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Apple Watch has nothing new and we still need to buy it with a band

Astuces iOS

Astuces iOS

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 17, 2023
1,699
1,750
At this point, a lot of people have an Apple Watch and may wanna upgrade… but in some cases it’s not a revolution… GUYS why you are forced to buy an Apple Watch with a band if you already have some… Here is why this should be an option :

- 1. You actually save money, 50$ for normal models…

- 2. Actually better for the environment… look if you already have 2-3 or more… No need of more…

I think apple should really do this…
 
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dumastudetto said:
Removing it would probably save Apple about $2 on cost of the most popular models. Forcing people to pick a band during the ordering process is an opportunity cost to upsell people on more expensive options.
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I mean you have both options, you keep the curent one and offer an option without !
 
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Astuces iOS said:
I mean you have both options, you keep the curent one and offer an option without !
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Yes, but there's no money to be saved on the default bands. So you'll be choosing to pay the same price with or without a band.

Typically there's a new band available every year with your new Apple Watch to add to your collection. So it's not a total waste.... unless you never switch bands?

I suppose what Apple could do is offer a band-less sale with a commitment to donate say $4 or $5 to relevant causes. They can then offset the charitable donation against tax, on top of the amount they've saved from you going for the band-less option.
 
dumastudetto said:
Yes, but there's no money to be saved on the default bands. So you'll be choosing to pay the same price with or without a band.

Typically there's a new band available every year with your new Apple Watch to add to your collection. So it's not a total waste.... unless you never switch bands?

I suppose what Apple could do is offer a band-less sale with a commitment to donate say $4 or $5 to relevant causes. They can then offset the charitable donation against tax, on top of the amount they've saved from you going for the band-less option.
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When they sell an Apple Watch, did you notice it’s a box with two boxes inside? The one of the watch only and the band.
 
It's kind of an annoyance that has been brought up. You can always try to the sell the band if you don't need it. I view it the other way - if I want a new band and a new charger, it can make sense to upgrade as you can get a fresh watch as well. The issue for me is all my watches work well with strong battery capacity (ranging from 94% to 100%)
 
Astuces iOS said:
When they sell an Apple Watch, did you notice it’s a box with two boxes inside? The one of the watch only and the band.
Click to expand...

That doesn't change the economics. The cheapest bands costs practically nothing to manufacture. You thinking Apple could reduce the price by $50 if they sold you a watch without a band just isn't realistic.
 
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Gosh, here I thought I was basically getting the band for free.

As others have said, it costs Apple about $2 to include the band. Ain't no way Apple is going to remove the band and drop the price by $50.

If you don't need the band it comes with, sell it. If you'd rather have a different band/color than the standard one it comes with, then order through Apple and customize your bundle.
 
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dumastudetto said:
That doesn't change the economics. The cheapest bands costs practically nothing to manufacture. You thinking Apple could reduce the price by $50 if they sold you a watch without a band just isn't realistic.
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Well, maybe… since the band cost 50$ without watch…
 
Astuces iOS said:
Well, maybe… since the band cost 50$ without watch…
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I think that's the part you're missing.

The band might sell for $50, but the cost is probably $2-$5. Let's pretend it's $5.

If Apple was to reduce the selling price of the watch (without band) by $50, then they're losing $45 of profit. If they reduce the selling price of the watch (without band) by $5, then they're devaluing the market price of the watch.

For those reasons, it doesn't make sense.
 
Howard2k said:
I think that's the part you're missing.

The band might sell for $50, but the cost is probably $2-$5. Let's pretend it's $5.

If Apple was to reduce the selling price of the watch (without band) by $50, then they're losing $45 of profit. If they reduce the selling price of the watch (without band) by $5, then they're devaluing the market price of the watch.

For those reasons, it doesn't make sense.
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That's sick... it means they make a lot of profit when you buy a band...
 
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Astuces iOS said:
That's sick... it means they make a lot of profit when you buy a band...
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Apple makes a lot of money regardless of what you purchase. If you don’t like it, there are many less profitable companies you can choose to buy from instead.

(Although as an Apple shareholder I would personally much prefer you give your money to Apple. 🙏)
 
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My only issue with the coupling of bands and watches is, if you want a specific watch and band, you will be limited based on prepackaged availability. If they sold watches separate from the band, you could go to a store and buy a watch and any band that is in stock. If you want to buy it and have the band come to you because of limited availability you would have the option to as well.

