In an interesting turn of events, Apple seems to be gearing up for offering an in-store pickup option for the sparsely available Apple Watch. The option seems to be listed as “available soon” on the Apple Online Store and Apple Store app with the selection being greyed out for now.
The in-store pickup option should be available in all first – and hopefully second wave – launch countries, including the United States. With the Reserve and Pickup system yet to go live for the sought-after smartwatch, all Apple Watch orders have been exclusive to online ordering with orders being available for shipping for doorstep delivery only, holding back on the in-store pickup.
Apparently, Apple did cite some supply shortages given the overwhelming demand that had followed the Apple Watch. Even before the wearable went up for pre-order, it was made clear on a number of occasions that the in-store pickup option will only be available somewhere in June.
With this new option, customers will be able to place their order online and once it’s ready, Apple will notify them when their processed order can be picked up from the local Apple Store. As was the case with the iPhone, customers will be required to produce a valid government-issued photo ID at the pickup counter to ascertain that the name matches the one on the reservation order.
It is interesting that Apple did originally plan for offering the in-store pickup option right from the launch day on April 24th, but had to push that plan ahead following supply constraints, which has been attributed to some faulty Taptic Engine units being supplied to the company, resulting in a significantly lesser number of devices manufactured.
This would be the first time that Apple has hinted at Apple Watch stock making way to the retail stores, after Angela Ahrendts suggested that it was unclear when the in-store pickup option will be available and that it was “not an easy decision” to curtail orders to online and door-step delivery only. Hopefully, once this new delivery option goes live, customers could be able to get their Apple Watch sometime before July.
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