One month after Apple began taking Apple Watch pre-orders with a promised April 24 release date, many customers — including people who ordered immediately after Apple’s online store returned — are still awaiting their Watches. As noted on Apple’s discussion forums and numerous social media postings, many Apple Watch models appear to be trickling out of the company’s factories, while Watches bundled with certain premium bands have apparently not yet shipped.
The most significantly delayed Apple Watches are apparently Apple’s four Stainless Steel Case with Link Bracelet models ($949-$1,099), four Stainless Steel Case with Leather Loop models ($699 each), and four Stainless Steel Case with Modern Buckle models ($749 each), which do not appear to have shipped at all.
Update: Following publication of this story, several readers reported the first credit card charges for silver Apple Watch orders with Link Bracelets, covering orders placed five or fewer minutes after Apple’s online store returned. Orders for Space Black versions of the Apple Watch have not yet been charged…
Special gold Link Bracelets have, however, been spotted on Apple Watch Edition models worn by Beyoncé, Karl Lagerfeld, and Kanye West, and the first silver Link Bracelets and Leather Loops began to ship as accessories — not with Watches — last week. In particular, Space Black versions of the Apple Watch have been so limited that some Apple Stores did not even receive try-on models. German reports noted earlier this month that Apple had updated its official Space Black images to show a darker coating than was originally depicted, suggesting that something may have changed late in that model’s production process.
Similarly, although an initial shipment of Space Gray Apple Watch Sport models arrived in time for the April 24 launch, readers have reported that orders for this color have been heavily backlogged. 9to5Mac has confirmed that orders placed for the 42mm Silver Apple Watch Sport are being fulfilled weeks ahead of the 42mm Space Gray version, with Silver Apple Watch Sport models now shipping to customers who ordered a week after pre-orders began.
Both models are currently being promised with “July” delivery dates for new orders. Reader reports have suggested that some of the black Sport Bands packaged with Space Gray and certain other Apple Watches are discoloring after only days of use, which may account for some of the delays.
To date, Los Angeles boutique Maxfield is the only retailer in the United States to have offered Apple Watches for same-day or next-day purchase, having somehow procured both Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch models for customers who wanted to skip Apple’s line. 9to5Mac has confirmed reports that Maxfield sold a portion of its inventory to a returning group of scalpers, having placed a generous 20-Watch lifetime cap on sales to individuals. Apple imposed a six-Watch lifetime limit on individual sales to deter resellers.
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This theory doesn’t really make sense for the link bracelet, as the link bracelet bands have already arrived for some customers who ordered them separately before any of the watch/band combination orders.
Which theory? The piece is pretty clear – the bands shipped before watches for some reason.
Come on, not only these two models, my AW leather loops still even indicate in the processing stage, and the ridiculous thing is That my Oder should be arrived tomorrow (5/12) but it still in the processing stage wtf ?!?!
Updated to include loops.
Not sure how bands are to blame, they show 2-4weeks to ship, while my watch still says June.
(a) Not all bands. Just specific ones. Apple Watches were shipped with sport and classic buckle bands, but ones ordered with other bands haven’t shipped yet.
(b) You’re looking at today’s dates. Also, 2-4 weeks from now is late May/June.
Strange, because I tried to order an Apple Watch with Link Bands, July. I tried to order just an Link band without Apple Watch, May…
Some of the bands (including Link) only just started to ship as accessories last week. It’s mystifying that accessory orders are being fulfilled before completed watch orders. This is pure speculation, but perhaps there is some issue related to importation (and related taxation) of certain bands for final assembly in China. Maybe not…
what I completely fail to understand for Apple Watch Stainless Steel with Link Bracelet models is, Apple can –
Give out Gold Watches to celebs, (Kanye West, Beyonce, Karl Lagerfeld)
Give out Non-Gold watches to Reviewers,
Sell 42mm SS watches with mostly all other configs but this
Sell Link Bracelets only
and to make it more of a curious case, this particular model was the poster boy of most of the Apple Marketing materials !!
I’m one of the early birds who pre-ordered this watch from the word go (:03 am CT) and haven’t read or heard anyone get it on the launch day 4/24 or there after .. if it was constrained then why wasn’t this told before the pre-orders started and we could have acted smart like some who ordered link bracelet separate to the watch itself !
