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Apple Stores will now allow customers to test in-ear headphones before buying

Apple has always allowed customers to test over-ear headphones

Apple has always allowed customers to test over-ear headphones (Getty)

Apple will begin allowing prospective customers to test out in-ear headphones prior to purchase within Apple Stores, according to several employees. Due to sanitation concerns, Apple has been reluctant to allowing customers to try out in-ear headphones, but a new solution called Demo Kits will solve this problem. Beginning this week, when a customer is interested in purchasing in-ear headphones, an Apple Store employee will have the ability to create a custom Demo Kit that holds up to six different models of in-ear headphones. These kits will include a fresh pair ear tips and alcohol cleaning wipes so that the try on process is sanitary…

The customer will be able to keep the ear tips regardless if they purchase the headphones. The customer can then plug the headphones into their iPhone or iPod to sample the quality before making their purchase decision. Apple told employees that 51% of surveyed customers have said that they would like to test out in-ear headphones prior to purchasing, so this move will likely spur an increase of in-ear headphone sales via Apple Store. Of course, with the upcoming Bluetooth Apple Watch, Apple will market Bluetooth headphones alongside the device for music and fitness applications.

The following headphones are available to try out with Demo Kits (Apple’s prices listed, but linked to better prices at Amazon): RHA MA450i ($49.95), urBeats ($99.95), Beats Tour ($149.95), JayBird BlueBuds X ($169.95), PowerBeats 2 Wireless ($199.95), and the Bose QC20i ($299.95).

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Comments

  1. Dave Ray (@drskillet) - 9 years ago

    Flash from the past. Apple stores had this for select headphones several years ago. Specifically the Shure and v-moda headphones.

  2. philboogie - 9 years ago

    While this may be good news I think the two week return policy is an even better one. I bought the wireless Beats 2 thing last month and tried it out while cycling. Complete, utter, useless headphones for me. Let me give you my review as to why:

    This is the first time I’ve tried wireless earphones. While the prospect sounded nice, especially for me as a cyclist and the cable often is too short to go under my jersey and then back out at the bottom, into my pocket, wireless just isn’t for me.

    The need to charge them over a micro USB, or whatever the plug is, it actually looks like proprietary, which becomes a problem when you loose the cable, and putting the plug in is no joy. It’s flimsy, only goes in one way, and, well, I’d rather have an inductive charging method. Simply come home, drop them on a plate or something and be done with it. That is why I like sport watches that automatically sync over ANT+ or WiFi when coming home. No need to plug in a USB cable.

    My other annoyance with wireless is the lost connection. This happens quite frequent, as in a few times per hour. With my iPhone either around my waist when running, or in my jersey when cycling, it still drops the connection. It became annoying for me.

    The sound on the other hand is good. It’s clear, though I was expecting way more bass as this was a key feature. But I think my ears are simply too wide, even with the largest earbuds they still didn’t snugly fit into my ears. Which is why 1) I’m missing out on the bass, and 2) I hear more wind coming into my ears than music while cycling, even with the wind in my back. I’m sure that they sound great, full bass, for people with smaller ears. The in-ear phones from Apple remain my preferred ones, as they not only sound good but fit perfectly with the largest earbuds.

    Last thing: the 6 hours on a single charge isn’t enough for me. I’m a cyclist, and do 8, 10, sometimes 12 hour bike rides during summertime. My iPhone and GPS device last long enough, pity these phones don’t. But I’m weird, and I don’t think many people will think the 6 hour listening limit will limit them in enjoying these earphones from Beats. Because they are good, just not for me.

    • Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

      It’s completely irresponsible to wear earphones when cycling. You wouldn’t do it in a car (it’s illegal in most countries anyway), so why would you do it on a bike?

      Unless you are in some mountain park all by yourself you are a danger to everyone else on the road. Even in the park situation, you are a danger to yourself.

      • Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

        Are you joking or trolling. My friend and I always wear headphones biking, road or mountain biking. Just don’t crank them to max, it’s not like they’re louder than a car horn.

    • Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

      I’ve tried many many wireless headphones. While the apple ear buds are good for general use, that’s about it. I have Jaybird buds too.

      I gave up on wireless. Too much hassle, and the sound quality always sucks. I went with Bose sport wired earbuds with a 30 day return in case I didn’t like them. So far, outstanding.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 9 years ago

        Sound quality will be a non issue very soon. Bluetooth 4.2 doubles data transfer. Their aren’t any out right now and no devices that are compatible but I’d be damned if the Apple watch isn’t the first device to use it. I feel like this is why we have been seeing so many wireless headphones going on sale lately.

    • spiralynth - 9 years ago

      I sometimes enjoy wearing headphones during sex.

  3. Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

    All I can say is this sounds really, really gross to me. I don’t see as how Apple can really just throw away earbuds and give people a “fresh” set each time as the article states. It seems way more likely that some poor person is tasked with cleaning them each time.

    Gross, gross, gross!

    • Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

      They will just do what a Bose store does, have alcohol wipes…

    • daitenshe - 9 years ago

      I don’t get what’s confusing about this. You try on a pair of earbuds and they throw away the rubber tips when your done. Then they add another pair of buds when someone else wants to try them on. It ain’t rocket science.

    • spiralynth - 9 years ago

      Not as gross as stores who allow you to try on condoms or tampons.

      A few years ago, some scientists did a study on stores who allow people to try on underwear, or allow returns on underwear. Surprisingly, they discovered that a vast majority of them contained fecal matter.

  4. oakie - 9 years ago

    when you say “linked to better prices at Amazon,” do you actually mean, “mostly same prices, but they’re affiliate links so we make some money from your ignorance”?