In Store Pickup

[mackrogers]

I have waited for AVP for years now. I have owned everything from a DK1 to an Index. I have the disposable income and I would be a confirmed first day pre-order.

But I am absolutely unwilling to drive 45+ minutes one way to my "local" Apple store which is located in a very crime ridden area mall.

I am unwilling to put myself in a situation where I could easily be robbed/assaulted carrying out a $4,000+ shoe sized box to the parking lot. Tipped off by anyone working there or watching through the full panoramic glass facade typical to the Apple store motif.

I am unwilling to be touched and made to remove my hat so some 20 year old can touch my face and press a gasket up against it to choose one of 3 standard sizes and then upsell me on accessories and insurance.

I am unwilling to be "onboarded" by said 20 year old about how XR works when I have been a VR dev since likely before they were born.
____________________________

Just to be clear, Apple expects customers to have $4,000+, they expect the customer to drive, in some cases hours, to a local store and they expect people to want to deal with the hassle of "making an appointment" to have to sit through a full upsell process.

As a case study, I meet every criteria as an early adopter willing to buy their product day 1, EXCEPT go into the store for the reasons stated. So, until they easily fix this situation by letting you scan your face with your iphone and choose Small/Medium/Large face gaskets online which would make logical sense, I am out. I wonder how many others are in my boat. I think what they are doing(if they are doing it) is absurd and obviously they will realize it and offer it online at some point.

This is truly pollyannish behavior derived from the Cuppertino bubble they must live in to think this is going to work at scale.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Understandable and I would venture to guess Apple is doing this simply to mitigate any misunderstanding or perceived ‘issues’ customers may have due to improper use or failure to be educated appropriately.

Apple is banking big on this and there’s no room for negative press. Additionally, there is some exclusivity to this process and while I understand your concern Apple doesn’t usually have stores in crazy crime ridden areas so if yours is truly that bad or you refuse to be educated by a 20yr old then you have no choice.

 

[mackrogers]

Regarding my Apple store location. It is located inside a mall. The mall itself(though littered with shuttered failed businesses) is not specifically in a "bad" area, but as with any large retail location it is open to the public and they can not stop teens loitering or anyone with nefarious intentions from following you in or out to the parking lot. "My" store(and I use the term loosely as it is 45+ minutes away) has been targeted multiple times for smash and grab theft and assaults associated with Iphones/Macbooks on their respective launch days.

What I find interesting is Apple seems to be leaning heavily on new customers who have never experienced XR that need this type of personal care and guidance... but then they are selling a bleeding edge XR device for $4,000+ thinking that same type of person is going to jump into the deep end of the pool and make this their first headset versus a Quest 3. It doesn't add up. Sure there are going to be some vanity customers with disposable income, but at scale none of this makes sense at all.

If the face gaskets that are to be fitted are S/M/L then a very simple face scan could figure out IPD and bone structure to allow you to purchase this online. We aren't talking about custom cut Bigscreen silicone moldings(which even they do not force you to purchase in person). In fact, why exactly would they simply not include 3 face gaskets in the box for FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS? They are standardized silicone, mass produced, and it would facilitate sharing the device with friends and family so they could experience the product and create word of mouth/buzz which is what this entire product launch is about.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Let's see, you still have a chance. They want you to come in, so they can properly fit it.

Gurman noted that "while customers will be able to reserve a Vision Pro online, it increasingly sounds like they'll be pushed to pick up the device at a store" with an appointment. Apple is planning to assemble customers' Vision Pro headsets in-store, compiling the appropriate headband, light seal, and optional prescription lenses. Retail stores are purportedly due to receive new equipment to assemble and package the headset in the near future.

 

[psycho78]

I think you’re missing the point of the in store pickup.

Yes, in store pickup helps Apple properly fit the headset but it will ultimately help ensure less returns, be it from people who want a free “rental” to try it out or that may return it without realizing what it actually does or does not do and also helps curb flippers from buying them up.

The device will likely be in limited supply for at least a few months/year and if they released online they would def be bought up by flippers and bots looking to cash in on its limited availability.

If you really wanted one that bad I’m sure you could ask Security at the Apple Store or even Mall security to walk you to your car…

 

[the future]

If the face gaskets that are to be fitted are S/M/L

I don‘t think they are. If I remember correctly, there were limited size options for the early demos, but there are supposed to be many more when retail starts.

Yes, in store pickup helps Apple properly fit the headset but it will ultimately help ensure less returns, be it from people who want a free “rental” to try it out or that may return it without realizing what it actually does or does not do and also helps curb flippers from buying them up.

Also, this.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Nobody knows for sure how the process will work. Presumably the Apple Store requirement might be in place until production ramps up. Maybe there is more to the fitting than we think, and there will be a bit to work out before the whole process is streamlined. Regardless, it is ambitious, and they are committed.

 

[mackrogers]

I think you’re missing the point of the in store pickup.

