Apple Store workers mostly in dark about iPad
updated 10:50 am EDT, Wed March 31, 2010
Secrecy policy could jeopardize repairs
Most Apple retail workers know just as much about the iPad as the general public, says Reuters. Speaking anonymously to the wire agency, some store staff claim that while they are encouraged to promote the iPad, none of them have seen it person yet, in keeping with their experience with other Apple products. The level of ignorance is said to extend to Geniuses however, who have allegedly not even been given instructions on how to repair an iPad.
Such a situation could prove frustrating for anyone experiencing launch-day problems with their tablet. This is said, though, to reflect Apple's policy of extreme secrecy for new products, which is imposed through internal and external measures. With the iPad Apple is claimed to be holding back custom documents, preventing UPS deliveries which would otherwise happen as soon as April 1st. The goal is simultaneous mail and retail availability, which offers several advantages for Apple, most notably diminished sales impact for any negative buzz.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2009
Where have you been the last 9 years
News day must be slow if you have to put out a report like this. This is a non-story since Apple has been doing this for years and it's not a secret that Apple keeps employees in the dark. For the original iPhone launch employees were given a repackaged version of the same info that was already officially available to the public. Hands on training for ALL staff members didn't happen till about 5 hours before the launch. All NEW model Apple products are shipped in sealed boxes with all product information obfuscated. And management and inventory staff are not allowed to open the boxes till launch day (usually they arrive on that day anyways). And all of this is well known to anyone that keeps an eye out for Apple Retail or goes to the infamous ifoapplestore.com website.
MacNN = FAIL!