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Many 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.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Surprised Tim responded.
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.The person who wrote to him was so rude-very unprofessional.
That email was not rude, it was direct.
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.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...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.
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 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.
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.