Apple Stores fighting back against scalpers

[JayDH]

How about limit one per customer in line. Then when you get to the end of the line and there are extras people can pick up a second. That way more of the real customers get one they want.

Probably the best way to combat scalping is to require a credit card or driver's license to purchase an iPad and place a 2 iPad limit total per CC or ID until the supply problems are over. This would make it very difficult for the scalpers.

 

[loves2travel]

This is just wrong. Maybe the guy has a big family, and they all want ipads.

How can the manager be absolutely sure that it's the same person?

How is it the manager's problem anyway? The store is selling products and making money.

Even if he is reselling them for profit, and someone at the end of the line does not get one as a result. It's not a big deal. They could get one later, or order online. It's not like they're lining up for something essential like food or water.

The dude came early, and waited in line, and wants to spend money.

Very sad that Apple choose to stereotype Asians as they are making a sale either way. If this person decides to press the issue, there will be problems.

 

[daphaze1]

I'm asian too and the Apple store thought I was a scalper too and treated me poorly. This was the first time I lined up too. sigh. They are indeed kinda racist. But I told them it was wrong and I didn't like it. But lately I think people think I'm a scalper too cause I am trying to buy units for friends. =D

But lately I've seen it a different way too. As I see it, it boosts America's economy. Those guys are flying in from overseas, (India, UK, Germany, Russia, Egypt, Hong Kong, China, Phillipines, etc.) waking up in the mornning, waiting in line, for an IPad. Some people just want to be the first to get something, while some for business. If I was overseas, I'd probably do the same and pay someone to help me get one, if I felt the need to. From what I've heard, they also want it brand new sealed in box, but will risk having no warranty in the process. So if I was Apple, I would be pretty happy as a manufacture. =D Also remember its only 1 per person even for scalpers. So its not easy either.

The same way goes for concerts. You never going to stop it cause some people just can afford to pay for something or someone to help him get it. Its just more disturbing to us cause we know its near us but we can't get our hands on it. hehe.

And I don't believe that whole I'm a real customer crap. They are paying for it too.

Thats just my opinion.

 

[goMac]

I overheard an Apple employee say it was two per customer lifetime. I was like wtf??? So if I you accidently break both of them your screwed.

iPhone 4 was the same way.

"Lifetime" limits are usually lifted once the stock improves.

 

[Built]

I'm asian too and the Apple store thought I was a scalper too and treated me poorly. This was the first time I lined up too. sigh. They are indeed kinda racist. But I told them it was wrong and I didn't like it. But lately I think people think I'm a scalper too cause I am trying to buy units for friends. =D

Sounds to me like you've been in line several times. Buying units for friends?

Hmmm...

 

[Jarcrew]

Awesome racism going on in this thread. My favourite was the person who said "how can she be sure it was the same person?". It's like that stupid old joke ("Did you hear about the lookalike competition in China? Everybody won.") but meant for real. Good work team.

 

[thibaulthalpern]

I waited in line at my local Apple Store this morning to try and find an AT&T iPad for my mother-in-law. I was second in line. The guy behind me was Asian. When the manager came outside to hand out tickets, she refused to allow the guy behind me to purchase any iPads because he had purchased two yesterday. They should have done this all along, however, it is probably difficult to prove that a person has previously purchased iPads when they pay in cash and can rotate to different stores.

This has me curious. Beyond just human memory, what device can we use to prevent scalpers from getting more than 2 iPads? I don't think one could legally require a picture ID to purchase a product, or is that possible? Hmm...surely a conundrum!

 

[clyde2801]

Awesome racism going on in this thread. My favourite was the person who said "how can she be sure it was the same person?". It's like that stupid old joke ("Did you hear about the lookalike competition in China? Everybody won.") but meant for real. Good work team.

Funny, I interpreted that to mean 'how can they keep track of all the people lining up early outside of the apple store' rather than 'all asians look alike'.

Perhaps a better decision for the store manager to make would be to have all people pay by credit card until the supply problem gets evened out rather than make off the cuff ad hoc determinations.

 

[Alexjungle]

I'd promote that Apple employee - good for her

 

[thibaulthalpern]

What time do the scalpers start lining up?.

There must be a better way of getting these to individuals and not scalper resellers.

Apple should vigorously deal with this. There are PLENTY of ways to make everyone happy.

After all, if the scalpers get the shaft, they aren't going to complain, and they aren't' going to go away mad (actually, they won't go away at all, but the peking order could shift in favor of single purchasers, like it should).

Apple is just lame about this. And these threads are disturbing.

Note: No ones is really a racist here, except maybe those of the same race. People are just mad as heck.

Well, what is the way you suggest they deal with scalpers? I can't think of any way at all. The original method Apple used was to have everyone buy the products using credit or debit cards. This way, they could keep track of who has already purchased. However, some time back, an elderly woman wanted to buy an iPad (first gen model) with her own cash but she couldn't because Apple Store wouldn't take cash and she didn't have a credit card. After a local news station made a story out of this, Apple sent to her home a new iPad for free and removed the policy of requiring purchases with cash. So now, there is really no good way to track who has already bought the iPads.

So, what is your way? You said you have a better one.

 

[thibaulthalpern]

I overheard an Apple employee say it was two per customer lifetime. I was like wtf??? So if I you accidently break both of them your screwed.

No, I don't think it's two per lifetime. As has been the case in the past with iPhones, iPads, and I believe iPods too, the initial selling period is when Apple limits end customers only 2 purchases (and they also say must be end-users and not resellers) but then after the fervor over the new product dies down, there are no longer any limits.

 

[clyde2801]

Mandatory 'open box' inspection to make sure ipad is free of defects and blemishes and lives up to apple's high standards for consumers.