Yes, in store pickup helps Apple properly fit the headset but it will ultimately help ensure less returns, be it from people who want a free “rental” to try it out or that may return it without realizing what it actually does or does not do and also helps curb flippers from buying them up.

I fail to understand your logic regarding initial purchase and product retention. Are you suggesting that the hassle/friction of picking the device up at a store would impact a customers decision to return it back to said store? At a retail price of close to $4,000 after taxes I don't believe anyone who wants to return it is going to hesitate in returning it. Irregardless if that was the plan or not.

Your point about an end consumer needing "training" from the Apple Store employee to fully understand/appreciate the product seems like a stretch. The entire point of the product from the ground up is built on intuitivity and ease of use. The leaked data mined onboarding screenshots show a very Apple-Like hand holding approach to configuring eye tracking and gesture control. I doubt there will be any real confusion regarding the use of the device. Index, Vive, Quest, Vajro all do not require this level of hands on "training" and it could be argued AVP is by far the least complicated(compared to Desktop tethers, usb firmware, controller, lighthouses, etc)

Your final point, regarding flippers, is undeniable but is true with any and every product launch. Yes, physically making each customer travel to a physical brick and mortar location is one way to handle that, but there is a reason nobody else(game consoles, IPHONES, cars, software) does that. Because you are heavily constricting the liquidity of your product by applying unrealistic expectations and strain on your potential customer. The term "cut of your nose to spite your face" comes to mind regarding this tactic as an effective way to prevent flipping.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

None of this is even true, at the event apple specifically said it would be available both online and in store.
Maybe consumers will be “pushed” to pick it up in the store, but so far there have been absolutely no indication from Apple that a store visit is required.

 

[Tdude96]

I agree with your sentiments and I'm not sure where people are getting this idea that the Vision Pro will be available exclusively in stores, just because Apple is training store employees on selling them. It makes sense to train employees on a new device so people who do go to a store can get knowledgeable assistance if they require it. But I see no reason why a scan with an iPhone, much like what's already done for spatial audio, wouldn't be enough for fitting a Vision Pro as an online purchase.

If I were still planning on a Vision Pro purchase in 2024, making it an in-store exclusive would flip my decision from a Yes to a No instantly for all of the reasons stated in the OP. I mentioned much the same here. The store just isn't worth the hassle.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Per Bloomberg The Vision Pro will be available online.

"Apple has also investigated how the Vision Pro would fit for people wearing cultural apparel, such as a hijab. Aware that some customers may not wear clothes with pockets capable of storing the battery pack, the company has considered asking accessory makers to create shoulder-worn pouches. Apple is developing a face scanning app that will help users pick the right size of light seal for their face. As part of the checkout flow, users will be asked to upload their face scan result and provide any eye prescription, if the customer normally wears glasses and will need corrective vision insert lenses in order to use the headset."

 

[mackrogers]

Until Apple makes a formal announcement we have no definitive answer to this. Consensus thinking is that it will be store-only purchase, at least initially, and all roads lead back to Gurman's reporting and the ambiguity around the word "pushed". Again, I truly hope this is not the case as I will not be getting one.

 

[ckurt25]

Grab a shopping bag from a store at the mall that doesn't have high priced items and stash the Apple bag in there. You might even be able to fit it in a backpack or duffle bag to keep the attention down.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Until Apple makes a formal announcement

but that’s the thing, they did. They did make a formal announcement.
Mark Gurman and those have chose to ignore it. No idea why, but they have.

WWDC 2023 — June 5 | Apple

Watch the WWDC23 Apple Keynote announcing the latest Apple Vision Pro, MacBook Air 15", software, services, and operating systems.00:00:00 Introduction00:03:...

www.youtube.com

Fast forward to the timestamp 2:01:30.
“It will be available early next year for purchase on Apple.com, and at Apple retail stores in the US.”

They mentioned both online and in store, they mentioned their website.
That’s the official word, if it was required to purchase it in store, that’s where they would have said it.

 

[UltimateSyn]

but that’s the thing, they did. They did make a formal announcement.
Mark Gurman and those have chose to ignore it. No idea why, but they have.

WWDC 2023 — June 5 | Apple

Watch the WWDC23 Apple Keynote announcing the latest Apple Vision Pro, MacBook Air 15", software, services, and operating systems.00:00:00 Introduction00:03:...

www.youtube.com

Fast forward to the timestamp 2:01:30.
“It will be available early next year for purchase on Apple.com, and at Apple retail stores in the US.”

They mentioned both online and in store, they mentioned their website.
That’s the official word, if it was required to purchase it in store, that’s where they would have said it.

Really great point...

 

[mackrogers]

but that’s the thing, they did. They did make a formal announcement.
Mark Gurman and those have chose to ignore it. No idea why, but they have.

WWDC 2023 — June 5 | Apple

Watch the WWDC23 Apple Keynote announcing the latest Apple Vision Pro, MacBook Air 15", software, services, and operating systems.00:00:00 Introduction00:03:...

www.youtube.com

Fast forward to the timestamp 2:01:30.
“It will be available early next year for purchase on Apple.com, and at Apple retail stores in the US.”

