From September 23, customers in India will be able to visit apple.com/in and directly purchase products from the Apple online store. The Apple India online store will be accessible in both English and Hindi. Until now, Apple products were only available at third-party e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart and other authorised resellers.
Apple’s senior vice president of retail and people, Deirdre O’Brien told The Verge, “We are proud to be expanding in India and want to do all we can to support our customers and their communities.”
“We know our users are relying on technology to stay connected, engage in learning, and tap into their creativity, and by bringing the Apple Store online to India, we are offering our customers the very best of Apple at this important time,” he added.
Store Launch to Directly Compete with Amazon and Flipkart
Right now, Amazon and Flipkart are two of the biggest online market places that sell Apple products. This includes Macbooks, iPhones and a plethora of other accessories as well. With an official store from the brand itself, they will be able to pull a large set of Apple loyalists towards the platform.
Apple’s online store is expected to replicate the brand’s reputation for quality service. However, it will be interesting to see how their delivery system works.
A Genuine Platform to Connect with Product Specialists
Apple’s offline stores have been successful in the past because brand loyalists prefer shopping at a dedicated store with product experts. The online store will offer a similar facility. The buyers will be able to consult with product specialists for support and guidance for the existing products and new purchases.
Special Offers and Facilities only for Online Store
At the online Apple Store, buyers in India will get various financing options and an available trade-in program. Students can shop for a Mac or iPad with special pricing, and receive discounts on accessories and AppleCare+. Everything will be similar to the international online stores. Customers will get to enjoy special discounts and festive offers too.
Customer-centric Plans During Festive Season
During the festive season, Apple will be offering signature gift wrap and personalised engraving for AirPods, iPad and Apple Pencil. The engraving of emoji or text in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu will be available for AirPods, and English engraving will be available for iPad and Apple Pencil.
In October, Apple is also hosting free online ‘Today at Apple’ sessions led by local creative pros, focused on photography and music.
Apple’s online store launch is strategically planned ahead of the festive season in India. The platform’s success might also motivate competing brands like Google and OnePlus to start online stores of their own.