In MY perfect world all orders placed prior to 4/24 launch date, technically preorders, should be the priority. All accessory bands should have had the June/July ship dates upon preordering. Once all watch preorders placed prior to 4/24 were fulfilled then individual bands and in store stock can be shipped. This gives the early adopters a sense of being considered a valued customer by giving the perception of exclusivity. As far as AC+ is concerned, my understanding is that it's based on the product sku#. The watch and attached band are a single sku#. AC+ covers that individual watch sku# not the accessory band sku#.
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Watch with Stainless Steel Link Bracelet Orders
- Thread starter anthonya1999
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Yep, I've opened a case with Apple. If additional accessories are automagically added to your AC+, they need to update the T's & C's of the agreement (for NA is located here: http://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/docs/applecareplusnaen.html)
I'd be glad if they are, but they really need to state that in the agreement (otherwise, that could be withdrawn without notice).
I'd be glad if they are, but they really need to state that in the agreement (otherwise, that could be withdrawn without notice).
So on a lighter note... I don't think your not wanted here bunnicula. Honestly I get on this forum solely to see if anyone's watch with link has shipped yet. It kinda sucks for people like me that have to read through everyone's bitching just to find the information I'm looking for. I don't mind though because I do enjoy reading peoples different opinions on why things are going the way they are. And also sometimes bitching is rather funny. Congratulations on getting everything before us that is a pretty awesome loophole you discovered. There was no way of knowing if that would work or not but it seems it worked out great for you. Honestly I kinda wish I had thought of it. But no one knows how apple is gonna do things like I said before this is all just a guessing game. Working in production lines before I can understand how the bands may have been produced faster than the actual watch but even knowing how things work still sucks on my end because I really want my watch especially since I see my wife playing with hers everyday. So like I said on a lighter note none of us should have to wait much longer. The 13th of may is rapidly approaching and we have all waited this long so whats a few more days. It sucks but lets stop the bitching!
It will not be covered, trust me, we've already undergone extensive training for Apple Watch service at the Genius Bar. Also, interesting tidbit that we've learned. If your band is damaged, and your watch is damaged, you're going to be using both of your incidentals in one go. Band and watch are treated as separate products under AC+
But it's one SKU!!! Oh, that's just ***** evil of Apple to pull that. If it's one incident, it should only count as one.
Heh...they better update their T's & C's to cover that then - I see people challenging that....especially in sue-happy CA!
Watch with Stainless Steel Link Bracelet Orders
This seems far more likely. I see no way that they would, out of kindness, cover additional bands that you purchase. Anyone that did not purchase the most expensive band with their original watch purchase could find themselves left high and dry if both band and watch get destroyed. Especially if you ordered the link separate, think about how many pieces make up this band alone! If one of those pieces break anyone who tried to order the link band separate to get it sooner will be very disappointed they didn't have some patience.
This seems far more likely. I see no way that they would, out of kindness, cover additional bands that you purchase. Anyone that did not purchase the most expensive band with their original watch purchase could find themselves left high and dry if both band and watch get destroyed. Especially if you ordered the link separate, think about how many pieces make up this band alone! If one of those pieces break anyone who tried to order the link band separate to get it sooner will be very disappointed they didn't have some patience.
I agree that because Apple had promised earlier delivery windows for the band only is a valid reason as to why they shipped first before the full watch orders.
But that is the ONLY reason why it makes any sense to do that. The band is an extra accessory above and beyond receiving a watch. It's icing on the cake so to say. Apples priority should have been getting cake (full watch orders) out to everyone before any extra bells and whistles.
Nobody knows why there was a delay from the start but everyone assumes it's because of the bands and the manufacturing time it takes. If this is true, it is completely backwards that the bands are going out first before fulfilling band + watch orders. Apples priority naturally should be getting WATCHES out the door for their new and important product launch, not holding up watches for an extra additive in limited supply.
