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Just came back from the Basingstoke store. I ordered a SS with Black sport late on Friday after going back and forth if I actually want one or not. Delivery 12/5-26/5.

Try-on was a good experience, Apple dude was very helpful and allowed me to try many watches and straps.

Stainless is nicer than aluminium, and glad i ponied up the extra even if this only lasts me a year. Don't think any straps that have metal attachments to the watch will look good with the aluminium, in my opinion.

Will be getting the blue leather loop. My wrist is about 190 circumference and the medium loop when fitted comfortably had around an inch of strap available for further expansion. Surprised as the Apple sizing implied that I'd need the large loop.

Bring it on....

P.S. If you want to reset the looped demo, you can press "the button" twice, then when the screen is black, press "the button" twice again. This allows you to feel the haptic feedback from the demo iMessage several times without waiting through the whole loop.
 
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Ordered a 42mm Sport with white band at 8.03 using the app and luckily I got a 24/4-8/5 delivery estimate.

I was up at 7 and sitting on the App Store on my Mac at around 7.50 but even at 8.02 the store never came back up. It was only after a quick and risky switch to MR that I realised that the store had gone live in the app.

I reckon a minute later and I'd be waiting for a June delivery, I feel for those people who have to wait so long, but then I'm not really confident that mine is going to turn up on launch day anyway, I'm unlucky like that.

I do feel like I should have gone to a store to check it out first but my nearest is Bath and it's over an hour away, so the whole thing is a bit of a gamble but if it sucks then I'd imagine the value and demand will stay high for a while so selling it on will be possible.

8.03 was the same for me. I panicked at 8.01 when the app said the store was down so I went on my PC quick and got the same message! I thought I'd missed out.

I don't think mine will arrive on launch day either, but fingers crossed. I didn't view one first in person either. Let's hope we like it!
 
Pre order UK

Pre ordered space grey sport 42mm at 8:01 using the iPhone Apple store app. Delivery for 24/4-8/5.

Not doing a try on in store as I want to see it for the first time when I open the box at home. Also avoided any unboxing or packaging videos for the same reason.
 
8.03 was the same for me. I panicked at 8.01 when the app said the store was down so I went on my PC quick and got the same message! I thought I'd missed out.

I don't think mine will arrive on launch day either, but fingers crossed. I didn't view one first in person either. Let's hope we like it!

I hope that the delivery estimates are just Apple playing it safe and most of us will get it on launch day if we have a 24/4 - 8/5 range. They have to have had some manufactured already, so it's just a case of posting them!

Looking at the eBay prices makes me wish I'd bought a second one to fund a slightly more expensive model, but I suppose that's not very good morally.

I had a play with the demo units at Regent Street yesterday but the try ons were swamped. Going to The Oracle on Tuesday for my appointment. The stainless steel do look nice, but still not worth the extra cash in my opinion.
 
I'm toying with getting an appointment there at the end of the week, can you post after to say what models they have for try on?

Yeah, I'll let you know. Hopefully they let us swap bands - I'd like to see the leather loop with a Sport - though I'm not that hopeful.

Since I'm off this week, I picked midday as hopefully it won't be too busy then (or, since it's the school holidays, just be busy with kids taking photos on Photo Booth on iMacs...) compared to later in the day.
 
Yeah, I'll let you know. Hopefully they let us swap bands - I'd like to see the leather loop with a Sport - though I'm not that hopeful.



Since I'm off this week, I picked midday as hopefully it won't be too busy then (or, since it's the school holidays, just be busy with kids taking photos on Photo Booth on iMacs...) compared to later in the day.


Cheers. The staff there are usually quite lax and friendly, so I expect them to let us change bands. I'm off too, but got things to do, so end of week is my best plan. It's still holidays? Damn. Tho when I go in, I mess about with AirPlay haha.
 
Yeah, I'll let you know. Hopefully they let us swap bands - I'd like to see the leather loop with a Sport - though I'm not that hopeful.



Since I'm off this week, I picked midday as hopefully it won't be too busy then (or, since it's the school holidays, just be busy with kids taking photos on Photo Booth on iMacs...) compared to later in the day.


Try Basingstoke if they don't. I had no problem trying different straps on different watches. Very helpful and laid back staff.
 
I had my appointment in Southampton on Friday. Very friendly, but limited options to try on. Mostly 38mm, and no Space Black to try :(

Would be good to get feedback if they have more stock in since...

Yeah of course, i'll let you know if they do. I wanna try the black sports so i'm assuming you're talking about the ss black?
 
Thanks SG, Yes Stainless Steel Space Black was not available for demo in Southampton.

They did however have Aluminium Space Grey, so you will be fine there :D

No problem! I think I'm gonna book an appt each night for the next few weeks until mine arrives! 24/4 - 8/5 delivery....
 
I asked in the Bluewater store if they would be getting any bands available for purchase on release day and the guy seemed honest and said they just don't know what's coming in or going to happen at the moment.
 
I asked in the Bluewater store if they would be getting any bands available for purchase on release day and the guy seemed honest and said they just don't know what's coming in or going to happen at the moment.

This is genuinely true. I worked in an Apple Store up until November and the staff truly know nothing. The guys who work Back of house will see an inventory list of what's coming in on each shipment the day before it arrives and won't be announcing it to all staff because honestly, it's really not a big deal when you work there, it's just more stock. New products are put out overnight when the store is closed. So best way to get an answer is to ask the day before launch. That's most likely when the bands will arrive if the stores are going to have them.
 
It is also probably worth noting that Southampton (and possibly other smaller stores) DO NOT HAVE ANY 42mm Link watches to try, only 38mm (so the strap is actually 10mm shorter)

I think that this is due to the smaller stores only having their watches in portable carry cases, whereas the larger stores have them in drawers under the glass display cabinets.

In off to London a couple of times this week so will try the stores up there, as I have ordered the black ss , but still want to try it for size properly...

Delivery eta is currently July :(
 
It is also probably worth noting that Southampton (and possibly other smaller stores) DO NOT HAVE ANY 42mm Link watches to try, only 38mm (so the strap is actually 10mm shorter)

I think that this is due to the smaller stores only having their watches in portable carry cases, whereas the larger stores have them in drawers under the glass display cabinets.

In off to London a couple of times this week so will try the stores up there, as I have ordered the black ss , but still want to try it for size properly...

Delivery eta is currently July :(


I think Basingstoke had pretty much everything. They have the glass table display cabinet.
 
Glass display table stock wasn't available for try on. The guys doing the try on had their own case with limited stock inside...


I know that. The implication was that stores that had the smaller portable displays had less try-on selection than those with the glass display cabinet tables. Basingstoke had the glass display cabinet tables and, as far as I could tell, all options in the 2 drawers they have.
 
I am off to the Leicester store this morning to try on the apple watch :). Have ordered space grey sport. Can't wait to see it
 
I know that. The implication was that stores that had the smaller portable displays had less try-on selection than those with the glass display cabinet tables. Basingstoke had the glass display cabinet tables and, as far as I could tell, all options in the 2 drawers they have.


All stores have the glass display tables though...
 
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