the difference between the tapping for right and left turns. At work, I use it for texting, setting timers for work breaks, a calculator and for creating reminders as things come up. It's more convenient than my phone a lot of the time. I was surprised when a coworker sent me a text asking if the iMac I was operating was a " 21" or 27" " and the watch extracted 21" and 27" into the list of quick responses I could select. Had no idea the watch would do that on its own!

 

[blacktape242]

Still needs gps. Then I'll buy.

 

[topmounter]

This article reads like Apple gave Best Buy a choice

 

[QuiteSure]

It's funny that the company who was all gung-ho about "CurrentC" and actually disabled Apple Pay on their credit card readers are not only taking Apple Pay now, but expanding sales of devices that support it. Funny how things turn around so quickly. Good times for MCX.

As long as CurrentC can be loaded into Passbook I'll be happy to use it on my Apple Watch along with Apple Pay. I used my Dunkin Donuts gift card recently to buy coffee and it was great using the Watch for that.

 

[iBlazed]

As long as CurrentC can be loaded into Passbook I'll be happy to use it on my Apple Watch along with Apple Pay. I used my Dunkin Donuts gift card recently to buy coffee and it was great using the Watch for that.

Do you even know what CurrentC is or the point of it? What you just said makes no sense whatsoever, it completely defeats the purpose.

 

[ricci]

Apple (Watch) is doomed.

Like the iPod ??? Like the iPad ??? MacPro??? Like everything Apple has done!! Line up every "SmartWatch" Company and tell me who has the most money,R&D, and support behind their Watch!?? Doesn't guarantee a successful product, but does guarantee a Company like Apple will not pull the plug on it! Their in it for the long run!

 

[QuiteSure]

Do you even know what CurrentC is or the point of it? What you just said makes no sense whatsoever, it completely defeats the purpose.

As far as I understand, CurrentC will create a QR code on my mobil device that can be scanned at the point of sale by participating retailers. The QR code will link to my bank account and my loyalty/rewards cards for that particular retailer. If that's the case, it should be able to be added to Passbook. Of course you're correct that I don't know all the ins and outs of CurrentC, and it is possible that I have it all wrong.

Here's what I read last fall:

When it’s time for a user to check out, they request to pay with CurrentC. The consumer then unlocks their phone, opens the CurrentC app, opens the code scanner, and scans the QR code shown on the cashier’s screen. In some case, the reverse may happen where the consumer’s CurrentC app displays a payment code and the cashier scans it.
​

http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/25/currentc/

 

[Reds622]

How many did Apple anticipate to sell? You know the answer right? How do I use my iPhone's heart rate sensor to monitor my heart rate during workouts? And even when you have the other device making the Apple Watch (accessory) operable, what does it really do? This may be a foreign concept to some, but some people have friends and family they like to communicate with, and this is a fun way to do it. Because sometimes you can't grab your phone, or need more time to get to it. Because sometimes that's all it needs. Also, this is false, you can dictate a response.

Well you're objectively wrong. You've completely ignored the fitness tracker aspect, the Apps, the native app support coming soon, and the actual timepiece function of the device. So I mean yeah, we can disagree, but you're still wrong. For all we know, the reason you aren't seeing any is because you're a hermit in a small cave. A lot of people, including myself, see them in the wild. What you're doing is conflating your own limited experience with the rest of the world's.

But hate on, my friend.

Perhaps you don't remember the hype surrounding the event when the watch was launched. Perhaps you don't remember the marketing blitz Apple went on (that has slowed down considerably I might add) to try and convince people to purchase the device. Perhaps you don't remember the amount of hysteria leading up the build up of Apple revealing its next big thing... So, I think Apple wanted to sell a lot, but they were unsure, and that's why they stuck the Watch in the "other" category in its financials instead of as a separate device. Because they knew of the products many and substantial headwinds.

And yes, perhaps I did "leave out" the fitness aspect of the device, the amazing "heart rate" monitor that I'm sure so many of it's users are able to gain so much knowledge from that it justifies such an expensive accessory.. But even it's impact you must admit is hardly overwhelming, in any regard. One must just look to the fact that Apple, in its presentation, actually tried to sell the "fitness aspect" of the device by showing all of the amazing "badges" and "awards" one might "earn" as it tracks an individual's fitness levels. Doesn't that really say it all?

I guess I'll try and explain my view to you like this. It's a watch. It tells time really well. How "beautiful" it is is hardly objective, and is completely subjective. Some may like it, others may not. The materials of the device I think are good. The design of the device is decent, at least when comparing it to other smart watches. It still has the problems of every other smart watch, i.e., it's not thin enough. So if a person is in the market for a watch in the 500-1000 dollar range, and they aren't able to score a good deal on a quality time piece that may last for generations, then I can see the appeal in purchasing one. But in getting people to buy a watch who don't normally wear one and weren't planning on purchasing one.. I think you know where I stand.

The whole cave thing. Don't be so defensive.. I think my social group, and inner circle, is and was the main group Apple is/was targeting, and none of my friends have one. Not a single one.