The Apple "Wow" experience is slowly devolving

[rocknblogger]

So a few ago I bought an Apple Watch 2015 original on sale. To be honest I thought I was buying the Series1. After using it for a couple weeks I felt the performance was slow and laggy even with wOS 3. That's when I made the realization I bought the wrong one.

I decided to exchange for the S1 and I'm quite happy I did. The performance is definitely better and worth the extra few dollars.

However I was really disappointed in the packaging. The original one I bought had a great plastic case that came with the watch. It included a small power brick and a very long charging cable.

The S1 that I bought no longer provides you with the watch case, doesn't include a power brick and has a much shorter charging cable. I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less. Now, that might not be such a big deal but the original packaging with the large white case added to the overall enjoyment and wow factor that the S1 doesn't give you. The original packaging gave it a high end feel even though I bought the aluminum Watch. Granted the watch is no less a device but the packaging of the original really did make a difference.

So why did Apple do this? The only thing that makes sense is to increase margins on the newer watches because quite possibly sales are not nearly as good as they claimed. To me it also shows how the consumer experience has become less important and it's all about the bottom line.

I'm still going to enjoy my watch but I seriously do not like Apple's decisions of late and their obvious nickle and dimming mindset and I'm afraid culture is making Apple a less prestigious company as a whole.

 

[raqball]

I agree with most of what you said.. Look at the iPhone 7 as an example. The headphones come in crappy cardboard whereas they use to come in a nice hard case...

Apple is without a doubt nickel and dimming with all their products recently..

 

[chiefs1968]

If the Samsung Gear S3 was compatible with the Iphone, I would ditch the Apple Watch immediately. My neighbor has one and I am impressed!!

 

[raqball]

The Gear S3 is nice but it's quite a bit heavier and it's not waterproof = no swimming.. Plus after years of Garmin watches, I am tired of the same ole' same ole' round design...

 

[rocknblogger]

Guys I wasn't referring to the quality of the watch. I was strictly talking about the customer experience of buying an Apple product and how it's been degrading somewhat in the past couple years or so. But I do appreciate your input.

If the Samsung Gear S3 was compatible with the Iphone, I would ditch the Apple Watch immediately. My neighbor has one and I am impressed!!

The Gear S3 is nice but it's quite a bit heavier and it's not waterproof = no swimming.. Plus after years of Garmin watches, I am tired of the same ole' same ole' round design...

 

[44267547]

So a few ago I bought an Apple Watch 2015 original on sale. To be honest I thought I was buying the Series1. After using it for a couple weeks I felt the performance was slow and laggy even with wOS 3. That's when I made the realization I bought the wrong one.

I decided to exchange for the S1 and I'm quite happy I did. The performance is definitely better and worth the extra few dollars.

However I was really disappointed in the packaging. The original one I bought had a great plastic case that came with the watch. It included a small power brick and a very long charging cable.

The S1 that I bought no longer provides you with the watch case, doesn't include a power brick and has a much shorter charging cable. I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less. Now, that might not be such a big deal but the original packaging with the large white case added to the overall enjoyment and wow factor that the S1 doesn't give you. The original packaging gave it a high end feel even though I bought the aluminum Watch. Granted the watch is no less a device but the packaging of the original really did make a difference.

So why did Apple do this? The only thing that makes sense is to increase margins on the newer watches because quite possibly sales are not nearly as good as they claimed. To me it also shows how the consumer experience has become less important and it's all about the bottom line.

I'm still going to enjoy my watch but I seriously do not like Apple's decisions of late and their obvious nickle and dimming mindset and I'm afraid culture is making Apple a less prestigious company as a whole.

Part of the reason for the packaging being changed is to keep the prices more affordable for the lower tier model. In order to do this, they sacrificed the packaging qualities and charging brick (Which most have one lying around).

Now, the stainless model (Which I own) includes the more premium packaging for obvious reasons and the Stainless Model isn't discounted for Series 2.

But I do agree, Apple has made cost related changes to their packages. Also, Apple is all about the environment and perhaps this a reason for some of the changes.

 

[chuyn]

So a few ago I bought an Apple Watch 2015 original on sale. To be honest I thought I was buying the Series1. After using it for a couple weeks I felt the performance was slow and laggy even with wOS 3. That's when I made the realization I bought the wrong one.

