Retail

Apple hires Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts as SVP of Retail and Online Stores

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

In a surprising late-night press release issued just a few hours ago, Apple announced that it has finally found its new Senior Vice President of Retail. Her name is Angela Ahrendts, and she is the [soon to be] former CEO of clothing retailer Burberry.

According to the release, Ahrendts will begin her new role in the spring of next year, where she will oversee the strategic direction, expansion and operation of both Apple retail and online stores. And like other SVPs, she'll report directly to Tim Cook...

Apple updates iPhone 5s shipping estimates to 2-3 weeks

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 11, 2013

Shortly after the new iPhone 5s/5c went on sale in the United States and an additional ten major international markets on September 20, Apple's online store in the United States started showing signs of severely constrained supply of the flagship iPhone 5s model.

The device immediately appeared sold out as shipping estimates dropped from 1-3 days for the first few hours of availability, further slipping to 7–10 days and again to an ambiguous 'October' estimate. And now, the iPhone 5s shipping dates have been revised again, now listed as 2-3 weeks..

Some U.S. retailers put iPhone 5c on fire sale

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Call it the electronics retailer version of limbo, but U.S. stores are racing each other to see which can offer the iPhone 5c for close to nothing.

From electronic giant Best Buy to mid-range Target, the price on Apple's colorful handset is being slashed to the bone. How low can they go? How's free?

As the iPhone 5s continues to be the handset Apple fans prefer, reports filter in suggesting the tech giant plans to cut production on the iPhone 5c. Smelling a potential door-buster on their hands, a number of U.S. retailers are announcing steep discounts on the already affordable handset...

Foxconn could help ship Apple products directly to China to reduce import taxes

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 1, 2013

Foxconn, Apple's longtime partner, has been assembling Apple gadgets for years. The world's largest manufacturer and product assembler may have been at odds with its prime client lately over slowing sales, but that doesn't mean the two giants won't be extending their partnership - quite the contrary. If there's any substance to a new story published Tuesday, Apple may have found a way to reduce import taxes in mainland China by having Foxconn International provide new logistic and after-sale maintenance services to the technology giant...

Steve Jobs had hand in newly-patented glass entryway for Shanghai store

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

Typically, Apple patents technology sold within its retail locations. However, today the company received a patent for the design and construction of the glass cylindrical entrance to its Apple Store in Shanghai. Unlike most entrances, the one in Shanghai shapes huge slabs of glass, connected by a complex arrangement of fittings to form a building unto itself. To top it all off, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is among the patent inventors...

New iPhones (again) available with in-store pickup

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

Exactly a week ago, Apple extended its Personal Pickup service to the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, allowing customers to order their handset online for same-day delivery to one of Apple's retail outlets in the United States. Then the following day it pulled the in-store pickup for both new iPhones without an explanation, with anonymous sources telling one publication the company will reinstate the option today. Sure enough, both new handsets are now available with in-store pickup option...

iPads and iPods reportedly coming to Staples online store next Tuesday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

In another sweeping showing of Tim Cook's operational expertise and penchant for cutting deals, Apple is now rumored to be expanding the iPad's reach soon by bringing the device to the United States office supply retail chain, Staples. Talk of Staples gearing up to sell iPhones, iPads and Macs dates back to early-March of this year.

That's when MacRumors leaked internal training documents which indicated that at least some Staples locations would start selling a broader range of Apple products, including Macs, iPads and iPhones.

A new report Thursday has now asserted that several iPad and iPod models will be offered through the Staples Online Store in the United States...

Apple pulls Personal Pickup for new iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

Yesterday, iDB told you that Apple extended its Personal Pickup service to include the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c and explained that shoppers can avoid crowds by ordering their handset online with same day in-store delivery. It would now appear that the company may have prematurely enhanced the service.

On Tuesday, the in-store pickup option disappeared from the online Apple Store for both new iPhone models. We've received more than a dozen tips and have since confirmed that Apple in fact did inexplicably pull Personal Pickup for both new handsets...

Apple extends in-store Personal Pickup to new iPhone 5s/5c

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple just said it sold nine million new iPhone 5s/5c units during the opening weekend and warned that many online orders will ship "in the coming weeks" as demand for the flagship iPhone 5s “has exceeded the initial supply”.

Supply constraints quickly became apparent as shipping estimates on the U.S. online Apple Store for all configurations in the US slipped from 7–10 days to October.

In an effort to help would-be shoppers save time, the company's online store now offers the popular in-store pickup option for the newly launched iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c handsets. Additionally, customers can check Personal Pickup iPhone availability on a per-store basis...

Apple Stores to demo Touch ID using a dedicated app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

When the iPhone 5s launches this Friday, Apple's retail employees will be showing off the new Touch ID fingerprint reading functionality to prospective customers using a dedicated app designed especially for this purpose, a new report Monday claimed. The feature, stemming from last year's acquisition of Israeli biometric experts AuthenTenc, uses the fingerprint sensor embedded into the iconic Home button to unlock the handset with a touch of your finger and approved purchases on Apple's content stores...

Apple tweaks Genius Bar reservation policies to deter scalpers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Remember how devious Chinese scalpers adopted a new tactics and grabbed all of the available Apple Store Genius Bar appointment slots to make a quick buck by selling them for real money online?

Guess what? Apple took notice of the trend, too! In order to thwart scalpers, Apple now requires an Apple ID to book an appointment with a retail store Genius.

Previously, making an appointment was as easy as picking a desired store on the Apple Retail website and choosing a session. The company only required your first/last name and email address, which opened door to misuse...

The line starts forming outside Apple’s landmark Fifth Avenue glass cube store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 14, 2016

Like every year, this year's iPhone launch is expected to be the biggest ever for the Cupertino, California firm. Unlike past years, however, 2013 is the first time Apple gets to release two new iPhones simultaneously, one a so-called S-upgrade to the existing iPhone 5 and the other essentially an iPhone 5 with a less-pricey polycarbonate plastic case.

This change in tactics and the resulting flurry of media coverage appears to have renewed interest in the Apple smartphone. And while we're certainly not expecting lines to stretch around whole blocks like in 2007, campers are already lining up outside Apple's flagship glass cube store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue...