This is not the point of the article. The point of the article is that - unlike previous Apple product launches, which have been spectacular events with great logistics and optics - the Apple watch launch has been grossly mismanaged in comparison.
Why can’t people see this for what it is? It has nothing to do with units dold, cash on hand, or record profits. It’s a misstep for a company that is usually quite good at these things.
Sheesh.
I want to take you at your word that you only want to have a reasoned discussion. Okay, then.
The article says it numerous times (in case anybody misses it): "its launch has failed, and failed incredibly badly", but silly me, I'm not seeing anything except:
The buyers (other than the usual small number of professional malcontents) don't appear to be screaming bloody murder. And it seems to me the launch story won't be over until first buyers have their watches. Then, and only then, will you hear the screams (if indeed they happen) that tell you something actually went badly.
I don't get the eagerness to declare failure before the story is told. So enlighten me with specifics other than the three above, please?
The launch of the Apple Watch is not over. . . nor has it been "mismanaged" as you and the article claim. How do you manage a runaway train when the demand is far greater than expected. No one knows at this point whether Apple has "mismanaged" the roll-out or not. No other company in the world has demand for its products like Apple's product demand. . . and no other company knows how to handle the demand like Apple. Apple has learned a lot about how to handle demand and one of the ways they do that is exactly what you are seeing, allow customer pre-orders on-line to avoid huge demand on a single day at their retail stores.
It is equally amusing that someone such as article author Wayne Williams, who has never, ever managed a product roll out, or probably even a Lemonade stand, is criticizing a company that has managed the product rollouts numerous times to overwhelming product demand and concluding they are making a brand damaging botch of the job this time. . . without waiting for them to actually DO the product roll out. You can add your name to that amusement, too.
I find it amusing that you, a person who is not waiting for an Apple Watch to be delivered, is getting your panties in a wad because there is some delay in when other people are going to be able to get theirs because of the overwhelming demand. Everyone who ordered an Apple Watch did so knowing approximately when it would be delivered. They had the option to back out before pushing the ORDER BUTTON. There is no one who is being told after the fact their Apple Watch delivery is being delayed later than expected.
To quote you: "Sheesh."