New Delhi,March 30: As Apple’s latest wearable product- Apple Watch- is being geared up for its consumer launch on April 24, the company is reportedly restricting its purchase only to those who have made prior reservations for the launch event.
Pre-sales of the smartwatch will begin on April 10 and first deliveries will happen on the official launch. During those two weeks, the company will allow customers to have ‘try-on’ appointments at its retail stores if they are interested in the product.
However, those who walk-in at the launch and expect to acquire the smart gadget may have to face disappointment, according to leaked Apple documentation stated on Macrumours.
As per the leaked training documents, Apple Watch enthusiasts will be required to make an online ‘product registration’ to lay hands on a specific Apple Watch model at the company’s retail store. This new process would replace the earlier ‘personal pickup’ system for Apple Watches.
The training documents indicate that if a customer walks in the store and wants to buy a watch, the staff should offer the option to try the gadget and then help them place an order online or through the Apple Store app.
The exclusivity that comes with Apple’s products is not new. However the company notes in the documents that the ‘try-on’ appointments do not reserve those people a specific Apple Watch for purchase. After the initial frenzy around the device subsides, the company expects to eventually loosen up its grip on the latest device by allowing walk-in purchase.
A recent Reuters survey found that about 40 per cent of adult Apple iPhone owners in the United States are interested in buying the company’s new Apple Watch. The device, which will range in price from $350 to $17,000 for an 18-karat gold model, is Apple’s first major new product in five years and consumer demand for the device is being closely watched by competitors and investors.
