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Tim Cook Says He Expects AirPods to Ship Over 'Next Few Weeks' in Email to Customer

Wednesday November 30, 2016 7:52 am PST by Joe Rossignol
airpods-duoMany customers are anxiously anticipating the release of Apple's wireless AirPods, originally slated to launch in October but later delayed. Fortunately, the wait may soon be over.

MacRumors has been forwarded an email in which Apple CEO Tim Cook, responding to a customer, allegedly said he anticipates AirPods to begin shipping "over the next few weeks."
Customer's comment: "Give us a release date. I really bought in to the wireless vision you painted. Now I'm stuck waiting with my EarPods but can't charge my 7 at the same time which I need to do at work. Let us know if it's a month or 6 months, because then I'll just buy some other wireless headphones."

Tim Cook's response: "Thanks for your note. Sorry for the delay---we are finalizing them and I anticipate we will begin to ship over the next few weeks."
MacRumors has verified the email's full headers appear to originate from Apple's corporate servers, while Apple executives are known to respond to customers on occasion, but as a boilerplate disclaimer, it should be noted these emails can of course be faked. Apple did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Apple has so far only said it needed "a little more time" before AirPods are ready for customers, while conflicting rumors have pointed towards release dates between December and January, offering little clarity. AirPods remain listed as both "coming soon" and "currently unavailable" on different sections of Apple's website.

Related Roundup: AirPods 2
Tags: Tim Cook, AirPods Guide
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
[ 320 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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yaxomoxay
31 months ago

Surprised Tim responded.

The person who wrote to him was so rude-very unprofessional.


If you write to Apple's CEO (or MS or any big corp or government agency) you don't exchange pleasantries. A CEO skims through the emails that are passed to him by his staff... You have to be as direct as possible; the CEO's time is very valuable both in term of money and needs. Not filling the email with crap is actually a form of respect.
That email was not rude, it was direct.
Rating: 49 Votes
Avatar
Corrode
31 months ago

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.

Seriously? If this is what you deem "incredibly rude", you must not spend much time on the internet.
Rating: 43 Votes
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bluespark
31 months ago
The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.
Rating: 28 Votes
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Robert.Walter
31 months ago

How about shipping an actual Pro Mac? (e.g. any/all of: 32 GB RAM option MBP, 17" MBP, Mac Pro, new mini etc?)

And I thought this was a thread about AirPods...
Rating: 25 Votes
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yaxomoxay
31 months ago

Why is it ok because everyone else is more rude "on the internet?" If someone talked to me like that in person, I'd laugh in their face and walk away.

"Give us the release date". The entire tone of the message was rude and childish.

I want these earphones as much as anyone, but emailing the CEO and demanding a release date lets us know that guy is very self entitled. There is a much more professional way to address these concerns directly to the CEO (if you think that's a good way to do it), and he chose not to.


Have you ever wrote or received a note from someone who's paygrade is way above yours? That email was not rude, it was direct. Let me break it down for you:

Give us a release date. --> The question/request.

I really bought in to the wireless vision you painted. Now I'm stuck waiting with my EarPods but can't charge my 7 at the same time which I need to do at work. --> The reason for the request, both in terms of needs and frustration/satisfaction.

Let us know if it's a month or 6 months, because then I'll just buy some other wireless headphones. --> Reiteration of the question/request, with possible workaround for the person posing the question.
Rating: 21 Votes
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thadoggfather
31 months ago
Surprised he didn't just say "I've been using them since before iPhone 7 launch, to my recollection not once have they fallen out of my ears, they're the BEST earbuds we've EVER created -- thanks for asking" and leave it at that,

Rating: 16 Votes
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sorinc03
31 months ago

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.


How was it rude? Apple has been terrible recently at shipping products. They "underestimated" iPhone demand and many got their phones a month or more after launch, AirPods are still not out, MacBooks took a month to ship. When people want to pay Apple for their shiny new products and the company simply doesn't deliver per expectations, it makes sense to be upset, frustrated, and show it.

Why would you expect people to be nice and understanding about it? Apple should know better.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Eduardo1971
31 months ago
Surprised Tim responded.

The person who wrote to him was so rude-very unprofessional.
Rating: 15 Votes
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69Mustang
31 months ago

The demanding tone of the customer's e-mail was incredibly rude. However valid his frustration, there's no excuse for that.

I didn't see any rudeness in the customer's email. I saw someone getting to the point. It's something I can appreciate. As stated, Tim sold a vision. As of yet, he hasn't delivered on that vision. If the product has issues, just say so. Push a new release date of Q2 and keep it moving. If it's ready before then, great. Under promise and over deliver. Maps should have taught Tim that vital lesson.

Apple should take it's own advice and put on it's big boy pants. If it can't deliver on it's promises in a reasonable timeframe, just say so.
Rating: 13 Votes
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Cigsm
31 months ago
I wish Sony would tell us the intelligence behind removing the built in VCR from
Their TV's. Oh wait, there isn't any.


I wish Tim would tell us the intelligence behind removing the headphone jack.

Oh wait, there isn't any.

Rating: 12 Votes

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