Second Lockdown to Close All Apple Stores in England for At Least Four Weeks

[MacRumors]

England will enter a new lockdown from Thursday, November 5 to curb a steep rise in coronavirus cases, the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced. The lockdown will last for at least four weeks, closing all non-essential shops, including all Apple stores in the country, just over one week before Apple launches the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max on Friday, November 13.

In his announcement explaining the lockdown decision, the Prime Minister said the strict measures will include closing pubs, restaurants, gyms, non-essential shops and places of worship. People will be told to stay at home except for specific reasons, such as work that cannot be done at home, childcare or education, exercise outdoors, medical reasons, and essential shopping. Ministers have so far refused to rule out an extension to the lockdown if COVID case numbers don't improve.

Apple has yet to comment, but the lockdown will basically force Apple's 32 stores in England to close until at least Wednesday 2 December, and will likely also include stores operating with an Express storefront, which means customers in the country are won't be able to select in-store pick up of new iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max devices when they launch next Friday. Orders of HomePod mini, which launches on the same day, will be similarly limited to deliveries only.

Apple Stores in Wales and Northern Ireland are already closed due to lockdown restrictions, while Apple's Glasgow and Edinburgh stores will remain open under Scotland's new tiered regional restrictions, which went live on Monday. Online pre-orders for the new iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which begin this Friday, and order shipments the following Friday are not expected to be significantly impacted, with Royal Mail and courier companies excluded from the restrictions. We're still waiting to hear if the pickup point system will remain over the lockdown period.

Since the end of the first lockdown earlier this year, Apple has been operating its retail business with safety procedures implemented at all stores, including temperature checks, social distancing, increased cleaning, and a limit on how many customers are allowed inside its stores at once.

Elsewhere in Europe, France entered a national lockdown last week that will last at least a month as it aims to curb one of the continent's biggest coronavirus surges and ease the pressure on its hospitals. In Belgium, non-essential shops will close until mid-December, as more than half the country's 2,000 intensive care beds are already full.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Second Lockdown to Close All Apple Stores in England for At Least Four Weeks

 

[Harrycooke]

I know there are bigger problems and everything, but I wonder what apple’s strategy will be for those of us who would be upgrading to the Pro Max who are now unable to go to stores. Will they have a click and collect as allowed by the restrictions? I’ve already paid 2 more months of my plan than I needed and don’t really fancy paying a third.

 

[Kylo83]

What’s gonna happen for the upgrade plans they should do it online

 

[Kylo83]

Yeah I agree with the post above already I’ve paid 2 months over the upgrade plan doesn’t seem worth it now, I need to pay £500 for the 11 pro max better to just sell it, it’s such a mess

 

[JUiCEJamie]

Yup, I’m going to chime in and see where this leaves iPhone Upgrade Programme customers?
Hopefully we’ll get an update soon.

 

[tbayrgs]

I’m admittedly not sure how it works in the UK but it’s just as easy to do iPhone upgrades through post/parcel. Preorder online, follow the iUP instructions. In the US, you have your new iPhone delivered, to be immediately followed by a box to ship back the device you’re returning. If you’re quick enough with your preorder, you should she your new iPhone delivered on the sale day they would be going on sale in the stores.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Lockdown in Britain? Surge in apple products awaits. Stuck at home? Nothing helps more than Apple products.

 

[Harrycooke]

I’m admittedly not sure how it works in the UK but it’s just as easy to do iPhone upgrades through post/parcel. Preorder online, follow the iUP instructions. In the US, you have your new iPhone delivered, to be immediately followed by a box to ship back the device you’re returning. If you’re quick enough with your preorder, you should she your new iPhone delivered on the sale day they would be going on sale in the stores.

over here you can only do it in person. There is no option for the Upgrade Program that doesn't involve going in store.

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

The store in Aberdeen, Scotland is still open too!

 

[joiwomcow]

Gosh, I'm glad they stopped the rampant Covid contagion going on at the apple stores. I'm certain that the carefully documented disease transmission there was instrumental in the scientifically principled decision to shut them down. After all, the UK government has such an unblemished track record in rigorously following the science.

 

[hideous cheese]

"Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect."

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19

Guidance for living safely with respiratory infections, including coronavirus (COVID-19).

www.gov.uk

 

[zetti]

This will ultimately really affect the IUP - in store pickups can easily become deliveries, but IUP - not sure how to get around that one.

 

[and 1989 others]

And then again in January, and then again in March and then again in July. Rinse and repeat.

 

[nt5672]

It seems that politicians have no business making medical decisions.

 

[mateytate]

It seems that politicians have no business making medical decisions.

I cannot work out if this is a joke or not?

 

[LV426]

It seems that politicians have no business making medical decisions.

Of course they do. They are the only ones who can order lockdowns. As to whether or not they listen to their scientific/medical advisers, that's a different matter...

 

[iMatt.]

I was planning on joining the upgrade programme this year - I guess I'll wait until next year

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Obviously BoJo doesn’t have a IUP

 

[ginkobiloba]

In France, technically, Apple Stores could have remained open if they wanted to.There is an exception made by the government for stores that sell and repair computer equipment since they are considered essential for people working from home.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

The first lockdown meant that a suite of furniture we ordered in February was only delivered last week. 8 months.

Depending on how this plays out, I might recommend you guys practice your patience.

 

[User 6502]

In France, technically, Apple Stores could have remained open if they wanted to.There is an exception made by the government for stores that sell and repair computer equipment since they are considered essential for people working from home.

This should not be necessary. IUP can be done remotely elsewhere (for example the states) and it should be possible to do it in the U.K. as well. It’s frankly ridiculous on apple side not to offer it as an option during a pandemic. I won’t update at all and keep my iPhone 11 if they don’t sort it out, and I suspect I won’t be the only one.

 

[msp3]

Funny how the coronavirus was weaponized and used by left-wing Democrat governors to oppress people in the United States, but the UK national government run by a right-wing government has shown it can play the same game. Reminds me of when George Bush had a right-wing war on Iraq and Tony Blair sold his as a left-wing one...

These shutdowns are for nothing more than oppressing the populace and politicians showing you just how much power they have over you (the prole). Your “side” isn’t winning, you’re just getting the oppression from people you like

 

[s66]

Not just the UK, the extremely busy Apple store in Belgium and all Apple resellers are ordered shut in Belgium for the next 6 weeks, along with all other "non-essential" stores. "click and collect" and postal orders are however still allowed for any sector.

The ones we should blame for this are not the scientists, not the healthcare workers, not the politicians who impose this, but those who cannot abide by simple protections and keep fanning the flame under this virus by their moronic attitude and actions such as refusing to wear facemasks, having lockdown parties, hugging strangers, attending huge manifestations, ...

 

[jarman92]

Funny how the coronavirus was weaponized and used by left-wing Democrat governors to oppress people in the United States, but the UK national government run by a right-wing government has shown it can play the same game. Reminds me of when George Bush had a right-wing war on Iraq and Tony Blair sold his as a left-wing one...

These shutdowns are for nothing more than oppressing the populace and politicians showing you just how much power they have over you (the prole). Your “side” isn’t winning, you’re just getting the oppression from people you like

Really can't decide whether to laugh or cry at the physically painful idiocy.

 

[dwright1974]

I'm also on the IUP and was wondering what will happen. I had read click and collect is available but if this is an official Apple announcement and they are closing, I hope they do switch to the US way of doing the upgrades through mail order.