“Apple is planning to launch an update to its retail store iOS app that will allow consumers to utilize self-checkout for purchases of accessories and other shelf-stocked items at the company’s retail stores,” Eric Slivka reports for MacRumors.
“According to our source, self-checkout purchases will be charged via the Apple Store app to the customer’s iTunes Store account,” Slivka reports. “High value products such as Macs, iPhones, and iPods are kept in the stockroom at Apple retail stores, meaning that customers purchasing these items will still require assistance from a store employee. We have, however, been told that customers will be able to pre-purchase these items through the app and simply pick them up with the assistance of a store employee.”
Slivka reports, “But for the plethora of accessories, cases, and other items stocked directly on the sales floor at Apple retail stores customers will soon be able to purchase these items without needing to catch the attention of a store employee with an EasyPay device to complete the transaction.”
Read more in the full article here.
Yea, another way to put more Americans out of work. Don’t use it!
Hardly – and obviously you have never been to an Apple store and experienced a 30 minute wait to purchase a simple or small item. Or to have a small item exchanged under warranty like a usb to dock connector cable. This will lighten the work load on the Apple Store staff for certain. Besides, Apple has been hiring thousands of employees – 60% of whom work in the stores and most of the stores are here in the US. Try and inform yourself a bit Larry.
That’s a good one.
Let’s roll back technology to the 1800’s so more people have to do manual labor. That would be awesome.
Good one lol
If you’re one of the apple employees you would appreciate this considering what steve516 said. There is always plenty of customers coming in.
So as a solution, leave the tiny purchases to technology and the larger ones to the employees to reduce the pressure.
Well, hopefully this will increase Apple’s retail business and make it so they can open new Apple stores. So it wouldn’t put them out of work, they would just get moved to the new stores. 😀
Sounds great! So when’s the update?
So how does this work so that someone can’t walk out of the store without paying for an iPhone bumper or like item? Will someone be at the entrance checking receipts against items onhand?
Probably, like every other retail store. I like how the current Apple Store setup doesn’t treat every customer like a shoplifting suspect. I don’t shop at Best Buy because they check your bags on the way out.
I don’t let anyone search my bag. ever.
you don’t have to, FYI. tell them no and keep walking.
Even right now, I can ask an Apple Store person to “ring up” my purchase. They use their customized iPod touch to swipe my credit card. They ask if I want a bag or printed receipt (or have it emailed). If I say no bag or printed receipt, I just walk out with the item(s).
A self-checkout system would just extend what already exists, which is a system that gives the impression that Apple trusts its customers, while still maintaining control of high-value items.
As a former store employee, this would have been awesome, especially during the holiday rush. I do wonder, however, how they plan to make sure items are actually being purchased. They’ll probably station whoever checks you in for Genius Bar appts right next to the third party section.
Snappy it will be!
No I bet Apple will innovate something much cooler. As you exit the door SIRI simply will say Thank-you. If you didn’t, well if have an iPhone on you, you will be charged anyway. Those who don’t an iPhone, than the alarm goes off as usual.
This is a great idea from Apple. I hate shopping in Dept. stores because of a lack of cashiers. Customers have to wait on long cashier lines to pay for their items. They are just waiting in line to give you their money. People do the hard part by finding what they want and filling their carts, now make it easy for them to pay you.