Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Stock level priority in Apple shops vs online orders

Retroglide08

Retroglide08

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 4, 2013
114
73
Going to take a chance of visiting an Apple shop today with the hope of finding a watch to buy. Was wondering if Apple prioritise stock levels in shop against online orders or vice versa? Not expecting to come away with anything based on the fact the watch has only just released but I thought I’d ask anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes
Yes, people are going to the stores and picking up watches they ordered online earlier that are scheduled to arrive in weeks/months! You shouldn’t have any trouble buying a watch in store. If you order online it may be a while before it comes!
 
Retroglide08 said:
Going to take a chance of visiting an Apple shop today with the hope of finding a watch to buy. Was wondering if Apple prioritise stock levels in shop against online orders or vice versa? Not expecting to come away with anything based on the fact the watch has only just released but I thought I’d ask anyway.
Click to expand...

Not sure about the balance between online and stores. But there is most certainly a stock bias towards some stores v others but this will all be based on many factors of backend sales analytics. So ... your choice of store (if you have a choice) may affect your chance of picking one up. This can work both ways in that busier or flagship stores may have more stock but will likely be busier ..... smaller store less stock but less footfall :)
 
I got mine in store on Friday. I did a check of availability for pick up on Saturday and couldn’t see anything so they must have run out of stock.
 
I remember a while back we were able to check availability of the new iPhones at like 6am in the morning so same day pick up at a store. Is this still the case with the apple watches?
 
order online, if there's a longer wait than you want, you can still go check in stores, if you find one buy it and cancel the online order. I'm pretty sure your credit card isn't charged until your item is actually about to ship.

you can pick out a watch online, and check stock at local stores for pickup, before you have to commit to anything online.

Watches are a little different than phones, because of the many different combos due to color and size differences in both bands and cases.
so make sure to check other colors of bands, as it might be that particular band that's not available and not the watch body. unless you are set on having one color.
actually going into a store can help with this, as they will have a list of what they have, vs having to check item by item.

I don't know how the band selection is handled in store, if they're pre-packaged with watches, you might be able to swap them out before you leave,
 
I picked up mine on Friday with no prior reservation. They sell you the watch and combine with the band of your choice at the store. My first choice band was not available, so I got my second choice and ordered the other band online for October delivery.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Retroglide08
Frankfurt said:
I picked up mine on Friday with no prior reservation. They sell you the watch and combine with the band of your choice at the store. My first choice band was not available, so I got my second choice and ordered the other band online for October delivery.
Click to expand...
Must admit, I’m tempted to order another band too lol
 
waw74 said:
order online, if there's a longer wait than you want, you can still go check in stores, if you find one buy it and cancel the online order. I'm pretty sure your credit card isn't charged until your item is actually about to ship.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it gets charged at the "preparing to ship" phase, then in the case of the watches this time around, sits there in limbo for days, and can't be cancelled.
 
waw74 said:
order online, if there's a longer wait than you want, you can still go check in stores, if you find one buy it and cancel the online order. I'm pretty sure your credit card isn't charged until your item is actually about to ship.

you can pick out a watch online, and check stock at local stores for pickup, before you have to commit to anything online.

Watches are a little different than phones, because of the many different combos due to color and size differences in both bands and cases.
so make sure to check other colors of bands, as it might be that particular band that's not available and not the watch body. unless you are set on having one color.
actually going into a store can help with this, as they will have a list of what they have, vs having to check item by item.

I don't know how the band selection is handled in store, if they're pre-packaged with watches, you might be able to swap them out before you leave,
Click to expand...
The bands are prepackaged with the watch. There are 2 packages within the box, the other being the watch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back