Posted on 04/14/2015 9:01:08 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Sellers are asking extremely high "Buy It Now" prices at eBay to take advantage of strong demand for Apple Watches. But in many cases, consumers aren't biting.
By most accounts, the Apple Watch did a terrific business on the first day customers could place preorders. Apple reportedly received roughly one million orders last Friday, and demand has been so high that orders placed now won’t be delivered until June or even later in the summer.
The first customers who preordered Apple Watches, however, will have their shiny gadgets in hand starting on April 24 or soon thereafter. Part of the draw of being an early adopter is the opportunity to get one’s hands on the newest tech before everyone else, and a certain group of consumers is sure to be too impatient to wait until summer to get their hands on the new Apple Watch.
Naturally, this combination of strong demand and limited short-term supply led Apple Watches to begin appearing for resale on eBay almost as soon as Apple started accepting preorders. As ReCode noted over the weekend, most eBay listings for Apple Watches were of the “Buy It Now” variety, in which sellers post a flat price for the item rather than putting it up for an online auction. We probably shouldn’t be surprised that some sellers appear to be exceptionally opportunistic and greedy, occasionally posting “Buy It Now” prices that are 200% to 600% higher than retail.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
I honestly don’t see the benefit of a “smart watch” that needs an iphone to fully work, and takes up both hands to use. Now you’re going to have people staring down at their arm, and using their other hand to operate it.
The car crashes are going to be that more spectacular. I predict a lot more broken forearms.
Good question. There's no way to tell. There really are not that many on eBay (under 1500) . . . and the scalping Chinese smugglers that tried to hit Apple on the release of the iPhone 6 is obviated by the fact that Apple opened pre-orders on the Apple Watch in China on the same day. . . so there's no arbitrage to be made in smuggling Apple Watches into China, either. There might be some in countries where Apple did not offer it yet, but they are not rich markets like China.
I think the problem is that the apple iWatch sucks, and people would rather blow their money on something other useless gimmick.
Sounds yummy. Will look for them. For me Golden Delicious with a slice of sharp cheddar on the side. Yum
The top of the line Apple watch is rose gold and exquisitely beautiful. It a piece of fine jewelry, not just a watch. I would love one.
Who told you it requires both hand to use? Some apps do require both hands, but basic functions are handsfree. Time and alerts are handsfree. Want to see the time, raise your arm and look at the watch like you would any watch. Alerts turn it on and tap you on the wrist. If you decide it requires more, then you may need to take out your phone. The watch can operate independent of the iPhone for certain operations related to exercise such as running, walking, etc. It also responds to voice commands.
Gravenstein!
Sad to say it, but I don’t think a lot of people these days want to run around with a trendy, demonstrably valuable item on their wrist. You could lose a wrist that way.
I have drooled over one. . . I wear a 15.5 carat black diamond ring in Rose Gold and black Tungsten Carbide. The Apple Watch Edition in Rose Gold with a black strap or rose gold links would look good with the ring. While I can easily afford it, I just cannot justify it. Currently I wear a Rose Gold Stührling Tourbillon Meteorite Dial mechanical wind watch, which is exquisitely beautiful as well, retail list is over $3K. It looks very good with the ring. . . and when my Apple Watch comes in, I will regret not wearing it any more, especially since it was a gift from my girlfriend.
I am getting the Space Black Stainless Steel in 42mm and the smaller 38mm one as a surprise gift for my girlfriend.
My problem is that I really do think the Apple Watch Edition is overpriced for the amount of 18K gold that is in it—I calculated what the gold should be worth at 40 Grams of weight. . . around $1150, add workmanship of a $1000, basic electronics, etc., that brings the base production cost to around $2500. So I calculated a reasonable marked-up value selling price would be $5K, not $10K to $17K with the only difference being the strap!
But since they've sold every one they've offered for sale, it is not overpriced economically. Willing buyers are paying the asking prices.As a desirable piece of jewelry it must be worth it to the buyers.
However, I think that Apple is selling it through high-end boutique sellers who demand a high-markup in jewelry, especially in watches, that markup can be as high as 80%! Apple will not undercut their contracted retailers. Ergo, if Apple is selling the Apple Watch Edition to a high-end store in Paris, and they want to sell it for $10,000 for the basic and $17,000 for the slightly fancier model, that is what Apple will sell it for.
So my calculated $5K becomes Apple's wholesale price (to maintain a good profit to Apple) for the low end Apple Watch Edition to the retailers. The retailers sell it for an additional hefty markup and Apple will be consistent with the retailers' higher price to establish and maintain value.
As you might surmise from my post immediately above. . . I'm not too worried about it. I carry concealed. If they want my ring, they'll have to fight me for it. My girlfriend doesn't leave the house without at least $30k to $50K of jewelry, so I have to guard her, too, when we are out. She says what's the point of owning it if you can't flaunt it! ;^)
You’re prepped, as a good FReeper should be. I feel for those who aren’t.
From the sales figures, it was apparent the most sold model was the sport model: $349.00. Not like bumping off a Rolex.
They’d be more successful getting my iPad which I carry daily and is twice valuable.
They’d probably get that, too.
Actually, quite a few Apple Watches have sold on eBay at high prices.
How many is "quite a few"? I just did a check of the listed auctions and there are fewer than 1500 Apple Watches currently being offered. You have to filter out the junk to get an accurate count. That does not translate to "quite a few" when millions have been sold worldwide. Even if three times the current listings were sold, that's a drop in the bucket.
Sure not everything requires both hands. But for all the functionality it does require an iphone, and there will be many things that will require or will have an option thst people will decide to use, that needs the other hand.
No, not all functionality requires an iPhone, but no one said you could use one without an iPhone. It is not a stand-alone device. It was never meant to be. It is an accessory for the iPhone. You have a problem with that, take it up with the designers. The point is to relieve users from having to always be reaching for their iPhones. . . and to add functionality the iPhone is lacking, or inconvenient to use quickly. Yes there will be times that it requires two hands. . . but you don't HAVE to use it.
So, I see. . . in this debate of which apple is the most delicious, you dropped in to nominate your favorite, the crab apple. . .
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