“Apple is preparing a new Reserve and Pickup system at its retail stores that will roll out in time for the Watch launch on April 24th, according to sources,” Zac Hall reports for 9to5Mac.
“The Reserve and Pickup system for the Apple Watch will differ from the existing Personal Pickup system for other products, which allows customers to fully purchase items online before picking them up at Apple retail locations,” Hall reports. “The new system will allow potential Watch customers to reserve a desired case and band combination online, then try the specific Watch in-store before completing the purchase.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Boy, we certainly hope Apple has some changes coming to retail stores or, even with this system in place, the Apple Watch could be a train wreck of delays, waiting and confusion. A little birdie tells us that Apple’s cooking up some things.
As we hinted back on February 3rd: “How about ‘Apple Watch Stores’ (either stores-within-stores or as separate entities, kiosks or otherwise grander) dedicated specifically to Apple Watch customers? Watch and see.”
And as we stated flatly on February 13th: “Wave goodbye to the last of Apple’s mini-stores… and Say hello to dedicated Apple Watch Stores.”