I don't see what the pressure is. That seems geared more towards people who don't have an appointment and just walk in. I doubt anyone who's not interested in the watch is going to be pressured into buying one by a store employee.
Oh I agree. It all depends on how Apple employees use this "sales tactic". It's like going to Radio Shack and being asked if you'd like 'some batteries with that'. Whether a customer perceives it as pressure or not, depends on what the employee does next after a polite "no". In this case, I'd say how soon after they start looking at the watch does an Apple employee start suggesting they help them reserve one online, and whether they follow up with how difficult these are going to be to get if they don't 'reserve one today', etc.
I predict that a lot of people will be put off even trying one because of the pressure to buy.... If you have to book an appointment, it introduces another barrier to the sale.
It's only pressure to buy if they force you to look at the watch in the first place.
I agree that having to book an appointment is a kind of "barrier", but this will only be initially. It's no more a barrier or pressure than going into a jewelry store and getting the sales clerk's attention, and receiving a pitch for a watch he wants to sell you. After the initial crush is over, booking an appointment will be moot. And frankly I see this as by-design: there are going to be issues that arise once the watch hits the streets, and while selling as many as possible is a desirable goal, managing the watches you do sell well is even more desirable. They've already limited the pool of eligible candidates with the limitations of the watch, this is one more way to put off a group of people who will "wait it out" at first, which will also ease the burden of supply and demand. A smooth rollout is the best publicity Apple can hope for, and limiting who can get the watch will help with that.
They're not obligated to, but I'm sure we'll hear sales numbers. The reason they're burying it in accessories is to hide the margins on these things, at least initially.
No need to hide margins, they will be high, people have already figure out what the margins will be on each watch and it more than the phone or anything else Apple makes other than software. ATV has high margins too why do you think they cut the price to $69 from $99 that was all margin they cut into, you know they are not giving it away at $69.
They are not reporting on it since the do not want to get in to answer questions around the health monitoring business which they are starting to get into.
It's only pressure to buy if they force you to look at the watch in the first place.
I agree that having to book an appointment is a kind of "barrier", but this will only be initially. It's no more a barrier or pressure than going into a jewelry store and getting the sales clerk's attention, and receiving a pitch for a watch he wants to sell you. After the initial crush is over, booking an appointment will be moot. And frankly I see this as by-design: there are going to be issues that arise once the watch hits the streets, and while selling as many as possible is a desirable goal, managing the watches you do sell well is even more desirable. They've already limited the pool of eligible candidates with the limitations of the watch, this is one more way to put off a group of people who will "wait it out" at first, which will also ease the burden of supply and demand. A smooth rollout is the best publicity Apple can hope for, and limiting who can get the watch will help with that.
First, Apple isn't limiting who can get one. Clearly their aim is to match customers up to watches that they will like and not return. One of the reasons they hired Angela Ahrendts is for her experience with fashion retailing, where it's all about sending the customer home feeling good about the product whether they buy that day or not. We can see her fingerprints all over this rollout.
Second, have you ever felt pressured to buy something by any Apple Store associate? I've never received anything remotely like a sales pitch in any of the stores, and you can be sure it isn't going to start now. If anything they are going more Coach or Burberry than Best Buy with Apple Watch.
Personally I think it is going to be while before version 2 comes out, I think it going to follow the Apple TV model. They are in data collections mode at this point. They trying to learn as much as possible before they roll the design.
As it was pointed out , much of the motion and health monitoring hardware and software used in the watch was being beta tested in the 5s and then the 6. I suspect they are thing in the current watch which is being tested as well which will show up as an improved product in the future. Remember they apple said they have no plans to reveal the sales of the watch.
It's unlikely we'll see that data, but we'll see it reflected in the eventual rollout of the 2nd gen product.
First, Apple isn't limiting who can get one. Clearly their aim is to match customers up to watches that they will like and not return. One of the reasons they hired Angela Ahrendts is for her experience with fashion retailing, where it's all about sending the customer home feeling good about the product whether they buy that day or not. We can see her fingerprints all over this rollout.
Second, have you ever felt pressured to buy something by any Apple Store associate? I've never received anything remotely like a sales pitch in any of the stores, and you can be sure it isn't going to start now. If anything they are going more Coach or Burberry than Best Buy with Apple Watch.
Exactly. Good god, for a product we're told no one wants and is going to be a failure there sure is a lot of angst over the roll out.
