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Massive Stainless Steel Unavailability

stanman64 said:
I (naively) went to my local Apple Store today to exchange my 44mm Stainless Steel for a 44mm Space Black (just changed my mind) but of course they were out of stock. My 2-week return period from Apple ends this Friday and I really don't want to go weeks without an Apple Watch so I'm not sure what I'm gonna do :(
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I am in that same position, have to wait a few weeks for my new watch to come in
 
No movement on my 44 Gold stainless. Oddly, my black stainless 44 MM delivered early than expected last week, which was highly constrained for this model.
 
A29A3424-552A-4CF3-9500-1E3D6A16CE28.jpeg

I saw stock come online earlier today for 40mm SS gold with the stone sport band, but they went out of stock for pick up in most locations while at work so I said I would stop by after work and check inventory.

I was able to walk into the the Apple store here in my area and buy the 40mm Gold SS Milanese Loop. They have the 40mm only not the 44mm. They said I was the first this week to buy as a walk-in. They still have 40mm Gold SS in the stone band also! If you’re in Oak Brook, IL, hurry in!

So beautiful!

Now let me cancel this Verizon order.
 
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naturalstar said:
View attachment 791559

I saw stock come online earlier today for 40mm SS gold with the stone sport band, but they went out of stock for pick up in most locations while at work so I said I would stop by after work and check inventory.

I was able to walk into the the Apple store here in my area and buy the 40mm Gold SS Milanese Loop. They have the 40mm only not the 44mm. They said I was the first this week to buy as a walk-in. They still have 40mm Gold SS in the stone band also! If you’re in Oak Brook, IL, hurry in!

So beautiful!

Now let me cancel this Verizon order.
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After just posting in a thread of what size watch folks should get, as a skinny wristed person, I recommended the 44mm.

Perhaps is is just the angle, but the 40MM looks quite large on your wrists. As 160-165mm I felt the 44 was not too big at all. Just curious, what size wrists do you have if you don't mind?
 
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I asked at the Apple store what to do about missing the return date due to no stock of what I wanted. I was told that I could return and buy back my current watch which would reset the 14 day window. I plan to do this if the watch that I want is not available by Friday.
 
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exgymnast said:
I asked at the Apple store what to do about missing the return date due to no stock of what I wanted. I was told that I could return and buy back my current watch which would reset the 14 day window. I plan to do this if the watch that I want is not available by Friday.
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Hm, this is tempting... I feel like I would be a hassle for the employees but it would be worth it.
 
adam1080 said:
After just posting in a thread of what size watch folks should get, as a skinny waisted person, I recommended the 44mm.

Perhaps is is just the angle, but the 40MM looks quite large on your wrists. As 160-165mm I felt the 44 was not too big at all. Just curious, what size wrists do you have if you don't mind?
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My wrist is 5.25” around. Pretty small. It’s the angle somewhat, but I don’t have much space left at the top and bottom of my wrist with the 40mm size. Right now it still works and isn’t overwhelming - reminds of when I wear a large-face watch that still fits my wrist.

However, I will be concerned if Apple increases their sizes further in the future. This is as large as I would want to go given my own wrist size.
 
If I initiate a return via the order on Apple's website, how long do I have before I absolutely have to get the watch in the mail to them? Theoretically could I initiate a return, and wait 1-2 weeks before actually returning it? This could buy more time to try to snag the model I want.

Sidebar, but there's an option to exchange band the band that came with my watch?! What?!! I didn't know I could do that! Cool.
 
rwilliams said:
It's not a great reason, but it would be a better one than "we just never make enough of these for launch". This has happened for the last 2 Watch releases.
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This is classic marketing. Apple and most manufactures do this with their products. It generates hype and makes other people say “wow those new products must be awesome, everyone wants one” that and, the reason they have some of the inventory trickle in the stores is simple, it gets you to go there and possibly buy other crap. Precisely why Apple stores are always full.
 
stanman64 said:
If I initiate a return via the order on Apple's website, how long do I have before I absolutely have to get the watch in the mail to them? Theoretically could I initiate a return, and wait 1-2 weeks before actually returning it? This could buy more time to try to snag the model I want.

Sidebar, but there's an option to exchange band the band that came with my watch?! What?!! I didn't know I could do that! Cool.
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You have 5 working days to return the watch from the time that you receive the returns email from Apple.
 