I think they should give you a discount on the band, if you buy a band within a specific time after the watch purchase/delivery, and allow that band to be added to the watches' AppleCare.

This would allow someone to buy the watch without the band, with any available band, or if the band of their choice is not available it will be delivered later. All options would allow a band discount, and inclusion on AppleCare. If you don't want a band, you lose out on the band discount.
 
JT2002TJ said:
My only issue with the coupling of bands and watches is, if you want a specific watch and band, you will be limited based on prepackaged availability. If they sold watches separate from the band, you could go to a store and buy a watch and any band that is in stock. If you want to buy it and have the band come to you because of limited availability you would have the option to as well.

I think they should give you a discount on the band, if you buy a band within a specific time after the watch purchase/delivery, and allow that band to be added to the watches' AppleCare.

This would allow someone to buy the watch without the band, with any available band, or if the band of their choice is not available it will be delivered later. All options would allow a band discount, and inclusion on AppleCare. If you don't want a band, you lose out on the band discount.
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This is more or less how it already works today at the apple store. (well, without the possibility to buy it separately or having a discount) regarding the availability part.

You can basically mix and match any watch with any band. The only exception being the Ultra who is limited to ultra bands and the normal watch who is limited to "normal" bands.

But other than that, you can choose basically any combinaison when going to the Apple Store or ordering online. This has been the case for a few years, and it's the reason why there is two separates boxes when you buy an Apple Watch
 
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NicoTRZ said:
This is more or less how it already works today at the apple store. (well, without the possibility to buy it separately or having a discount) regarding the availability part.

You can basically mix and match any watch with any band. The only exception being the Ultra who is limited to ultra bands and the normal watch who is limited to "normal" bands.

But other than that, you can choose basically any combinaison when going to the Apple Store or ordering online. This has been the case for a few years, and it's the reason why there is two separates boxes when you buy an Apple Watch
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I can't remember, but I think all my AWs going back to my original S0 had 2 boxes as well. But you still couldn't mix and match. I was not aware that this changed. I haven't witnessed this yet; I did just get an U3 with Milanese loop at my local Apple Store, they did actually have it available.

The issue still remains, that if it is coupled, you cannot get the watch if the band you want is not available. Now that there is enough watch "history" people have several bands. They should be able to get the watch and wait for the band to be shipped to you. Also, if you do not want to take advantage of a band discount, you shouldn't have to. If I didn't get the Milanese Loop on an impulse buy, I wouldn't have wanted a band since I still have my Nomad Ti bracelet from my AWU1.
 
In all honesty, you talking about Apple making a change to the way it offers watches and bands based on what you want. I'm sure there are many people who feel the same as you, but Apple won't change it.

Now, I'm looking at this from my perspective (ironic I know), where I like having the opportunity to buy a new band to add to my collection. If that isn't something you want to do, do a bit of research first and see what you may be able to make from selling the band online-you might, if it's unopened, be able to recoup a significant amount of the cost of said band. You probably won't get back store value, but if you can get close to it, then that's better than having a band you don't really want, which could help offset the cost of a new watch.
 
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JT2002TJ said:
I can't remember, but I think all my AWs going back to my original S0 had 2 boxes as well. But you still couldn't mix and match. I was not aware that this changed. I haven't witnessed this yet; I did just get an U3 with Milanese loop at my local Apple Store, they did actually have it available.
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They began selling it with two separate boxes starting with the series 4. for example, here is an unboxing of the series 3 where you can see that the band is already attached to the watch in the box:

Then with the series 5, they launched "Apple Watch Studio" on the website who allowed you to simulate any combinaison: https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/10/...rap-aluminum-stainless-steel-titanium-ceramic (this website feature has been pulled this year tough)

And that's when they began to allow any mix and match (for example, today you can totally get a Milanese loop with an Apple Watch SE if you like. This was totally impossible before).
 
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Long ago when I bought the first Ultra1, I decided to sell it after 6 weeks and go back to a regular AW. The guy I sold it to, did not like the band color. He took it to the Apple Store and asked if they would trade the band for another color. They would not do it, but offered to take both the watch and band back and trade for a new Ultra 1 with the band of his choice. The buyer emailed me to tell me what Apple did. Awesome!
 
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Astuces iOS said:
Sure but at this point it’s almost an abuse…
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Ha ha, nobody is forcing you to buy it my man...

I kind of like to be able to choose a new fresh band when upgrading - often times my old watch is being sold with a band attached, so I will end up with as many in the collection as before.
 
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