Haha, I love this! I'd guess there was probably a limit on the amount of gift cards someone can buy per month or something. You'd have to get all your friends and then some to buy the cards and then pay them back.
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Apple Retail Stores to Allow Self-Checkout via iOS App for Accessory Purchases
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Use iTunes gift cards for hardware purchases? Yes please!
I would guess it would feature a unique number or barcode that the door person could instantly check.
I would guess it would feature a unique number or barcode that the door person could instantly check.
Another day in the Apple Store...
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.....
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.*
"Hi - Here's my email receipt!"
*Receives iMac. Walks out. Walks back in.....
Will they have a nice supply of Apple bags for us to put our purchases in?. Currently the small bags are hidden away next to the hidden cash draw.
Not trying to be contrary but why should you have to show your receipt to anyone? If you paid for the item they have no legal way to stop you and force you to prove it. IF they feel you have stolen something then of course they can call the police but they will have egg on their face by having police show up only to have the person produce a receipt. Of course that is if they can keep you there in the first place. I guess I am being contrary now because the first time I'm at the Apple store if/when this is implemented I will walk out the door and refuse to show a receipt simply to test the situation. It will be interesting.....
It's like the door people at places like walmart and best buy..... when they ask to see a receipt simply tell them no thankyou and keep walking out with your items. They have no legal standing to detain you and search you. I know this is a bit over the top but it's a fact and I have done this many times at places with door people. If I'm in a hurry or simply because I don't have to stop and talk to the greeter I'll do this. Of course at places like costco and sams they can stop you and check you because that is part of the agreement when you sign up for such a place.
It will be an interesting issue to see when/if it comes to fruition.
It's like the door people at places like walmart and best buy..... when they ask to see a receipt simply tell them no thankyou and keep walking out with your items. They have no legal standing to detain you and search you. I know this is a bit over the top but it's a fact and I have done this many times at places with door people. If I'm in a hurry or simply because I don't have to stop and talk to the greeter I'll do this. Of course at places like costco and sams they can stop you and check you because that is part of the agreement when you sign up for such a place.
It will be an interesting issue to see when/if it comes to fruition.
But why is that different from any other shop or the way they already do things in the Apple Store? You can still pick stuff up and walk out with it.
I always prefer using self-checkout tills wherever I can so this is just another bonus to my already preferred solitary shopping experience. I enjoy being able to go out, fill my car with fuel, go to the supermarket and buy groceries etc. all without talking to a single human being.
One of the reasons I dislike the Apple store system is you spend more time than you'd like interacting with someone who's far too enthusiastic about the whole thing, almost to the point of it being uncomfortable. I appreciate the effort and service in the end though.
As for things being stolen. Only recently a whole bunch of iPod Nano's on display were stolen by kids who bypassed the security system. Lord knows how many headphones and stuff gets lifted when the store is really busy. I know from experience I've been standing at the peripherals section and not one member of staff knew I was there, they were all busy.
One of the reasons I dislike the Apple store system is you spend more time than you'd like interacting with someone who's far too enthusiastic about the whole thing, almost to the point of it being uncomfortable. I appreciate the effort and service in the end though.
As for things being stolen. Only recently a whole bunch of iPod Nano's on display were stolen by kids who bypassed the security system. Lord knows how many headphones and stuff gets lifted when the store is really busy. I know from experience I've been standing at the peripherals section and not one member of staff knew I was there, they were all busy.
The problem with the Apple stores
This is a start, but it isn't going to fix the growing problem with the Apple stores...
Since the stores were opened, Apple has been busy expanding its product line, which results in more customers, which results in over-crowding in the stores, since Apple is trying to fit more customers into the same, limited floor space. It's a fundamental flaw with their retail store model., and it's just going to keep getting worse.
Currently, you have to wait to find a sales rep to help you, and it doesn't matter if you're trying to buy a $30 accessory or a $3,000 computer. The first order of business, once you're in the door, is to try to track down someone to help you. And it's not easy, as we all know.
Making an appointment at the Genius Bar isn't any better. The last 3 times I've done it, I've had waits of 15 min, 20 min, and 45 min (yes, really). And the bar itself is overcrowded; I was in a few days ago and the first thing the genius said to me was to "be patient" since he was "multi-tasking with several customers". And he indeed was jumping from me to two other customers. It's very hard to trouble-shoot problems that way.
So this self-check out strikes me as an attempt to address the problem, but I don't see how it'll correct what is a fundamental flaw: servicing an increasing numbers of customers in the same, limited space.
This is a start, but it isn't going to fix the growing problem with the Apple stores...
Since the stores were opened, Apple has been busy expanding its product line, which results in more customers, which results in over-crowding in the stores, since Apple is trying to fit more customers into the same, limited floor space. It's a fundamental flaw with their retail store model., and it's just going to keep getting worse.
Currently, you have to wait to find a sales rep to help you, and it doesn't matter if you're trying to buy a $30 accessory or a $3,000 computer. The first order of business, once you're in the door, is to try to track down someone to help you. And it's not easy, as we all know.
