Why is the Apple Watch such a tough sell?

[TAZ911]

I'm an Apple fan and love the idea of the Apple Watch; however when my Suunto Ambit crapped out and I went shopping for a replacement I didn't drop $400 on an Apple Watch.

When it comes to watches and other jewelry type items I'm a 24/7/365 kind of guy. I bike, swim, and do indoor strength and cardio training. The watch is useless for swimming, heck you're not even supposed to take a shower with it on. Couple that with needing to charge daily and it didn't make sense me for me to drop that kind of cash on a device that doesn't meet all my needs.

I like what they look like. Loved how they felt on the wrist, but in the end the gadgety phone accessory features didn't mean enough for ME to compromise on the fitness items I needed the watch functional for.

Hopefully Apple continues to improve functionality and ruggedness over the next year and then it will make sense for me to consider them.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'm an Apple fan and love the idea of the Apple Watch; however when my Suunto Ambit crapped out and I went shopping for a replacement I didn't drop $400 on an Apple Watch.

When it comes to watches and other jewelry type items I'm a 24/7/365 kind of guy. I bike, swim, and do indoor strength and cardio training. The watch is useless for swimming, heck you're not even supposed to take a shower with it on. Couple that with needing to charge daily and it didn't make sense me for me to drop that kind of cash on a device that doesn't meet all my needs.

I like what they look like. Loved how they felt on the wrist, but in the end the gadgety phone accessory features didn't mean enough for ME to compromise on the fitness items I needed the watch functional for.

Hopefully Apple continues to improve functionality and ruggedness over the next year and then it will make sense for me to consider them.

There are threads in which members have taken them swimming, surfing, diving, etc. and they haven't failed. The IPX7 water resistant rating appears to be a very conservative one and it's actually more robust than that.

 

[exxxviii]

Hopefully Apple continues to improve functionality and ruggedness over the next year and then it will make sense for me to consider them.

Looks like you are an ideal target customer for a Garmin Fenix3, Casio G-Shock, or Timex Ironman watch.

 

[AFEPPL]

Its $350 over priced and doesn't really do anything i cant already do - in a better way from a different type of device..

 

[TAZ911]

There are threads in which members have taken them swimming, surfing, diving, etc. and they haven't failed. The IPX7 water resistant rating appears to be a very conservative one and it's actually more robust than that.

Quite true, and Im willing to bet that the watch is quite more robust than what Apple states. However at $400 I want a guarantee from the manufacturer not a bet.

Looks like you are an ideal target customer for a Garmin Fenix3, Casio G-Shock, or Timex Ironman watch.

Garmin Forerunner 225 actually. No HR strap was the swinging feature.

 

[papbot]

Its $400 for a watch that will be quickly outdated, and likely unusable within a few years.

Since it's mostly dependent on iOS phone software, it's not likely to be outdated for several years if then. Unusable? What a laugh, I have a 14 year old iPod that works great, I use it every day. It doesn't do what today's iPods do but so what. It does what it was designed to do.

 

[acctman]

I've talked to a lot of Apple Watch skeptics who scoff when they see my Space Grey Sport. The conversation usually goes something like this:

Me: What can your $400 watch do?

Skeptic: Tell the time. What can your $400 watch do?

Me:
Tell the time.
Track my activity/workouts.
Display new text messages/emails.
Warn me when it's about to rain (Dark Sky).
Control the music throughout my house.
Remind me of upcoming appointments.
Provide turn-by-turn directions.
Answer or place a phone call.
Quick access to one-time passwords (for 2FA).
And much more....

Skeptic: But you have to charge it every day!

That's it! That's the biggest knock against the Apple Watch.

I just don't get why the bar is set so high, given that the existing technology is so limited AND has a similar (or higher) price tag.

because it's iPhone only. I like my AW but the Fitbit Charger and Surge have features that I wish the AW had

 

[Totally]

Still waiting for OP to respond to my beautifully written comment...

 

[oghowie]

because it's iPhone only. I like my AW but the Fitbit Charger and Surge have features that I wish the AW had

Yeah, I actually returned my Apple Watch for the Fitbit Charge HR and am fairly happy with it. Only wish it was more water resistant.

I would have kept the Apple Watch if it was around $250.

 

[Roller]

Still waiting for OP to respond to my beautifully written comment...

There are those of us, myself included, for whom the Apple Watch is a very useful device that complements the iPhone nicely and is worth what we paid. I completely understand that others have little or no use for the AW, or think that it's too expensive for what it offers. Both are perfectly valid points of view. What irks me is people who come here and explicitly or implicitly belittle those of us in the former group.

 

[Macwick]

Me (Totally): Yes, great. My iPhone can do everything you put on that list on a nice big screen. And my $400 watch gets compliments based on it's fashionable style and I'm sure yours doesn't because it looks like every other apple watch out there worn by every other person that wants their technology on their wrist.

You're right about that - no one is complimenting the style of my Apple Watch. I also wore dumb watches for years and no one ever said a word about them. Regardless, fashion compliments from others just isn't a big motivator for me, but if it moves the needle for you that's cool.

