Is opposition to the existance of the Edition Watch class warfare?

[Rogifan]

If you read that article all the way through, there's a bit in there about which customers get priority.

Edition, Watch, Sport.

So, basically, if you're buying an Edition, you trump all other customers, but if you're buying the Watch, those Sport buyers best wait for you.

I'm on the fence with this. I don't think anyone has ever made me wait longer buying something because someone else in the Apple store was buying something more expensive.

I dunno. Seems odd.

Why would one not be able to schedule whatever length of appointment they felt they needed? I get why the Sport only gets short appointments, because it's just a quick try on and a look at band color.

But, the Watch has SO many different bands. It could take some time to decide. The Edition has far fewer bands. I doubt it would take more time to choose an Edition than it would to choose a Watch series watch.

I have a feeling the way this is presented in retail training documents isn't exactly how it will play out IRL. One we know Edition watches are only going to be in select retail locations. Two, I highly doubt Apple employees are going shoo someone away after 15 minutes if they haven't finished deciding or still have questions. Three, all of this can (and probably) will be adjusted as they go along. This is new territory for Apple and they're learning as they go.

 

[kerosene]

Class warfare?

Don't make me laugh. Apple's cashing in on their brand appeal with an overpriced $350 watch in gold. It's silly and cheap of them to be doing this, and is going to hurt their brand integrity with some people. Count me in.

 

[Arran]

I doubt Apple expects to sell a lot of Edition watches but I don't believe for one minute it's a "taking the piss" exercise. Tim Cook doesn't invest R&D in something just for a laugh.

No. It's not a "taking the piss exercise" - but it's not a serious product either.

You see, very little R&D has been invested. It's the very same electronics with the very same casing done in a different metal. That's it. I doubt they even had to reprogram the CNC milling machines.

Not much different from robotically painting a car a different color.

 

[ninethirty]

Are you serious? Class warfare? The Edition isn't a business Apple should be in because you don't just build something out of gold and then price it at a level that's higher than other brands who've been building a legacy in timekeeping for over 100 years. Apple may want to be in the luxury business, and that's fine I guess, even though it seems out of character for them, but you don't just snap your fingers and that's it. Worse, they've created a product that's available for cheap, and then made a variation of it, where the only difference is it's build material, and priced it at more than 10x what it's actually worth. They don't seem to understand how this works at all.

I've always been into Apple, my friends would certainly describe me as a fanboy, but I'm also really into watches, and luxury goods. And to me, these two don't mix.

But even then, I'm not upset - Apple can do what they want. What I am upset about (and that's really the wrong word - amused/annoyed describes it better) is that all those nerd fanboys think Apple just destroyed the swiss watch industry somehow, and that the Edition is a natural move for Apple, and will be an insane seller. Do they base this on any understanding of luxury goods, the luxury market, or fine swiss timepieces? No, they base it on "I love Apple, and Apple can do no wrong, so, now we're there!"

I think it is. I think it bothers some people that someone else would spend $9K+ more on a watch just because it's made with a different material. And in their mind that's not a business Apple should be in or endorse. I don't know how to describe it other than class warfare. I personally couldn't care less what someone else spends their money on. But if Apple should only be selling things that 99% of their customer base can afford then I guess they shouldn't be selling a maxed out Mac Pro with 4K display. That's roughly $13K, which is a lot more than 99% of Apple customers can afford.

 

[bunnicula]

I have a feeling the way this is presented in retail training documents isn't exactly how it will play out IRL. One we know Edition watches are only going to be in select retail locations. Two, I highly doubt Apple employees are going shoo someone away after 15 minutes if they haven't finished deciding or still have questions. Three, all of this can (and probably) will be adjusted as they go along. This is new territory for Apple and they're learning as they go.

But, would it not be hilarious if they did shoo people away? I mean, as a skit. Not actually.

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Are you serious? Class warfare? The Edition isn't a business Apple should be in because you don't just build something out of gold and then price it at a level that's higher than other brands who've been building a legacy in timekeeping for over 100 years. Apple may want to be in the luxury business, and that's fine I guess, even though it seems out of character for them, but you don't just snap your fingers and that's it. Worse, they've created a product that's available for cheap, and then made a variation of it, where the only difference is it's build material, and priced it at more than 10x what it's actually worth. They don't seem to understand how this works at all.

I've always been into Apple, my friends would certainly describe me as a fanboy, but I'm also really into watches, and luxury goods. And to me, these two don't mix.

But even then, I'm not upset - Apple can do what they want. What I am upset about (and that's really the wrong word - amused/annoyed describes it better) is that all those nerd fanboys think Apple just destroyed the swiss watch industry somehow, and that the Edition is a natural move for Apple, and will be an insane seller. Do they base this on any understanding of luxury goods, the luxury market, or fine swiss timepieces? No, they base it on "I love Apple, and Apple can do no wrong, so, now we're there!"

This is where you're way off the mark.

There is an audience for this kind of thing. If there were not, there wouldn't be so many aftermarket companies thriving by gold-plating stuff and slapping diamonds all over it.

Some people enjoy their excess.

And some of them enjoy Apple.

I think that they'll sell plenty of these and it won't be because they're that much better in terms of quality, value, etc.

It will be because there will be some humans willing to pay more to have something that most other people wearing an Apple Watch do not have. Or, maybe they just like the Apple Watch, want it in gold, and have a bunch of money. Who knows?

You enjoy watches. You enjoy Apple. You are really into high-end timepieces.

Who says most of the people buying this Edition are going to be into high-end watches other than as a statement of how much money they have?

You may look at another person wearing what you perceive as a high-end watch and think "that person has good taste" when in reality? Maybe he's just got a ton of money and he read that owning expensive watches ups your status.

Nobody knows why people buy what they buy.