Good news for those of you planning on laying out between $10,000 and $17,000 for the new Apple Watch Edition. Not only will you get a nifty 18-karat gold smartwatch that interacts with your iPhone, but Apple Stores will be rolling out the red carpet to treat you like royalty.
According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple doesn’t just want you to have a shopping trip to pick up a watch, but a “personal, elegant and purposeful journey.”
You won’t have to stand in line at the store. Instead you will be treated to a private one-hour “consultation” with the an Apple Watch expert. You can also choose an at-home personal video conference. This is all part of the journey because Apple believes, “desirability is not necessarily defined simply by a price tag or elitism, but rather meticulous focus on usefulness and utility rooted in beauty.”
In the store, the higher-priced watches will be available in a dedicated area where customers can only see one or two watches at a time. While those purchasing the “inexpensive” $399 models will have to stand, stools will be brought out for the Apple Watch Edition customer. Which only makes sense, if you’re going to be there for an hour on your personal, elegant, and purposeful journey.
With your $17,000 watch you get two years of round-the-clock tech support. The special consultations won’t be available at all stores, but the company can arrange to have your watch sent by courier to any store. No matter which model of watch you’re checking out, you are advised to make a reservation first before coming to try it on.
I hesitate to spend $17,000 on anything unless it seats at least six and comes with air conditioning and a deluxe stereo system, but it’s probably good business for Apple to treat those who are willing to plunk down that much cash for a watch just a little extra-special.
~ Cynthia