Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Thanks for the update …. Clearly I’ve missed all the other media articles and widespread withdrawals….. would you mind posting some of the links to share ?
Some weak sauce here. Perhaps you’d like to pop over to Officeworks or JB Hifi and try and buy an airtag? Are you saying Apple are totally fine with that continuing situation? Launch definitely going to plan still is it?
 
marred by not just poor media but the widespread withdrawal of the item by multiple retailers, and inevitable lost sales as a result.

Where is the poor media that has 'marred' this ? .... beyond Gizmodo I'd love to read it

I suppose 'multiple retailers' is correct but 2 would be more accurate.

Lost sales ? ... you really think this has put a dent in sales ? As mentioned earlier its questionable whether the retailers concerned even had stock .... so where are the lost sales ?

Some weak sauce here. Perhaps you’d like to pop over to Officeworks or JB Hifi and try and buy an airtag? Are you saying Apple are totally fine with that continuing situation? Launch definitely going to plan still is it?

Weak Sauce ? .... I guess thats an Americanism ? ... please translate ?

Are those 2 retailers the sole distributors in Australia if not and I was based there like many I would go and buy them elsewhere ..... easy.

No idea whether Apple are happy .... this thread isnt about Apple being happy.

Reality is there has been one poorly written negative media article (to date) and in context a very small number of retailers 'might' have pulled them from sale, its questionable whether they even had stock in the first place and even as I type JB Hifi states they are out of stock due to high demand (much like Apple in some markets) , either they are misrepresenting the situation or they have sold out.

This is something that has been over dramatised by you and a couple of others on here because of your clear strong beliefs about child safety, to have those strong beliefs is fine by me, I also feel that alongside those beliefs a balanced approach is required and sometimes things need to be put into context. A little like the crying wolf scenario if someone jumps up and down and complains at every opportunity then nobody takes notice of the things that really need attention.
 
Like I said, irrespective of whether you think this is dramatised, Apple have fouled up somewhere and missed out on spots at major retailers as a result. That article you dislike so much (groundlessly) continues to ring true - perhaps rather than Officeworks or JB Hifi you’d like to try buying airtags in Telstra or Big W? Apple Australia seem to have limitless stock, but of the four stores Gizmodo identified two went immediately and permanently “out of stock” at launch and the other two don’t even acknowledge the product’s existence. Coincidence?

I’m sure your tireless whataboutery on Apple’s behalf is appreciated in Cupertino, but it doesn’t alter the reality of the situation.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: joelhinch
I AirTagged my two kids today before school. Am I a bad person? My kids would prefer to eat boogers over AirTags.
 
I AirTagged my two kids today before school. Am I a bad person? My kids would prefer to eat boogers over AirTags.
I would hope if they are attending school then they are developed enough to know eating a metallic battery is probably a bad thing. Correct me if I am wrong of course. My 4 year old daughter wouldn’t put things like that in her mouth but would have done at 1 years old which is why we monitored everything within reach.
 
Apple Australia seem to have limitless stock, but of the four stores Gizmodo identified two went immediately and permanently “out of stock” at launch and the other two don’t even acknowledge the product’s existence. Coincidence?
You've asked a question so I'll politley reply ...... Its no coincidence that Apple don't have current stock (currently 5-7 business day despatch) and therefore no coincidence and not surprising that some other retailers are also sold out or have never had stock in the first place.

I admire your relentless and sometimes very defensive approach to this and the other thread on the topic, its just a pity that you can't plough that passion into a reasoned contextual and balanced debate rather than the approach that you take towards anyone who differs from your very entrenched, black and white opinion, particularly when according to your own posts you don't even own an AirTag or haven't had possession of one.

I'm sure you will be very quick to point out any further negative media or retailer activity on this topic, I look forward to reading it and discussing with you. Until then have a great day :)
 
Last edited:
This is a funny thread. I just got my airtags and as the father of a 19 year old didn't worry about him eating one.. However I did worry about my dog eating one and made sure the spare tags were put away from where she could get at them.. Not that she would do more than lick it as they don't probably taste very nice.. Had i had toddlers, my first thought would be them eating one so I would have PUT THEM OUT OF THEIR REACH.. Which, as a responsible parent, is what I would do with anything dangerous they could swallow if left accessible.. It's called common sense..

As for the warnings on the box, neither my dog, nor my son when a toddler, are/were able to read..
 
