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What is really happening with Space Gray sport watches...

I

ItsGavinC

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 29, 2007
462
296
I ordered at 12:03. The only change I've had so far is that my credit card was charged just 3 minutes ago. Order still says "processing."

This confirms my theory, however, that 90% of the Space Gray sport watches are already stateside and at distribution centers. Apple knew they were the most popular so they moved them first.

I believe we will get charged/shipping notices beginning today and continuing through tomorrow evening. The watches will be mostly shipped overnight Thursday and arrive at our local centers to be put on trucks for distribution on Friday morning.

That's how it was for many of my iPhone orders (they shipped the night before I received them). I also believe that, as with several of my iPhone orders, many people will get a shipping notification AFTER they receive the watch. Many others might get it only hours before.
 
I ordered the 42mm SG Sport at the same time but I have not been charged nor order status has been updated yet.
 
That actually makes a pretty good amount of sense. I like the way you think.

I did just call to verify my billing address was right --- for some odd reason the App formatted my address wrong.

The nice representative did share that some deliveries may actually show up early, whatever that means. My guess is that means most orders will come sooner rather than later, not necessarily before 4/24.
 
It's a plausible theory, but I don't think that's all it is.

SG Sport models all went to 5/13 and beyond ship dates within 5 minutes of the online ordering start time.

All other Sport models were still available well beyond that 5 min mark with the 4/24-⅝ windows. In fact, I was able to order a white sport at xx:23 and its already preparing and charged.

But after placing my 38 SG sport order at xx:02, I went back to see if I could order another at xx:05 and it had the 5/13 delivery window.

So it is likely that while popular, there is a shortage of them. My guess would be the yield on those may have been lower due to something in the mfg process that has been worked out, but is only ramping now.
 
Patience. Just wait, you'll see. If you are in the US, your watch doesn't have to ship from the regional hub until Thursday evening (26+ hours still) for you to receive it Friday.

I remember going to bed bummed one night because my iPhone wasn't going to arrive on time. I had no shipping notices or any change in status. I received it the next morning at 10am and looked at the status page. It had shipped over night from Tennessee, arrived in Phoenix at 3, got to my local center at 4, and was placed on the truck and out for delivery at 6. That all happened without any notice and while I was sleeping.

----------
jomo25 said:
So it is likely that while popular, there is a shortage of them. My guess would be the yield on those may have been lower due to something in the mfg process that has been worked out, but is only ramping now.
Click to expand...

Logistically that makes no sense. We are largely the last group getting charged and shipping notifications because our products have the shortest amount to travel. Those who ordered early had products that were already stocked stateside.
 
It's either:

A) Apple was completely prepared for the demand on the space gray / black bands, and they had already moved a large number of those into position so they can just overnight them on Thursday....

or

B) Apple was completely unprepared for the demand of the space gray / black bands, and have non in position, available to go out, and we'll forever waiting.

or

C) There was a problem in the manufacturing process on the Space Gray / Black bands that's leading to a shortage.

I have a really hard time believing the largest company in the world, with infinite resources, didn't have enough space gray ready... but. Who knows.
 
God I love this stuff.

Talk about setting yourself up.

So what happens when your 'theory' doesn't pan out?

What happens then? Conniptions? :D
 
Ordered 42mm SG @ 3:01 AM EDT. Confirmation at 3:01 AM EDT. Charged and switched to Preparing for Shipment on Monday. Nothing updated since.
 
joshcls said:
It's either:

A) Apple was completely prepared for the demand on the space gray / black bands, and they had already moved a large number of those into position so they can just overnight them on Thursday....

or

B) Apple was completely unprepared for the demand of the space gray / black bands, and have non in position, available to go out, and we'll forever waiting.

or

C) There was a problem in the manufacturing process on the Space Gray / Black bands that's leading to a shortage.

I have a really hard time believing the largest company in the world, with infinite resources, didn't have enough space gray ready... but. Who knows.
Click to expand...

C is the most likely scenario. Look at how many bands have no ship estimates, you can't even preorder. Now look at when the white iPhone 4 came out. It was delayed by like 6 months.

