Facing low yields and high customer demand for its wearable device, Apple has now confirmed in a memo to retail staff obtained by 9to5Mac that the Watch won't be shipping before June.
Moreover, the company's removed the April 24 date from its website last night, indicating that few of those who have pre-ordered their device will actually receive it by April 24.
When pre-orders for the Apple Watch kick off this Friday, April 10, making reservations for in-store pickup will be limited to one per customer through Apple's Reserve and Pickup service, MacRumors has learned from sources.
Would-be buyers in the United States, the United Kingdom and possibly in other launch countries will be required to present a valid government-issued photo ID upon pickup at the Apple Store where they placed their Apple Watch reservation, the publication reported Tuesday.
In an interesting break from the publicity Apple normally gets for free whenever customers line up outside its stores to be the first to get their hands on latest new gizmos, the company is now instructing its retail employees to suggest customers buy the Apple Watch and the new twelve-inch MacBook through the Online Apple Store.
According to an internal memo Apple's retail chief Angela Ahrendts sent to Apple Store employees entitled 'Get in line online', obtained by Business Insider, Apple suggests that “the days of waiting in line and crossing fingers for a product are over”.
Tim Cook sent out a memo to all Apple employees today, pumping them up for their retail Apple Watch kickoff on Friday. While the device will not officially available until the 24th of this month, customers will be able to submit pre-orders and try on the wearable beginning on the 10th.
In the memo, obtained by 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman, Cook tells employees that tens of millions of people have watched their Apple Watch keynotes and developers have submitted over 1000 new apps and updates with support for the device. He also announces special employee pricing.
Contradicting a recent 9to5Mac report which said only try-on appointments will be possible come April 10, sources told The Mac Observer that the appointment-only process will reportedly accommodate walk-in purchases, using a system similar to one recently instituted at Genius Bars in Apple's real stores worldwide.
The Genius Bar will handle walk-ins by taking your phone number, allowing customers to run their errands and go about their business until they receive timely updates from the Genius Bar related to waiting times via SMS. Apple's already using this system to handle purchases and is reportedly intending to tap it for the Watch as well.
Following an expanded trade-in program in the United States which offers store credits to Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone users looking to jump ship, Apple has now rolled out its iPhone and iPad trade-in initiative in Greater China, South China Morning Post reported Wednesday.
Available in all of Apple's eighteen retail stores across the country, customers can now trade in their old devices for an Apple Store Gift Card, which can be used toward a new device purchase.
The Apple Watch sales process and purchasing experience will be more elaborate and exquisite than originally thought, according to internal training documents seen by Arnold Kim, who runs MacRumors.
Apple is revamping its retail stores ahead of April 10 Watch pre-orders and try-on appointments and has detailed in an internal brochure for retail staff the various process for both customers and employees, including playing with different bands, trying on demo units and more.
We also got our first good look at special display cases for the Watch that will be installed in Apple Stores and learn about other interesting details surrounding the shopping experience as Apple has envisioned it.
Apple on Friday announced (via iGen.fr) grand opening for Apple Watch stores-within-a-store located in high-end department stores in London, Paris and Tokyo. The company's UK Retail website confirms that the Selfridges Apple Watch shop will open doors to business on Friday, April 10, at 9am local time.
Located on London's 400 Oxford Street, the Selfridges shop is just across the popular Wonder Room shopping hall where a bunch of watch brands and jewelers operate their luxury shops. Apple previously said pre-orders for the wearable device will kick off on April 10.
9to5Mac has learned from several Apple employees that try-on appointments for the Apple Watch will begin on April 10, the same day the pre-ordering process is scheduled to kick off. You'll be able to book an appointment through Apple's website or via the company's free of charge shopping app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
You'll be able to spend hands-on time with an Apple Watch at Apple's retail stores without making a purchase. Although some sources previously mentioned trying on Watches by appointment, 9to5Mac has learned that try on appointments won’t be necessary after all.
Apple will start taking pre-orders for the Watch on April 10, ahead of its April 24 launch. April 10 is also when the Watch will arrive for “preview” in retail stores. Apple Retail will begin training employees on selling the device at the end of March.
Apple's first pop-up store dedicated to just the Apple Watch has begun construction in a luxury Tokyo department store, ahead of its April launch.
The pop-up store is nestled between other popular luxury brands, including Tiffany's, Mauboussin and Chaumet, as first reported by the rather reliable Japanese blog Macotakara.
Apple Stores across the globe have posted backlit displays showing off the new Apple Watch and 12-inch MacBook, ahead of the devices' launch next month.
The new graphics are in typical Apple fashion, showing large images of the products and their detail for customers to see.