I rad an article that Apple will do personal set up for buyers of the Edition or Stainless Steel models.
Buyers of the Sport model will fend for themselves.
Sound rather discriminating to buyers that don't have the money for the more expensive models.
Tim?
So are airlines discriminating because people in coach don't get the same level of service as 1st class? It's not like Apple is pre-packaging Sport watches and relegating them to Walmart. The personal setup for the SS and Edition models is video support. There is NOTHING that suggests someone buying the Sport watch gets no assistance from employees.
Also it's not like every Sport buyer is buying that model because they can't afford the SS model. So to make it sound like Cook is discriminating against poor(er) people is silly.
Here's a great article about why Apple has an advantage precisely because their watch face isn't round. Everyone will instantly be able to recognize an Apple Watch, whereas Android Wear devices are starting to all look the same as they trip all over each other to release smart watches with round displays.
Of course not, but there ARE limitations of who will be interested and eligible -- the first requirement is that they must own an iPhone 5 or newer. Then there are various reasons people will not be interested: It's not suitable for swimming and water activities, there is no mid-priced gold-tone option for those who do not wear silver jewelry or accessories, the battery only lasts a day, there's no GPS, etc. However insignificant each may be to the success of the watch itself, they cumulatively add up to excluding someone from being interested in buying the watch, and presumably going to the trouble of booking an appointment to look at something they aren't going to otherwise buy initially.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Millmoss
Second, have you ever felt pressured to buy something by any Apple Store associate? I've never received anything remotely like a sales pitch in any of the stores, and you can be sure it isn't going to start now.
Did you read the article? I've also never had an Apple rep ask me if they can help me "place an order" after I've looked at a product. There's a first time for everything, and this seems to be what this sentence is suggesting:
Quote:
"if a person simply walks into an Apple Store, retail workers should offer the option to try on a Watch, but then help them place an order through Apple's website or the official Apple Store app"
I think the theory is that appointments will drive away the hard core, shut-up and take my money, early adopters. As if.
Well 9to5Mac claims there will be something called a 'Landing Zone' where those who know what they want can buy the watch. So all the hard-core who think setting up an appointment is too time-consuming or stuffy can just use this Landing Zone to buy their watch.
Comments
Good. Cut down on scalpels as much as possible.
Scalpels are useful things with which to cut down with....
Ring Apple customer services (and try not to get stuck in a loop), but I haven't seen a link here to reservations.
Seriously, why would you be interested in such a link?
I don't see what the pressure is. That seems geared more towards people who don't have an appointment and just walk in. I doubt anyone who's not interested in the watch is going to be pressured into buying one by a store employee.
Oh I agree. It all depends on how Apple employees use this "sales tactic". It's like going to Radio Shack and being asked if you'd like 'some batteries with that'. Whether a customer perceives it as pressure or not, depends on what the employee does next after a polite "no". In this case, I'd say how soon after they start looking at the watch does an Apple employee start suggesting they help them reserve one online, and whether they follow up with how difficult these are going to be to get if they don't 'reserve one today', etc.
(OK the 44mm will not fit on the 38mm) :-( but will an edition band fit on a sport watch???
Anyone,.......... Anyone,............... Bueller,..... Bueller?
I predict that a lot of people will be put off even trying one because of the pressure to buy.... If you have to book an appointment, it introduces another barrier to the sale.
It's only pressure to buy if they force you to look at the watch in the first place.
I agree that having to book an appointment is a kind of "barrier", but this will only be initially. It's no more a barrier or pressure than going into a jewelry store and getting the sales clerk's attention, and receiving a pitch for a watch he wants to sell you. After the initial crush is over, booking an appointment will be moot. And frankly I see this as by-design: there are going to be issues that arise once the watch hits the streets, and while selling as many as possible is a desirable goal, managing the watches you do sell well is even more desirable. They've already limited the pool of eligible candidates with the limitations of the watch, this is one more way to put off a group of people who will "wait it out" at first, which will also ease the burden of supply and demand. A smooth rollout is the best publicity Apple can hope for, and limiting who can get the watch will help with that.
No need to hide margins, they will be high, people have already figure out what the margins will be on each watch and it more than the phone or anything else Apple makes other than software. ATV has high margins too why do you think they cut the price to $69 from $99 that was all margin they cut into, you know they are not giving it away at $69.
They are not reporting on it since the do not want to get in to answer questions around the health monitoring business which they are starting to get into.
