Apple to Use Retail Stores as Distribution Centers for Faster Deliveries

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to use its retail store locations as distribution centers to ship products to consumers more quickly, reports Bloomberg. This would be a departure from the current strategy that sees products shipped from warehouses or direct from China.

Items that are in stock are now able to be shipped from a network of close to 300 stores across the United States and Canada, and Apple told staff members that this will allow the company to offer faster delivery times for customers who live closer to stores than the distribution centers.

The move to shipping from stores has been popularized by some grocery stores in recent years and has expanded to other retailers. The practice reduces costs, potentially improving product margins, and is beneficial to the environment, Apple told its staff.

Depending on what's purchased, some orders will be delivered as soon as a day after a customer places an order, with Apple planning to ship through FedEx in the United States and United Parcel Service in Canada.

The direct from store shipping will be available to customers who live within 100 miles of an Apple retail location, but customers will not be able to choose a ship-from-store option nor will customers be aware when a device is shipped from a store. Choosing where to ship an item from will be handled internally by Apple's operation team.

According to Bloomberg, Apple started testing the new shipping program with a small number of stores when store locations began reopening earlier this year, and has since expanded it, but not all retail stores in the U.S. and Canada are participating.

Apple on Tuesday plans to announce new iPhone 12 models and a smaller HomePod, plus there are other major products on the horizon such as Apple Silicon Macs and AirPods Studio, so some customers who purchase these devices could see quicker deliveries. Apple in September launched the Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, but most initial orders of these devices appeared to ship direct from China rather than retail stores.

Apple's shift to store-based shipping will provide a way for Apple to make use of Apple retail locations that have remained closed due to the ongoing global health crisis. Bloomberg says that Apple is also considering converting some stores into online support or sales call centers should those stores need to be shuttered again.

Article Link: Apple to Use Retail Stores as Distribution Centers for Faster Deliveries

 

[justperry]

Makes sense if they have stock.

 

[zorinlynx]

I wonder if they plan to re-open South Florida stores anytime soon? Everything else is open, yet they've kept the stores closed.

Surely they can open with proper precautions in place?

 

[kazmac]

Very smart.

 

[JPack]

Personally, I enjoy receiving a product direct from the factory and knowing which city it originated from. And with a zero chance the box was previously returned by another customer.

 

[DotCom2]

This sounds like a good idea to me. Especially since I live very close to an Apple retail store.

 

[acorntoy]

Personally, I enjoy receiving a product direct from the factory and knowing which city it originated from. And with a zero chance the box was previously returned by another customer.

Not worth the extra ~6 day wait it takes.

 

[Chompineer]

Seems like they already do this in Canada. I hardly ever get anything from China.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Good move. I like that Apple does its best to ship our purchases as fast as possible.

 

[zed1291]

Personally, I enjoy receiving a product direct from the factory and knowing which city it originated from. And with a zero chance the box was previously returned by another customer.

Even with this change you haven’t increased in a chance of receiving a returned iPhone

 

[JM]

Awwww, now I won't get to watch my iProduct travel from the other side of the world

 

[citysnaps]

Personally, I enjoy receiving a product direct from the factory and knowing which city it originated from. And with a zero chance the box was previously returned by another customer.

Not going to happen with Apple.

 

[JM]

Also, that'll be pretty cool to see through the glass windows what an Apple stockroom looks like 👀

 

[zed1291]

Also, that'll be pretty cool to see through the glass windows what an Apple stockroom looks like 👀

they don't look cool at all, lol. anything not customer facing at an Apple store is extremely utilitarian, with way too much white and grey.

 

[JPack]

Even with this change you still have a 0% chance

Not going to happen with Apple.

From Reddit.

 

[normwood]

I wonder if they plan to re-open South Florida stores anytime soon? Everything else is open, yet they've kept the stores closed.

Surely they can open with proper precautions in place?

Because your governor is telling everyone they can go wild, doesn’t mean that many businesses should. I wouldn’t blame Apple for keeping their stores closed and keeping their employees safe.

 

[mannyvel]

So basically unusual CTO orders will ship from China, and stock/common CTO will go from stores. Makes sense, and shipping will be cheaper. Air freight is expensive, no matter who you are.

 

[alherb]

Apple has a long way to go to catch up with Amazon and Walmart. I recently ordered new Mini, elected to pay $8 for "faster shipping" and it's still going to take nearly 4 weeks to ship to me (from China). I think their supply chain is broken when I need to put a credit card in front of them before they issue an order to BEGIN production by a Chinese manufacturer. Do they even have a STOCK to sell from other than discontinued (refurbished) products? An eBay seller is faster.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE their products but what seems to be important to them (color?) is not the same as I.

Using retail stores implies that their channel will stock a product for fast delivery. As it his now, I have begun to look for products coming directly from China and accepting their longer delivery time over direct purchases from Manufacturers because they CAN'T deliver.

Doubt me? Try configuring/ordering a system from Apple and just witness the wait times before you finalize a purchase.

 

[K4VKS]

Seems logical. Hopefully it'll go as planned.

 

[snebes]

Apple has a long way to go to catch up with Amazon and Walmart. I recently ordered new Mini, elected to pay $8 for "faster shipping" and it's still going to take nearly 4 weeks to ship to me (from China). I think their supply chain is broken when I need to put a credit card in front of them before they issue an order to BEGIN production by a Chinese manufacturer. Do they even have a STOCK to sell from other than discontinued (refurbished) products? An eBay seller is faster.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE their products but what seems to be important to them (color?) is not the same as I.

Using retail stores implies that their channel will stock a product for fast delivery. As it his now, I have begun to look for products coming directly from China and accepting their longer delivery time over direct purchases from Manufacturers because they CAN'T deliver.

Doubt me? Try configuring/ordering a system from Apple and just witness the wait times before you finalize a purchase.

Base configurations are delivered to me in 2 business days. Store pickup same-day. CTO configs are delivered in 7-8 business days. Nothing taking 4 weeks for me in the US.

 

[snebes]

Apple knows how much their retail space costs per sq/ft, which they pay a premium for. I can see them staffing and fulfilling from their own regional warehouses, not from stores in malls. That doesn't make sense at all.

Empty and seemingly abandoned big box stores are a good choice for this. A nearby Walmart/Sams club building was vacated years ago by the stores, but has been used as a Sams Club fulfillment center ever since. It is a great reuse without the need to knockdown/rebuild.

 

[Deliro]

Because your governor is telling everyone they can go wild, doesn’t mean that many businesses should. I wouldn’t blame Apple for keeping their stores closed and keeping their employees safe.

OK. No one asked about that.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Personally, I enjoy receiving a product direct from the factory and knowing which city it originated from. And with a zero chance the box was previously returned by another customer.

This would’ve been the first year I would get to experience that. Hopefully my 12 Pro Max will ship from China so I can track the plane it’s on.

 

[7493920]

Department stores have been doing this for longer that grocery stores I believe.

 

[alherb]

Base configurations are delivered to me in 2 business days. Store pickup same-day. CTO configs are delivered in 7-8 business days. Nothing taking 4 weeks for me in the US.

My first order with nothing but a 512SSD was quoted for 10/15. I canceled for a 1TB drive and the delivery was quoted a day earlier. I was not offered any store delivery. My last (late 2012 mini) was less than a week from eBay. I think your response is BS. Sorry.