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Apple Previews New Store With Unified Genius Bar and Pickup Counter

Apple has previewed its third retail location in India, Apple Hebbal.

Apple Hebbal India media preview Genius Bar and Apple Pickup
The new store is located at Phoenix Mall of Asia in Bengaluru. Apple Hebbal spans approximately 8,000 square feet and is staffed by 70 employees representing 15 states across India, according to Apple. It joins Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in Delhi.

Apple Hebbal features a unified Genius Bar and Pickup counter, merging Apple's technical support and online order collection services into a single area. This two-in-one area has rolled out in a handful of new and renovated stores over the past year.

Apple Hebbal India media preview storefront
To mark the occasion, Apple released a downloadable set of exclusive wallpapers themed around the store's peacock feather-inspired design, along with a curated Apple Music playlist featuring artists from Bengaluru. The store officially opens to the public at 1 p.m. on September 2.

Tags: India, Retail

Top Rated Comments

8 months ago
Isn't that what they used to do?

It's so annoying these days going to the Apple Store. First you have to tell the Apple Store "bouncer" that you're here to see a Genius and they take note of your outfit to enter it into the system (probably judging my fashion choices - "these shoes with that shirt, you need a different kind of Genius"). Then they point you to sit in front of a random tree. 30 minutes after your scheduled time some random person will mispronounce your name and tell you that they need to send your device to some depot in Houston for who knows how long. Afterwards, you get the joy of leaving a crowded mall parking lot.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8 months ago
I feel massively uncomfortable walking into an Apple Store these days. As the person mentioned above, there is definitely a signage/layout issue, but it goes beyond that. It’s like the entire experience has been architected to make you feel unsure of yourself from the moment you walk in the door.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
8 months ago
Back to the way it was before they messed up the whole process?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8 months ago
Good. The current system is disorganized and confusing at best. Each store has a totally different layout with no consistent signage for cohesion.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8 months ago
It’s good to see Apple slowly move out of the Arhendts era of store management/structure. You can’t replicate a boutique shopping experience of just one-on-one interaction in a store with as many people and moving parts as an Apple Store. It was always going to feel chaotic. Dedicated areas for repairs and checkout that are clearly designated make sense.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8 months ago

The Apple Store experience is terrible.
No issues here.

I walk into one of the many Apple stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in less that a minute an associate asks if they can help me. I tell them what I want to do (the last two times turning an old laptop in for credit) and am immediately taken care of. Or... if want a schedule of upcoming talks/how-to presentations, I'm immediately shown how to access what's coming up in any local Apple store using the Apple Store App.

Overall a first class experience all around.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)