Updated: September 18, 2020 7:22:19 am
Apple’s online retail experience is as unique as its famous offline stories and involves holding the customer down from deciding which product to buy to setting up and running it.
Almost 33 years after its first move into online retail, Apple will launch its online store in India on September 23 with its “full suite” of products and direct customer support. It will also bring unique experiences like product customizations, packaging, and counseling sessions. Last year, Apple had announced that its first offline store would arrive at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
“We are opening the Apple Store online with a full suite of Apple products. In fact, we will have our new products that we just announced earlier this week, available in the store. And one of the things that we are really excited about is the personalized support that we will have available, ”Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People told indianexpress.com.
Apple has partnered with Blue Dart for logistics and promises free delivery within 24 to 72 hours from the date of purchase, depending on the remoteness of the location. For starters, the deliveries will cover around 13,000 PIN codes nationwide, but the exact number could be affected by local lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know how important it is for our clients to stay in touch with their loved ones and the world around them. We look forward to connecting with our customers and expanding support in India with Apple Store Online on September 23! 🇮🇳https: //t.co/UjR31jzEaY
– Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 18, 2020
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O’Brien said that customers in India “will feel really well served by our ability to deliver products in a really seamless way and, especially during COVID, without contact.” He recalled that Apple has been “working in India for quite some time with our network of reseller partners” and “so we really have a good understanding of how to do business in India and we really enjoy it.”
Full interview with Deirdre O’Brien
Apple’s online retail experience is as unique as its famous offline stories and involves holding the customer down from deciding which product to buy to setting up and running it. In India, Apple will offer online support in English and phone support in Hindi and English. Once a product has been purchased, customers can also book a free 30-minute advice session with local Apple experts to get all their questions answered.
Personalization is another aspect that Apple will also bring to the Indian market. The online store will offer customers the option to order a Mac with the exact configuration they want. And just before the festival season, Indian customers will be able to receive recorded messages in English on iPad and Apple Pencil. On AirPods, they will be able to get emojis or recorded text in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Check the price of the Apple Watch SE and the new iPad Air in India here
While the price will be the same in the Apple store, all financing and EMI options will be available, along with an exchange program within the online store. However, given the pandemic, cash on delivery will not be an option initially. All orders will be delivered without contact.
Apple’s special student pricing will also be available in India for Mac and iPad along with accessory discounts and Apple Care +, the extended warranty program with two years of technical support and accidental damage coverage. Starting in October, Today at Apple sessions, where experts teach how to best use their products for creative purposes, will also be available online for all Indian users.
Interestingly, Apple will be promoting the online store for a few days before the actual launch, something it hasn’t done before in other markets.
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