Apple will be opening an online Apple Store in India to start official online sales of iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more in the country starting in the third quarter of 2020, reports TechCrunch.
The news comes courtesy of a "source familiar with the matter," and Apple's online store rollout is taking a "little longer than previously expected." Apple originally wanted to begin online sales in the country in the first quarter of 2020.
Apple last summer said that it was "eager" to bring online and in-store sales to customers in India. Apple is still working on the logistics of setting up the store, with the quarter between July and September set as the new deadline.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to take a trip to India when Apple is ready to begin online sales.
At the current time, Apple device sales in India are done through third-party retailers as Apple did not have permission to sell devices in the country due to foreign investment rules and regulations.
In August 2019, India eased the rules that had kept Apple from offering its products in first-party stores and an online Apple Store. Apple is now said to be working on opening up retail locations in India, with a store in Mumbai in the works.
Top Rated Comments
Only hope now is for Apple to start operating in India directly and improve their customer service.
Apart from that, once Apple operates directly I just hope their pricing gets better, especially with iPhones. Their iPhones are priced at almost 40% higher than what people pay in the US, all thanks to multiple layers of distribution and high import duties. Through relaxed FDI (foreign direct investment) norms Apple will be getting tax relaxation from Government of India and hope this is passed on to consumers with some price cuts on their iPhones.
HomePod for India is probably somewhere around 699th on my list of things I’d like Apple to do.
Edit: lol shows what I know. Not even 12 hours since posting this, you’ll be getting your wish @m4mario:
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/29/homepod-coming-soon-to-india/