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Should Apple separate the purchase of the watch style from the band?
- Thread starter tresmith
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All they are doing is what we suggested they do "in Store" but at the factory.
They have orders for what people want, and are just matching straps to watch bodies and sending them for sale.
They could just as well, at some point do this in-store.
So basically this is all because Apple doesn't currently offer a black band with the silver aluminum Watch? Apple was never going to sell the Watch without a band and I'm not surprised they would want to showcase/curate what they thought were the best combinations.
Consider this quote from Jony Ive, implied to be about Moto Maker:
“Their value proposition was ‘Make it whatever you want. You can choose whatever color you want.’ And I believe that’s abdicating your responsibility as a designer.”
Apple has chosen only to sell the combinations that they believe reflect their design intentions. I don't really think it's about upselling at all (except maybe the space black). Therefore, the space grey aluminium case can only be had with a black band, in the same way a space grey iPhone or iPad only comes with a black front. The difference is that the bands on the Watch are interchangeable and sold separately, whereas the display glass on iPhones and iPads are not, so you can buck the system quite easily. Despite the choice of bands (set to get bigger with third party options) and the slick method of changing them, Apple has not used "make it whatever you want" as a selling point. Don't expect to see a "build your Apple Watch" feature any time soon.
“Their value proposition was ‘Make it whatever you want. You can choose whatever color you want.’ And I believe that’s abdicating your responsibility as a designer.”
Apple has chosen only to sell the combinations that they believe reflect their design intentions. I don't really think it's about upselling at all (except maybe the space black). Therefore, the space grey aluminium case can only be had with a black band, in the same way a space grey iPhone or iPad only comes with a black front. The difference is that the bands on the Watch are interchangeable and sold separately, whereas the display glass on iPhones and iPads are not, so you can buck the system quite easily. Despite the choice of bands (set to get bigger with third party options) and the slick method of changing them, Apple has not used "make it whatever you want" as a selling point. Don't expect to see a "build your Apple Watch" feature any time soon.
If a designer didn't want people to walk around with a look that they disapprove of, they would have simply made it so the bands are not interchangeable. Or they would require you to present the watch (or show proof of sale) before you could buy extra bands.
Apple could have simply made the SG SS/AL bands ends slightly larger, or smaller so they were not interchangeable. I guarantee you Apple is aware, and there was a discussion in meetings, that people are simply going to just buy the band they want and put it on, even if the initial choice was not available. I bet you the consensus was, they can do what they want, that will mean another band sale (upselling).
I kind of wish you bought them separately, but Apple knows what they are doing is their best strategy.
I bought a black classic buckle with the watch, then realized it's not what I want. Now I'm not sure if/how it will work to return it for what I want since I can't order another option of watch and band without delayed delivery. But that's my fault
I kind of wish they sold each model of watch with a sports band, that's it. Then if you wanted a fancier band you could buy that separately. Then worst case is you've got a cheap rubber band you may never use. But I think most people would find times where a rubber sports band would be nice to have.
I bought a black classic buckle with the watch, then realized it's not what I want. Now I'm not sure if/how it will work to return it for what I want since I can't order another option of watch and band without delayed delivery. But that's my fault
I kind of wish they sold each model of watch with a sports band, that's it. Then if you wanted a fancier band you could buy that separately. Then worst case is you've got a cheap rubber band you may never use. But I think most people would find times where a rubber sports band would be nice to have.
Having restricted interchangeability would have been a logistical nightmare. Of course Apple wasn't about to introduce a plethora of complications for the sake of restricting people to the combinations they endorse. I was merely combatting the argument that only selling certain combinations, causing people to buy an additional band separately, is "upselling". It's hard to call it "upselling" when the customer isn't being encouraged to do it, because the fact that Apple doesn't offer a silver Sport with a black band suggests to me as a customer that they don't recommend it (and I'd agree on that one), so I should just buy the space grey Sport if I want a black band. Personally, I think the majority of the unsupported combinations don't look very good, so the idea that it's some kind of "upselling" just seems silly to me when you're buying a band that Apple thinks you shouldn't have. Upselling would be more accurate if you had to buy an additional band to create a supported combination (eg. All watches only came in the box with sport bands).
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and you think the black SS version doesn't look good with a BLACK sport band? uhm....... ok....
Online preorders should've been separate.
Bundles should've been done later when they start stocking the stores.
It's just like built-to-order (BTO) Macs versus the standard configurations you can pick up on the spot.
Bundles should've been done later when they start stocking the stores.
It's just like built-to-order (BTO) Macs versus the standard configurations you can pick up on the spot.
I said "most" unsupported combinations. If you read my first comment, I did say "I don't think it's about upselling at all (except maybe the space black)".
great point...especially considering how long it will take for people to get their watches...they should have just made it built-to-order. doing that would at the very least justify the long wait times.
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it's "special" rubber don't cha know.
This isn't a buildabear workshop. You're buying a watch. There are many watch/band combos offered initially.
I get that. I'm not saying you're alone in your thoughts. All I'm saying is you are buying a watch not choosing the components that make the watch.