Apple reportedly to allow customers to pick up online orders in store

Apple is reportedly working to introduce a new pilot scheme that will provide customers with the opportunity to place orders online and then pick them up at a local Apple Store, Macrumors reports.

According to reports, Apple’s new program – known internally as Sherwood – will see any item available on the online store made available for in-store pickup, regardless of whether it is an iPad or a custom-ordered Mac.

Macrumors continues:

Customers placing online orders will be offered the ability to select an Apple retail store for pickup, with standard configurations and accessories generally being available on a same-day basis as store stocks allow. Other items may take a few days to be delivered to the store.

In-store pickup of items purchased online will reportedly require proof of purchase and an ID, with one major benefit of the program being the ability to designate one additional person to be eligible to pick up the order. One of our sources also notes that the program offers the benefit of being able to avoid home delivery of holiday gifts that might otherwise reveal the nature of the gift during the upcoming holiday period.

With Sherwood available to Apple Store employees, retail stores will also be able to accept returns of online orders, reducing time for both the customer and Apple’s logistical staff as they will not have process product returns and shipments.

Apple has not confirmed plans, but the new report aligns with a similar statement from Cnet TV’s Brian Tong, who suggested that the company would begin to roll out its option to its customers:

SCOOP: Select Apple retail stores will be set up to allow customers to order online and then pick-up in store!

The availability of an in-store pickup will delight many gift buyers, allowing them to pay and reserve items so that they can pick them up from an Apple retail store instead of revealing the gift if it was delivered to a home address.