Apple Watch Edition Customers To Receive Royal Treatment, 2-Year Warranty, And 24/7 Support
It should come as no surprise that Apple is rolling out the red carpet for customers that purchase the Apple Watch Edition. The smartphone starts at a whopping $10,000 and goes for as much as $17,000 in the top-end configuration. As a result, Apple Watch Edition customers will be given special treatment — at least compared to other Apple Watch buyers — including allowing them to cut the line when it comes to in-store demos.
While prospective buyers need to signup online for an in-store appointment (which lasts just 5 to 15 minutes) in order try out an Apple Watch Sport or Apple Watch, those interested in purchasing an Apple Watch Edition will simply be able to walk right into an Apple Store and secure access to a dedicated “Expert” to show them the ropes. They’ll be given anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to try out the watch, get some hands-on time with different band options, and ask questions.
In addition the pre-sale perks, those who do end up purchasing an Apple Watch Edition will be treated to a two-year warranty (can be extended to three years with AppleCare+) instead of the standard one-year warranty given to lesser models. To be frank, with a $10,000 price of entry, I would expect more than a doubling up on the warranty, but I’m no watch expert…
Other perks include two years of dedicated, 24/7 phone support for Apple Watch Edition owners (this support will be English-only at launch), and special stations for customers to try on up to two “Edition” watches at once.
The Apple Watch Edition won’t be available initially in all markets, and 9to5Mac indicates that only Apple’s “largest markets” will have access to the pricey smartwatch at first. Once production ramps up, availability will be opened up to all Apple Stores.
IDC recently forecast that the wearables market will skyrocket in the coming years, with smartwatches specifically leading the charge. It is expected that the wearables market with top 45 million units in 2015, representing a 133 percent increase from 2014. By 2019, shipments are expected to crest 126 million units.