I called one of my local Apple Stores yesterday and the lady on the phone said that they’re not selling the SS versions in store, only online then proceeded to ask me if I wanted to place an order for delivery later this month early next month.
 
penajmz said:
I called one of my local Apple Stores yesterday and the lady on the phone said that they’re not selling the SS versions in store, only online then proceeded to ask me if I wanted to place an order for delivery later this month early next month.
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Either that applies locally to your stores in your city (or) she completely lied (or) she misinformed you. Because three Apple stores in my region sell the stainless models, and they did have them available in store before they sold out. There is no logical reason why an Apple store would not be selling the stainless steel versions in store, considering they have sold all the other previous versions of the stainless steel Apple Watch models in store as well.
 
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So how many have SS watches on order direct from Apple with mid/late October dates. Would be interesting to see if any are progressing earlier than expected.
 
exgymnast said:
I asked at the Apple store what to do about missing the return date due to no stock of what I wanted. I was told that I could return and buy back my current watch which would reset the 14 day window. I plan to do this if the watch that I want is not available by Friday.
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Wow. Just, WOW. You can't simply WAIT for the watch you want? You feel that you're entitled to an interim watch? Not trying to start an argument, just genuinely curious about your reasoning here, as I live in a country where returning merchandise for any reason is extremely rare (in fact, retailers do not allow returns AT ALL, except in the case of defects, which are then typically exchanges rather than returns) ...
 
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mavis said:
Wow. Just, WOW. You can't simply WAIT for the watch you want? You feel that you're entitled to an interim watch? Not trying to start an argument, just genuinely curious about your reasoning here, as I live in a country where returning merchandise for any reason is extremely rare (in fact, retailers do not allow returns AT ALL, except in the case of defects, which are then typically exchanges rather than returns) ...
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I think you must have misunderstood what I was saying. No entitlement here. I bought the 40mm thinking that I wanted that size, then changed my mind and wanted the 44mm instead. This is why they have the 14 day return policy in case you change your mind. If I had realized that I liked the bigger size, I would have gotten that on day one when they were available and not have to go through any of this at all.....which would have been much preferred.
 
exgymnast said:
I think you must have misunderstood what I was saying. No entitlement here. I bought the 40mm thinking that I wanted that size, then changed my mind and wanted the 44mm instead. This is why they have the 14 day return policy in case you change your mind.
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Ok, that makes sense. But ... you're talking about resetting your return window - why would you need to do that? Simply return the watch you already know you don't want, and buy the one you want when it's available. What am I missing here?
 
Relentless Power said:
Either that applies locally to your stores in your city (or) she completely lied (or) she misinformed you. Because three Apple stores in my region sell the stainless models, and they did have them available in store before they sold out. There is no logical reason why an Apple store would not be selling the stainless steel versions in store, considering they have sold all the other previous versions of the stainless steel Apple Watch models in store as well.
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I’m convinced she either lied or doesn’t know, that’s impossible. She probably wanted me to order one to secure the sale because they didn’t have them in stock.
 
mavis said:
Ok, that makes sense. But ... you're talking about resetting your return window - why would you need to do that? Simply return the watch you already know you don't want, and buy the one you want when it's available. What am I missing here?
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By returning the current one, it would leave me without a watch. I don't want to do that as I use the watch too much. By just buying back the same watch, it is not affecting any inventory yet I am still able to return it when the one I want is available. This was told to me by Apple store employees. I had no idea I could have even done this. They understand that inventory is low and are trying to work with people.
 
MickeyVee said:
Toronto Eaton Centre

Picked up the 44mm Space Black yesterday at TEC and am loving it especially with the Milanese Loop. Going to keep my Series II Aluminum Space Grey for working out.
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Was that showing up on istocknow?
 
Target website is showing SBSS 44 Milanese and sport band in stock this morning. There were some in stock yesterday, too. Happy hunting!
 
Bazooka-joe said:
You have 5 working days to return the watch from the time that you receive the returns email from Apple.
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Where did you find that information? Apple's website says a refund will be sent within 5 business days after they receive the watch, but I can't find anything that says when they have to receive it by.
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moosecat said:
Just snagged a 44mm SBSS with sport strap, expecting to receive on Friday (much sooner than the Oct 19-26 timeframe on my order from Apple). Great heads-up!
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Where are you finding it on Target's website? I can only find the Milanese loop model!

edit: never mind! snagged the last SS 44mm Space Black :)
edit 2: well maybe not, Target fudged up my order confirmation and now the order doesn't exist and it's showing out of stock
 
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