A post about packaging....it’s a box. Unboxing is some weird ****. It’s not magical. Open and toss that crap. You buy a watch not the experience.
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Series 4 disappointing packaging
- Thread starter Pagemakers
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Hey, I kinda agree with the OP. No it’s not a big deal at all, but kind of disappointing given that the cost has gone up and the packaging has gotten worse. Girlfriend got me a SBSS for Christmas and the packaging was very meh. I had a SS series 2 and the packaging was really nice with the plastic packaging. Again, not a big deal at all, but a little disappointing given how expensive these things are.
I hold onto my apple boxes, got a stack in my closet. Kept it untorn and neatly unpacked/repackaged
even keep em for products I've since sold without the box locally /trade in haha
Agree, The S0 my son gave me was in a beautiful, hard plastic case. My S4 packaging looked like an afterthought. I enjoy Apple's packaging. Part of the "experience". Looks like they decided to save pennies to boost margin. Nothing I dwell on, but disappointing----
Exactly. I still love the watch that came in the packaging. Just seeing how it was packaged was a bit of a let down. Oh well.
Why would the general consumer (Or I for that matter) care about hundreds of unboxing videos on YouTube....Over a box? As it’s been mentioned multiple times, it’s a box, it ends inside a closet and not used again until someone resells the watch or when the box is in a landfill somewhere. To the Apple Watch tech enthusiast, maybe there is _some_ importance to the box, but to the average consumer, they don’t care.
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Oh I forgot you spoke for the entire “average” consumer population. Remind me never to quote you again as all you seem to want to do is tell people off. The fact that there are so many unboxings among both some of the least and most popular tech reviewers on YouTube suggests that there is great interest in how it’s packaged, the contents and the experience when unboxing. Take a look at the statistics for yourself.
That’s not necessary. Again, I subjected my opinion on the packaging why I don’t care about the boxing materials on why the average consumer doesn’t care, you have your opinion, I have mine. And quite frankly, you seem more interested in arguing over a ‘box’ than I do, which personally, I find rather futile. However, Thanks for the discussion.
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I can understand this from both perspectives. My Series 0 came in a plastic storage box which felt as premium as the boxes that upper-market 'dumb' watches come in - the series 4 comes in packaging similar to that of a Fitbit realistically. You can almost see where the watch is headed in this respect.
To those saying that the new packaging is better for the environment - I (and also a few of my friends) use my old plastic box as storage for my straps.. I would say this is better for the environment than cardboard I will put in the recycling bin.
At the same time, this new packaging with the separate watch strap is ideal for resale and as most have said, once the Watch is out who cares about the box?
To those saying that the new packaging is better for the environment - I (and also a few of my friends) use my old plastic box as storage for my straps.. I would say this is better for the environment than cardboard I will put in the recycling bin.
At the same time, this new packaging with the separate watch strap is ideal for resale and as most have said, once the Watch is out who cares about the box?
I gave my daughter a Series 4 watch for Christmas I can understand the OP's point of view. The packaging is not the quite the same opening experience as the original Watch. I can also understand those that don't really care about the packaging either, although I know Apple puts a significant amount of effort into packaging design, compared to some other retailers. However while the minimalist packaging is good for the environment, let's not kid ourselves here as it is also good for Apple (Less packaging = less cost and less transportation costs).
I tend to keep the original packaging as I tend to upgrade reasonable often and recoup costs by reselling. I have found that Apple products in their original packaging tend to sell for slightly higher price on eBay.
I tend to keep the original packaging as I tend to upgrade reasonable often and recoup costs by reselling. I have found that Apple products in their original packaging tend to sell for slightly higher price on eBay.
Saving the box creates a nice unboxing experience for the people who buy my used watch... and I like letting my buyer experience that.
The young lady who saved up to buy my Series 2 for $200 was thrilled to be buying something that looked and was presented as “like new”. Sometimes it’s the little things in life....
I agree the series 4 packaging is not as luxury as previous iterations. Apple could have done better.
I don’t think I have ever come across anyone without the box for an Apple Watch when they are selling used. I know I personally would not want to purchase an Apple Watch from anyone without the box, because at least having the box, shows a sense of ownership.
Any Apple products I have ever sold in the past, has always included the original box and literature included inside.
My Series 4 aluminum arrives Friday so I guess I will get to see what all the fuss is about. I don’t remember my SO packing being that special, but maybe that was because I got the aluminum sport. I think the older stainless and edition models came with a hard case? I think a hard storage case is reasonable for the more expensive models. Even the lesser models. If I get a free hard case with a pair of glasses, why not? At least the S4 packaging looks clever. In the end it’s what’s inside that matters to me. The box will just become clutter.
The Series 2 stainless Apple Watch included the hard plastic case, then Apple transitioned the hard case only to the ceramic and Hermes models for the Series 3, which the regular stainless and aluminum was cardboard only.
