Apple, Best Buy alliance grows with more Apple Watch locations, expanded in-store service
Electronics retailer Best Buy on Tuesday announced a substantial expansion of its partnership with Apple, a move that will include hundreds of new Apple Watch points of sale as well as a larger Apple presence in Best Buy stores.
Best Buy's Apple Watch rollout will expand from its current 100-store footprint to include all 1,050 outlets by the end of September, Best Buy chief executive Hubert Joly revealed during the company's quarterly earnings call. The Apple Watch hit Best Buy shelves earlier this month.
"Demand for Apple Watch has been so strong in the stores and online," Joly said, as noted by Fortune.
Changes are also coming to the retailer's dedicated in-store Apple shops. Some 740 of the outlets are being updated with new fixtures and a more expansive display area, with work expected to be complete at 520 locations in time for the holiday season.
Another area of extended cooperation comes in after-sales service and support. Best Buy will be allowed to sell AppleCare and AppleCare+ plans alongside Apple hardware before the holidays begin, a change one source told AppleInsider would begin on Sept. 13.
In addition, Joly said a pilot program that will see 50 Best Buy outlets become Apple Authorized Service Provider locations is underway.
Best Buy's Apple Watch rollout will expand from its current 100-store footprint to include all 1,050 outlets by the end of September, Best Buy chief executive Hubert Joly revealed during the company's quarterly earnings call. The Apple Watch hit Best Buy shelves earlier this month.
"Demand for Apple Watch has been so strong in the stores and online," Joly said, as noted by Fortune.
Changes are also coming to the retailer's dedicated in-store Apple shops. Some 740 of the outlets are being updated with new fixtures and a more expansive display area, with work expected to be complete at 520 locations in time for the holiday season.
Another area of extended cooperation comes in after-sales service and support. Best Buy will be allowed to sell AppleCare and AppleCare+ plans alongside Apple hardware before the holidays begin, a change one source told AppleInsider would begin on Sept. 13.
In addition, Joly said a pilot program that will see 50 Best Buy outlets become Apple Authorized Service Provider locations is underway.
Comments
But...but...but...Apple Watch is a failure and nobody's buying them.
Nah, check out some of the posts on MacRumors. For the haters there is no data that would shut them up. some are wondering how BB measures demand. I guess they've never heard of the word "sales"?
So far, happy with mine.
I can do without, but I see this product category as eventually replacing the wallet / purse / clutch for CC's, identity verification and rewards cards. It won't be right away, but it's coming where a device like this is basically expected. It's the ideal location for such things and people will want to accessorize it; especially younger generations. Not to mention the duel function nature for health based uses. Just makes sense.
12. Because Angela/Tim botched the retail launch of the Watch.
The irony is that a smartwatch with fitness tracking and a heart rate monitor is much closer to a necessity than anything else worn on the wrist (save for MedicAlert braclets and other medical devices, like a wrist brace, and I suppose a leather gauntlet if you're into falconry… but I digress).
13. Because ?Watch is just a Jony Ive vanity project.
Until Best Buy actually delivers on its acceptance of ApplePay, I won't hold my breath Best Buy will actually become an Apple certified service provider. And I don't mean simply using their Geek Squad. It takes someone who who's Apple devices to work on them, not just another PC tech.
12. Because Angela/Tim botched the retail launch of the Watch.
it was ramped because of availability. What was she supposed to do, pitch watches and not have any?
Between selling the Apple Watch at all these Best Buys as well as Apple recently announcing that you no longer need to make an appointment to try one on at Apple stores there is bound to be a serious uptick in sales.
Both are great news for the watch. I have a feeling the holiday season will be strong for the watch.
It takes someone who who's Apple devices to work on them, not just another PC tech.
Don't send your products back to Apple for depot repair then. You're really sending them to Flextronics who repairs HP, Lenovo, Sony, and others.
What we need fixed badly is the Wal Mart displays!!
My local Wal Marts have UGLY plastic cut outs that say "iPhone" in ridged font and display iPhone 4/4s.
I need to ask Siri to remind me to snap a photo to send to Tim Cook. This is not acceptable.
Is it a little weird that a particular brand and product was called out on a financial call? On the same financial call as reported by Fortune, Best Buy had strong sales of washing machines. Unless I missed it, they didn't say anything about a particular brand and model. They could have said something vague about strong sales of smart watches. Instead, they said Apple Watches in particular.
I remember something very similar to this from Best Buy when the iPad came out. They reported strong iPad sales. After fielding complaints from other vendors, they changed it to strong tablet sales, with no more mention of the iPad in particular. I suspect the next time we hear from this person, it will be strong smart watch sales.
I am waiting for our regulars in the anti-Watch-brigade to show up in force and address this obvious misstatement.
Hello? Hello? Anybody home?
They did not have 20 iPhones on display. No Best Buy has 20 iPhones on display.
Do we know if this was part of the CEO's prepared remarks or a specific question he was asked during Q&A.