Apple Retail Stores to Gain Dedicated iPhone Activation Areas and Staff?
MacRumors has heard from multiple sources that Apple is planning to enhance the in-store iPhone purchasing and activation process at its retail stores. The changes, due to be rolled out as soon as tomorrow, will involve layout changes to current stores to create "iPhone Activation Zones" where customers can pick up and activate iPhones after having gone through the pre-authorization process online.
The activation zones will reportedly be staffed by a new category of retail store employee called "iPhone Experts", who will be denoted by unique name badges and t-shirts. With the move, Apple is clearly looking to streamline the iPhone purchasing experience for customers and provide a dedicated iPhone point of contact within the crowded retail store setting, particularly for new customers whose first experience with Apple products may be the iPhone.
The activation zones will reportedly be staffed by a new category of retail store employee called "iPhone Experts", who will be denoted by unique name badges and t-shirts. With the move, Apple is clearly looking to streamline the iPhone purchasing experience for customers and provide a dedicated iPhone point of contact within the crowded retail store setting, particularly for new customers whose first experience with Apple products may be the iPhone.
Top Rated Comments
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31 months ago
How about they fix the problem of you standing around 20 minutes waiting for one thier monkies to register your purchase when they feel the need that they all need to give one person attention.
Except for the secuirty guard that lurks around in plain cloths but still has the dumb ear piece like he is SS.
Except for the secuirty guard that lurks around in plain cloths but still has the dumb ear piece like he is SS.
31 months ago
Kind of late, but better than never. The big rush is over. As always, they know something we don't know though.....
31 months ago
that sounds cool since it will break up the genius line so the mac customers won't have to wait as long (in theory). We shall see what happens.
31 months ago
Good. I purchased my new iPhone the other day replacing my first gen iPhone. What an over the top process compared to the first iPhone activation. First only two Apple Store employees could sell me an iPhone. Of course they were both busy with old people who has use questions. I just wanted to buy the phone. I waited for 35 minutes just to get to the front of the line and then spent another 15 mins activating the phone in store. When I bought the phone on opening day 2 years ago, it was so much easier.
Hopefully this new setup will allow for the people to buy the phone with way less hassle.
Hopefully this new setup will allow for the people to buy the phone with way less hassle.
31 months ago
Kind of late, but better than never. The big rush is over. As always, they know something we don't know though.....
They are proably just getting ready for next summer. 3gs just wasn't worth the update but I bet the next will. Espically with mass of 3g users ready to get full upgrade price.
31 months ago
I was in the Cherry Hill, NJ store today. I saw apple employees wearing the new t-shirts. No sign of the "area" yet though.
31 months ago
I can't believe people actually go to a store to buy a phone anymore. I find it so much easier to order it online and activate it myself.
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