Tag: smartwatch

Apple Watch sales may not be as hot as they’d seemed

| August 5, 2015

Reports are showing that the sales for the smartwatch aren’t reaching break-even volume for a supplier.

Media reports are circulating wildly stating that an Apple Watch supplier has not even managed to reach the sales figure required in order to break even, which is stated to have been 2 million units per month.

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. is indicating that the smartwatches aren’t selling.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Taiwanese supplier that is responsible for assembling all of the sensors and chips of the Apple Watch into its tiny case (called the system in package, or SiP). A subsidiary of Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) has told investors that their break even volume is 2 million monthly units, and they have not even been able to reach that level. This, according to a Bernstein research analyst named Mark Li. The subsidiary said that it did not once reach that volume during the second quarter of this year. Moreover, it is not expecting to do so in the third quarter of the year.

This is not promising for the Apple Watch as it is traditionally the third quarter that production becomes busy.

Apple Watch Sales Not as Good As ExpectedThe reason is that producers are typically gearing up for the holiday shopping season when sales will usually spike significantly. However, if this supplier doesn’t expect to hit break-even figures during the months that prepare for the holiday shopping season, then it suggests that the expectations for the sales of the smartwatches are not all that promising. The subsidiary did not say that it expected to reach break-even volumes for the last quarter of the year, but apparently no commitments have been made to suggest that it will, as of yet.

Within a note that was written by Mark Li to Bernstein clients, he found the shortfall in sales of the wearable technology device to be disappointing. He also stated that he’s already had low expectations for the smartwatch, but that even he was very surprised at the fact that it didn’t even manage to reach break-even levels.

This Apple Watch news becomes even more insightful when understanding that companies such as ASE nearly never fail to reach break-even volume, particularly during their third quarter.

The Apple Watch will soon be available at Best Buy

| July 30, 2015

As of August, the smartwatch will be making its way to 100 of the brand’s electronics stores.

It has recently been announced that people who want to buy the Apple Watch will soon have 100 more places in which to make the purchase, as that many Best Buy locations will be placing that smartwatch on their shelves.

Another 200 Best Buy stores will be adding the smartwatch to their offerings before the holiday shopping season.

This greater availability of the Apple Watch may play an important role in boosting the sales of this device. This could be especially true when Best Buy has added the smartwatch to the total 300 locations that will be carrying it, as well as on its website. At the moment, the number of places where the gadget can be purchased is quite limited. By boosting the convenience to the consumer, it is more likely that people will start to consider whether or not they actually want it.

Certain models of the Apple Watch will start to be sold at Best Buy as of August 7 and will be priced from $350 and up.

Apple Watch available at Best BuyAccording to Best Buy senior category officer, Jason Bonfig, “The Apple Watch is a big addition to our stores and website, and we know our customers want it.” Bonfig’s statement also went on to say that “We are excited to bring the Apple Watch to more consumers, especially with the holidays coming up.”

Of the total of 30 different smartwatches that have been created by the brand, Best Buy has said that they will be stocking 16 of them. These will include devices from both the Spot model and the Watch lines. They will be available in both the 38 mm and the 42 mm sizes. There will be a number of different watch bands and other types of smartwatch accessories that will be sold by the electronics retailer.

The Apple Watch will be far from the only smartwatch that will be available at Best Buy, which is already selling a number of rival gadgets from other brands. The Apple Watch Edition line that starts at $10,000 will not be sold by the retailer.