Apple has begun to prepare its retail employees for the in-store launch of the Apple Watch, which will take place later this month. A new "Reserve and Pickup" service will be introduced to help customers get the exact Apple Watch they want.
When Apple showed the world the Apple Watch for the first time last September, alongside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the smartwatch was billed as Apple's most personal device ever. Unlike the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which hit stores 10 days after their unveiling, the Apple Watch wasn't given an exact release date, and all Apple would commit to was an early 2015 release.
At Apple's March 9, 2015 special event, the company made its Apple Watch launch intentions clear and announced that customers would be able to preorder the device via Apple's online store beginning on April 10 at 12:01 a.m. PDT for delivery on its advertised release date of April 24. When preorders opened, it was clear that the much-publicized launch of the Apple Watch was very different than the original iPhone and iPad, which both were available in the company's retail stores on their advertised release dates.
Many of Apple's biggest fans were shocked when the company's online store began accepting preorders with most models showing shipping dates well past its April 24 release date, and within minutes, shipping availability times for many models showed June and July availability.
Apple Watch ship times have improved, and now, the company is finally preparing to launch the smartwatch in its retail stores. Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores, Angela Ahrendts, and Vice President of Retail Operations, Jim Bean, sent a video message to Apple retail staff today regarding the in-store launch of the Apple Watch, according to 9To5Mac.
"This is our moment to shine, this will be a launch unlike any we've ever had before ... this is what you were born to do, this is why you are at Apple," Ahrendts said to employees in the hopes of encouraging them to re-review the training materials for the Apple Watch. In addition, Apple is also encouraging employees to explain the advantages of Apple Pay with customers as it is a chief Apple Watch feature.
Apple Watch availability in Apple retail stores is still expected to be constrained, and in order to help customers get the exact Apple Watch they want, Bean explained the new online "Reserve and Pickup" feature the company is introducing.
"It's going to be a little tougher to get everyone the exact [Watch] that they want," so Apple is using a new "Reserve and Pickup" feature online, according to Bean. The service is designed to allow customers to visit the Apple Online Store starting at 8 a.m. each day to check whether their local Apple Store has in stock the Apple Watch model they wish to purchase. If the store has the particular version in stock, the customer can reserve it and select a time for picking up the device.
Apple hasn't publicly announced when the Apple Watch will be available in its retail stores other than Apple CEO Tim Cook's "late June" timeframe announced during Apple's most recent earnings call.
Once we hear any new information regarding Apple Watch launch dates, we'll be sure to pass them on to you. Are you planning to buy an Apple Watch? Already have one? Let us know in the comments below.
