The Apple Watch is not a cheap purchase, and with only 60% of our readers planning to buy one, it’s clear that many of you are not yet convinced you see a role for it. (I have to say I was even less convinced after checking out the size on my wrist in the Apple Store app–even the 42mm model looks tiny.)
My own plan, as a smartwatch skeptic, is to check that Apple’s 14-day return policy applies to the watch before buying one to try out for a week, fully expecting to return it. But if you don’t want to lay out that kind of cash even temporarily, a startup called Lumoid is offering Apple Watch rentals starting at $45 a week …
Mashable reports that $45 gets you the entry-level Sport model, while $55 gets you the Steel. Sorry, you won’t be able to impress the neighbors with the gold Edition model. If you then choose to buy, the company will credit around half the rental cost against the purchase.
With early demand likely to be high, it will probably be a little while before the company has stock, but you can register to be emailed once it has rentals available.
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This is the worst idea I’ve ever heard. Who would rent something for the day for $45 when it only costs $349 to buy. If it was $5 or $10 a day I could maybe see a few people doing this. Give it up Lumoid.
Most people need at least a week to decide. I will probably have to spend many times at the Apple Store playing around with it, since they are going to be slammed with other people checking them out, but renting a watch? I’m wondering what the folks at Lumoid is smoking. Must be some hipsters sitting at a Starbucks with nothing else to think of. You can buy one and return it after 3+ weeks for a full refund without paying a dime. Jeez these guys at Lumoid must have smoked a bunch of bong loads of Purple Cush to come up with that dumb idea.
I agree that doesn’t sound very attractive to me. In order to get a fairly accurate feel for this product I’d need to use it for multiple days, seeing how it lasts through various routines and situations and experiencing the chore of nightly recharging. That’s a minimum of 3 days for me which would mean I’ve spent roughly…what…40% of the cost of the model I would buy if I were willing to buy? …nah
However, as a hobbyist photography I do see value in their business model in general. $45/day to test out a $349 watch doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but $45/day to test out multi-thousand dollar camera equipment does.
I’m with Ben in that I’d check Apple’s return policy. At this point I’m feeling pretty sure I’m not gonna buy this version, but I’d be willing to try it out if I can return it.
Hi there, it’s $45 as part of a week long Home Try-On (not per day). And $25 of the $45 goes towards purchase if you decide to buy one.
Aarthi, from Lumoid
Hi Aarthi, that was I was thinking/wanting to believe at first but the language in neither the Mashable article or your website was clear enough for me to be sure on that. When I saw your pricing model for the camera equipment I concluded otherwise.
$45 for 7 days sounds much better.
How do you say maybe for $5 or $10 a day isn’t that $35 and $70 a week ?
Is Apple dropping their return policy for the Apple Watch? I expect tons of people to try it first and then decide if they want it. Thus the reason why sales will be initially high and sold out.
Don’t people already do this with other idevices? I read one article where a guy went back and forth between a iPhone 6 and 6 plus 10 times and he was still undecided.
If they change their return policy there is a work around. Buy it on an American Express card and there is nothing to worry about. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do this.
In my early years I was incompetent with credit. I haven’t used a credit card in over 5 years and I will be completely debt free in 1 year (except for my house). I have learned to only survive on cash and my debit card. I do all my car and home repairs myself and I only buy cars in cash.
Credit cards are pure evil. The number of people in trouble is unbelievable. Your best friend or family member may be in so much debt you would never know. The number one reason for divorce is money problems; not cheating. Not everyone has the willpower to keep a zero balance. I still don’t trust myself today so that’s why I’m super strict and avoid credit at all cost. I tell my kids that today to make them better young adults.
I’ve never done it expecting to take something back – it just gives confidence. The watch is the first thing I’ll be very surprised if I keep (but you never know).
No chance to drop the return policy in the EU, you can return everything you bought online within 14 days without giving a reason. That’s law.
