Would you like to see Apple trim its Apple Watch SKUs?

[aakshey]

I am seriously considering buying an Apple Watch, most likely the upcoming S4 cellular. And I’m perplexed with the plethora of options to choose from. So unlike Apple.

I would rather Apple had a lineup like the below: Just IMO. Not saying they are better off doing this. But will make life easier for customers IMO.

Apple Watch S1
One size. Maybe 40mm instead of 38/42mm
WiFi plus GPS
$249
All options at the same price point. No Nike/etc options, leave that for the new Apple Watch.

Apple Watch S3
One size. Maybe 40mm instead of 38/42mm.
Cellular and GPS only. And of course WiFi. But no variants. All should have cellular and WiFi both.
$399
+$99 to upgrade to a stainless steel frame
+$99 to upgrade to a stainless steel strap
+$39 to upgrade to Nike+ or something.

Apple Watch Edition
S3 with stainless steel strap and frame or Hermes
Options from $999 to $1999

AppleCare+ for $49 except for Watch Edition. For that $99 or $149.

What do you think guys?

 

[44267547]

No. One size does _not_ fit all. Offering a 40 mm display takes away options for those who perhaps want the option of having a larger display or slightly smaller display, offering one size eliminates that option for the consumer. I think Apple absolutely executed the Apple Watch perfectly in terms of offering suitable size watches that are not too small or too large with the 38/42 MM.

 

[tl01]

I couldn’t care less how many SKUs Apple has for the Apple Watch. I just want the option I want to be available. The rest is just stuff Apple has to deal with. Pick out what you want and buy it... then use it and continue on with life.

 

[Brian Y]

Personally, I'd just like to see them just sell the faces and the bands separately - let people make their own bundles up.

Choose your face: 38/42mm. Alu/Steel/Ceramic. Pick a colour.

Then... select your band.

 

[cwanja]

No.

Have you checked out their Mac line ups and the SKUs and BTO options there? What you are desiring is actually more not like Apple than they are today. As @Relentless Power stated, one size does not fit all. My wife has a small wrist and I assure you that a 40mm might be more of a turn off than the 38mm.
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Personally, I'd just like to see them just sell the faces and the bands separately - let people make their own bundles up.

Choose your face: 38/42mm. Alu/Steel/Ceramic. Pick a colour.

Then... select your band.

I think this is an epic idea.

 

[bruinsrme]

Personally, I'd just like to see them just sell the faces and the bands separately - let people make their own bundles up.

Choose your face: 38/42mm. Alu/Steel/Ceramic. Pick a colour.

Then... select your band.

Managing in store stock would be a nightmare.
Perhaps an in line BTO would be manageable.

 

[danny842003]

Personally, I'd just like to see them just sell the faces and the bands separately - let people make their own bundles up.

Choose your face: 38/42mm. Alu/Steel/Ceramic. Pick a colour.

Then... select your band.

I think that would work in an Apple store but it would more than likely be totally unworkable in 3rd party shops

 

[ApfelKuchen]

This would be like reducing the SKUs in a clothing or shoe shop. "Sorry, unisex sizes only, no XL or XS, medium shoe width only..." Once something is on someone's body in plain sight, they want it "just so," or they're likely to walk away.

The notion of separating watch and band does have its complications, but also its benefits. It complicates the sales process as well as customer decision-making, and requires additional assembly. Overall, I don't think there's a positive benefit, but who knows for sure?

 

[scmill]

Why would you want to reduce the choices?

 

[44267547]

Why would you want to reduce the choices?

It’s a bad idea. Consumers like choices and Options. When you reduce down to one size, you alienate those who may not be interested in a particular size, where as a female might want the 38 mm and a male might want the larger 42 mm or vice versa. It’s like only offering one watchband color and assuming that one color everyone will like, when obviously that’s not going to be everybody’s preference.

 

[bbednarz]

I will never understand why consumers worry about the number of SKUs a company has. Picking which Apple Watch you want is not difficult. Figure out which features you want, pick a color, purchase. It is that easy.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I hear Apple is going to greatly increase it’s color choices with the new iPhones so they are leaning towards more choice. The Apple Watch is a even more personal device than the phone and I think choice will reign.

 

[AsherN]

I can see them sticking with 2 Series and even reducing the number of finishes on the "older" Series.

Say a full lineup of S4, but you can only get the S3 in Space Grey Aluminium. less choice for the cheapest model.

 

[danny842003]

I can see them sticking with 2 Series and even reducing the number of finishes on the "older" Series.

Say a full lineup of S4, but you can only get the S3 in Space Grey Aluminium. less choice for the cheapest model.

Why would they do that though? It’s a watch one colour doesn’t fit all. They don’t even do that with the older iPhones.

 

[AsherN]

If the physical case does not change, there's a good argument for a wide variety. otherwise, why not offer a single lower cost item? If you want a different finish, move to the current model.

 

[danny842003]

If the physical case does not change, there's a good argument for a wide variety. otherwise, why not offer a single lower cost item? If you want a different finish, move to the current model.

Because Apple are reducing their potential customer base. Any saving which is made in having a reduced itinerary would more than likely be lost in reduced sales.
The lower cost watch is competing with fitbits etc which come in multiple colours.

 

[44267547]

I can see them sticking with 2 Series and even reducing the number of finishes on the "older" Series.

Say a full lineup of S4, but you can only get the S3 in Space Grey Aluminium. less choice for the cheapest model.

Doubt that. I think Apple will still offer a variety of colors even for older base models, is it still a selection for the customer. It’s the same concept as what they offered with the Series one Apple Watch.

 

[Brian Y]

Managing in store stock would be a nightmare.
Perhaps an in line BTO would be manageable.

It would actually be less effort to manage stock in Apple stores.

Apple stores already carry all of the bands separately. If anything it would be mean less SKUs to manage.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I will never understand why consumers worry about the number of SKUs a company has. Picking which Apple Watch you want is not difficult. Figure out which features you want, pick a color, purchase. It is that easy.

I don't think consumers worry about how many SKUs most companies have. When it comes to Apple, it's all about the Cult of Steve. Steve Jobs dramatically cut SKUs soon after his return to Apple. For some, that has become a one-size-fits-all prescription for the company's perceived ills.

Steve's famous slash-and-burn was a response to a current situation - near-bankruptcy coupled with way too many SKUs that sold in far too small quantities to justify their existence. Of course, Apple was a much smaller company back then. "Small" SKUs today can still sell in sufficient quantities to justify their existence.

Inventory simplicity certainly has its benefits, and for a company of Apple's size, Apple's is already remarkably trim. Every time someone here moans about Apple's "failure" to address a particular product niche or withdrawal from a category like wifi routers, you're seeing an example of Apple's discipline.