People would have gotten their watches by now if Apple packaged them properly

[Tortri]

Opening up my Apple Watch box only to find out it needs assembly? Not the experience I want for a personal wearing device. I want to open it up and put it on, not fiddle around with a band.

 

[Gav2k]

All watch bodies should have come with a white or black strap everything else is optional. Simple maths

 

[sxistus]

I think it would have better to sell ALL watches with a black rubber strap and offer the other bands as options. That seems more apple to me and would make logistics a LOT easier.

initially they could stick with this strategy, selling the other bands in separate, and then after allowing right out of the box the further combinations.

 

[ericgtr12]

If the Apple Store would've notified you that your watch was going to ship 4 to 5 weeks later than everyone else's (regardless of predicted ship date) would you have opted for another band?

***** yes you would have, in a hot second.

This is the OP's point and it's fair one.

 

[pmau]

All watch bodies should have come with a white or black strap everything else is optional. Simple maths

In fact they all should be shipped with an ugly green so that people really need to upgrade.

 

[simonx314]

..You think they didn't have those bands ready? Of course they did...

What makes you think they had bands ready? There are dozens of bands in different colors and quantities, how would they know how many to make? Is this just a guess or do you have supporting evidence?

Analysts believe the Watches were built-to-order after the pre-orders started. There is another thread in this forum where people have decoded their serial numbers which show the launch Watches were manufactured just a few weeks earlier. They weren't stockpiled like iPhones. Apple has data on prior iPhone sales to know how many to make but they had no data for the Apple Watch. Leather has to be dyed which takes time, this process can not be accelerated.

 

[SarZ]

This is how it could've been done

With every watch you get a sports band, either white or black

Then if you require other bands then order them separately and if the bands are delayed at least the you’ll have the watch much sooner

 

[Gav2k]

In fact they all should be shipped with an ugly green so that people really need to upgrade.

I've ordered the ugly green separately

 

[NM08SRT8]

Yup, the watch and the band should have each been sold as separate items in the first place, just like phones and cases are. Who cares if somone wants to put a gold band on a sport watch? Just price the two accordingly and get these things shipping.

But unlike the watch, you don't need a phone case to get full functionality and use out of the phone. The watch on your wrist, won't be of any use without the band.

Bad analogy on your part.