“We reported earlier this month on the quaint habit of iPhone purchasing for a profit all across London, as various folk pick up units to send into the lucrative Chinese grey market for the device — today we learn that Apple had to close its Beijing Apple store yesterday because grey market buyers were sucking all the store’s supply,” Jonny Evans reports for 9 to 5 Mac.
“Seems that Apple bumped up the sales limit on iPhone 4 from two to unlimited in Beijing’s flagship store, drawing an immediate huge crowd of eager customers — but these folks were buying iPhones in large quantities to resell on the grey market, which caused such a commotion security eventually shut [down] AAPL’s flagship Chinese store,” Evans reports.
Evans reports, “Customers were seen leaving the store with 20-30 iPhones all boxed-up, which they were then seen attempting to sell to passers-by.”
Read more, and see photos, in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
For anyone that’s still wondering why the price in China was as high as it was, here’s one more example. If you sell them too cheap, then scalpers are going to step in and make the profit that the market will bear. Pricing iPhones any lower would just make the problem worse.
For anyone that’s still wondering why the price in China was as high as it was, here’s one more example. If you sell them too cheap, then scalpers are going to step in and make the profit that the market will bear. Pricing iPhones any lower would just make the problem worse.
“Is it just me, or does this not remind you of the kind of activity you see for event tickets when an event is extremely popular? I would argue this Chinese grey market explosion should be seen as proof positive that Apple has an absolute hit on its hands with iPhone 4 in China.”
“Is it just me, or does this not remind you of the kind of activity you see for event tickets when an event is extremely popular? I would argue this Chinese grey market explosion should be seen as proof positive that Apple has an absolute hit on its hands with iPhone 4 in China.”
Individuals in China are able to buy 20-30 each, but I haven’t been able to find 1 iPhone in my region of the world (eastern Canada) for two months due to shortages. I guess they get first run what with the factories being right down the street.
Individuals in China are able to buy 20-30 each, but I haven’t been able to find 1 iPhone in my region of the world (eastern Canada) for two months due to shortages. I guess they get first run what with the factories being right down the street.
Couldn’t they just switch back to the two per costumer limit? Why shut the whole store down?
Couldn’t they just switch back to the two per costumer limit? Why shut the whole store down?
They closed ironically because of an expression of huge demand for their products. When the microsoft stores shut down, it will be for a different reason.
They closed ironically because of an expression of huge demand for their products. When the microsoft stores shut down, it will be for a different reason.
The Chinese will not pay for government monitored cell phone service when they can easily use encrypted and anonymous VOIP on jail broken iPhones with dozens of people or more sharing a local wifi.
Also they all share tons of pirated and custom for their area apps too.
Apple ain’t making squat on the App Store in China.
The Chinese will not pay for government monitored cell phone service when they can easily use encrypted and anonymous VOIP on jail broken iPhones with dozens of people or more sharing a local wifi.
Also they all share tons of pirated and custom for their area apps too.
Apple ain’t making squat on the App Store in China.
Who cares ???
Who cares ???
You mean those Microsoft stores are still open?
You mean those Microsoft stores are still open?
@Bizzarro
You speak as though you know what you’re talking about. Don’t.
@Bizzarro
You speak as though you know what you’re talking about. Don’t.
It is a hardship. The Chinese people having to pay up for a unmatched quality American product.
Ok, I am over it now!
It is a hardship. The Chinese people having to pay up for a unmatched quality American product.
Ok, I am over it now!
See? We commies know all about free markets and knew about them even before you Yankees (and your imperialist running dogs) did.
See? We commies know all about free markets and knew about them even before you Yankees (and your imperialist running dogs) did.
A sale is a sale. Who cares where the phone ends up?
If they do care, restrict the number of phones that can be purchased it’s not rocket science.
A sale is a sale. Who cares where the phone ends up?
If they do care, restrict the number of phones that can be purchased it’s not rocket science.
@Confused
There was such a comotion that SECURITY had to shut it down.