I decided to exchange for the S1 and I'm quite happy I did. The performance is definitely better and worth the extra few dollars.

However I was really disappointed in the packaging. The original one I bought had a great plastic case that came with the watch. It included a small power brick and a very long charging cable.

The S1 that I bought no longer provides you with the watch case, doesn't include a power brick and has a much shorter charging cable. I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less. Now, that might not be such a big deal but the original packaging with the large white case added to the overall enjoyment and wow factor that the S1 doesn't give you. The original packaging gave it a high end feel even though I bought the aluminum Watch. Granted the watch is no less a device but the packaging of the original really did make a difference.

So why did Apple do this? The only thing that makes sense is to increase margins on the newer watches because quite possibly sales are not nearly as good as they claimed. To me it also shows how the consumer experience has become less important and it's all about the bottom line.

I'm still going to enjoy my watch but I seriously do not like Apple's decisions of late and their obvious nickle and dimming mindset and I'm afraid culture is making Apple a less prestigious company as a whole.

If you buy the S2 aluminum, this year's equivalent to the 1st gen you bought, it comes in the same premium packaging. This year's models (aluminum or stainless steel) are series 2. That's what it should be. They have the new features and such (aluminum model even has a ceramic back now).

The S1 might be at the bottom in terms of price, but it's just not in the exact same position as last year's. It's a new entry model meant to lower the base price of an Apple Watch. They basically recycled year's chassis and put a faster processor in. Same screen, same lack of gps, same smaller battery and even the same composite back. And as already mentioned by someone, they removed things like the power brick and shorter cable to lessen the cost even more. It's like selling last year's iPhone for a lower cost each time a new model comes out, only this time they did people a bit of a favour and put a better processor in instead of just keeping the exact old model in the lineup.

 

[rocknblogger]

If you buy the S2 aluminum, this year's equivalent to the 1st gen you bought, it comes in the same premium packaging. This year's models (aluminum or stainless steel) are series 2. That's what it should be. They have the new features and such (aluminum model even has a ceramic back now).

The S1 might be at the bottom in terms of price, but it's just not in the exact same position as last year's. It's a new entry model meant to lower the base price of an Apple Watch. They basically recycled year's chassis and put a faster processor in. Same screen, same lack of gps, same smaller battery and even the same composite back. And as already mentioned by someone, they removed things like the power brick and shorter cable to lessen the cost even more. It's like selling last year's iPhone for a lower cost each time a new model comes out, only this time they did people a bit of a favour and put a better processor in instead of just keeping the exact old model in the lineup.

While all of what you say sounds good and reasonable I don't buy it. Primarily because the S0 still comes with the fancy packaging even though it's $100 less than the S1. Also by now due to scale the packaging should be costing them less than it did at launch. So the S0 and S2 customers get all the fancy packaging but we, the S1 buyers get the short end of the stick.

Maybe in the past there was different packaging based on price but honestly I can't remember a single thing that had different packaging based on the price level (except for color). Look, in the long run it's not that big a deal but for me but it shows how Apple is becoming more and more a company where cutting corners is becoming the norm. And I for one am concerned about that.

 

[pika2000]

So a few ago I bought an Apple Watch 2015 original on sale. To be honest I thought I was buying the Series1. After using it for a couple weeks I felt the performance was slow and laggy even with wOS 3. That's when I made the realization I bought the wrong one.

I decided to exchange for the S1 and I'm quite happy I did. The performance is definitely better and worth the extra few dollars.

However I was really disappointed in the packaging. The original one I bought had a great plastic case that came with the watch. It included a small power brick and a very long charging cable.

The S1 that I bought no longer provides you with the watch case, doesn't include a power brick and has a much shorter charging cable. I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less. Now, that might not be such a big deal but the original packaging with the large white case added to the overall enjoyment and wow factor that the S1 doesn't give you. The original packaging gave it a high end feel even though I bought the aluminum Watch. Granted the watch is no less a device but the packaging of the original really did make a difference.

So why did Apple do this? The only thing that makes sense is to increase margins on the newer watches because quite possibly sales are not nearly as good as they claimed. To me it also shows how the consumer experience has become less important and it's all about the bottom line.