  • Like
Reactions: matrix07 and ukms
I would hope if they are attending school then they are developed enough to know eating a metallic battery is probably a bad thing. Correct me if I am wrong of course. My 4 year old daughter wouldn’t put things like that in her mouth but would have done at 1 years old which is why we monitored everything within reach.
Maybe they should color the batteries to look like Vegetables. Should make most kids avoid them like the plague.
 
As for the warnings on the box, neither my dog, nor my son when a toddler, are/were able to read..
I don’t think that is the point of the warning though is it? There are a lot of absent minded parents out there that don’t know or think of a lot of things unless there is awareness. Why is there still awareness about drink driving and safe sex? It’s there just to remind people of the dangers and repercussions.

I see a common reply to this is to point the finger at the parent and suggest they should be responsible. Of course you’d hope they’d be responsible, but why do product warnings exist in the first place if so many people don’t see the point in them if the desire is for everybody to be responsible anyway? Sadly not every parent/human being is intelligent enough to go through life without guidance and companies cover themselves against being sued by stupid people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ukms
I don’t think that is the point of the warning though is it? There are a lot of absent minded parents out there that don’t know or think of a lot of things unless there is awareness. Why is there still awareness about drink driving and safe sex? It’s there just to remind people of the dangers and repercussions.

I see a common reply to this is to point the finger at the parent and suggest they should be responsible. Of course you’d hope they’d be responsible, but why do product warnings exist in the first place if so many people don’t see the point in them if the desire is for everybody to be responsible anyway? Sadly not every parent/human being is intelligent enough to go through life without guidance and companies cover themselves against being sued by stupid people.

You make some valid and fair points particularly in relation to companies covering their backside in the compensation culture that exists in many countries. By placing warnings on a packet to some degree shifts the responsibility on to the user or in this case the parent. Its also fair comment about drink/drive or safe sex (albeit these are only relevant in some countries)

I think the point that I was trying to make in this thread is to place some common sense and look at things in sensible context. Rather than the seemingly very alarmist clickbait (IMHO) media article that started the thread, I know not everyone shares the same view but if we did these forums probably wouldn't thrive :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: The-Real-Deal82
I would hope if they are attending school then they are developed enough to know eating a metallic battery is probably a bad thing. Correct me if I am wrong of course. My 4 year old daughter wouldn’t put things like that in her mouth but would have done at 1 years old which is why we monitored everything within reach.
They’re seven and five years old. They know not to eat whatever is not food. But yeah, I wouldn’t do that to a child less developed.
 
This is a funny thread. I just got my airtags and as the father of a 19 year old didn't worry about him eating one.. However I did worry about my dog eating one and made sure the spare tags were put away from where she could get at them.. Not that she would do more than lick it as they don't probably taste very nice.. Had i had toddlers, my first thought would be them eating one so I would have PUT THEM OUT OF THEIR REACH.. Which, as a responsible parent, is what I would do with anything dangerous they could swallow if left accessible.. It's called common sense..
The problem is that airtags as a product exist solely to be attached to the types of items that are commonly lost or misplaced. So the idea that they will only ever be found in some place “out of reach” where they have been carefully stored by a grown up is patently false. They’re going to turn up anywhere that things get lost, which is to say, everywhere - and that goes for other people’s airtags as much as those belonging to any parent.
 
You've asked a question so I'll politley reply ...... Its no coincidence that Apple don't have current stock (currently 5-7 business day despatch) and therefore no coincidence and not surprising that some other retailers are also sold out or have never had stock in the first place.

I admire your relentless and sometimes very defensive approach to this and the other thread on the topic, its just a pity that you can't plough that passion into a reasoned contextual and balanced debate rather than the approach that you take towards anyone who differs from your very entrenched, black and white opinion, particularly when according to your own posts you don't even own an AirTag or haven't had possession of one.

I'm sure you will be very quick to point out any further negative media or retailer activity on this topic, I look forward to reading it and discussing with you. Until then have a great day :)
If that’s you withdrawing from the conversation then naturally I couldn’t be more delighted, since your only interest seems to be in dismissing a perfectly valid piece of journalism you don’t like the look of and similarly plugging your ears against anything else.

Again, to be clear, the four retailers Gizmodo identified and spoke to still aren’t selling airtags. They aren’t on back order, they aren’t delivering in a week, they aren’t registering people’s interest in the product for when they are available, they’re simply refusing to take orders or indeed listing the product at all, all of which supports the story exactly as Gizmodo reported. You don’t like that, never mind.
 