That’s what I am counting….lots of returns = refurbs – the Apple Sport for 279 will be great in hand :)
Ben, can I ask what makes you a smartwatch skeptic? Do you think there is just no need in general or no need for you personally? Just curious.
I’m planning to write a piece on that very topic – watch (sorry!) this space :-)
Oh no, the pun! I will watch (ha!) for it, looking forward to it.
Can I just add that one of my main reasons for buying the watch is simply to be able to run without my phone. I know everyone will have their reasons, but I really dislike running with my phone and the sport version will be perfect for me for that reason.
Ben, the one really odd line in the story is the statement that ONLY 60% of your readers plan on getting the watch. That is a huge statistic. The word only should be replaced with the word incredible. I am not sure how well your surveys have correlated with market results in the past but even a fraction of that kind of a titrate remake the watch and incredible success.
It is a big number, it’s true, but it’s also 60% of 9to5Mac readers (very atypical of the mass market) who clicked on an article about the Apple Watch, so it’s 60% of a particularly interested segment of the population.
If Apple Watch is not covered by the return policy it’s already in trouble. If it is covered Apple will brag about sales but not mention one word about returns leading to a successful year. It’s the perception that it’s selling. No one cares if there’s no lines or stock outs. That’s what causes stock prices to increase and free media exposure.
Utterly dumb idea, a car yes, a watch no!
Buy via distance selling anywhere within the EU and you can send it back within 14 days. End of. Buy it in a store and you also have exchange rights. I’m not renting at that price to test a product. To be honest I don’t know what size to get. 38 seems a bit small, 42 looks risky. I may need to switch the smaller for the bigger.
Buy it from Apple Store. If you don’t like it return in 14 days for a 10% restocking fee. Still Less..
Ben, if a 42mm watch looks ‘tiny’ on your wrist, you must have very beefy hands.
One reason I’m not buying the Watch is that even the 38mm is too big for me (6-foot, 12 stone) – and 10.5mm thick is twice as thick as I would wear (and twice as thick as the Watch will be in 18 months’ time…).
Yeah, I do have large hands – have problems finding gloves that fit – but it was more that the screen really seems tiny, so I’m skeptical about how much info I’d want to read on it.
OK People for $45 a day it is totally not worth it at all especially when you can buy one for £349. Now this makes me quite angry here in the U.K. only because something it not quite right here with the pricing factor. Let me please explain The lowest price for a sports edition is £349 which we all agree, the lowest price for the same watch here in the U.K. is £299. Right OK then so why are we having to pay £299 when actually the exchange rate shows that $349 is £233 hence why are we paying £66 ponds more that those in the USA, surely if Apple are saying it is £349 then the UK price should be £233 surely???.
Anyway no doubt you can see my point hence I have a question if somebody could answer me will an Apple watch purchased in the UAS (I am in las Vegas in May you see) work here in the U.K. and before someone shouts import duty on my return back to the UK it won’t happen hopefully as I be waring my watch and they won’t know I punched it in the USA hopefully as the packing i don’t need hence ill leave it behind lol.
so hopefully my plan will work so I hope I get somme responses to this please on both my questions
Thanks
Marty
ps sorry for the typing mistakes in the above :-)
Note that the US price doesn’t include sales tax. If you add VAT onto the figure of ~£230, you get a number closer to £275. Then, factor in the fact that the USD is currently very strong, and it is clear that Apple are not trying to shaft you (too much). It’s more of a hedge against currency fluctuations in the long term.
In Nevada, with sales tax, it’ll cost you closer to $370. You will be fine taking it through customs if it’s on your wrist; the box you may have to prove you took it into the country with you. You could always look into shipping the box via air mail, or keep it in hold luggage.
He never said per day, I’m guessing its a per week or even per month.
How much to rent the $10,000 Gold Edition ? lol
What are the chances apple will drop the price of apple watch after 2 months just like it did for the original iPhone? I would love to get the watch but worry that I will get burnt again.