U.S. Apple Stores to Remain Closed Until Early May

[MacRumors]

Apple today informed employees that its Apple retail stores in the United States will remain closed until early May, and Apple employees will continue to work from home until then.

In a memo to employees, excerpts of which were shared by Bloomberg, Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien said that Apple is "continuing to monitor local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis" and that reopening decisions will be made on after "thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts."

For now, Apple's flexible work arrangements "will remain in place for all offices, and all retail stores will remain closed, until early May."

In Santa Clara County, where Apple Park, Infinite Loop, and many other corporate offices and retail stores are located, there is a shelter in place order that will remain in effect until May 3. It prevents all nonessential businesses from being open and requires employees to work from home. Apple's corporate offices will not be able to reopen until that order is lifted.

According to O'Brien, Apple is "working on options" to ensure that parents have the flexibility to adjust their schedules as necessary as many are also looking after children who are no longer able to school.

Apple had previously planned to begin reopening some stores in the first half of April, and that could still be the plan for some of its stores outside of the U.S. At the current time, all stores outside of China are closed and have been shuttered since March 14.

Article Link: U.S. Apple Stores to Remain Closed Until Early May

 

[Steve686]

Very responsible taking the lead.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple changes their floor layout after COIVID has subsided. Be prepared for more social distancing to an extent for day to day life moving forward.

 

[ericinboston]

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

 

[Steve686]

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

Probably will depend more on local emergency orders than anything what Apple decides to do for returns, but so far when they have said stores are closed, they are closed with no exceptions.

They could even extend their return period until after stores open which would be their best bet.

 

[btrach144]

This whole thing is crazy. I remember celebrating New Years and this was not on my radar for 2020. Can someone wake me up when this is all done?

 

[mcdj]

Dear Tim Cook,

With all due respect, we make the calendar, not Apple.

Sincerely,

Coronavirus and Covid 19

 

[Alexrat1996]

I need the store open as soon as they can so I can get my replacement unit

 

[Sanlitun]

Nothing to be done about this. The thought of millions touching Apple store demo screens each day is horrifying.

 

[Mr. Dee]

At the end of the day, what COVID-19 tells us is, a lot of the things we have been concerned about, really does not matter. When the iPhone launched in 2007, it definitely changed the course of communication. But 5 years later, the success of the device and explosive growth of Apple couldn’t save its founder Steve Jobs. He had to leave it all behind. I remember reading a quote from someone when Steve was going through a rough period. Steve said to him in a room at Apple, what I want right now is a new body.

You could buy a maxed out iPhone 11 Pro Max or iPad Pro today, get COVID and not even live to open the box by the end of the week.

What I hope come out of this is more presence in the things that matter: your loved ones, your thoughts and dreams, experiencing each day like its your last instead of through a 5.8, 6.5, 12.9, 5.5 square.

 

[44267547]

Good. I mean, why open the Apple stores in mid April, when the situation is worsening every single day. It’s better to reassess in a month from now, to find out where and how COVID-19 is continually expanding. One of the worst things Apple could do, is prematurely open their stores, and promote the spread further.

If we’re going to beat C/19 Collectively as a Community, sacrifices have to be made with certain ‘non-essential’ businesses remaining closed. That’s how it has to be until further notice.

 

[LeadingHeat]

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

You can always do the return online (they overnight you materials), but the official policy is that you have the normal 14 day return window once the store opens. So if you don’t need to return it right now I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[Freeangel1]

YIKES! not good for Apple but at least the employees at each of these stores are still being paid. unlike other businesses the let their employees go. 10 million and counting.

 

[AppleUser2]

You can always do the return online (they overnight you materials), but the official policy is that you have the normal 14 day return window once the store opens. So if you don’t need to return it right now I wouldn’t worry about it.

i thought they had made an announcement about this - you get 14 days after the store reopens (originally planned 27th March)?

 

[Yojimbo007]

What must be done, must be done! Hats off Apple.