I ordered a space grey sport on April 30th..and only got “June” as a ship date, with no update since. Beginning to wonder if a White band sport with a “July” date will come sooner somehow..
Ordered Space Grey 42mm on April 30 as well, mine says “June.” I hope thy don’t kick it to “July.”
I ordered the same watch at 6:00 am MST (5 hours after pre orders began) and mine still says May 28th to June 11th. Its the damn sport watch. How has it not shipped yet…..
I ordered mine (space grey with black band sport) 14 hours after orders began and it says May 29th to June 11th
I am feeling the same way! Even though i had ordered mine 19 hours after they went online and i am slated the same dates (42mm SS w/ Milanese Loop). Except that I also ordered a black sports band with my watch and I get different shipping dates. One for the whole order may 26-Jun 1 on the Apple website and May 29-June 11 via the app. Ive been scouring youtube and Instagram for apple watch videos and unboxing and reviews. I JUST WANT IT TO COME!
I ordered the same model at midnight of preorders and was told may 13 – may 27 and still hasn’t shipped.
I ordered the 42 SS BSB on April 13th. Apple is still fulfilling orders for that model that were placed on the 10th. I may be waiting a while.
Take heart!
I ordered my 42mm SGSB 8 minutes after the store went live. I had a May 13-27th ship date. Received the shipping notification yesterday. It’ll be delivered tomorrow between 1:45-5:45pm.
I ordered the same watch, at about the same time bon the 10th April – 2 or 3 minutes after the store opened – delivery is supposed to be 12th May to 26th May – still in processing – I am well annoyed & would like to cancel in protest but it would only help apple..
It’s NOT the band. That’s crap.
Apple made a bulls*t move and already delivered the stainless steel link bands separately but neglected to send the people who ordered the watch with the link band first.
When you launch a “luxury line” it’s really dumb to neglect the top of the line watch…
Fail
Anyone spending thousands of dollars on an Apple Watch is stupid. This isn’t “luxury.” It’s technology. Which will undoubtedly go through software and hardware updates over time. Those who spend 12-30k on an Apple Watch Edition will be very disappointed comes the launch of Watch 2. Everyones in the same boat here regardless of how much cash you spent. If you want “luxury” go grab yourself a rolex.
Wrong on so many points.
People who buy an Edition don’t care about the 2nd generation. They will either sell or gift someone the old model and buy the new one, in gold as well.
*Actually*…Apple shipping the link band to customers before shipping the link watch makes perfect sense if that customer already bought another SS watch…they effectively spent *more money* than you and as such are a “better” customer ;)
(Says the guy with a SS AW + 3 bands…)
Not necessarily. I bought the SS with Link bracelet as a whole, and at the same time ordered the sports bands. In hindsight I should have ordered the SS with sports and the Link bracelet when it became available.
I ordered the 38mm space grey black sport band at 3:07 launch day. It said May 13-27 for delivery. I got mine last Wed. So maybe there is hope for earlier shipping for those of you who haven’t received theirs. It was shipped overnight from CA to Pittsburgh also.
My Stainless 42mm Apple Watch with Link Bracelet is still slated to deliver in the May 13–27 window. It was ordered in the first minutes of availability on April 10th.
I also ordered a separate 42mm Milanese Loop band that has a delivery window of April 29–May 12.
I have no shipping notification for either the watch or the band.
Same boat. 12:04 pacific time –order.
Bright Blue Lesther Loop. Wednesday 5/6 received
Black sport band. Ditto
SS Apple Watch with Link bracelet. Delivers 5/13 – 5/27 — still processing. Still waiting with my extra bands and charging cables.
Let me share my non-informative online chat with Apple on the status of my order (I ordered the Apple Watch Sport 42mm Space Gray with Black Sport Band, order finalized at 12:10AM 4/10/15):
Apple: Thank you for verifying that for me! Am I chatting with Larry today?
