Price Drop a sign??

[Newtons Apple]

You know what's funny about that article on alpha? The very next article right below it. Lol

Lola like a point counterpoint guessing game.

Fitbit has its place. It is great at one that and mediocre at most other things. I would think Fitbit would dominate in sales volume while Apple keeps winning the profit game.

I bought a Blaze and even though it was much cheaper that the AW it was a POS. Back to my AW.

 

[BlueMoon63]

I bought a Blaze and even though it was much cheaper that the AW it was a POS. Back to my AW.

I think Fitbit has some great products for the cheaper line. It's better at fitness than Apple.

The article right after your link said something like "Why Apple Watch is clobbering Fitbit".

I hate seeking alpha. Most have shares in the stocks they pump.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I think Fitbit has some great products for the cheaper line. It's better at fitness than Apple.

The article right after your link said something like "Why Apple Watch is clobbering Fitbit".

I hate seeking alpha. Most have shares in the stocks they pump.

My money is in Apple and have done very well. Lost a bundle in Blackberry.

Not fond of Alpha, sometime they are full of it for sure. Just depends on who is writing the story.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

And then there is this:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/396...d8f044958d953759b482105fb349692&uprof=25#alt2

I stopped at "....needs to improve the very short one-day battery life."

Wouldn't any other iDevices take a similar dive at the one-year mark (compared to the first month sales), due to the pent up demand and everyone who wanted one will have gotten one? You might want to check out this article criticizing "Apple Watch sales plunge 90%" as technically accurate but functionally false.

In other words, you're just as bad as those journalists.

 

[Armen]

I stopped at "....needs to improve the very short one-day battery life."

Wouldn't any other iDevices take a similar dive at the one-year mark (compared to the first month sales), due to the pent up demand and everyone who wanted one will have gotten one? You might want to check out this article criticizing "Apple Watch sales plunge 90%" as technically accurate but functionally false.

In other words, you're just as bad as those journalists.

I saw SeekingAlpha and did not click.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I stopped at "....needs to improve the very short one-day battery life."

Wouldn't any other iDevices take a similar dive at the one-year mark (compared to the first month sales), due to the pent up demand and everyone who wanted one will have gotten one? You might want to check out this article criticizing "Apple Watch sales plunge 90%" as technically accurate but functionally false.

In other words, you're just as bad as those journalists.

Darn those journalists. Knew you would appreciate. Bet you read the whole thing!

Your "words of wit" are always welcomed.

 

[Mac 128]

I stopped at "....needs to improve the very short one-day battery life."

Wouldn't any other iDevices take a similar dive at the one-year mark (compared to the first month sales), due to the pent up demand and everyone who wanted one will have gotten one? You might want to check out this article criticizing "Apple Watch sales plunge 90%" as technically accurate but functionally false.

In other words, you're just as bad as those journalists.

All the more reason Apple should have released a new Watch now. Everyone who were interested in one have likely taken a look and bought or passed, especially considering it's only compatible with limited market of someone who owns an iPhone 5 or newer. Watch bands aren't likely going to spark much renewed interest by themselves, only drive some additional sales to a third of those who already have one. I don't really see a $50 price drop of the Sport spurring a lot of new sales from anyone who's already passed either. It seems to me designed to move more units to those who already have one, now that they can easily pair two or more watches at once, and want a gold watch in addition to their silver or gray one. Now the rumor is the new watch is coming in September, which for anyone waiting this long to see if a new one was announced should be an easy wait.

Had Apple introduced a new watch now, they could have maintained the premium price, and dropped the entire Gen 1 product offering by $100 across the board. That would have driven sales. Instead there's a $50 drop on the Sport model, which the 2nd gen model will presumably have to eat, regardless of what additional features it may add.

But I'm sure Apple knows all this. And at this point, they're just treading water. Sales may dip a bit over the next two quarters, but they're still launching in a few remaining minor markets to keep them steady. I'll be interested to see the "other" results for the second quarter reported next month, as there were no new products introduced to cloud them.

 

[zhenya]

My hope is that Apple decides to opt out of the yearly (or faster) update cycle for the watch. I think there is a case to be made that people are reaching a certain level of 'gadget fatigue' and for a device that will always be a companion to the phone, it may actually suppress sales in a way for people to feel like they need to update yet another device that regularly. In the fitness world, many of the changes that come on a short-term basis come from software updates that the 'old' devices don't get. Apple could be positioning the AW fundamentally different, where they continue to receive software updates for some long-ish period of time which extends their useful lifespan, and encourages sales over the long-term by building confidence in the platform. Garmin has been doing just the opposite to me - releasing new devices every 6 months or so, changing chargers for no reason other than to sell chargers, and leaving features out of less than year old devices that could be turned on in software. As a result, I've lost confidence in them and am less willing to buy another device from them.