(also i dont think many would go even if they remained open... so its better to minimize expenses where possible, as much as possible )

This shall pass too.
🖖🏼🤙🏼

 

[Vjosullivan]

Good. I mean, why open the Apple stores in mid April, when the situation is worsening every single day. It’s better to reassess in a month from now, to find out where and how COVID-19 is continually expanding.

Better still if they just said "closed until further notice". They don't know when they'll be able to reopen, so why put a date on it.

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

You wait until the crisis is blown over and people can go back to work without risking their lives or the lives of others.

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

Easier for you. In the current circumstances, not so good for everyone else.

 

[Steve686]

Better still if they just said "closed until further notice". They don't know when they'll be able to reopen, so why put a date on it.

Their employees need to hear something somewhat optimistic and in a context of time. If other businesses open and Apple employees run to the first gig they can get while not returning to Apple, Apple may end up with stores very short on staff. This also was not a statement released to the public so we shouldn't view this as a hard date whatsoever.

And Apple also said this, "continuing to monitor local conditions for every Apple facility on a daily basis" and that reopening decisions will be made on after "thorough, thoughtful reviews and the latest guidance from local governments and public health experts."

Basically saying it is until further notice depending on local or regional conditions.

 

[Deliro]

They need to setup some sort of curbside assistance. I know the majority of these stores are in malls but I have returns sitting on my credit cards. I need to make room on them just in case. My bank said I could do a chargeback but I wonder how Apple would respond to this. Contacted Apple via their support and all store purchases would need to be returned at the store. So next week, chargeback and make amends with Apple later.

 

[Jury]

Anyone who wants to fix the RAM and Storage on MBPro, MBAir is screw by Apple.

 

[sofila]

Same thread on Mar 24, 2020 same reply
That is not going to happen. Hopefully yes but reality will crush in.

 

[haydn!]

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

Most UK retailers are honouring return periods for 14-30 days from the point they re-open...whenever that may be. I’d assume Apple would do something similar.

 

[recoil80]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple changes their floor layout after COIVID has subsided. Be prepared for more social distancing to an extent for day to day life moving forward.

They may restrict access to a fixed amount of people at the same time to avoid the store getting too crowded. No issues with genius bar appointments as there are only a few for each time slot, but other customers may be required to wait outside or come back later.

 

[DesertNomad]

Nothing to be done about this. The thought of millions touching Apple store demo screens each day is horrifying.

It wasn't horrifying 3 months ago, a year ago or 5 years ago. Hopefully the world will return to how it was.

 

[newyorksole]

How does this affect return policies?...both of ordering online and buying something in a store? I have a new Mac I ordered online 4 weeks ago...it's finally arriving next week...but if I need to return it/exchange it, what's the policy?

If I need to exchange it, it would be far easier to go to my local store and swap it than spend weeks mailing it back, waiting for a refund/credit, ordering a new one, waiting for delivery, etc.

When the original iPad came out, I bought it on launch day. I returned it 7 months later (used, but in perfect condition) with zero issues.

Return policies can always be broken. ESPECIALLY by Apple and ESPECIALLY during a pandemic.

You literally have nothing to worry about.
[automerge]1585911373[/automerge]

Nothing to be done about this. The thought of millions touching Apple store demo screens each day is horrifying.

And this is EXACTLY why things won’t be normal for a long time. Let’s say most businesses are back open by June 1st / July 1st... People will STILL be keeping their distance and won’t want to go to crowded places.

Those demo devices don’t get cleaned nearly enough. People are going to be way more conscious about touching stuff like that going forward.

This is gonna have long term effects that spill into 2021.

 

[44267547]

It wasn't horrifying 3 months ago, a year ago or 5 years ago. Hopefully the world will return to how it was.

It won’t. Nothing will ever ‘normalize’ after this situation, likely because it’s still not fully understood and how it will Impact retail businesses long-term, because this is something that just won’t ‘go away’.

If you look at Apple stores collectively as a whole, they will eventually reopen, but the implementation of new practices with heightened levels of cleanliness with demo products, likely restrictions on how many customers are allowed in the store at once, trial wearing for AirPods will probably be eliminated, and social distancing Will be the new norm. These are all just ‘minor examples’ of how things will not return to ‘normal’.