Apple Retail Stores to Allow Self-Checkout via iOS App for Accessory Purchases

apple store app iconMacRumors has learned that Apple is planning to launch an update to its retail store iOS app that will allow consumers to utilize self-checkout for purchases of accessories and other shelf-stocked items at the company's retail stores. According to our source, self-checkout purchases will be charged via the Apple Store app to the customer's iTunes Store account.

It is not entirely clear what will happen once a user has checked out via the app, although store employees will of course be on the lookout for store visitors walking out with merchandise in hand, as they are already. Customers who have made a purchase through self-checkout will be able to show an emailed receipt to any employee, confirming their purchase.

High value products such as Macs, iPhones, and iPods are kept in the stockroom at Apple retail stores, meaning that customers purchasing these items will still require assistance from a store employee. We have, however, been told that customers will be able to pre-purchase these items through the app and simply pick them up with the assistance of a store employee. But for the plethora of accessories, cases, and other items stocked directly on the sales floor at Apple retail stores customers will soon be able to purchase these items without needing to catch the attention of a store employee with an EasyPay device to complete the transaction.

Heylookitseric is reporting similar information, claiming that the update to the Apple Store app enabling self-checkout is scheduled to arrive on November 3rd. The report also notes that Apple will continue to expand its program allowing customers to have their orders from the online Apple store shipped to their local Apple retail stores for pickup. That program launched at the company's three San Francisco stores last Wednesday and is now available at all sixteen stores in the Bay Area with further expansion apparently coming soon.

Finally, Apple is said to be enhancing its online store to allow a single order of multiple items to be routed to different shipping addresses. Rolling out in time for the holiday shopping period, the enhancement will be particularly useful for customers wishing to purchase all of their Apple gift items in a single transaction and have them shipped to different recipients at checkout.

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Top Rated Comments

arn Avatar
178 months ago

That being said, this is awesome news. I once left an Apple store without buying what I came in for because I was never able to get someone to check me out. After trying for 15 minutes I gave up and ended up buying it online even though they had it right there in the store.
100% agree. You end up having to awkwardly stalk someone by lurking at a socially acceptable distance while they are talking to another customer.

arn
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Small White Car Avatar
178 months ago
I'm not 100% clear on how this will work, but I'm guessing that Apple's probably thought about this longer than I have. So I'm sure that they've figured it all out somehow.

That being said, this is awesome news. I once left an Apple store without buying what I came in for because I was never able to get someone to check me out. After trying for 15 minutes I gave up and ended up buying it online even though they had it right there in the store.

If the Apple stores are going to do away with lines like they have, it's great to see them expand the methods of checking out. Because the current system is only great some of the time.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JS3 Avatar
178 months ago
This sounds like it would be a loss prevention nightmare.lol.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
staccato83 Avatar
178 months ago
They needed to this for a while now. I have stood around many times waiting to miraculously catch eyes with an employee to no avail.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
teggs Avatar
178 months ago
Alot of shops in UK are currently doing £25 itunes vouchers for £20. Does this mean i could buy £1000 worth of itunes vouchers for £800 and buy the base imac currently at £999 on apple store app?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anjinha Avatar
178 months ago
i wonder if they are going to add more employees, more positions. I'm just like most of you that its hard enough to get someone to help you how are they gonna monitor the door with people always searching for freed up employees. but like the first person said they have thought about this longer than us.

great idea if it works tho.

I'm wondering about that too but if you think about it it won't be much different than it is now. Currently most Apple Stores don't have checkouts, you just pay with employees via their EasyPay gizmo, you get your receipt emailed to you and they do offer you a bag that you might decline. So you still end up just walking out with an item.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)