14 DAY TRIAL // Although not necessarily 100% unique, Apple has announced a new program for customers, in light of the holiday season - Reserve and Pick Up. Claiming to make it easy not only to purchase an Apple product as a gift, but also efficient, the Mac maker promises your purchase will be waiting for you at the Apple retail store to pick up, all wrapped up and everything.
“With Reserve and Pick Up, you can make sure the top things on your list are definitely under the tree,” goes the company’s message on the Retail segment of its web site. “Reserve an iPod or Mac online today and it will be waiting for you to pick up and purchase at an Apple Retail Store from December 15 to 24. You can even have many products wrapped. It’s just another way we make it even easier to get through the holiday crowds — and your gift list,” the Cupertino, California-based electronics maker reveals.
Alternately, Apple says, customers can buy online and have their products shipped to them. A big blue button awaits to take you to the store nearest to you. Just choose an Apple Retail Store where you'd like to pick up your gifts, or choose one near you or near your holiday destination. As soon as you’re done selecting your location, pick a product to reserve, ranging from the iPod shuffle to the iPod touch, or from the $999 unibody, polycarbonate MacBook to the pricey, all-aluminum Mac Pro tower. “Choose products on the left to add them to your reservation. You'll pay when you come in to pick them up,” says the company run by Steve Jobs, trying to entice customers.
When you’re done choosing the product(s), you’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID and confirm your reservation. The same ID is required when / if you decide to edit your reservation. “Apple ID is the one account for everything you do with Apple,” the company says. “You may already have an Apple ID if you've ever shopped at the Apple Online Store, purchased from the iTunes Store, logged in to MobileMe, or accessed Apple Support.”
Visit Apple here to apply for your own reservation.