I personally liked the hard plastic box, because it made it nice for travel to protect the watch. The new Series 4 packaging is still very distinct and clever as you would expect from Apple, but less of what it used to be.
This is bean counter stuff. They're doing it will all their products. They hit a trillion and can't "go back" from that on their shareholders.
I much prefer packaging that’s easily recyclable. I want to be able to put the box in the recycling bin with a minimum of effort so all cardboard suits me fine.
I’ve always assumed unboxing videos were about a first look at the product rather than being about the actual box but then I don’t watch them and am a bit baffled about why anyone would.
I don’t get the idea that a hard case is useful for travel: I wear my watch to travel.
For me the comparison with glasses also doesn’t really work: my glasses cost a lot (quite possibly more than my watch but I’m short sighted and old enough to need varifocsls) and do need protection when I’m not wearing them (for instance because I’ve switched to sunglasses or overnight). In practice, I don’t bother with a case overnight (in fact they often sit on top of my Apple Watch charger) but if I’m somewhere sunny and need to switch between two pairs of specs I’ll definitely have a hard case about my person.
My first Apple Watch came with a hard case; I have no idea where it is now.
I’ve always assumed unboxing videos were about a first look at the product rather than being about the actual box but then I don’t watch them and am a bit baffled about why anyone would.
I don’t get the idea that a hard case is useful for travel: I wear my watch to travel.
For me the comparison with glasses also doesn’t really work: my glasses cost a lot (quite possibly more than my watch but I’m short sighted and old enough to need varifocsls) and do need protection when I’m not wearing them (for instance because I’ve switched to sunglasses or overnight). In practice, I don’t bother with a case overnight (in fact they often sit on top of my Apple Watch charger) but if I’m somewhere sunny and need to switch between two pairs of specs I’ll definitely have a hard case about my person.
My first Apple Watch came with a hard case; I have no idea where it is now.
Unboxing videos for various products have created a bit of a fetish around packaging, and this challenges manufacturers in some industries to put more time, money, and effort into it. These days it’s hard to find a Youtube review of something like an Apple Watch that doesn’t spend way too much time showing the packaging from every angle. I recall an article from a couple of years ago that was about youtube viewers who are really into watching attractive people opening fancy packages for everything from electronics to jewelry... even collectible toys and action figures.
Apple has long had a reputation for nice (or at least clever and easy to open) packaging. Jewelry stores are also known for providing a nice store box with the purchase of a ring, necklace, or watch. I think Apple was trying to provide a little bit of that experience with the higher end Apple Watches? I’m with you when it comes to the box. My Apple Watch as always been either on my wrist or on the charger ever since I bought it. But I get how a watch might be desirable, especially for those who own two watches or who must remove the watch for certain activities. I guess the lack of a nice protective box creates an opportunity for the third party accessory makers!
Interesting...
Bought my Nike S4 (1st Apple watch ever in the family) about 2 months ago and was blown away with packaging, actually. I closed the flaps on the box like 4 times just to open it again LOL. Loved that watch and band were separate.
Then I bought the S4 stainless to my wife and she loved opening it also.
Then I bought an S3 for my daughter and that was kind of a disappointment in comparison to S4, I thought. Especially because there is no charging cube in it.
I dunno what kind of crack Apple was putting in boxes of earlier generations; I am curious now, though.
Bought my Nike S4 (1st Apple watch ever in the family) about 2 months ago and was blown away with packaging, actually. I closed the flaps on the box like 4 times just to open it again LOL. Loved that watch and band were separate.
Then I bought the S4 stainless to my wife and she loved opening it also.
Then I bought an S3 for my daughter and that was kind of a disappointment in comparison to S4, I thought. Especially because there is no charging cube in it.
I dunno what kind of crack Apple was putting in boxes of earlier generations; I am curious now, though.
Undoubtably they’re trying to save money by reducing the packaging, which is cost-effective, but I also do believe Apple is very environmentally focused by being ‘Green’, and the move by them changing the packaging to all cardboard as they did, isn’t surprising either, as they also removed the plastic case for the wired EarPods that was included with the iPhone, which is now cardboard. It’s both cost effective measures and them trying to be environmentally conscious.
Count me among those disappointed.
Thoughtful (not to mention innovative - look at the influence across smart home devices) package design is just another one of those little things that has fallen through the cracks.
There were people out there that noticed -and appreciated- the thought.
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You’d be amazed what a box can do for a company.
Thoughtful (not to mention innovative - look at the influence across smart home devices) package design is just another one of those little things that has fallen through the cracks.
There were people out there that noticed -and appreciated- the thought.
[doublepost=1546416437][/doublepost]
You’d be amazed what a box can do for a company.
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I just think Apple have cut down on plastic packaging because of all the backlash about the environmental impact of them. That and to save some $$