Metro Detroit Customers On Watch, Lining Up For The Apple Watch
By Edward Cardenas
CLINTON TOWNSHIP (CBS Detroit) - Shoppers lined up in the early morning chill outside the Apple Store at the Mall at Partridge Creek Friday with hopes being one of the first to purchase the new Apple Watch.
Although Apple had urged customers to set up an appointment to try on the new device, and order it online, some hearty customers held out hope that watches would be available for purchase at the retail store.
"I've been waiting on it for a while now, so I figured I'd come give it a try out here," said Ruben Kokalari, of Sterling Heights, who was unsuccessful in this quest to get device he believes will replace the smart phone. "It's the new game-changer."
Apple's newest device, the Apple Watch, was available for pre-order, and previews in store, starting April 10. For those who placed the pre-order, the smartwatches were shipped to customers Friday.
This led to only a handful of shoppers who queued outside the Partridge Creek for the Apple Watch. In September, hundreds of shoppers lined up outside Apple Stores - and other retailers - to purchase the new iPhone 6.
Only four boutique shops around the world are currently selling the Apple Watch - which comes in two different sizes and three models ranging from $349 for the Apple Watch Sport to $17,000 for an 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition - to the general public.
According to the online Apple Store, an order for a watch placed today would not be shipped until June.
This will come too late for Joey Graves, who drove from Clarkston with hopes of buying a watch in advance of his birthday next week.
"The watch looks really nice compared to some of the others that are out there .. more than a TV on your arm," said Graves, who added that he usually doesn't wait in line for new "This was worth it."