Even if you ask a completely neutral 3rd party if they think that's logical, they agree that the full order should have been completed first and the extra band should be last priority. "Oh here you go guys, let's ship out the very thing that is holding up our whole process to begin with and satisfy less watch customers and drain our supply even more!"
The fact does remain however that Apple decided to do it in a completely backwards way that is only pissing off its waiting watch customers. Those that were brave enough to take extra time during ordering to look at individual band prices definitely out-smarted and beat everyone else. (But really only by a couple of days.)
I on the other hand ordered a Space Black Link bracelet, and that band is not able to be ordered separately. Even if it were, I would not have risked looking at the bands ship time during ordering, I was all about getting my order in as fast as I could.
The wait is almost over, as terrible as it has been up to now. What happened happened no matter how backwards and idiotic it was.
But that is the ONLY reason why it makes any sense to do that. The band is an extra accessory above and beyond receiving a watch. It's icing on the cake so to say. Apples priority should have been getting cake (full watch orders) out to everyone before any extra bells and whistles.
Nobody knows why there was a delay from the start but everyone assumes it's because of the bands and the manufacturing time it takes. If this is true, it is completely backwards that the bands are going out first before fulfilling band + watch orders. Apples priority naturally should be getting WATCHES out the door for their new and important product launch, not holding up watches for an extra additive in limited supply.
Even if you ask a completely neutral 3rd party if they think that's logical, they agree that the full order should have been completed first and the extra band should be last priority. "Oh here you go guys, let's ship out the very thing that is holding up our whole process to begin with and satisfy less watch customers and drain our supply even more!"
The fact does remain however that Apple decided to do it in a completely backwards way that is only pissing off its waiting watch customers. Those that were brave enough to take extra time during ordering to look at individual band prices definitely out-smarted and beat everyone else. (But really only by a couple of days.)
I on the other hand ordered a Space Black Link bracelet, and that band is not able to be ordered separately. Even if it were, I would not have risked looking at the bands ship time during ordering, I was all about getting my order in as fast as I could.
The wait is almost over, as terrible as it has been up to now. What happened happened no matter how backwards and idiotic it was.
Here's what I think. I think that, as always, Apple wanted to have sufficient supplies of all models and accessories to cover launch demand. And, as always, they had to juggle a lot of pieces in advance of the launch, including announcing a launch date, and coordinating thousands of supply-chain details.
With the watch, this was all more complicated than usual for reasons we've all heard: new product category, new technologies, new materials, new manufacturing methods, and not least, being new to luxury and fashion markets, where one of their biggest challenges would have been trying to predict how many people would order which of 38 different watch models.
Other complicating factors: committing in 2014 to an "early 2015" launch (which I've heard interpreted to mean "before the end of April"), and at least one serious component manufacturing problem (the Taptic Engine), and probably others.
Evidence suggests there are, or were, manufacturing challenges for both the Link Bracelet and the Modern Buckle. The problem with LB production probably has to do with ramping quantities, likely related to the sheer number of precision machined parts involved. The Modern Buckle problem: maybe a clasp retention design issue they are scrambling to fix.
In any case, it is into this setting that Apple was forced to launch, warning users in advance that supplies would be tight, adjusting in-store availability plans, etc. The delivery windows they've given us are the expression of all this, representing the best and fairest promises that can be made of a very complicated situation. So far they've honored those promises, which I take as a sign that they've got a handle on things now (except maybe as regards the Modern Buckle, which is still completely MIA).
It's petty for us to think that Apple is somehow being unfair, or not doing all that can be done to move the process along. I'm constantly amazed they can do any of it as well as they do. What other company could have done better?
With the watch, this was all more complicated than usual for reasons we've all heard: new product category, new technologies, new materials, new manufacturing methods, and not least, being new to luxury and fashion markets, where one of their biggest challenges would have been trying to predict how many people would order which of 38 different watch models.
