What you need to know
- Some Apple Stores are once again allowing customers to try on AirPods before they buy.
- Stores still operating under the Express Storefront model still don't allow this.
It appears that some semblance of normalcy is making its way back into select Apple Stores.
As reported by Bloomberg, retail employees are saying that some Apple Stores are once again allowing customers to come in and try on a pair of AirPods or AirPods Pro before buying them.
Apple stopped letting customers try on the earbuds when Covid-19 began to spread last year. The company is now allowing try-ons in the U.S. and other regions at stores that are open for customer walk-ins, either with or without an appointment. The ability to try on AirPods has been available at locations in Asia for months already.
As noted in the report, retail locations that are still operating under the Express Storefront model do not yet allow this, as shopping at the store is limited to a walk-up window.
Some stores are still operating using a system known as Apple Store Express, which essentially replaces the front of the store with bank teller-like windows. Those stores still aren't letting shoppers try on AirPods. This is an important part of the in-person sales process because some consumers want to determine how well the earbuds fit or choose between the regular AirPods and AirPods Pro.
It took about a year for all 270 Apple Stores across the world to once again reopen after the pandemic began and the company starting closing them about a year ago. While some stores are allowing customers back in, Apple is still employing a number of safety measures like limited capacity, temperature checks, and social distancing.