I'm still going to enjoy my watch but I seriously do not like Apple's decisions of late and their obvious nickle and dimming mindset and I'm afraid culture is making Apple a less prestigious company as a whole.

You got less? You do get a watch with the same processor as the more expensive S2, and you are complaining about a cheap USB/AC adaptor?
If you think you got less, then why don't you return it and get the S0 again then? To you, the S0 is "more" because you get some cheap AC adaptor right?

 

[rocknblogger]

You got less? You do get a watch with the same processor as the more expensive S2, and you are complaining about a cheap USB/AC adaptor?
If you think you got less, then why don't you return it and get the S0 again then? To you, the S0 is "more" because you get some cheap AC adaptor right?

Wow did you miss the point entirely or your reading comprehension is awful. I'm talking about the overall purchase and unboxing expirence. When I opened my S1 box my first thought was that I was given a referb by mistake. Can you understand why?

And yes, not having the nice storage case for the times I don't wear the watch is in my opinion getting less.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Yes Apple is screwing us over when ever they see a chance. They have adopted the principle that the most they piss off their customers the more they will buy more.

It is a HUGE conspiracy that will lead to Apple's demise!

 

[macdragonfl]

Nothing new though, the first iPods came with all kinds of accessories and as time went by they included less as the prices went down.

 

[44267547]

OP, Apple isn't shorting you. As already stated, it was made affordable by excluding certain things. Not everyone thinks the way you do. Perhaps one could say they were upset at the price points with the S1 if they were higher with materials they did t want or need. The argument goes both ways.

If you feel you have been shorted, explain your thoughts to Apple and I'm confident you will find a similar response as to what your hearing on here.

And the Series 0 isn't in production anymore, whatever's left over from previous stock, can't be changed and the packaging is the way it is.

 

[andreyirra]

Nothing new though, the first iPods came with all kinds of accessories and as time went by they included less as the prices went down.

But they have done it even when the prices didn't go down.

In this past year they started selling the leather buckle and leather loop without the shiny white hard plastic case, just packaging them in a cardboard case like the sport bands.

I agree with the OP. When I bought a black leather loop I was really happy with that case and all, even took pictures. Then came the second gen classic buckle and it was anticlimatic, cheap even. And the worst thing is that the cases were discontinued just 4 months after release. Go figure why they would invest money and research and in the machines to manufacture them just to stop production 4 months later. It feels like indecision, like insecurity coming from a company that in the past has given you a constant.

In those cases, you just can't explain why you would need to rush and buy everything in the first month just so you can experience the packaging as it was intended. You create an expectation, you watch the unboxings and then when it's your turn you experence seems degraded.

 

[chuyn]

OP, Apple isn't shorting you. As already stated, it was made affordable by excluding certain things. Not everyone thinks the way you do. Perhaps one could say they were upset at the price points with the S1 if they were higher with materials they did t want or need. The argument goes both ways.

If you feel you have been shorted, explain your thoughts to Apple and I'm confident you will find a similar response as to what your hearing on here.

And the Series 0 isn't in production anymore, whatever's left over from previous stock, can't be changed and the packaging is the way it is.

This is the main thing OP.. the 1st gen is out of production and Apple is no longer selling them as a current product. Whatever stock is left is old inventory marked really low to clear out. When the 1st gen was current, it sold for $500 (cad). Now the current cheapest model from Apple is $360 (series 1). They, unfortunately to you, had cut some things to bring the price point that low. It's not fair to compare a discontinued/heavily discounted model to a current model for price/contents.

 

[clauzzz203]

So a few ago I bought an Apple Watch 2015 original on sale. To be honest I thought I was buying the Series1. After using it for a couple weeks I felt the performance was slow and laggy even with wOS 3. That's when I made the realization I bought the wrong one.

I decided to exchange for the S1 and I'm quite happy I did. The performance is definitely better and worth the extra few dollars.

However I was really disappointed in the packaging. The original one I bought had a great plastic case that came with the watch. It included a small power brick and a very long charging cable.