Just throwing money at a problem doesn't fix it.
 
3:04 am ET ON 4/10 here. Have had "processing" and the 4/24-5/8 ship date from the start and still no changes :(

42MM SG w/black sport band.

Still hoping for Friday...

Joe
 
ItsGavinC said:
I ordered at 12:03. The only change I've had so far is that my credit card was charged just 3 minutes ago. Order still says "processing."

This confirms my theory, however, that 90% of the Space Gray sport watches are already stateside and at distribution centers. Apple knew they were the most popular so they moved them first.

I believe we will get charged/shipping notices beginning today and continuing through tomorrow evening. The watches will be mostly shipped overnight Thursday and arrive at our local centers to be put on trucks for distribution on Friday morning.

That's how it was for many of my iPhone orders (they shipped the night before I received them). I also believe that, as with several of my iPhone orders, many people will get a shipping notification AFTER they receive the watch. Many others might get it only hours before.
Click to expand...

This makes perfect sense. I had a feeling the majority of day 1 orders were already state side. I mean they rolled out demo watches 4/10. Apple had been gearing up for the launch and this isn't their first rodeo.
 
joshcls said:
Really, it's the most likely?
Click to expand...

I remember when the white iPhone came out. At least they were up front about it though. The gold iPhone was a problem. I don't think they thought many people would want one. They were wrong.
 
My order is now preparing for shipment. So from no movement to a credit charge and preparing for shipment in the past 45 minutes.

----------
Lucifer666 said:
God I love this stuff.

Talk about setting yourself up.

So what happens when your 'theory' doesn't pan out?

What happens then? Conniptions? :D
Click to expand...

It will pan out. It's how it has happened for every launch product I've ordered and had shipped. I have 100% confidence in this.

We have data that says people expecting their watches in the second batch of shipments are now getting shipping orders. You think they would ship those before shipping the ones that people ordered first? That's not how it works.
 
I'm just glad I won't be home on delivery day, hopefully Friday.

I was home for deliveryday of the 1st iPad. I drove myself NUTS!!!! Lol.

And fwiw, my iPhone 4 was delivered a day early so who knows!!!
 
The only part I don't get about this is why the website showed a later shipping window when we first ordered. Seems like they'd have a pretty good idea how many they could make each week, from the outset. I could see them beating that estimate some, but not by the tune of 3-4 weeks time.
 
joshcls said:
Really, it's the most likely?
Click to expand...

If it was A you would see more charges hit. Apple wants people to get their watches. Why create possible billing issues when charging a card the day before. Give me a -little- time to correct it.

B doesn't seem right. They have a good idea what demand will be. They aren't totally blind.
 
ItsGavinC said:
I ordered at 12:03. The only change I've had so far is that my credit card was charged just 3 minutes ago. Order still says "processing."

This confirms my theory, however, that 90% of the Space Gray sport watches are already stateside and at distribution centers. Apple knew they were the most popular so they moved them first.

I believe we will get charged/shipping notices beginning today and continuing through tomorrow evening. The watches will be mostly shipped overnight Thursday and arrive at our local centers to be put on trucks for distribution on Friday morning.

That's how it was for many of my iPhone orders (they shipped the night before I received them). I also believe that, as with several of my iPhone orders, many people will get a shipping notification AFTER they receive the watch. Many others might get it only hours before.
Click to expand...

Why would they put most of the SG sport in a May 13 shipping window then?
 
joshcls said:
It's either:

A) Apple was completely prepared for the demand on the space gray / black bands, and they had already moved a large number of those into position so they can just overnight them on Thursday....

or

B) Apple was completely unprepared for the demand of the space gray / black bands, and have non in position, available to go out, and we'll forever waiting.

or

C) There was a problem in the manufacturing process on the Space Gray / Black bands that's leading to a shortage.

I have a really hard time believing the largest company in the world, with infinite resources, didn't have enough space gray ready... but. Who knows.
Click to expand...

Don't forget they did not realize gold iPhone was in demand when they first introduced it. I bet they thought the Sport with the blue and pink bands would be the hottest items.
 
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