14 DAY TRIAL // 'Trusted sources' have the scoop on a new Apple offering this week, and it’s (allegedly) about to change retail as we know it.
According to the people with inside information cited by BGR, there will be a new iOS app to download this Thursday.
The software will be tailored to the specific needs of Apple customers, in that it will allow them to place an order and pick up their purchase skipping lines and other traditional methods required to walk out of the store with a product in hand.
For example, from the time your iOS order is finished, Apple sets a 12 minute deadline during which you basically just walk over to the store and tell the blue shirts to hand you the goods.
Incredible? How about this: you'll be able to walk in a store, fire up the app on your iPhone, scan a product, tap buy, get the item, and walk out. No one’s even going to know you were in the store if you’re the type that keeps a low profile.
Granted, this last tidbit does sound a little fantastic, and we’ll have to wait for confirmation from Apple to be sure, but it seems all the information retrieved by BGR’s source is dead accurate.
The report also mentions that Apple will offer customers the ability to return items purchased online.
Finally, Apple will be attributing revenue from these online purchases to the outlet where the items are delivered and retrieved. It is believed this will spur new job opportunities.
The Cupertino, California based electronics vendor expects a 30% spike in retail sales thanks to the initiative which, for now, is limited to American customers.
In related news, Apple’s SVP of retail operations, Ron Johnson, left the company this week to start anew as CEO of JC Penney.