Me: Yes
Apple: Awesome!! It doies look like your order will be shipping out pretty soon here and you will receive your new Apple Watch in between May 13th and May 27th!! I am so excited for your to get your beautiful Apple Watch on your wrist and begin enjoying the great features of this awesome new product! When your Apple Watch is ready to ship, we’ll send you a shipping notification email that will contain your tracking information, which is also the same time you’re credit card is charged for the order.
You will also be able to check up on the status of your order on apple.com/orderstatus or on the Apple Store App on your iOS device!
I do see here that you have AppleCare+ on your order, which is awesome!! I also see here that you are not opted in for text notifications, this is great, because you will know where your order is every step of the way, would you like to be opted in today?
Me: No – I don’t want a text message at 6AM
Apple: Alrighty! That’s okay! Also, just so you know that there is signature required for delivery for your Apple Watch, and since you will get that email letting you know that your order has shipped out, let me go ahead and verify your email for you, I have: l***@gmail.com, Is this correct?
Me: Yes
Apple: Perfect! I really hope you enjoy your new Apple Watch! My best friend already has hers, and I am already super jealous and impatient to receive mine! But, while I’m here, just to make sure we don’t miss anything important, did you have any other questions I can help with?
Me: No
Apple: Okay! Thank you so much for contacting the Apple Online Store. It was a pleasure chatting with you today! I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!!
If the bands are the hold up, Apple should do something about this. They want to get the watches into people’s hands, so they can use Apple Pay and evangelize, etc.
They should give people who ordered the link bracelets, sports loops until their link bracelets are ready. The only reason I ordered a link bracelet is because the sports loop was not available for my model. I couldn’t find the combination online, and on 10-Apr you had to order quick.
It’s not unusual to misjudge the ordering but given the circumstances, Apple should step up.
3:09am EST confirmation on 4/10. 42 Space Grey Sport flipped to “preparing for shipment” sometime this morning (5/11)!
Apple is taking the michael, i have an shipping date from the 12th May 2015 to the 26th May 2015 and to date i havent heard a thing. I’ve been waiting patiently, checking my emails to no avail… If Apple are having problems then instead of staying silent, step up and say something!!!
p.s. failing that a goodwill gesture of maybe a free strap instead will do…
Addendum
They just hit my bank account for 42mm SS with link bracelet and Applecare+
Here’ hoping for delivery in a couple of days.
Now Preparing for Shipment. Yay!
I received my confirmation e-mail at 12:01a for my SS w/ Black Leather Loop and still haven’t seen any changes or charges yet. Here’s hoping that they make some progress on these soon, as you’d assume with a 12:01 confirmation I should receive one of the first w/ LL.
Update: Card was charged last night and is now Preparing for Shipment.. Looks like Leather Loops are finally on their way out.
My watch’s earliest arrival date is set for Wednesday but still is showing “processing order” I really hope it ships soon, got my leather loop band in the other day and I’m going on vacation in two weeks and would like to have my apple watch with me when I go
I ordered my SS Black with Black Link Bracelet on April 10 at 12:03 PDT I’ve been like crazy checking it every day and nothing changes, it is still processing order…. just the same as a Black Sport I ordered the same day at 12:10 PDT and the same as the first one. On the 11 at 9:33 EDT I ordered a Pink sport watch and it will arrive today to my house…
42mm Stainless with Link Bracelet ordered 05/10 3:01am. Status changed to” Prepare for Shipment”
Received my confirmation at 3:03 on 4/10 SS 42mm SB link bracelet still says processing with delivery for 5/11 to 5/27. was hoping to get a preparing for shipment today but nothing yet. Got my wifes sport with green band on the 4/24. Watching her use it is driving me crazy.
I’m in the same boat as you… Ordered 38mm SS SB and 42mm SS SB… both said 5/13-5/27 delivery, but my wife got hers 38mm SS on 4/29 Driving me crazy playing with it and she didn’t really want one!!
Great article, as usual from 9to5.
While bands may be partially responsible for the hold up on Apple Watch, it’s appears as though the whole on-line ordering process was designed for a lot of things, but mainly to buy Apple some time to get all its ducks in a row and get those watches out the door. But it just didn’t buy them nearly enough, as it turns out.
