<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/18/apple-watch-review-video/">Image via Zac Hall’s Apple Watch review</a>
Apple Stores will begin stocking Apple Watch bands later this week in “limited” quantities, according to a message sent to retail stores, with the majority of bands being the fluoroelastomer Sport Bands. According to the notice, this strap inventory will primarily be for customers who would like to swap the band that comes pre-bundled with their Apple Watch after their purchase. Secondary to this, these early band shipments for stores will be available as replacements for worn-out bands from the various store Apple Watch try-on stations…
Lastly, remaining inventory will be available to be sold to customers seeking an additional band for their Apple Watch. In the coming days, Apple will begin advertising the availability of Sport Bands in its stores, according to the memo. We reported earlier this week that Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees that Apple Watch supply would reach stores in June, so perhaps more band options for stores will appear next month as well. MagSafe charging adapters have been available in Apple Stores for the past few weeks, while there is no word on third-party accessory availability.
Update: Following our report last night, certain bands are now arriving in select Apple Stores.
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Will they fit my existing watch?
Just kidding, now all we need are some Apple Watches to go with them.
Sup Dawg, I herd u like Apple Watch…
You’re on a roll today Mark. Keep it up!
Now maybe I won’t have to wait until June to get my Milanese loop!
Coming April 24th! LoL…I guess they got the date confused with next week? :P
Important to note is that they’ll probably only be available to swap bands as long as the band you’re looking for fits one of their existing band/watch combos.
Probably not going to be able to swap a sport band to get a Sport watch/Leather loop
Actually, yes you can do that. The only restriction is on size, not on edition. So you could theoretically put the cheap sport band on the gold Watch Edition and conversely the Watch Edition’s band on the cheap Sport model.
Right, all the bands are physically able to be swapped as long as it’s the same 42/38 for the watch. I was saying that apple isn’t going to let you go in and give them your sport band that came with your sport watch in exchange for a leather loop. The article was speaking about being able to swap bands for a partial refund towards your next band
Called into my local Apple Store, they had no idea of this news and can’t confirm anything. Sucks because I’m stuck until the end of June for a 42mm ML from something going wrong with my preorder. >.<
I really want a red sport band.
Unrelated, but possibly interesting: I was in the Apple Store across the street from my house last weekend and none of the employees have Watches on. The store manager, who had a Watch with green sport band on, asked me how I liked mine and I told him my thoughts on it. I asked him how he liked his and he told me it wasn’t his- it was a store demo model. He is still waiting on his. The Apple Store manager is waiting on his watch. This is crazy. I’ve had mine since the so called ‘launch day’ and I still haven’t seen anyone in public with a Watch other than the store manager’s demo unit. I live near, and work in, a big city.
Apple employees get 50% off the lower-priced versions of the Apple Watch… but they have to wait until supplies aren’t constrained, so I wouldn’t expect the average Apple employee to own one yet. I’ve seen a few (including on my own wrist) and more ship every day.
My brother works at one of the Flagship locations. He nor any other Apple employees get discounts on the watches. He did have to order his like everyone else and is still waiting for his as well. Apple only gives their employees discounts on certain items, and it definitely is not 50% off. They also do not get discounts on the iphones.
Cameron,
Something isn’t right there then…. Tim Cook himself stated that Apple Store employees would get 50% off the Sport model. Maybe that deal doesn’t start until supplies are less constrained?
I agree about the red sport band, will look great on my 42mm Space Grey Sport. Both my wife and I got ours very quickly, her 38mm silver sport white band came Friday the 24th and my 42mm Space Grey on the following Monday. But I got my order in like a minute after the store came online that April 10th night.
The Highland Village Apple Store in Houston, TX had the bands on their shelves when I was in there yesterday.
Did they have the 42mm Milanese Loop? I’m in Houston, and I really don’t want to wait until July to get another band.
I called a San Diego store and was routed to a call center which checked on inventory for all the local stores. Only the UTC store had them (many of the sport bands) in stock. So, I ran down there this morning and the guy couldn’t confirm that they had anything–the only thing he would say is that they couldn’t be sold yet. Nothing was on the shelves. Was a waste of a trip.
I went back in the afternoon and lo–they were finally able to sell me one. I was the first! They didn’t even have them out on the floor yet–but were at least in inventory by the afternoon. If anyone in San Diego is looking for one, check out the UTC store. They also had a black leather loop, but not the blue one I wanted.
Well, before they stock the store’s with the Watch, they had better ship mine and others. Or they will have very unhappy customers…
Ordered the Black Leather Loop a couple weeks ago. This morning my order went from “Preparing for Shipment” back to “Processing Items”. Apparently stocking up stores is far more important than getting items into the hands of customers who’ve already ordered it.