Apple will take Watch orders online only during launch
"We are excited to welcome customers tomorrow and introduce them to Apple Watch, our most personal device yet," Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts said in a Thursday news release. "Based on the tremendous interest from people visiting our stores, as well as the number of customers who have gone to the Apple Online Store to mark their favorite Apple Watch ahead of availability, we expect that strong customer demand will exceed our supply at launch. To provide the best experience and selection to as many customers as we can, we will be taking orders for Apple Watch exclusively online during the initial launch period."
We already knew Apple was redesigning the Apple Store experience to clear the way for Apple Watch demos and personal appointments, but in an effort to cut down on lines--and the crushing disappointment Apple customers feel when they leave a store with no purchase to show for their visit--Apple is making it clear that buying online is better.
You can still head down to your local Apple Store to try on a Watch. Make an appointment online beginning Friday for a scheduled demo, or walk in and wait to try it out with everyone else. The Watch is available to preview and preorder in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Britain, and the U.S. You can find out which nearby store is carrying different Watch models here.
My strategy: Preorder the Watch at 3:01 a.m. Eastern on Friday and then make an appointment to model it in person just to be sure I picked the right size and finish.