Apple no longer wants its fans queuing up outside the stores for product launches. Apple's head of retail, Angela Ahrendts, sent a memo saying customers should be encouraged to order online instead.


Fans queuing for launch days has always provided great publicity for Apple. The record seems to be waiting line for 19 days. Maybe Apple want to get rid of the great unwashed?!

The solution however seems simple. Why not let people who order online get their Apple product of choice 1 day before the retail stores get it. Seems simple. Sure they will still get a que outside the stores on launch days for publicity but it will discourage people from camping out for several days.


http://uk.businessinsider.com/angela...-online-2015-4

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/03/...-for-iphone-6/

That will only stop customers not 'fans', whatever they are.

And as for your 'unwashed' comment

I don't get it, I've never done it myself but I can see there's a kind of fun factor in queuing for a long time and finally get your new phone. You can meet like minded people at the same time. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as people are willing to do it

http://9to5mac.com/2015/04/06/tim-co...pps-submitted/


A 50% staff discount, and right at watch launch day says that the supply is good. But do they take off their walking billboard at work ?

And so, what queue?

A sceptic might say that they aren't expecting queues for the apple watch and so are sending out a preemptive strike "leak". If they do get queues then its a win as they can say people still love the "experience", if they don't get queues they can say they prevented their need.

Personally I suspect that the apple watch will sell well simply working on the apple fan base logic - even 1% of apple fans still means huge sales.

The sensible ones may wait for gen2. First gen android watches had similar issues with battery life and early android wear was also clunky (but is getting better).

Considering the approach they have taken from day 1 regarding the ordering process for the apple watch I would be amazed if they have put any effort into this 'preemptive strike'.

I suspect it is more to do with the new retail head influencing the approach, but maybe that is just my radical thinking

Maybe the term preemptive strike sounded a bit harsh.

Leaks and memos at this kind of level are often more calculated and planned than people think. And that's not a comment specific to apple or even the tech industry in general.

I don't feel that strongly either way so I suggest we both just agree that neither of us know to save pages and pages of arguing

(i.e. let's nip this in the bud before calico and stiggles get the bit between their teeth )

These people in charge, who while competent are extremely average, are getting paid such vast sums they have to justify that in some way.


So it's all change-o. It's basically implying the head of retail has a plan. She really doesn't.

I would love to know how you justify that statement

I'd agree with Stuart on this. I suspect that the Apple Watch isn't the sort of product to garner massive queues sleeping out overnight, and so Apple are trying to discourage the small numbers who might do that because it might make it look like the watch is a flop.

I still don't think there's a massive market for wearables, and so any queues are going to look pretty small. This is also coupled with the mention elsewhere that Apple are asking people to book appointments to get the watch.

Pre-emptive strike indeed.

Has anyone not thought of actually taking this at face value. i.e. in their usual controlling manner Apple think their customers will get a better experience and so have decreed what their customers want. I suspect they might be right, but we all know what control freaks they are

If only Apple were in a position to hire people who were actually good at there jobs, and not have to make do with people who are merely average, like that Ahrendts woman.

I mean really, what has she ever done?

She probably just sits in her office all day throwing hoops.

Good Lord, perish the thought.

Where's the fun in that?

Cheek!! I gave up replying to him anyway since it just flew round in circles all day!

Anyway, there will be zero queues outside the stores on launch day since they will not be available in the store on launch day. Or even soon after launch. Its online only apparently.

But since apple make a great hoorah with new launches, this news is surprising.

I think there are several factors:

Apple don't know what the demand will be, and don't want to end up with a stock excess like the iPhone 5c

There are 54 combinations of case, size and strap, and it's not easy to get the combinations of stock right at launch

The 'media event' of people queuing has turned negative with many people mocking those who queue, and those queuing have their own agenda

Ordering online actually makes more sense for everybody

I'm a moderate Apple fan, as my household now has various iPhones and iPads. I have never been to an Apple Store, and I would certainly never queue up. I have my gadgets delivered on launch day, and that suits me just fine. As I did with the iPhone 6, I will get An Apple Watch Sport delivered, and if I don't like it I will send it back for a full refund.

wrong. https://mobile.twitter.com/VOOK64/st...01640812195840

You will be accused by some on here (whatever happened to him &#128512 of having blind faith in Apple😀

That's for seeing the watch today. Not for buying it on release day.

Lol queueing up to see the watch

You've never gone & looked at an expensive purchase before buying it

Not queued for the pleasure

I couldn't make it into London today as I'm having building work done at home, but from my fellow journalists that were obliged to go, it seems the media outnumbered customers massively.

Of course that must mean everyone took heed of the advice not to queue up, and it's not that a lot of people aren't that bothered.

I am not sure there was massive queues anywhere for the Galaxy S6 launch either.

I do think Apple is being clever. If there were long queues, great. If there weren't, well that's as expected. And the line about 'not for everyone' repeated in virtually all the reviews is another way of making those who think the watch isn't quite ready appear as the very people that the watch isn't for anyway.

You may want to ask your fellow journalist friends how busy the convent garden store was today.

I was at the Apple Store yesterday in Westfield and it was very busy then. It's school holidays, so every shop in town is busy, so what's your point? We've also had some nice weather at long last - first day out without my coat!

The stores that weren't packed were Selfridges and the other stores in Paris and Tokyo. These are where Apple has set up to entice people to spend big bucks on getting their bespoke customised watches. This is where people are watching closely.

I was invited on Tuesday to go to Selfridges this morning but couldn't make it and nor could I see the people going to get their GS6's and GS6 edges. I was with a guy setting up some of the in store displays at Westfield yesterday and there was a moderate interest from people watching as the phones were put in, but nothing spectacular.

One of the big reasons is also likely that the Russians can't get loads of people into the queues to buy something when you're not coming away with anything to ship back quickly to make a profit on.

Cheek!

You last gave up when you wouldn't take my wager and put your money where your mouth is about the supposedly bendy S6s