Yes, the on-line ordering process lends itself well to making a more “personal” decision for a more “personal” product, and in that respect it was a great idea. However, it appears that the concept needed its own roll-out for people to understand (many didn’t). It also potentially allowed Apple to get watches in-store as per the advertised date (it didn’t), and into the hands of its many customers (it didn’t and still hasn’t).
From A-Z this roll-out has been abysmal. I’m a fan, and this is a site for fans and Apple observers, so it’s not about hating on Apple. But whatever reasoning went into the longest, most drawn-out, launch in Apple’s history (remember when it was first introduced way back when?), there’s not much of it which can be justified today.
Stainless Steel with Link Bracelet, Pre-ordered on 4/10 xx:04am CT is now “preparing for shipment”.
Now I will have to fight for the Barclay’s card financing since I pre-ordered the watch within first 30 days no interest financing option and shall be billed and charged a month from then outside the promotion period. Another “hassle to tackle with or because of Apple”
One thing nobody’s talking about is how this supply/demand relationship affects excitement for the device. Have to wait a month to get it has built excitement for me – as an early adopter, and a fanboy in general. However, yesterday I cancelled my order because I’ve grown tired of waiting. I’ll get one on the second round.
William,
It’s a guarantee that you’re not the only one.
We will of course hear about how many watches Apple did sell, but no one will never know how many they didn’t on account of this endless stream of problems both in their on line and brick and mortar shops.
William I wish i could do that. In the numerous times I’ve checked to see if my order has changed status I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at the cancel order button. I just can’t do it, I’ve wanted this “thing” since there was a buzz long ago about it possibly be announced. So I sit and wait, most times impatiently and I’ll probably get one the second round also. They always add something that seems like it is the must have option so you need to get one. I’ll give this one to my son if that happens.
I’ve always gotten the first gen of everything since the first iPhone, and this year has been awful for me. I couldn’t get a 6Plus for almost 45 days and now I’ve waited almost as long for the watch, which I was equally excited about.
I get that a lot goes into this, and it’s probably infinitely more complex than I can imagine, but my enthusiasm has been forever tempered, and I never thought I’d say that about Apple.
I don’t feel like I can cancel because I have now invested a MONTH of my time waiting for this Space Grey Watch Sport. If I were to cancel, I would feel like I waited a month in vain.
As for building up excitement, I would beg to differ on this. I was excited when I ordered. I was a bit miffed that I would have to “wait two weeks for it to ship to me on the release date” at the time, but now I am just exceptionally upset and very impatient. This is the first time I have overtly been angry at Apple–purely due to their abysmal release of the Watch.
I am also upset that my hands are tied; there is nothing I can actually do about the fact that I feel Apple has @#$%ed all of us over. I am too entrenched in their ecosystem to refuse to purchase from them again. What am I to do?
Perhaps I shall send an email to Tim Cook. I think that anyone upset with this release should do the same. This appears to be our best recourse for Apple’s horrendous release of the Watch.
I canceled mine as well. I gave them 30 days and still processing and never got any notif at all. When I called customer service the guy was like you sure you want to cancel? Your watch will be shipping very soon. I too will wait for the next go around. Apple really botched this roll-out and really left a bad taste for me.
When Apple cannot even meet the first ten minutes of demand for the Space Gray Sport, any effect caused by low supply of certain band styles is puny by comparison.
If yours ships tweet #applewatchshiptime and a time interval (i.e. 2 days) and a more specific model hashtag like #ss42lb. I’m going to try and start tracking the tweets and provide a site that can graph/average when they are shipping via crowdsourcing.
July ;/
42mm SS with Link Band ordered at 12:03 Pacific Time on 4/10. Just got: “Your shipment is on its way” email from Apple with delivery tomorrow 5/12. My original window was 5/13-5/26, so one day early.
I think I’ll hang out at the Apple Store all weekend and try on my Apple Watch so it feels like it arrived.
“Reader reports have suggested that some of the black Sport Bands packaged with Space Gray and certain other Apple Watches are discoloring after only days of use, which may account for some of the delays.”
I’ve had my Space Gray sport with black band since 04.24.15 and have worn it every day, exercising nearly each day. It’s yet to show any sign of wear or discoloring. Apple did say that normal wear and tear would discolor some types of bands though.
