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

Was your Try On very touchy feely/don't touch my stuff?

My try on started out on the more controlling side but she lightened up over the appt. Funniest part was how protective they were. I asked if I could put the watch on myself to get an idea how the sport band worked. I came off the edge of the table slightly and she looked like I was dangling an infant over a balcony railing. She pushed my hands back over the table.

My biggest peeve was that they did not have both the 38 and 42 black sport or ss to try on. (Didn't have 38) At least she did check the other drawers.
 
They guy who helped me at my try on appointment helped to put on and take off the watch but asked permission to touch my arm before each time, like he was being very respectful of my personal space. He was very friendly and helpful and seemed genuinely excited to be able to show us the watches. He didn't stop me from touching the watches and let me try for myself the strength of the milanese loop. My partner and I made 2 back to back appointments and he helped us both try on watches at the same time. He kept polishing the watches before letting us try them on. I went to try on a watch my partner had just worn and I said "it's ok, you don't need to polish it" but he did anyways and said he wanted me to have a "fresh experience". I'm assuming the polishing thing must be something they are trained to do so that the watch looks its best when you go to try it on. The whole experience did have a real jewelry store feeling.
 
The associate did want to put the watch on me - and asked before he did so. I thought it was great. Didn't feel rushed at all and he let me try any band and case combinations I wanted.
 
mbhforum said:
Agreed but I also think the average person who doesn't visit these forums won't catch on to this as much since they aren't seeing patterns like we are. The whole 15 minute thing is ridiculous though as you feel rushed. Normally in a retail store, you aren't pressured with the clock ticking. This is the real issue to me but I also understand Apple's perspective on not frustrating waiting customers.
Click to expand...

I'm sure after a month or two, they will relax it. Maybe even a 1 hour one-on-one like all the other products. They are trying to be considerate for everyone who are looking to try them on.
 
They asked if I needed help putting the watch on the first time, after that they encouraged me to put on and take off the watches on my own.

They even showed me how easy it was to change bands and let me put together the configuration I ordered...SG Sport w/black leather loop.

They were very friendly and knowledgable.

It was a good experience and I was glad I went in. Also some free time with the unattended functional watches was great. I feel reassured I made no only the right decision for ordering an Apple Watch, but also I got it right for the configuration and sizes that works for me.
 
I did notice the girl that did help me was a little like almost expecting me to drop it. But if she was a he, I could see it being moderately uncomfortable. Though, I will say, the me bands style are a little awkward and I could see people dropping it. To put the poor girl at ease I swapped watches over the table, specifically that blue mat. I will say she let me touch everything and anything I wanted, which I really loved. I ordered the sport but got to see the SS with the myloneese(?) loop, which is magic and wonderful, btw.
 
CharlieCat666 said:
Yes, he put the band on for me both times, but I liked that. It's like buying a real watch.
And he let me try on as many as I wanted even without asking before hand. Even let me mix the bands.
Click to expand...

I can't wait for Apple to introduce their own brand of condoms.
 
My gal was reasonably accommodating, though she was counting the watches in the drawer like a pathological OCD sufferer. And there was a second employee there who was watching over my helper as well as the person at the next station (so three employees for two try-on stations).

I think it'll take a while before it's a uniformly comfortable experience. For right now it's a bunch of twenty-something's trying to emulate a fine watch store or jeweler's - who have clearly never been to a fine watch store.
 
I felt that in the start and just stood listening to the things I already knew but waited patiently. He was actually accommodating and let us try any combo. They didn't have the one I wanted to see :(
 
i sat there and poked through a few of the watches before identifying the milanese loop to try on. The guy was cool though.
 
The guy that helped me was nice, but like others said they were very nervous if my arm ever deviated even half an inch off the mat. That annoyed me a little, because I wanted to back off from the table for a second since I was holding my arm out and over the mat constantly. When I asked if I could tighten the band, the guy said sure, but, of course, I had to have the watch perfectly square in the center of the mat. The whole time he was watching me like a hawk just waiting for me to drop it.

I had my Pebble out to compare sizes, and I set it on the table and they asked me to put it in my pocket, which I didn't like very much. I bought both an Apple Watch and a Pebble, I can have either out and put them anywhere I want, thanks. Didn't get to compare sizes, unfortunately.

Overall I was satisfied with the try-on. I'd give it a 6.5/10. I do wish I would've had some of the more relaxed and laid back employees like some of you had.
 
The experience I had at my Apple Store was really positive actually. The employee was curtious (which was abnormal at this location for me). She made it feel like I was actually at a jewelry store trying on an expensive watch. We had to switch sides so she could put it on (I guess they are trained to put it on the first time) but she showed me how the bands worked and let me adjust them and everything. Really positive experience. She didn't even mind me putting the Watch down by my pocket and reaching in to get my phone which was nice; it allowed me to really gauge how much force it put on my wrist.

She let me try on all the Watches she had in the box that were 42mm (the only size bands that would fit me) and my friend tried the 38mm. She even took a photo of us with my phone which was awesome. Overall very nice experience. I can't wait to get my own personal one in. I keep my figures crossed it gets here on 4/24 and not 5/8. :D
 
ColoArtist said:
They even showed me how easy it was to change bands and let me put together the configuration I ordered...SG Sport w/black leather loop.
Click to expand...

You're lucky. The guy I had was insistent that they're not allowed to mix non-sports bands with the Apple Watch Sport for the try-on. Eventually I persuaded him that I'm not willing to spend $200+ on the black leather loop for the space grey sports without being able to see it first and he swapped it for me briefly in a sneaky way. haha. The combination looks amazing by the way, so glad I'm getting it.
 