The S1 that I bought no longer provides you with the watch case, doesn't include a power brick and has a much shorter charging cable. I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less. Now, that might not be such a big deal but the original packaging with the large white case added to the overall enjoyment and wow factor that the S1 doesn't give you. The original packaging gave it a high end feel even though I bought the aluminum Watch. Granted the watch is no less a device but the packaging of the original really did make a difference.

So why did Apple do this? The only thing that makes sense is to increase margins on the newer watches because quite possibly sales are not nearly as good as they claimed. To me it also shows how the consumer experience has become less important and it's all about the bottom line.

I'm still going to enjoy my watch but I seriously do not like Apple's decisions of late and their obvious nickle and dimming mindset and I'm afraid culture is making Apple a less prestigious company as a whole.

Tim calculated a saving of 10$ per watch, obviously that's worth selling the consumer a charger-less watch. I wish this were sarcasm..
Forstall stood his ground for what he thought was right. He's a better post-Steve

 

[rocknblogger]

This is the main thing OP.. the 1st gen is out of production and Apple is no longer selling them as a current product. Whatever stock is left is old inventory marked really low to clear out. When the 1st gen was current, it sold for $500 (cad). Now the current cheapest model from Apple is $360 (series 1). They, unfortunately to you, had cut some things to bring the price point that low. It's not fair to compare a discontinued/heavily discounted model to a current model for price/contents.

Wait, wasn't the original aluminum sport model $300 and $350 based on size? So now $360 is too cheap to give you a nice case? I'm sorry but none of these excuses ring right for me. For a company that used to pride itself on the entire ownership experience they're beginning to slowly but surely lessen that whole experience.

And by the way. I also just got a 4th gen Apple TV. Why in God's name does it come with a lightning/USB cable when it has a USB-C port?

EDIT: Originally it was $349 and $399. Okay so I get it's less expensive but Apple still makes it up in selling bands and other accessories. Basically my point is they make up the difference somehow and the cost of making the packaging should be substantially less than at launch.

 

[clauzzz203]

Wait, wasn't the original aluminum sport model $300 and $350 based on size? So now $360 is too cheap to give you a nice case? I'm sorry but none of these excuses ring right for me. For a company that used to pride itself on the entire ownership experience they're beginning to slowly but surely lessen that whole experience.

And by the way. I also just got a 4th gen Apple TV. Why in God's name does it come with a lightning/USB cable when it has a USB-C port?

You're absolutely correct about the first part, but please take a look at your remote's port..

 

[rocknblogger]

You're absolutely correct about the first part, but please take a look at your remote's port..

Didn't even know the remote had a port. I guess I need a dongle for the TV
All jokes aside though, wouldn't it make sense to include a USB-C cable in case you need to do a restore or other troubleshooting stuff. I personally don't own a single USB-C device so no cables either. See? Just another user experience thing

 

[chuyn]

Wait, wasn't the original aluminum sport model $300 and $350 based on size? So now $360 is too cheap to give you a nice case? I'm sorry but none of these excuses ring right for me. For a company that used to pride itself on the entire ownership experience they're beginning to slowly but surely lessen that whole experience...

Sorry, the prices I listed were in Canadian dollars. $450-500 originally depending on size, and now starting price is $360.

Mind you I'm not saying what they did was great. Just that there were cuts made to lower the price. I mean, look at all the leather bands and up. They used to come in a nice plastic case as well, now I believe even the link bracelets come in just a cardboard box, and that wasn't done to lower our prices. Apple isn't the only company cutting out the power adapter. The 3DS I bought for my son doesn't include one either.

 

[clauzzz203]

Didn't even know the remote had a port. I guess I need a dongle for the TV
All jokes aside though, wouldn't it make sense to include a USB-C cable in case you need to do a restore or other troubleshooting stuff. I personally don't own a single USB-C device so no cables either. See? Just another user experience thing

Yeah I also think it's immensly stupid.. Nowadays you have to readup on whatever the hell port goes with which Apple stuff and know technical info about the ports to see if it will actually work besides fit. Cmon we are de-evolving to the scart/vga/component/rca/ps2/serial days

Joke's on me, I really bought a dongle for my apple tv before this dongle madness lol (I'm ocd about clean restoring with every major release). More insulting that, it's an ios device basically, so to put that damned usbc port on the tv they probably had to put in an extra interface too

 

[pika2000]

Wow did you miss the point entirely or your reading comprehension is awful. I'm talking about the overall purchase and unboxing expirence. When I opened my S1 box my first thought was that I was given a referb by mistake. Can you understand why?

