As the Apple Watch hits the market today, many expect Apple Stores to be flooded by fans and customers who are driven to get Apple's new wearable gadget.
However, early reports seem to imply that the tech giant may not be as overwhelmed as you would think. "A small group of Japanese tech-addicts lined up in Tokyo to become the first consumers to buy the Apple Watch from selected stores on Friday, but there was no sign of the frenzy that usually accompanies Apple Inc product rollouts," Reuters reported.
This is because Apple fans weren't supposed to buy the device in-store. Apple spent a lot of time this week encouraging users to go online and purchase its watch from there. This is partly because the company wants to avoid the craziness of an iPhone launch, and partly because most Apple Stores don't have the ability to store the 20+ variations of the Apple Watch that would be required to answer the demands of consumers.
That doesn't mean that the Apple Store won't have some Apple Watches. Many people are approaching the stores in hopes of getting one for programming purposes, while others are trying to get out of Apple-fanboy-driven obsession.
If customers can't find Apple Watches at their local stores, city residents can see if select high-end fashion boutiques still have the device. However, most users will have to wait for Apple to deliver the watch via mail in the next few months. Thankfully, Apple is mailing out Apple Watches sooner than it originally expected.
Apple Watch prices range from $349 to $12,000.
