Earlier this week, we reported that Apple was planning to launch a pilot program that would allow customers placing orders through the company's online store to pick up their orders at their local Apple retail stores. Following a maintenance period that took the online store offline earlier today, in-store pickup is now available for Apple's three retail stores in San Francisco.
Users adding products to their shopping cart are now presented with an option of whether to have their order shipped or made available for pickup. Customers can search for their closest Apple retail stores based on zip code, although options are obviously limited with the pilot program currently including only three stores: San Francisco flagship, Stonestown, and Chestnut Street. Apple promises that more locations will offer in-store pickup in the near future, with 9to5Mac indicating that other Bay Area locations may join the program in as little as a few days from now.
Testing of the new in-store pickup shopping method suggests that delivery may be slightly slower than for direct shipment, as evidenced by a sample order for a custom-configured iMac that was offered a pickup date of November 3rd. Direct delivery of the same order was pegged within a window of October 29th through November 2nd.
It is possible, however, that in-store pickup dates may simply be conservative estimates based on the worst-case direct delivery estimate plus one day for processing at the store. Consequently, orders may arrive at stores ahead of their estimated availability date, with customers being emailed when the orders are ready for pickup.
Orders for standard items stocked by Apple retail stores will indicate same-day availability for the three San Francisco locations, allowing customers to place their orders online and simply visit the store for immediate pickup.
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This would make my life so much easier in NYC. The last time I ordered my custom configured mac, UPS left it in front of my apartment door. Unbelievable.
If I could just pick it up at my local Applestore that would be great.
Very cool Apple :) I wonder to what extent they'll have custom configured machines? I know it was hard to wait for my iMac to be customized with an upgrade Graphics Card & the hard drive etc. It would be cool for them to have every configuration available (if a tech can perform the changes/upgrades) but I can see where they may only have the popular models available.
I think you're missing the point a bit. Nothing is changing in what Apple retail stores themselves offer in terms of off-the-shelf purchases.
What is changing is that you can order anything you want from the online store (custom-configured Mac, obscure accessory, etc.), and it'll be delivered to your local retail store for pickup within a few days.
Convenient for those who have difficulty receiving shipments at their home, for example.
This is great news for people with an irrational fear of delivery vans.
I bet Adrian Monk suggested this to Apple. ;-)
But seriously, this could solve the problem of your not being home when your Apple goods are delivered. Especially with build-to-order items (and custom engraved items?) But for standard box-stock items you could just walk into the Apple store and buy them on the spot with no extra effort.
This is really no big deal!! What service is really being offered? People weren't smart enough to call a local apple store and see if what they wanted was in stock anyway. This is not revolutionary.
Who here or in the original post called it "revolutionary"? Oh, gosh, look at that...no one. :rolleyes: Hyperbolize much?
All we're saying that this is nice and could be useful. As for "being smart enough" to see if what you want is in stock rather than ordering it on-line and facing delivery problems...what about a Macbook Air 11" with 256g hard drive?
Is it in stock? Uh-oh, no it's not because it's only available from the on-line store! :eek: So, Mr. Smart, how are you going to get that Macbook Air at your local brick-and-mortar store? Because you want to avoid it being left out in the snow by a stupid delivery person, or it's a gift for someone in your household and you don't want the person you're giving it to to open the door and maybe find out about it. Come on, you're smart...how can you get this item at your local store if it's only available on-line?
Well, hey, Howdy, you can now have it delivered to your local store! Which may not be amazing, revolutionary, or a big deal. But it is nice.
So I don't see the advantage of picking your purchases at the Apple Store
As mentioned, a lot of people have problems because the package might stay out on their doorstep, or not be delivered if they're not there. Some people just don't have the time to wait for a delivery man who may arrive between this-hour-and-that-hour. The advantage of picking it up in the store is that you get to choose what time you get it. You don't have to wait for the delivery man to arrive.
And some people, as said, don't want others in the house to know what they've bought.
But there's another advantage to this. Someone mentioned travel. If you were traveling to, say, San Francisco on business or vacation and had to have some new item from Apple by the time you arrived there, you could have it delivered to one of the San Francisco Apple stores. It would be reassuring to know it would be waiting for you when you arrived, especially if you weren't sure where you were going to be staying when you ordered the item.
If you can call the store and find out if the item arrived, even better. You pick it up when you want, and where you want.
