APPLE CONSOLIDATES PRESENCE IN TANZANIA'S MARKET

iStore Chief Executive Officer, Vipul Shah, talks to invited guests and visitors during the official inauguration of the shop as official Apple Premium Reseller outlet at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

iStore Chief Executive Officer, Vipul Shah (R), explains to customers details of various products during the official inauguration ceremony.

iStore Sales Representative, Shammim Urembo (L) talks to customers on some Apple products available at the store.

A musician entertains invited guests during the launching ceremony. 

iStore Chief Executive Officer, Vipul Shah (R), talks to an invited guest, Nehemiah Osoro during the official inauguration ceremony of the Apple products outlet.

iStore Chief Executive Officer, Vipul Shah (R), shows some apple products available at iStore during the official inauguration ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

Dar es Salaam residents admire Apple products on display as iStore Sales Representative, Shammim Urembo (C) explains features of some products during the ceremony.

It was red carpet moment.

iStore Sales Coordinator, Samira Urembo-Rwehumbiza in a media interview.

Tanzanian consumers have been advised to purchase Apple products from authorised dealers and enjoy manufacturers warranty, the assurance of paying for quality and genuine products.

The advise was given yesterday by Vipul Shah, the CEO of istore, during the launch of the outlet, which is ranked as Apple Premium Reseller, the highest distribution partnership with Apple.

“Being an Apple Premium Reseller  shows that the reseller is committed to investing in and building the Apple brand and that Apple recognises this effort and will use the APR as its main partner in country,” Shah said.

The CEO noted that buying from the APR-ranked dealer have an added advantage in that the prices will be the same as those in other parts of the world, cutting down the necessity for importing from abroad.

He noted that while Apple products may appear to be expensive, in reality they offer value for money, noting that while prices of apple products have remained constant since 2010, the technology of the products have appreciated.

He noted that most consumers in the country have been purchasing from unauthorized dealers, but in the end  find themselves with substandard products and no access for after-sale services that accompany warranted goods.

He said that the outlet, which is at par with outlets in Europe, America and Asia  in terms of layout and demonstration quality, offers a whole range of Apple products.

The partnership with Apple was achieved after a rigorous vetting exercise, entailing qualification over  financial, mental and technological parameters. “ We passed all the tests and we are the only outlet of this type in Tanzania,” said Shah.