The person who sells you the iPad on Saturday will probably be seeing it for the first time, too.
Keeping in line with air-tight secrecy around new product launches, Apple retail store employees have not had any hands-on time with the new touchscreen device.
Reuters reports:
Apple store workers say they have yet to see or touch the iPad, even though the launch is just days away and they are being trained and encouraged to talk about Apple’s newest device with customers.“We haven’t seen it; we never do” before a product is launched, said one employee, who asked not to be identified because workers are barred from speaking with the media. “Every store employee I know, including the managers, they haven’t seen it.”
If Apple follows the same route for the iPhone launch, store workers may see it an hour before it goes on sale.
And presumably, the iPad blackout doesn’t extend to genius types who will be helping customers set up their just-purchased devices.
Reuters also notes that while Apple store workers get 25% discount on iPods and Macs, they get no discount on iPhones and it’s uncertain whether they’ll get something off the already priced-to-move iPad.
Via iPhone Freak
Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco freelance writer who heads up Cult of Mac Magazine, our weekly publication available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter and Google+. If you’re doing something new, cool and Apple-related, email her.
