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Apple to Push Watch Buyers Online to Avoid Long Lines at Stores

The new Apple Watch is seen on display after an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, in San Francisco.

The new Apple Watch is seen on display after an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, in San Francisco.

Stephen Lam/Getty Images
By
Tim Higgins

When it comes to buying the Apple Watch, it’s time to think different.

Angela Ahrendts, Apple Inc.’s sales chief, wants to scrap the company’s tradition of having customers wait in line, sometimes for days, to get their hands on the latest gadget. Apple has instructed its sales force to prod shoppers to the company’s website to purchase the new smartwatch, which can be pre-ordered Friday.