The guy who took me through the try on appointment was physically very hands off. He took the two watches out that I asked to see and placed them on the mat for me to try. Other than explaining how to comfortably place the sports band on, we just had a nice little casual chat. No pressure and no fuss, I placed the watches back on the mat, shook his hand and thanked him for his time.
 
Positive experience at Covent garden. Associate asked if he could put it on but didn't restrict me in doing anything I wanted.

Cemented my 42 SS Milanese preorder decision. Also ordered white sports band afterwards.

My wife was with me and he even asked if she wanted to try some on. Only funny thing was he put her watch on upside down :)
 
I had a fantastic experience! The store (Lansing, MI) was packed with employees, and even though I had an appointment for 13:30 I was able to arrive early and immediately be assisted. The young gal already knew what I was interested in looking at (thanks Apple Store app favorite!) and took it out (42 SS w/ Link). She ask if I would like her to put it on me and I agreed. After a few moments and questions I took it off and she asked if there was any other combination I'd like to examine. She let me put them on, take a picture, try removing the band, etc...

Overall: awesome experience! If this is what Angela Ahrendts is going to do to help improve the Apple shopping experience in retail, she's succeeding!

Forgot to mention: after trying on the watches I messed around with one of the demo stations. This was a super slick setup and I didn't even notice at first that the iPad mini next to the watch would load up data about whatever app I was activating on the watch until an employee mentioned it to me. Coincidentally, the employee was wearing a Shinola watch (I know made in Detroit when I see it) and we chatted about that for a minute before talking about the build quality of the watch, the faces and customization options available. Great experience (typical of an Apple store)! He wandered away after a few minutes and I kept poking at the apps and investigating. Few moments later another gentleman walked up and asked how I liked the watch. I immediately began professing my love for it and he asked if I ordered one to which I replied I did (03:04 AM baby!). I told him the model and that I thought about the DLC coated SS, but thought that the regular would be more versatile with my outfits. He began asking me questions about my style, what I do, what I wear, etc... This was EXACTLY in line with earlier reports about Apple focusing the piece as a fashion piece.

This was what I consider the premier shopping experience that Apple has become known for. It's why they're always rated at the high end of customer service. No rushing, complete positivity, extreme knowledge. Kudos to Apple!
 
Last edited:
supertomtom said:
Mine was like that. He insisted on putting it on for me and everytime I try to feel the watch, he would quickly pick it up to 'clean it'. Lol. I thought maybe I had grubby hands for a minute.
Click to expand...
Well you do ;) We all do. Natural oils on even clean hands will rub off on metal. Some metals, like fine brass, you really shouldn't handle with a bare hands at all, unless you like polishing off tarnish. Next time you go in, blow their minds by pulling out your white cotton antiquing gloves to give the AW to royal treatment. Good on the Apple staff for meticulously wiping down the devices to maintain the luster (and to appease the germophobes of the world :p )
 
I wasn't sure what to expect going into the appointment, but I didn't feel like it was too touchy feely. I shared an appointment with my mum so the two of us were trying the watches at the same time with 1 employee.

My mum was stood closer to the table so the employee interacted with her a little more (she also had less knowledge of the product going in, so it made sense).

I tried three watches, a 42mm space grey sport, 38mm milanese (beautiful!) and a 42mm blue leather loop.

The employee put each watch on my wrist, allowing me to play with the milanese and leather loop and adjust the strap to my own preference. I didn't feel like the employee was directing me, or taking over. At one point I even had the milanese down by my side whilst the conversation continued and she didn't seem to be desperate to get it back off my wrist.

I scared her a little, my own awkward handedness made it look like I was about to drop the watch with leather loop :p I had a tight grip of the strap as it fell away from my wrist, but we both laughed it off.
 
I went to two try-ons at two different Apple stores. The first one was much more "controlled," with the guy asking which one I wanted to try before opening the case, putting it on for me, not letting me swap bands out etc.

The second one was much more hands-off - the guy took out several watches for me, helped me put them on initially, but then basically let me do my own thing including mixing/matching straps and only jumped in when I asked him questions.

Seems like a very inconsistent experience from employee to employee but overall I would say both were still positive. Remember, this whole process is very new for them so I'm sure it'll take time to work out the kinks.
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
Just went for my try on experience yesterday, and found it to be really touchy feely. It's almost as-if the Apple employees were trained not to let the customer touch/handle the phone at all unless it was strapped on the wrist.

I wanted to slip on the watch myself, but they insisted on putting it on my wrist for me, which just made things a little awkward. In the process, they ended up touching my arm/hands a lot more than was comfortable for a complete stranger.

At the same time, they seemed really guarded and protective of the watches when they were laying on the table. Every time I tried to handle one, he would pick it up and polish it, and lay it back down as if to imply "do not touch."

How was your fitting?
Click to expand...

Not at all. They did try to put the watches on for me, but they would put a couple down on the table and let me put them on if I wanted to. The way they put them on was just like trying to be nice I guess, and when I went to take it off and grab another one they didnt mind. Also, they took multiple out at a time to compare and I don't think they were supposed to do that.

Also, they wouldn't swap bands for me. They said they weren't allowed to, so i didnt see what other bands would look like on the sport or anything, but I didnt really need to.
 
My experience was really good. The specialist I saw did want to put a few bands on me at first, but were totally OK with me moving it about and making adjustments myself. I tried six bands, both sizes, and the Sport. They let me swap the band on a modern buckle to the Sport just for the heck of it as well.

There was only two models out at any one time though, when asked the person I was speaking to said it was simply because it makes it easier to manage. She would be OK taking another one out if the store was quieter, which was fair enough.
 
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