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Buying an Apple Watch might be more difficult than you thought

Published Apr 7th, 2015 6:30PM EDT
Apple Watch Preorders and Reservations

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The Apple Watch will soon be available for preorder in various markets, but you likely won’t get your own copy of the device by walking into an Apple Store unless you get a reservation first. Furthermore, MacRumors has learned that Apple will have a rather tough policy on reservations that will make it impossible for buyers to reserve more than one Apple Watch unit per person.

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Apple is coming up with harsher reservation rules for the Apple Watch than other products likely because stock will be limited at first, at least when it comes to walk-in buyers.

“Inventory is subject to change,” Apple said in a memo obtained by the publication. “Your reservation is valid for pickup only at the Apple Retail Store that you selected. If you do not pick up your selected item(s) by the designated date and time, your reservation will be cancelled and your item(s) will be returned to stock. There is a maximum of 1 reservation per customer. Number of reservations may be limited. Apple reserves the right to refuse, limit or cancel a reservation if Apple determines that a customer has provided misleading or fraudulent information and/or abused, disrupted or attempted to circumvent the reservation system.”

Furthermore, Apple Watch buyers holding reservations will need to present a valid government ID at Apple retail stores, and only the person named on the reservation will be able to purchase the device with help of a reservation.

The company is also instructing retail store employees to encourage buyers towards online Apple Watch orders rather than in-store purchases.

MacRumors says that, initially, Apple planned to let buyers reserve up to two Apple Watch units per person, but that policy changed because of stock issues.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.