They mentioned both online and in store, they mentioned their website.
That’s the official word, if it was required to purchase it in store, that’s where they would have said it.

My understanding is that Gurman's reporting was a later updated change to that initial announcement. There is prescedant for this as Apple only sold the 2015 watch in stores and by appointment.

I think we all can agree they are going to sell this online at some point, but I maintain my concerns for launch.

 

[zakarhino]

I feel you OP. I'm primarily concerned about getting robbed on the way out. My local Apple Store is probably one of the most robbed in the country. I also have no interest in getting an in store walkthrough, I like to figure it out myself in my own time.

That being said I'm still thinking in store pickup is the way to go for optimizing fitment. I heard there's a lot more than just small, medium, large for the light seal so being able to run through a bunch and find the best one in store seems like a good idea. So that's the tradeoff: get robbed or risk getting a rubbish fitment and having to deal with returns or whatever process Apple have set up to handle this sort of thing. This is all assuming there will be an option for at home delivery in addition to in store pickup.

 

[A.R.E.A.M.]

OP since you have disposable income, you can hire an armed licensed and bonded security team to walk into the store with you.

 

[mackrogers]

OP since you have disposable income, you can hire an armed licensed and bonded security team to walk into the store with you.

I wish I was that wealthy to have someone else just go to the store and buy it for me. My disposable income taps out on this and I have been allocating funds since the announcement.

My final prediction: In-store sales ONLY for launch. They soon after get negative feedback with sensationalized reports of thefts/assaults as well embarrassing lingering supply inventory. They quickly make it available online within 90 days coinciding with ramped up production.

They are playing with fire, if people(Wallstreet) see this as an instant flop the zeitgeist of the product and company is going to take a major hit. Apple's greatest asset is its pedigree and illusion of infallibility. I understand they have had other products underwhelm(homepod) but this is different. This is a MAJOR new product category launch, the first in almost a decade since the watch.

 

[bushman4]

Apple knows something that we don’t. There’s going to be returns regardless of how they sell it
In a few short weeks we’ll all know
Doesn’t mean everybody’s going to agree

 

[Paul Deemer]

I had the concern about getting robbed on way out with my 16 inch base M3 Max which is basically the same price. The Solution was easy. I had my body builder brother escort me to the car from the store.

 

[mackrogers]

*UPDATE*

As of 10 minutes ago it was leaked that the custom sizes are as follows: N, W, N+ & W+

4 sizes, mass produced at scale, foam cushions. There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever that they could not include these 4 foam pieces in the box for the cost of nearly $4,000 after taxes.

In addition this would only serve to allow family and friends to use and experience the device.

If they go through with this asinine "custom fitting" nonsense and force people to drive in person to a store just to be offered 1 of 4 options of foam pads they are digging their own grave of hubris.

 

[ke-iron]

*UPDATE*

As of 10 minutes ago it was leaked that the custom sizes are as follows: N, W, N+ & W+

4 sizes, mass produced at scale, foam cushions. There is absolutely no excuse whatsoever that they could not include these 4 foam pieces in the box for the cost of nearly $4,000 after taxes.

In addition this would only serve to allow family and friends to use and experience the device.

If they go through with this asinine "custom fitting" nonsense and force people to drive in person to a store just to be offered 1 of 4 options of foam pads they are digging their own grave of hubris.

No one is digging their own grave. What you suggest doesn’t make any sense. It makes no sense to include 4 different size attachments for one product in every box only to have 1 utilized. It is a complete waste.

No one is forced to go anywhere for a custom fitting. You can make a guess what size you wear and buy online if you like.

 

[mackrogers]

You can make a guess what size you wear and buy online if you like.

That sounds logical.

 

[ke-iron]

I think the Vision Pro goggles itself will come in its own sealed package with its own scannable item number. All other attachments will also come in its own package with its own scannable item number.

So checkout will would like this:
1. Add Vision Pro to cart. (One size) $3500
2. Add light seal to cart. (Multiple sizes) $0
3. Add head band to cart (Multiple sizes)$0

Basically it’s a bundle process and can only checkout the Vision Pro when the other 2 requirements are added to the cart. This way if you purchase the Vision Pro but wrong size bands and light seal you can easily return/exchange them at an Apple Store or online for correct size. But keep your Vision Pro.

It might be impossible to swap out entire units if everything comes in a single package due to supply constraints and so many different sizes/ variables.

There’s supposedly only about 500,000 of these a year due to Sony only able to produce that many screens. Now how many different bands and light seals there are?

If Apple were to box everything all in one package for every different combination what are the chances you being able to return this product and getting the right size? Not enough Vision Pro to go around.

Of course this is all just my speculation, but surely the guys that get paid big bucks at Apple have realized this and figured something out, fingers crossed.