Making an appointment at the Genius Bar isn't any better. The last 3 times I've done it, I've had waits of 15 min, 20 min, and 45 min (yes, really). And the bar itself is overcrowded; I was in a few days ago and the first thing the genius said to me was to "be patient" since he was "multi-tasking with several customers". And he indeed was jumping from me to two other customers. It's very hard to trouble-shoot problems that way.
So this self-check out strikes me as an attempt to address the problem, but I don't see how it'll correct what is a fundamental flaw: servicing an increasing numbers of customers in the same, limited space.
No differert than it is now. I have made small purchases before with the roaming employees with their iPods. Always take the e-mail receipt and sometimes never take the bag. Never have been stopped once even when walking across the store with an unbagged item on a busy store day. Heck many times the email receipt comes after I have left the store. I'm not sure but possibly the person with the iPad at the front of the store may be watching this but It just may be a matter of trust?
You ain't lying brother! Them Apple stores be more busy than an effing triage camp during a civil, middle eastern war.well, I think this should help ease up on the congestion in thestore.
At the one near me, it is always a pain trying to find an available employee to process my purchase lol
This seems odd to me... Might be a huge hassle for employees to try and ensure people aren't just stealing tons of stuff... But we'll see, I assume Apple has thought about this and will have some decent procedures in place...
I want to know this too! If it's possible then I will definitely be doing it. Has anyone checked??
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My big problem with iTunes Purchase is you can only store 1 credit card and if you have iTunes Credit it seems to simply use that first. In my case I have purchases that are for business use and I use my company credit card then I have personal purchases and I use my personal card. So I have to keep updating my payment plan Obviously I do not want another AppleId. I use Amazon partly because of the great Address Book for bill to and ship to addresses and the ability to select payment method at checkout. After all these years Amazon seems to be the best company to handle this. On the iTunes Gift Card. I loaded it I to my account and then I needed to upgrade my OS on my work computer which I pay for with my work credit and it used my gift card. Maybe I could have done something but I did not see an option.
But that's no different from the current system - letting customers carry out their own transactions isn't going to increase the risk of that happening. Right now I can go into my local Apple Store, pick up an iPhone case and just walk out of the door without paying.
FWIW, the one POS in the store near me (VA) was moved from the end of the Genius Bar to its own table in the center of the front of the family room.
Looks to me like this would be a good answer for those ready to make an actual purchase. Perhaps if Apple placed a large sign over the register that said "check out." Registers have worked for decades and they would eliminate the need to "stalk" the employees would it not?? I agree with the other commenter -- sounds like a loss prevention nightmare.
[Siri: "alert! alert! You have initialized Apple's shopper security system! Please step back inside and see an Apple staff for assistance with your purchase!!!"]
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Envisioning chips in our arms and 666 on our foreheads.
No one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. Revelation 13:17,18
This is for fraud prevention.
Often times a thief will order an item using a stolen credit card, and have it shipped to a vacant address, where he lies in wait to pick up the item.
Requiring billing/shipping addresses to match helps reduce this; the thief would have to stalk an occupied address which is a much riskier target.
Properly going to work like my local parts pusher. You walk in, enter/scan your order prepaid from home (or buy what you want from some other terminals in there). Your order gets queued and a bunch of dudes are getting the orders from the storage. They call your name, you show your ID and and sign for it.
If I am the consumer in this scenario, I would feel embarrassed to force them to call the police for a product I have legally purchased. If I was the employee of a store, I would not be.
Your view is bizarre. Also, I'm pretty sure you are 100% incorrect about the legality.
Computers, among other products, have unique serial numbers that are clearly indicated on the receipt.
With as busy as the stores are on the weekends, one person could make a legit purchase, walk out, and then pass their iPhone off to a friend who could then walk in "pretend to purchase" and have a valid receipt.
But honestly, they've begun to phase out boxed software, and the only items open stock are mainly phone/ipod cases, some laptop bags, and mice and keyboards. I don't think even Apple TV's are in customer reach.
I don't think hordes of people will be planning to loot the Apple store for those items. A few idiots will, but those idiots would have just shoplifted in the first place anyway. You're either an honest customer or you're not. I don't think this will create a massive shift.
You either have 10 Apple employees bombarding to help you, or you have the scenario you described.
I know the idea in removing the pay point was to "speed things up" but I don't think it really did that. When you're buying a Mac or something and need to spend time with a sales person, it's definitely an improvement. When you know exactly what you need and want to run in and out, it's a nightmare unless you go on a week day after noon. The pay point didn't take up much space at all. All they really did was eliminate a body having to stand there.
I don't see Apple doing this, but this is where things are heading. RF tags are becoming cheaper. (If you're not privy, these tags tell the inventory system in a store where everything is. For example, someone in the stock room of a wal-mart would know the display of paper towels in aisle 3 are low and need re-stocked, or if a shoplifter stuck something in their pants, you could find it.) In theory, once an item is purchased, that RF tag could tell the alarm kiosks at the front of the store not to go off when you walked out with the paid for merchandise.
Currently, the tags are pricey enough the most companies use them for backroom inventory of full pallets of goods, with some like Wal-mart using them on select items. Eventually, you will be able to go to a grocery store, park your cart in a space, and have everything instantly ring up. Still years away though for it to be worth while to waste a tag on a 50 cent can of corn. For Apple though, with some accessories like lap top cases costing +$100, it could be worth their while.
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