Apple has confirmed that some preorders of the Apple Watch will be shipping out earlier than expected, after customers have reported that they are now seeing a "Preparing for Shipment" status on their online orders.
Customers who placed their orders for the Apple Watch on the Apple Online Store were previously dismayed to find out that their new smartwatches will be shipped sometime in May or June, despite Apple's announcement that the new device will become available on Friday, April 24. However, some customers were happily surprised to find out that Apple has begun filling their orders and are getting them ready for shipping sooner than expected.
"Our team is working to fill orders as quickly as possible based on the available supply and the order in which they were received," says Amy Bessette, an Apple spokesperson, in a statement to the New York Times. "We know many customers are still facing long lead times and we appreciate their patience."
However, Apple did not comment on an exact window of time on when customers can expect to receive their Apple Watch orders, only that the first customers who placed their orders will also be the first ones to receive their packages. It is also unclear which Apple Watch models will be available for, though it is likely that the $10,000 gold Apple Watch Edition will be placed on back order.
Apple senior vice president of retail and online sales Angela Ahrendts recently sent out an internal video, which was obtained by Mac4Ever, where she impressed upon Apple employees that demand for the Apple Watch was overwhelming, with the initial supply running out within minutes of launch. New customers who purchase after the first wave of stocks will still have to wait four to six weeks for their Apple Watch to arrive, Ahrendts said.
For now, Apple has limited sales of its newest product to the Apple Online Store, with physical locations only offering try-ons by appointment, although buyers can expect the smartwatch to be available in Apple's physical stores later in the year. However, Apple's partner retailers will be having the Apple Watch on their shelves come Friday, April 24, further strengthening Apple's new place in the fashion industry.
The New York Times reports that retailers such as Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Colette in Paris, 10 Corso Como in Milan, the Corner in Berlin, and Maxfield in Los Angeles all advertise the Apple Watch as "in-store 4.24.15" on their websites. At Dover Street Market, CEO Adrian Joffe says its Ginza store will have 350 Apple Watches and 570 in London, although none of them are the pricey Apple Watch Edition. Asked how far the stock will take the retailer, Joffe says, "judging by the calls, I don't think it will last long."