 

[exxxviii]

I think Apple should drop the prices of the watch to $100 so that they can rake in the profit from the bands. That is the strategy toward world domination. It would blow Fitbit off the map.

 

[mfm77]

In some ways, I compare this to what Microsoft did with its Band. I bought a first gen Band day one in November of 2014 due to its fitness (particularly running) focus, and it's held up rather well and has not needed replacement. That said, it's FUGLY and could have used more attention to detail. Microsoft likely wanted to get the product out to the masses and get a jump on the then-rumored AW, so it went with function over form. Fast forward to last November when Band 2 was released, and the design and feature improvements are obvious (though I've read that many buyers have had the rubber strap rip). Apple was in the same boat; it could either wait until it perfected a first gen product or, as is often the case with new products, release a decent wearable while knowing version 2 would improve on it. As far as when AW2 comes out, I would argue that Apple has to release it in September, for the simple reason that no software update can or will bring it up to par with other wearables that have GPS, better batteries, a sharper design, more robust fitness and health features, and so forth. I'm not at all saying the current AW is bad; remember, I'm still wearing my now-outdated handcuff, Microsoft Band 1. However, given that Microsoft likely will release Band 3 in November, and other companies are churning out new wearables at breakneck speed, as well as the general "It's good but not great" reviews of AW1, Apple has no choice but to put out AW2 this year. My bet is that we'll see it in September and that it will get even more airtime than the iPhone 7 will, especially if the rumors are true that Apple is working on even better features (screens, etc.) for the 2017 iPhone.

 

[bluespark]

Apple does not drop prices on any product unless a new updated one comes out, so with Apple dropping the price of the watch to start at $299 makes me think sales must not be nearly as good as they try to make us believe.

The lack of any innovations or faces in the new update as well, lame. I wear my Huawai Android Wear watch more than my Apple Watch these days.

I seem to recall that Apple on several occasions has refined its pricing model, sometimes fairly significantly, between its first and second generation products. Dropping the price on one model mid-cycle could be aware of desensitizing the market to a pricing-model shift with the introduction of the AW2. Lower prices do mean that the higher prices were non-sustainable, but there could be multiple reasons for that.

I agree that these announcements were "lame" in the hardware/software sense, although I very much like the new bands. At this point, I would expect that Apple is working hard on a splashy AW2 introduction in the fall and isn't currently adding too much to the current one.

Sales are what they are. No one really knew what to expect with the AW, Apple included. They clearly are selling a lot (we all have our anecdotes, but I see AWs everywhere in Chicago), and they probably equally clearly are selling fewer than their best-case scenario. My guess is that sales are lower than hoped, higher than feared. From a consumer standpoint, that's not a bad scenario -- it means the product is viable but needs major improvements. Apple surely knows that.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I think Apple should drop the prices of the watch to $100 so that they can rake in the profit from the bands. That is the strategy toward world domination. It would blow Fitbit off the map.

That'd make sense if they had a monopoly on the bands but they don't.

 

[WarHeadz]

That'd make sense if they had a monopoly on the bands but they don't.

Hell, they don't even have a monopoly on their own band designs. The knockoffs are indistinguishable at first glance and a fraction of the price. Most other Watch owners I know have been going with knockoff bands.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Hell, they don't even have a monopoly on their own band designs. The knockoffs are indistinguishable at first glance and a fraction of the price. Most other Watch owners I know have been going with knockoff bands.

Very true. Apple secured a patent on the Sport band, Modern Buckle and Link Bracelet design a couple years ago but apparently hasn't bothered to enforce it.

 

[WLS]

Apple handles things with a lot of thought and consideration of the market. Cutting the price of the Sport $50 and bringing out new wrist bands for the Sport really positions it better. The original bands were fugly no doubt but the new nylon bands are quite attractive.. Most people who were determined to get an apple watch passed over the Sport for the deluxe models. Now they are bringing in the more price conscious buyers. If I can get an open box 42mm black sport with the black nylon band for $250 I would snap it up.

 

[Wiesenlooser]

I dont think it has anything to do with low sales.

I think the Apple Watch is just starting to get a bit old. I think the Apple watch was set on track to launch autumn 14, but software kept it behind that schedule.

So basically, this hardware is now 1 1/2 years old and is probably very cheap to produce now.

 

[mfm77]

After debating whether or not to take advantage of the Best Buy sale, I decided today to get me a midnight blue/gold Apple Watch Sport (42). I'm looking forward to giving it a go and seeing all of the features it brings. And hey, if Apple releases a new Watch in a few months, I sure I can hand this one down to a family member or friend. It's not like the Sport breaks the bank, especially with the sale price.

It's go time.