And yes, not having the nice storage case for the times I don't wear the watch is in my opinion getting less.

I did read your comment, and no, I don't have comprehension issue when you said

I felt kind of cheated a bit. I spent more and got less.

Did you have trouble comprehending your own statement? You specifically said you "got less" when you found out you did not get a case and AC adapter.
So, just return your S1 and get the S0 again then. I mean why would you keep something that you yourself felt cheated? Get your money back.

 

[3pp]

Didn't even know the remote had a port. I guess I need a dongle for the TV
All jokes aside though, wouldn't it make sense to include a USB-C cable in case you need to do a restore or other troubleshooting stuff. I personally don't own a single USB-C device so no cables either. See? Just another user experience thing

When it was a mini USB on the old ATV, it didn't come with a mini USB cable. It's a service port for Apple only. Not end users. You sound like one of those people that is just picky about everything. 'Why didn't my Apple TV come with a USB-C cable in the rare, 0.001% chance I need to DFU it' - you're just looking for things to moan about.

Go outside.

 

[rocknblogger]

I did read your comment, and no, I don't have comprehension issue when you said

Did you have trouble comprehending your own statement? You specifically said you "got less" when you found out you did not get a case and AC adapter.
So, just return your S1 and get the S0 again then. I mean why would you keep something that you yourself felt cheated? Get your money back.

Because you're making it sound like I'm not happy with the watch itself. Why would I go back to the S0 when I wasn't happy with the performance of the watch to begin with. That's why I decided to get the S1 instead. Having just had the S0 I thought I was going to get the same exact "complete" package. I did not and therefore I feel that I got less even though I spent more. Is that more clear?
[doublepost=1482543488][/doublepost]

When it was a mini USB on the old ATV, it didn't come with a mini USB cable. It's a service port for Apple only. Not end users. You sound like one of those people that is just picky about everything. 'Why didn't my Apple TV come with a USB-C cable in the rare, 0.001% chance I need to DFU it' - you're just looking for things to moan about.

Go outside.

I'm absolutely not. As a matter of fact I'm probably one of the most forgiving Apple customers there is. Since I didn't know there was a lightning port on the remote I couldn't understand why there was a lightning cable in the box. Plus how is that a complaint? Not knowing about the remote I was just confused but certainly not complaining about it. You just sound like one of those people who'll attack anyone who might have a complaint or gripe about an Apple product.

It's okay man...I'm enjoying all my gear and have fun with it.

My original point still stands. As a long time Apple customer I'm seeing more and more penny pinching and nickle and diming and if you can't see that then you have blinders on.

 

[44267547]

Because you're making it sound like I'm not happy with the watch itself. Why would I go back to the S0 when I wasn't happy with the performance of the watch to begin with. That's why I decided to get the S1 instead. Having just had the S0 I thought I was going to get the same exact "complete" package. I did not and therefore I feel that I got less even though I spent more. Is that more clear?
[doublepost=1482543488][/doublepost]
I'm absolutely not. As a matter of fact I'm probably one of the most forgiving Apple customers there is. Since I didn't know there was a lightning port on the remote I couldn't understand why there was a lightning cable in the box. Plus how is that a complaint? Not knowing about the remote I was just confused but certainly not complaining about it. You just sound like one of those people who'll attack anyone who might have a complaint or gripe about an Apple product.

It's okay man...I'm enjoying all my gear and have fun with it.

My original point still stands. As a long time Apple customer I'm seeing more and more penny pinching and nickle and diming and if you can't see that then you have blinders on.

I think you're defecting and arguing just for the sake of arguing. It sounds like you're more bitter about Apple and you don't want except some of the valid opinions listed by other forum members on here.

If you feel Apple is penny pinching you, then sell your watch and utilize other options on the market. But take heed to the opinions on here, because they are valid and we've already made the appropriate suggestions for you. If that doesn't work, then express your concerns to Apple.