Other complicating factors: committing in 2014 to an "early 2015" launch (which I've heard interpreted to mean "before the end of April"), and at least one serious component manufacturing problem (the Taptic Engine), and probably others.
Evidence suggests there are, or were, manufacturing challenges for both the Link Bracelet and the Modern Buckle. The problem with LB production probably has to do with ramping quantities, likely related to the sheer number of precision machined parts involved. The Modern Buckle problem: maybe a clasp retention design issue they are scrambling to fix.
In any case, it is into this setting that Apple was forced to launch, warning users in advance that supplies would be tight, adjusting in-store availability plans, etc. The delivery windows they've given us are the expression of all this, representing the best and fairest promises that can be made of a very complicated situation. So far they've honored those promises, which I take as a sign that they've got a handle on things now (except maybe as regards the Modern Buckle, which is still completely MIA).
It's petty for us to think that Apple is somehow being unfair, or not doing all that can be done to move the process along. I'm constantly amazed they can do any of it as well as they do. What other company could have done better?
I thought that I'd share my story and perhaps add to the watch ordering strategy discussion that we've been having. Like many, I was online as soon as the Web site was up (next time I will use both web and Apple Store). Had my cart all set to checkout from earlier in the week. Hit the enter key at 3:01 something and saw the 4-6 weeks. Checked on my two other favorite band options (also 4-6) weeks and ultimately went with my original 42mm SS LB order. Confirmation at 3:08.
I was pretty excited during the order process, as I'm sure everyone else was. That's part of the fun of the launch. I had to make choices, as did we all, between looking at other ordering options versus the time it takes to look! The starting gun, after all, had gone off and it was a race. I never even considered ordering the watch with a sport band and adding the SS LB as an accessory. That would have been an extra $50. I don't need the sport band, the LB is good for sports.
Bottom line, I wasn't willing to pay $50 to get my watch a few weeks earlier. That premium ($25/week) equates to $1,300/year; more than the price of the entire watch. Might be worth it to some, that's an individual choice. It wasn't to me.
What were your strategies? What should we do next launch? So far:
1) Have your cart ready for checkout.
2) Use the Apple Store first, with the web as a backup.
3) Have Apple Pay setup for one-click purchasing.
I was pretty excited during the order process, as I'm sure everyone else was. That's part of the fun of the launch. I had to make choices, as did we all, between looking at other ordering options versus the time it takes to look! The starting gun, after all, had gone off and it was a race. I never even considered ordering the watch with a sport band and adding the SS LB as an accessory. That would have been an extra $50. I don't need the sport band, the LB is good for sports.
Bottom line, I wasn't willing to pay $50 to get my watch a few weeks earlier. That premium ($25/week) equates to $1,300/year; more than the price of the entire watch. Might be worth it to some, that's an individual choice. It wasn't to me.
What were your strategies? What should we do next launch? So far:
1) Have your cart ready for checkout.
2) Use the Apple Store first, with the web as a backup.
3) Have Apple Pay setup for one-click purchasing.
ZPr13st, your argument assumes there aren't enough LB bands to fulfill both types of orders at the same time.
Say Facility A, where LB bands are made, just finished its first deliverable batch about a week ago, a large enough number to cover all the 1st-week orders of both watches and accessory bands. For the watch orders, they get put in trays and shipped to Facility B where watches are made. There, the new bands get integrated into the watch assembly process, for watches that will ship as soon as they are completed, within a week or so. For accessory orders, the new bands just get boxed at Facility A and are ready for shipping immediately.
Both of these processes can occur simultaneously, independently, without impacting the other, and everybody gets their order fulfilled as soon as possible. Accessory order fulfillment does not slow down watch order fulfillment. They follow separate paths, with the accessory path taking less time, because fewer steps. Make sense?
Say Facility A, where LB bands are made, just finished its first deliverable batch about a week ago, a large enough number to cover all the 1st-week orders of both watches and accessory bands. For the watch orders, they get put in trays and shipped to Facility B where watches are made. There, the new bands get integrated into the watch assembly process, for watches that will ship as soon as they are completed, within a week or so. For accessory orders, the new bands just get boxed at Facility A and are ready for shipping immediately.