If that’s you withdrawing from the conversation then naturally I couldn’t be more delighted, since your only interest seems to be in dismissing a perfectly valid piece of journalism you don’t like the look of and similarly plugging your ears against anything else.

Again, to be clear, the four retailers Gizmodo identified and spoke to still aren’t selling airtags. They aren’t on back order, they aren’t delivering in a week, they aren’t registering people’s interest in the product for when they are available, they’re simply refusing to take orders or indeed listing the product at all, all of which supports the story exactly as Gizmodo reported. You don’t like that, never mind.
clearly incapable of a reasonable debate ...... just cling on to Gizmodo over and over again ......... take care ;)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dented
Apple should take the ACCC to court for hypocracy as they encourage stores not to sell Airags, but at the same time turn a blind eye to Tile, who’s button batteries are extremely easy to remove. Tile have nothing to make removal difficult, and quite the opposite, they add ridges to the battery cover to make it easier to remove..

Apple, help us educate these morons..
 
I do wonder if any of these stores sell batteries. Do they sit down and lecture each of their customers, should they have the audacity to attempt to purchase batteries from them? :rolleyes:

Yes, as with anything that is small, it's a choking hazard for children. Responsible parents will put their undeployed Air Tags somewhere that toddlers can't get them. As for those that are in use, you need to take measures to ensure there isn't a risk, or it's vastly diminished (key chain holders, loops that attach to items being tracked) - most of these items are considerably more child-proof than a bottle of Tylenol.
 
As has now become clear, a small number of stores (some posters would say ‘multiple’) have supposedly removed AirTags from sale in one single country, there has been no public intervention to date by any regulator, no uptake by any reputable media source to date ….. all adds up to a storm in a teacup. Of course it could change in due course, it will be interesting to see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fischersd
These 2032 batteries are pretty damn big, they aren't like the tiny watch batteries we all know from the past. It would take a spectacularly dumb kid to swallow one of these.

That said, I'd be more worried about my dog swallowing the battery if her tag falls apart for some reason.
59BC6369-DF7C-4FC7-9CB4-C163ADBF6F27.jpeg
 
The problem is that airtags as a product exist solely to be attached to the types of items that are commonly lost or misplaced. So the idea that they will only ever be found in some place “out of reach” where they have been carefully stored by a grown up is patently false. They’re going to turn up anywhere that things get lost, which is to say, everywhere - and that goes for other people’s airtags as much as those belonging to any parent.
but then they are even harder to get into as they are inside the case.. Also, what are you attaching the air tag to that you are happy for your kids to play with? Car keys? No thanks, they can cost loads to replace and also contain small batteries. House keys? No, keys are quite sharp and you don't really want your kids putting them in their mouths do you? I don't have the airtags to help me find things in the house.. They tend to have somewhere to live, it's if I leave them in the car, forget them in the office or they get lost some other way..
 
  • Like
Reactions: ukms
Yeh.. and they say the airtag opens easily.. If the Airtags are an issue for kids, these should be classed a disaster..
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1934.jpg
    IMG_1934.jpg
    453.1 KB · Views: 89
  • Like
Reactions: BugeyeSTI and Jpoon
Yeh.. and they say the airtag opens easily.. If the Airtags are an issue for kids, these should be classed a disaster..
Yeah apparently they have never had a keychain tile. I've had mine for about half a year and it's starting to look like this hahah.
 
I don’t think that is the point of the warning though is it? I see a common reply to this is to point the finger at the parent and suggest they should be responsible. Of course you’d hope they’d be responsible, but why do product warnings exist in the first place if so many people don’t see the point in them if the desire is for everybody to be responsible anyway? Sadly not every parent/human being is intelligent enough to go through life without guidance and companies cover themselves against being sued by stupid people.

as you point out, to avoid legal liability not to protect against the threat. Someone who would drink battery acid isn't going to read the label and suddenly realise it's a bad idea.
 
as you point out, to avoid legal liability not to protect against the threat. Someone who would drink battery acid isn't going to read the label and suddenly realise it's a bad idea.
There is a heavy expectation the end user will read the labels though which is why they exist. I’m well aware a warning label isn’t going to magically stop harm, but it would be negligent from a manufacturers point of view not to display one for their legal safety and the physical safety of the user.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.