I'll stick with my $400 nice looking watch that will last me years. And you can have your $400 watch that will be obsolete in 9 months.

I think others have addressed this particular comment. We have no idea at this point how long the Gen 1 Apple Watch will last. What *is* likely to happen is that the Gen 1 will feel outdated next to the Gen 5. A traditional watch, on the other hand, doesn't become quickly outdated because they never change or evolve.

Point of my post? It's great that you like your Apple Watch. But. People have different styles. Stop trying to convince them that yours is the right one, it's not your place. You don't need to sell me on the Apple Watch. You can't.

I want to address this particular point because a few people have made it. Let me be clear - I'm not *trying* to sell anyone on the Apple Watch. I actually don't talk about it unless someone else brings it up. What I'm finding is that people tend to confront me about it - maybe they feel insecure? They'll say 'oh, you got one of those. Needs to be charged every day. What a pointless gadget, etc. etc'.

More than anything else I'm confused why they have such high standards for my watch, while the alternative dumb watches are one trick ponies that cost as much if not more.

 

[Xeyad]

As with the only one with an Apple Watch in my family and friends, the questions around it weren't that it needs charging everyday. I told them you really don't need worry about charging it, as I have a stand for it, so I put it in the stand whenever I'm done with it, and overall seems to last me about 2 days. The real questions come around its price.

Realistically, even if you get the $400 Apple Watch Sport 42mm, you need about $100 - $150 to get a nice band and a stand. At $500, honestly, the Watch Sport isn't that great looking. So in fact, many people with the SS, myself included, have spent at least $700 ($600 SS 42mm Sport Band + extra watch band and stand) on this thing. Even though I love it and thankfully I can afford it, I just can't seem to recommend it to everyone unless you're interested in technology. Yes it's a nice looking time piece, but as of right now, it's just not that useful. Sure it has a bunch of features, but really the main two are notifications and fitness; watch faces have become a bit boring now. For that kind of money, my family and friends are thrown off by it.

The Apple Watch is a great smartwatch, maybe even the best out there, but after using it for a few months now, I'm more convinced that smartwatches won't catch on. If you own a smartphone, they're an added convenience, but nothing special that makes me addicted to it or use it everywhere I go. If it was $150 or $200, then it wouldn't be a big deal, but when it's as expensive as an actual iPhone and could get close to the price of a Macbook, it's just a bit too much for the majority of people.

 

[Totally]

You're right about that - no one is complimenting the style of my Apple Watch. I also wore dumb watches for years and no one ever said a word about them. Regardless, fashion compliments from others just isn't a big motivator for me, but if it moves the needle for you that's cool.



I think others have addressed this particular comment. We have no idea at this point how long the Gen 1 Apple Watch will last. What *is* likely to happen is that the Gen 1 will feel outdated next to the Gen 5. A traditional watch, on the other hand, doesn't become quickly outdated because they never change or evolve.



I want to address this particular point because a few people have made it. Let me be clear - I'm not *trying* to sell anyone on the Apple Watch. I actually don't talk about it unless someone else brings it up. What I'm finding is that people tend to confront me about it - maybe they feel insecure? They'll say 'oh, you got one of those. Needs to be charged every day. What a pointless gadget, etc. etc'.

More than anything else I'm confused why they have such high standards for my watch, while the alternative dumb watches are one trick ponies that cost as much if not more.

Thanks for responding to my post. Yes, I can be opinionated. But I promise you I don't confront other people about their Apple Watches. It's not my place to decide what watch anyone wears except for me =P. I was just curious your thoughts. I'm actually kind of surprised you get confronted about your watch choice. Didn't know people had feelings that strong.

 

[jmcclain145]

Most people don't realize that a decent to above average watch will run anywhere from 350-700 or more. As OP stated those just tell time and really don't appreciate in value as some will argue. The charging has never been an issue with me (except for beta 1 and 2 of watch OS 2. Lol) but the watch for me charges in like 2 hours from dead.

Michael Kors, Burberry, Nixon and a handful of others will give you the style and quality and run about 350-700 or slightly more.

I guess the people that won't spend the money for the apple watches are the ones that don't value a timepiece. Ones who spend 50-100 on a timex, Casio ect... Not knocking those brands or the people that buy them.

Guess this long winded post is essentially saying a lot of people might not be educated on what a decent timepiece actually runs.

 

[briankeith513]

It is a tough sale because it is expensive. People can't shake off the fact that for the price of an Apple watch, they could have gotten an iPad, iPhone, or even a MacBook. These devices perform many more functions, and as a result, they can't justify in their minds to spend that much money on something that does a lot less.

This is the number one reason, and I don't blame anyone for feeling this way, and I'm a happy Apple Watch owner.

 

[Totally]

Michael Kors, Burberry, Nixon and a handful of others will give you the style and quality and run about 350-700 or slightly more.

I guess the people that won't spend the money for the apple watches are the ones that don't value a timepiece. Ones who spend 50-100 on a timex, Casio ect... Not knocking those brands or the people that buy them.

Guess this long winded post is essentially saying a lot of people might not be educated on what a decent timepiece actually runs.