I will not cancel my order!
No one at my work is getting the Watch, not even Apple users. They enjoy making fun of me for spending so much on a foolish watch that is just a fad let alone getting up at 3 AM to make the purchase. They say it is useless but they ask me every time they see me if it has come.
I tell them when I get it they can see it but they will need an appointment for the viewing. And yes it will be pay back time when they want to touch it or get a closer look. This is why my waiting is going to be worthwhile. Ha ha ha non Apple Watch wearers! I can’t wait!
Has anyone received a Stainless Steel watch with the Modern band (any color) yet?
I just spoke to Chris on line at Apple UK and asked about priority as I ordered my SS 48mm Link Bracelet at 8:03am GMT and was told the time was only one factor in whether I’d get the watch before people who ordered later, it could be down to where I live or the bank I use. So I clarified whether getting to work early and buying the minute they went on sale, would bear better than someone who bought at say 8:10am or 9am, and was given the robotic response. ‘We have 38 models, keep an eye on the shipping information’….cos I haven’t been! Their customer service really is rubbish.
I Ordered a 38mm SS SB and a 42mm SS SB… both said 5/13-5/27 delivery, but my wife got hers 38mm SS on 4/29, and as of a minute ago mine is still stating “Processing Items”… No clue what is going on with these things but Apple needs to get some control over production…. They announced it Sept. and here 8 months later they are still not prepared!!
Looks like Apple may have announced this one a little premature!!
My Space Gray Apple Watch Sport is delivering today. Ordered at 3:06am ET. Charged credit card on Saturday. Original Scheduled delivery 4-6 weeks. Good luck!
I received my 38 mm Sport with Blue Sport Band on April 24.
I was very surprised because I didn’t order my watch until 10am on the10th.
I received my email to confirm my order at 3:02 est for my 42mm blue leather loop. I used apple pay so that I wouldn’t need to take time filling in address and credit card info, hoping to get it on launch day. The email said 4-6 weeks even though I completed the transaction probably 15 seconds after the store opened and my order is still processing! This is the worst launch ever and the excitement for the device is leaving with each day. It’s a little aggravating to see people that waited ten hours or a few days already receive theirs. I was standing pushing reload until the store opened and it still didn’t matter!
The Space Black model just became the first and only Apple Watch to miss shipping by the first day of the shipping window. Of course it had to be the model I ordered.
Space Black SS Apple Watch now preparing for shipment. Ordered at 12:02am April 10th
I stayed up until 3am on 4/10 and pre-ordered my 42mm SS with SS link bracelet just to get an estimated ship date of May 13+. I have YET to see any movement on my order status.
I have 4 (count them FOUR) friends now that had ordered the same exact model several days after my pre-order and they have already received their watches while I’m getting more and more p*55ed off.
I called Apple twice now to complain and the response has been that they are shipping watches in the order in which they were received (which is clearly NOT the case)!! The reps didn’t even seem apologetic whatsoever and instead tried to turn the conversation and asked “what features did you like the most about the model you ordered?”. To which I kindly replied… ship me my watch and I will let you know, since barely any info was available about the watches even on pre-order day. I am a complete Apple fanboy… Every iPhone since the first one, every iPad, MacBook Pro for work, iMac desktop for home and now I’ve sprung another $1000+ for a watch that I was one of the first in line for, yet my buddies didn’t pre-order and “skipped the line” contrary to Apple’s claims.
Sincerely,
Sad Watch Waiter #whyme? #wedeservesomerecourse
I completely agree.
What do we do? Our options are very limited. The only thing I can think of is to email Tim Cook, but what will that really do?
I think I am going to both write Tim Cook and post the letter publicly on my blog. But, I am open to suggestions.
Tell me this makes sense! I also ordered a white sport band to use “casually” and at the gym” at the same time as my 42 SS with SS link bracelet (which is still in processing and which more and more people are receiving before my pre-order), yet the band looks like it will get to me before my watch. Just changed to preparing for shipment!!
@ T.bias… I say do both. You know Apple employees read these blogs!! And you’d be doing us ALL a huge favor!!!