Customers line up at boutique fashion retailers, Japanese electronics stores for Apple Watch debut
Prospective Apple Watch buyers are queuing up outside high-end fashion outlets scheduled carry the device on launch day, an odd scene for those accustomed to seeing those same lines at Apple's own stores for a big product debut.
With Apple Watch already reaching customers in Australia, fans anxious to get a copy on launch day must have preordered on April 10 or live in one of six locations where the device is slated to go on sale in extremely limited quantities. People are already lining up in preparation, but not outside of Apple Stores.
As reported yesterday, a few fashion boutiques will stock Watch for sale on Friday, local time. Apple selected Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles, the Corner in Berlin and 10 Corso Como in Milan as launch outlets, foregoing availability at its own brick-and-mortar locations.
Pictured above is Maxfield in L.A., where a handful of early birds are saving their spot hours ahead of release.
It appears Apple Watch will also be available at two of Japan's largest electronics resellers, Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. Photos posted to Twitter showed signage saying certain locations will have Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch models in stock on day one.
With Apple Watch already reaching customers in Australia, fans anxious to get a copy on launch day must have preordered on April 10 or live in one of six locations where the device is slated to go on sale in extremely limited quantities. People are already lining up in preparation, but not outside of Apple Stores.
As reported yesterday, a few fashion boutiques will stock Watch for sale on Friday, local time. Apple selected Colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles, the Corner in Berlin and 10 Corso Como in Milan as launch outlets, foregoing availability at its own brick-and-mortar locations.
Pictured above is Maxfield in L.A., where a handful of early birds are saving their spot hours ahead of release.
It appears Apple Watch will also be available at two of Japan's largest electronics resellers, Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera. Photos posted to Twitter showed signage saying certain locations will have Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch models in stock on day one.
Comments
I still would have liked to see lines outside Apple Stores for free publicity and exposure.
Those people at Mayfield LA are going to be disappointed, as they require an appointment for the opportunity to purchase a watch.
I still would have liked to see lines outside Apple Stores for free publicity and exposure.
Not sure about outside but my Apple store was packed today. There were at least a couple hundred people in there. not counting the maybe one hundred sales personnel. Lots of people trying on watches. I got to see the gold one up close, looking over someone's shoulder as she tried it on. The gold is very bright and polished. Highly reflective.
Funny she asked where the mirror was. Women...
Those people at Mayfield LA are going to be disappointed, as they require an appointment for the opportunity to purchase a watch.
Maxfield opens at 9 a.m. First come, first serve. The Apple Watch has already been dispensed to the store's celebrities.
Apple-only phenomenon!
She thought she was at Macy's.
but apple is selling a watch. They shouldve had a mirror.
And someone from the beauty parlour to manicure and wax hands...
Wow I don't think this has ever happened before!! People waiting outside boutique shops for a watch!
I still would have liked to see lines outside Apple Stores for free publicity and exposure.
I think you are absolutely correct... Queing up outside of high-end fashion outlets for a high end watch... no one has ever even thought of this before!! The reported scarcity of the ?watch is breaking all the old rules. Let's see if any of the old boys can make this happen when they shit out their answer to the ?watch... Bet it don't happen.
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Fandroids can only wish that folks would line up for their Android trash.
I am actually in this pic. I am one of the 3 guys in the background standing/leaning against the wall. I am the guy in the middle.
Thanks to apple insider I learned of this store selling them, and now I am part of the article. Lol
Was driving home and saw that the line was small. So I am hoping to pick up a stainless. Wish me luck.
You have to hand it to Apple. Who else can generate such excitement for their products. Pure genius. Of course it helps having such great products to start with but their marketing is amazing.
HAHAHA !
I am actually in this pic. I am one of the 3 guys in the background standing/leaning against the wall. I am the guy in the middle.
Thanks to apple insider I learned of this store selling them, and now I am part of the article. Lol
Was driving home and saw that the line was small. So I am hoping to pick up a stainless. Wish me luck.
I demand and update !! hehe
Lines isn't as impressive as an iPhone launch, but in front of a boutique, too funny...
Apparently the line has grown quite a bit and now circles the block. Various people with "inside" sources say there's somewhere between 300-500 watches.
The store workers scoffed at the sight of us earlier in the day.
I don't think this was the crowd they were looking for.
Across the street is a high end restaurant named Craig's. The kardashians were there along with paparazzi.
The apple faithful couldn't care less, biggest celebrity being the apple watch on the KTLA news reporter. Lol
I find it interesting that apple allotted a shipment to this high end fashion store to appeal to that sort of crowd when all they manage to do is move the apple crowd from their store to melrose.
The first person in line got the same option as I did on the stainless steel watch. All they had available in stainless steel was silver with the Milanese loop. Some people were real pissed. We think that they "Maxfield" were holding some back. They also sold gold to their specific VIP customers before today. We didn't have the option to buy anything else other than sport and the stainless I mentioned. I picked one up for $699 but most likely will sell it.
Okay, I was the 19th person in line.
The first person in line got the same option as I did on the stainless steel watch. All they had available in stainless steel was silver with the Milanese loop. Some people were real pissed. We think that they "Maxfield" were holding some back. They also sold gold to their specific VIP customers before today. We didn't have the option to buy anything else other than sport and the stainless I mentioned. I picked one up for $699 but most likely will sell it.
I'll give you $200 HAHAHAHA
Why ...why ...you ...you WISEACRE!!!!
Actually, it's already sold to a friend of a friend for $1150.
MUUUUUAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!
Looks like Apple got a very different launch experience this time -- is this really what they wanted?
I guess you don't know any sneaker-heads.
They said they had none.
I got the impression they have much more than they lead on but they don't want to cater to the apple crowds.
I feel they are holding back the best versions.