Apple Watch “can be pre-ordered starting after 3:01 a.m. New York time, ahead of the official availability April 24,” Tim Higgins reports for Bloomberg. “Apple’s taking a risk with an altogether different shopping experience that favors ordering online, making appointments and selecting from an array of models and sizes.”
“That’s a break from Apple’s usual product introductions that involve long lines outside stores and the relatively simple choice between a couple of colors and sizes,” Higgins reports. “‘It’s going to be challenging for them to get this buyer experience exactly right, especially early on, when there are likely to be large crowds of people that want to come in and see these things,’ said Van Baker, an analyst at Gartner Inc.”
“Buyers will have to embrace the new approach. Cupertino, California-based Apple is encouraging shoppers to make appointments online to try on the watch in its stores. Executives are also directing retail employees to have customers purchase the watch through the company’s website,” Higgins reports. “‘The days of waiting in line and crossing fingers for a product are over for our customers,’ the company said in an internal memo [penned by retail chief Angela Ahrendts]. ‘This is a significant change in mindset and we need your help to make it happen.'”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Who’s ready for preordering?!