Not true. I won't spend the money for an Apple Watch and I definitely value time pieces. I wear a Burberry. It costs as much as an average Apple Watch.

Some people just don't want a screen on their wrist. I have one in my pocket already. No one is that important that I need to see them on my watch screen.

 

[PatrickNSF]

I bet more people would buy it if it was subsidized by their cell phone company as a $20 add-on to their bill. I keep reading comments that the Watch is more expensive than an iPhone, but people never take into account the cell carrier's subsidy.

The truth is that the fallacy of a $199 iPhone has given the average consumer a distorted view of the true cost of new tech.

 

[Arran]

Not true. I won't spend the money for an Apple Watch and I definitely value time pieces. I wear a Burberry. It costs as much as an average Apple Watch.

As did I. Swore I wasn't getting a crApple watch! Waste of money. I was resolute.

And then I got my wife's cast-off sport model (she upgraded to SS). I've worn it continuously for months. The certified Swiss automatic chronometer I'd worn daily for decades is gathering dust on my desk. Haven't worn it once. Not sure what to do with it. I am truly shocked myself. I loved that watch. Cost maybe 10 times the average apple watch price. Completely inadequate in comparison to my "cheapo" Sport. Beautiful mechanical engineering, nonetheless. Quite breathtaking, albeit pointless.

Some people just don't want a screen on their wrist.

Frankly, they don't know what they're missing. I know I didn't. Seriously.

Until you get an Apple watch, you don't really get the Apple watch.

 

[steve knight]

I think it is also that watches have been pretty much faded into history. only as assessors are they mostly worn. I am so happy that I was able to dump wearing watches and be free of one on my arm.

 

[Totally]

Frankly, they don't know what they're missing. I know I didn't. Seriously.

Until you get an Apple watch, you don't really get the Apple watch.

Fair enough. I will keep wearing my Burberry though A watch (in my opinion) is a unique piece that can show your style be it sophisticated, or fun, or quirky, or whatever. And I intend to use it that way.

 

[Michael CM1]

It's a lot because the watch is a new product in a pretty new category. The iPhone was a new phone but coming into the smartphone category that BlackBerry owned at the time. The iPad broke open tablets, but it was a larger version of iPhones and tablets had badly been done a decade or so before.

Smartwatches? For stuff more than fitness trackers, smartwatches are a couple of years in. They mostly aren't standalone devices yet, cutting off anybody who just wants an Apple Watch.

I think it'll take a couple of years. Lowering the price of the first generation models when new ones come out will bring in some more people who were on the fence. Same thing happened with the other two products, not to mention stuff like the hella expensive first MacBook Air that is now the cheapest Mac notebook.

I also think it will take some word of mouth. When Apple Pay gets more big places, the ease of use with the watch will be a bigger selling point. I love it on my vending machines at work because I DON'T HAVE TO CARRY BILLS OR COINS. Same thing with those machines at a mall or whatever. Whenever Target gets to accepting Apple Pay using its credit cards, I will use that mofo all the time. Same thing with if Starbucks can adopt it for the gold cards and other similar stores like Dunkin' Donuts.

The HomeKit features will also help sell this if they take off, especially if Hey Siri improves. "Hey Siri, turn temperature down to 76 degrees." "Hey Siri, unlock the back door." "Hey Siri, turn on my bedroom lights and TV." Magic, but not ready yet because of first gen issues and how new HomeKit is.

 

[TheRainKing]

Because nobody needs one.

 

[Roller]

Thanks for responding to my post. Yes, I can be opinionated. But I promise you I don't confront other people about their Apple Watches. It's not my place to decide what watch anyone wears except for me =P. I was just curious your thoughts. I'm actually kind of surprised you get confronted about your watch choice. Didn't know people had feelings that strong.

I've had one individual tell me that he didn't get the point of the watch when I used it to pay at a pharmacy checkout. Other than that, nobody has confronted me in person. But there are a few people here on MacRumors who take every opportunity to jump into threads and frankly ridicule folks for buying and being satisfied with the AW. This thread contains a couple of examples. It's hard for me to understand what drives that sort of behavior.

To your point about each person deciding what type of watch suits them, I completely agree.

 

[OllyW]

It's a tough sell because you shouldn't be selling it. Let Apple handle sales. Just enjoy your watch and don't bother being an ambassador.

Exactly. I don't think I would respond too positively if someone came up to me and started making disparaging remarks about my favourite watch while bragging about how great their Apple Watch is.

 

[BSG75]

I think it's a combination of price, reliance on the iPhone and duplication of the iPhone's functions that are a few of the reasons that might make it a tough sell. If you purchase a 42mm Sport + Apple Care + another sport band + sales tax, you're in for around $550 dollars. For many people, that's a lot of money to spend for an accessory. Perhaps Apple will work out a deal with the carriers to package the Watch at a discount with the iPhone under a subsidy deal. That might make the Watch more appealing, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

I've always worn a watch, but this is the most I've ever spent on one. That being said, I absolutely love mine, however, this is a product that's not for everyone.