Apple Watch Orders Exclusively Online at Launch, Demand Expected to Exceed Supply

Apple WatchApple issued a reminder on Thursday that Apple Watch pre-orders and try-on appointments begin April 10, with retail chief Angela Ahrendts stating that Apple Watch orders will be taken exclusively online at launch to ensure that customers have the best selection and experience possible.

Apple also believes that "tremendous interest" in the Apple Watch will result in demand exceeding supply at launch. Yesterday, it was reported that some Apple Watch models may be unavailable for April 24 delivery based on shipping times that briefly appeared on the Apple Online Store in the United Kingdom and Germany.

"We are excited to welcome customers tomorrow and introduce them to Apple Watch, our most personal device yet. Based on the tremendous interest from people visiting our stores, as well as the number of customers who have gone to the Apple Online Store to mark their favorite Apple Watch ahead of availability, we expect that strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch,” said Angela Ahrendts, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail and Online Stores. “To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period.”

Apple Watch pre-orders begin on April 10 at 12:01 AM Pacific, or equivalent local times in other countries, in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Apple Watch officially goes on sale April 24 in the aforementioned launch countries, although in-store pickup will not be accepted without a reservation.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

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Top Rated Comments

SavMBP15 Avatar
141 months ago
Of course Apple is "expecting" this demand. But the markets, tech news sites, etc. appear not.

I wonder if this time Apple with withhold supply to make the appearance of demand, thereby creating a market of lemmings wanting to buy it because they cannot have it.

Also, FWIW, I'm 100% Apple, love Apple products, etc. But the iWatch is a solution to a non-existent problem.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacHiavelli Avatar
141 months ago
If everything is to be pushed online, what's the point of Angela?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JonnyIreland Avatar
141 months ago
One thing that astounds me is that, on one hand, Apple/Angela Ahrendts talk like they are trying to make the Apple experience a more luxurious/higher end product, yet large portions of the purchasing public have to get out of bed at ridiculous times in the slim hopes of ordering a launch day product. Believe me, there is nothing classy about seeing me at 3am* sitting in front of my iMac in my boxers!

*No, nobody is FORCING me, I get it.... But it all seems rather contradictory to me, just my opinion.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tw1ll Avatar
141 months ago
So much $pay, so little impact....

Translation from $overpaid Ahrends-speak to English: "To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period." = "I may personally be making $millions out of Apple but I still can't provide a satisfying retail experience". Google Translate really needs to have an additional option for translating Apple-speak.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
141 months ago
In other news, research has shown rain is actually falling water :p

Of course demand will outstrip supply. We've already had reports of low yeilds from manufacturing and a lot of demand for for it.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Onimusha370 Avatar
141 months ago
In other words, 'we screwed up, and we're not sorry'
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)