An update to the Apple Store iOS app will reportedly roll out on Thursday, and according to Boy Genius Report, it will significantly change the way people shop in Apple’s brick-and-mortar stores.
The update began in part when Apple last week launched in-store pickup for online purchases. This feature is currently available in all of Apple’s San Francisco and New York City stores and will soon be added to locations throughout the country.
BGR said when the refreshed app goes live, it will build on this service. Citing a “trusted source,” BGR claimed if a customer orders an item that’s in stock, it will be available about 12 minutes after the order is complete. That supposedly allows three minutes for the order to be processed in Apple’s system, two minutes for stockroom employees to retrieve the products, and a seven-minute “grace period” to gather any additional items in the order. Twelve minutes after they place an order, a shopper can walk into the designated Apple Store, skip lines, sign for their purchases, and leave.
BGR said if a customer orders an item that isn’t stocked in an Apple Store, such as a customized machine or something that requires engraving or gift wrapping, they’ll be given a date when they can pick up their order. When it arrives in the store, they’ll get a push notification on their iOS device telling them that the order is ready. Once the notification is sent, the same 12-minute window is applicable, BGR added.
Free shipping is a built-in perk of items sent directly to the Apple Store. Additionally, when customers order something online or through the app and have it sent to a store, they won’t have to wait in line, and they’ll be given priority over other shoppers if they need to talk to an employee.
As previously reported, the app will also feature self-checkout for in-store purchases.
BGR speculated that the new app could help alleviate heavy foot traffic in Apple Stores, which will be especially swarmed during the upcoming holiday shopping rush.