Roger Fingas
Select Apple Stores are now selling official bands for the Apple Watch, according to photos and anecdotes posted on Twitter on Thursday, as Apple gears up for the product's formal retail debut.
One of the first pieces of evidence was a photo shared by Twitter user Apple Radar, showing Sport bands on shelves at The Falls Apple Store in Miami. The person also mentioned the Classic Buckle being available.
Not all Apple Stores have units in stock yet. AppleInsider contacted a store in Austin, Texas and was told that while the shop is expecting to sell bands soon, a shipment was not due to come in until next week, and clerks hadn't been informed which bands would be included. Similarly, Apple's SoHo location does not yet have bands in stock.
Online or offline, a Sport band costs $49, while the Classic Buckle, Leather Loop, and Milanese Loop each sell for $149. A Modern Buckle is $249, and the Link Bracelet is $449. Notably Apple's website isn't offering some variants separate from a Watch, like any gold band or the space black Link Bracelet. This policy will presumably continue at retail, at least for the foreseeable future.
The Watch itself is only expected to show up in Apple Stores sometime next month, possibly in tandem with an international expansion. People have been able to try on the device at outlets since April 10, but actual orders have been channeled online or through the iOS Apple Store app. Even then, orders are typically taking weeks to arrive.
AppleInsider Staff
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17 Comments
I think Apple's retail strategy, in spite of the whining and bitching, was the best possible route they could have taken. Having the orders online only initially helped them figure out what the demand was for each of the SKUs, and let them keep sitting inventory at zero, instead of having fuckloads of Watches sitting in stores and not getting the most efficient mix of models per geographic location. Now, they have a pretty good idea of this and can manage inventory much more efficiently.
I think Apple's retail strategy, in spite of the whining and bitching, was the best possible route they could have taken. Having the orders online only initially helped them figure out what the demand was for each of the SKUs, and let them keep sitting inventory at zero, instead of having fuckloads of Watches sitting in stores and not getting the most efficient mix of models per geographic location. Now, they have a pretty good idea of this and can manage inventory much more efficiently.
Perhaps, however, from my point of view it was totally a supply issue. I can see them not wanting to commit to extra stock of the gold and even the stainless models, but they had to realize they could sell as many sport watches as they could make. No testing the waters there, just plain old lack of supply.
How about charging cables? Do they have these in store now?
I was thinking of walking over to my local store tomorrow to pick up an extra one.
Perhaps, however, from my point of view it was totally a supply issue. I can see them not wanting to commit to extra stock of the gold and even the stainless models, but they had to realize they could sell as many sport watches as they could make. No testing the waters there, just plain old lack of supply.
I do understand the huge challenges rolling out millions of anything. Untested waters, much guesswork, supply chain and manufacturing issues. Likely the MBA types have this kind of thing in a textbook or class syllabus.
But ya know...I place an online order on April 10. If I can walk into an Apple store and buy the model I ordered before my online order fills...well...someone from MBA class needs to get a failing grade.
How about charging cables? Do they have these in store now?
I was thinking of walking over to my local store tomorrow to pick up an extra one.
Yes, Apple Watch charging cables are available at all Apple retail stores now,