I hope that's a rounded edge for the sake of your posterior.
I wonder if anyone actually knows..... will any apple watch band fit on any Apple watch??
(OK the 44mm will not fit on the 38mm) :-( but will an edition band fit on a sport watch???
Anyone,.......... Anyone,............... Bueller,..... Bueller?
The Edition could be an exception (though I doubt it) but for certain the bands are interchangeable. Apple wants you to buy more than one band.
It's only pressure to buy if they force you to look at the watch in the first place.
I agree that having to book an appointment is a kind of "barrier", but this will only be initially. It's no more a barrier or pressure than going into a jewelry store and getting the sales clerk's attention, and receiving a pitch for a watch he wants to sell you. After the initial crush is over, booking an appointment will be moot. And frankly I see this as by-design: there are going to be issues that arise once the watch hits the streets, and while selling as many as possible is a desirable goal, managing the watches you do sell well is even more desirable. They've already limited the pool of eligible candidates with the limitations of the watch, this is one more way to put off a group of people who will "wait it out" at first, which will also ease the burden of supply and demand. A smooth rollout is the best publicity Apple can hope for, and limiting who can get the watch will help with that.
First, Apple isn't limiting who can get one. Clearly their aim is to match customers up to watches that they will like and not return. One of the reasons they hired Angela Ahrendts is for her experience with fashion retailing, where it's all about sending the customer home feeling good about the product whether they buy that day or not. We can see her fingerprints all over this rollout.
Second, have you ever felt pressured to buy something by any Apple Store associate? I've never received anything remotely like a sales pitch in any of the stores, and you can be sure it isn't going to start now. If anything they are going more Coach or Burberry than Best Buy with Apple Watch.
Buyers of the Sport model will fend for themselves.
Sound rather discriminating to buyers that don't have the money for the more expensive models.
Tim?
Yes, wouldn't want to cut into profits...
At least they don't have razor-thin margins.
For most isn't the ?Watch exactly what they want? ;-)
I hope so, but we aren't there yet.
Personally I think it is going to be while before version 2 comes out, I think it going to follow the Apple TV model. They are in data collections mode at this point. They trying to learn as much as possible before they roll the design.
As it was pointed out , much of the motion and health monitoring hardware and software used in the watch was being beta tested in the 5s and then the 6. I suspect they are thing in the current watch which is being tested as well which will show up as an improved product in the future. Remember they apple said they have no plans to reveal the sales of the watch.
It's unlikely we'll see that data, but we'll see it reflected in the eventual rollout of the 2nd gen product.
Exactly. Good god, for a product we're told no one wants and is going to be a failure there sure is a lot of angst over the roll out.
So are airlines discriminating because people in coach don't get the same level of service as 1st class? It's not like Apple is pre-packaging Sport watches and relegating them to Walmart. The personal setup for the SS and Edition models is video support. There is NOTHING that suggests someone buying the Sport watch gets no assistance from employees.
Also it's not like every Sport buyer is buying that model because they can't afford the SS model. So to make it sound like Cook is discriminating against poor(er) people is silly.
I think the theory is that appointments will drive away the hard core, shut-up and take my money, early adopters. As if.
http://watchaware.com/post/8111/the-curvy-rectangle
First, Apple isn't limiting who can get one.
Of course not, but there ARE limitations of who will be interested and eligible -- the first requirement is that they must own an iPhone 5 or newer. Then there are various reasons people will not be interested: It's not suitable for swimming and water activities, there is no mid-priced gold-tone option for those who do not wear silver jewelry or accessories, the battery only lasts a day, there's no GPS, etc. However insignificant each may be to the success of the watch itself, they cumulatively add up to excluding someone from being interested in buying the watch, and presumably going to the trouble of booking an appointment to look at something they aren't going to otherwise buy initially.
Second, have you ever felt pressured to buy something by any Apple Store associate? I've never received anything remotely like a sales pitch in any of the stores, and you can be sure it isn't going to start now.
Did you read the article? I've also never had an Apple rep ask me if they can help me "place an order" after I've looked at a product. There's a first time for everything, and this seems to be what this sentence is suggesting:
Well 9to5Mac claims there will be something called a 'Landing Zone' where those who know what they want can buy the watch. So all the hard-core who think setting up an appointment is too time-consuming or stuffy can just use this Landing Zone to buy their watch.