Both of these processes can occur simultaneously, independently, without impacting the other, and everybody gets their order fulfilled as soon as possible. Accessory order fulfillment does not slow down watch order fulfillment. They follow separate paths, with the accessory path taking less time, because fewer steps. Make sense?
Me, I've been following the whole process. I've been in tech a bit over 20 years (including 8+ at RIM/BlackBerry) - yeah, yeah, save your catcalls. I could go on about that for days what they did wrong. But I've had my "nose pressed against the glass" waiting for this for some time...and thinking of all kinds of exciting apps that can be developed to leverage the watch. But, the watch I wanted wasn't available. I wanted the Space Black, but with a sport band. Paying the full pop for the SB SS w LB was just insane, right? I mean this is a 1.0 product!!
So, I watched as everyone enjoyed prelaunch and counted down the days. Friend of mine got his SG sport BSB on launch day. He wasn't keen (but, he's not your typical early adopter....me, I beta tested practically from day 1 at BB).
I had a try-on appointment to try to convince myself to get the expensive toy...and it helped. Had the try-on April 25th, ordered on the 27th.
And every day since has been agonizing over why I didn't just order the damn thing on the 10th....and cancel it if my investigation proved otherwise.
To be honest, I really didn't think there were enough early adopters to swamp Apple's capability. I figured production would catch up and my ETA would quickly move up to May.
Yep...that's not gonna happen. Next time I'll order first and take my chances.
Meh. The SS Watch and the LB are run-of-the-mill merchandise. By this time, everybody and his dog got one.
The _really_ hip thing is the SS&LB-packaging with the corresponding images and labels. We will be the first to have one!!1 Yay apple \o/!
Ze<12:02>ep
The _really_ hip thing is the SS&LB-packaging with the corresponding images and labels. We will be the first to have one!!1 Yay apple \o/!
Ze<12:02>ep
Meh. The SS Watch and the LB are run-of-the-mill merchandise. By this time, everybody and his dog got one.
The _really_ hip thing is the SS&LB-packaging with the corresponding images and labels. We will be the first to have one!!1 Yay apple \o/!
Ze<12:02>ep
And it now comes to this #
My strategy was: Don't order until after a try-on, which the earliest I could do (my schedule problems, not Apple's) was Sunday morning, the 12th, launch weekend. After seeing and testing, I wanted two bands: BSB and LB. By then both watch options were at 4-6 weeks, so it didn't matter. Ordered a 38mm SS w/LB for me, a 38mm SS w/BMB for Marcia, and an accessory BSB. Same delivery window for both watches: 5/14-28, only one day displaced from the 5/13-27 window you first orderers got, so, not too bad, all things considered.
A good point. All of us who ordered when the store opened were buying "sight unseen". I would like Apple to have the items in the store next time, before pre-orders begin. My impression is, however, that Angela did NOT want crowds in the stores and that is why the pre-orders were scheduled as they were.
Imagine if you could try them on, but not buy one or even order one. That would've been worse. I think Apple did it the only way they could, short of postponing the launch altogether.
Yeah my first "sight unseen" order was at XX:01 on 4/10 for a 42/Milanese and I cancelled it on 4/12 because I didn't like it after I got some time to see it. Then on 4/18 I ordered the 42/LB as an "informed" decision. I also wish they had the try-ons prior to preordering.
No, i don't. Those items are being processed for good!
Don't tell me you are... I'll blow out the candles at my apple shrine.
That's 1. Impossible 2. That would suck for people that pre-ordered and wanted an accessory band. I ordered the Space Black and ordered extra sport bands. If I had to wait until June to get them, it diminishes the usefulness of my Watch, since I can't really go running or to the gym with the Link band (at least not comfortably)