As expected, Apple’s supply of Apple Watches is going to be severely constrained at launch. Several models had shipping estimates that extended into May and June the instant the Apple Watch became available for preorder this past Friday, and most models that were available for April 24th delivery were sold out in no time. So, what happens to eager Apple fans who want a Watch on day one but missed out on preorders?
Don’t worry, you can still get your hands on a brand new Apple Watch before April is through, and we’ll tell you how.
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Apple fans who were willing to wake up at 3:00 a.m. on Friday morning to preorder the device will be the only people in the country to get the Apple Watch on “launch day,” April 24th. But if you’re willing to spend some extra cash to be among the first people to get their hands on the Apple Watch, you can get one just a few days later.
As noted by CNBC, many people saw an opportunity to make a quick buck on the fact that Apple never seems to have enough supply to meet demand. By waking up early on Friday morning and preordering an Apple Watch for April 24th delivery even though they didn’t want one, they’re now free to sell them on eBay to a mass of Apple fans who weren’t able to secure launch-day deliveries.
If you choose to go this route, however, be prepared to pay a premium. The markups on launch-day Apple Watches is steep, ranging from 50% to 100% and beyond. For example, the $349 Apple Watch Sport model seems to general be going for between $550 and $650, while the asking price for stainless steel Apple Watch models can reach as high as nearly $2,000.
It should be noted that while things have improved in recent years, eBay is still home to plenty of scammers looking to take advantage of buyers. Be sure to deal only with sellers who have plenty of positive feedback, and asking to see Apple’s preorder confirmation is a good idea if it hasn’t already been posted on the auction page.
For those who don’t want to deal with eBay, new Apple Watch orders for most models are now shipping between June and July.
