In an effort to prevent the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Apple is cutting back on gadget try-ons, particularly the Apple Watch and AirPods. Employees in Apple Stores are also advised not to proactively offer customers to try on products and should only do so upon customer request.
Apple's health and safety measures are designed to protect all of its employees and customers at a time wherein a global pandemic is on a rise. Part of the company's broader measures also includes reducing the number of chairs and stools to ensure enough there's enough distance between customers. In the United States alone, the coronavirus has killed more than 30 people and infected over 1,000 as of Wednesday.
Apple has recently added more hand sanitizer stations in retail stores and also employed more cleaning personnel. Employees paid by the hour are now allowed to take special sick leaves that won't affect their usual allotment, as part of the Cupertino company's cautionary measures.
Since 2015, Apple has been allowing customers to try on its Apple Watch. The company eventually launched the Apple Watch Studio to better assist fans in terms of customizing their smartwatch, letting them choose their own choice of band and casing combo.
What Apple is promoting right now is limited try-ons, and not the total ban of it. For the time being, you won't be hearing any employee encouraging you to try something on, and don't be surprised if there are fewer stools than usual. It's not clear, however, if all stores follow the company's new health and safety measures or merely selected locations.
According to a representative for Apple, the company is trying to prevent overcrowding in its retail stores. Limiting try-ons appears to be part of that process.
COVID-19 has many companies change the way they operate. Starbucks, for one, is offering its employees "catastrophe pay" in an event a staff member is quarantined, and Walmart is offering its workers two weeks' worth of salary should they get infected. Other companies, meanwhile, are laxing on attendance policies.
Apple Stores in China were closed for much of February and many tech companies have followed suit. In Italy where the highest number of COVID-19 deaths outside Asia is recorded, all stores remain closed. Most firms are encouraging workers to work from home if possible, including Google.
Apple has also postponed its launch event originally scheduled this month. For now, the company remains mum when its plans will resume.