Kind of feel sorry for the smucks who are having to get up god awful early every morning to make a couple of bucks. Would rather punish the guy in the escalade who's picking them up at 9:15 am....he wouldn't be able to sell them as 'new, unopened box' models.

 

[thibaulthalpern]

Probably the best way to combat scalping is to require a credit card or driver's license to purchase an iPad and place a 2 iPad limit total per CC or ID until the supply problems are over. This would make it very difficult for the scalpers.

If requiring an ID is legal, then that's a sure way to combat scalpers. But is it legal to require buyers to have an ID before purchasing? There are laws for alcohol purchasing which does require a picture ID but for other everyday products...?

 

[Alexjungle]

Best way is to make scalpers choke on their stock - don't buy it!

 

[thibaulthalpern]

Best way is to make scalpers choke on their stock - don't buy it!

Agreed! It's not worth paying them that much money.

I was actually thinking if Apple could have the same selling date for all their products, that should reduce the numbers of scalpers dramatically.

 

[imapfsr]

Im Ukranian and was at the Apple store in Edmonton and was denied buying an iPad too (as in the number....hey, I am Ukranian) and I was a first time buyer. I asked why and it was because I was Ukranian and was standing in line with a Jamaican. What gives Apple?

 

[deeddawg]

Mandatory 'open box' inspection to make sure ipad is free of defects and blemishes and lives up to apple's high standards for consumers.

Gawd, can you imagine the whining on here from the people who feel the experience of opening their ipad themselves is a critical part of the experience?

I was Ukranian and was standing in line with a Jamaican.

That sounds like the beginning of a really funny joke. 🙂

Sorry, I feel for your experience.

 

[deeddawg]

If requiring an ID is legal, then that's a sure way to combat scalpers. But is it legal to require buyers to have an ID before purchasing? There are laws for alcohol purchasing which does require a picture ID but for other everyday products...?

Of course it is, and it's also perfectly legal to not accept cash and require credit/debit card only transactions.

Didn't stop the media from having a field day with Apple last year. It wasn't that they did something illegal, it's that they left themselves open to media attack.

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

This.

She was the same person who handed out tickets the day before. I should have been more clear. It wasn't because he was Asian, but because she remembered the same guy buying two iPads the previous morning.

The real question is why YOU felt the need to point out his ethnicity in your post? What bearing did that serve on the point of your story?

 

[M5RahuL]

I liked the idea [ proposed by another member in a recent thread similar to this one.. ] of a mail in rebate by Apple 🙂

Example: iPad 2 16GB WiFi - Pay $599.99 upfront, register and send original UPC from the box + copy of receipt and receive a $100 MIR.

Ofcourse, there are inherent flaws with this circumvent. But, it may deter or even turn away some scalpers.

Finally, I really don't think the OP was being racist by mentioning 'Asian' because, let's face it, we all [ I assume ] know that majority of the scalpers are ..Asian [ BTW, I'm Asian too ]. We're all just being overly sensitive with the PC BS.

Mandatory 'open box' inspection to make sure ipad is free of defects and blemishes and lives up to apple's high standards for consumers.

I wouldn't wanna buy it if this was required simply because I'd like to be the one to open it myself. As for defects, that's what the warranty is for..

I remember when I got the 3GS from the Apple store and agreed to have it activated right there. The guy popped open the box and ' placed ' the phone on the counter [ more like threw it ] with a sense of urgency. Even though the unit was defect free, it made me cringe and a bit concerned. The guy noticed my expression and apologized, but I refused to do the same when getting the iP4.

Also, what if someone was buying it as a gift ?

 

[Gomff]

This is just a product of the scarcity that always surrounds releases of new hardware by Apple. You can't really blame the company for being successful and making a product that everybody wants.

What I find depressing though is the lack of conscience and fair play that underlies this whole episode. We blatantly do live in a world where it's ok to behave unsportingly to others and if you can make a profit in the process it's actually applauded and deemed justifiable.....as someone else pointed out earlier in this thread "life isn't fair".

True, life isn't fair and it never will be whilst this sort of thing is put up with.🙄

 

[M5RahuL]

@ Gomff: I agree. We live in a materialistic society where there's always, and perhaps only, ' I '. I've seen people getting into physical fights and, in one extreme case, stabbed over a freaking parking spot 😱 in NYC.

Sad, but true.

In other news 😛 I recently moved to TX from NY and, honestly, am pleasantly surprised by the overall *helpful and concerned* attitude in this state, versus NY where no one would give a damn if you dropped dead in Manhattan!

 

[Gomff]

@ Gomff: I agree. We live in a materialistic society where there's always, and perhaps only, ' I '. I've seen people getting into physical fights and, in one extreme case, stabbed over a freaking parking spot 😱 in NYC.

Sad, but true.

In other news 😛 I recently moved to TX from NY and, honestly, am pleasantly surprised by the overall *helpful and concerned* attitude in this state, versus NY where no one would give a damn if you dropped dead in Manhattan!

I know all about the me society thing too, living in London. I think big cities foster that kind of animalistic and amoral attitude that really brings out the worst in people.

When I queued last week for my iPad and was talking to the other folks in line about whether we were going to get one or not, it occurred to us to remember that there were people in Japan who had just lost everything as well as huge swathes of even unluckier people who didn't survive the tsunami.

I don't know what it might take to try and reverse the trend as far as law of the jungle logic is concerned...ironically it seems that mankind is at his worst when things are too comfortable and at his best in times of tragedy.

 

[DizzyV6P]

@ Gomff: I agree. We live in a materialistic society where there's always, and perhaps only, ' I '. I've seen people getting into physical fights and, in one extreme case, stabbed over a freaking parking spot 😱 in NYC.

Sad, but true.

In other news 😛 I recently moved to TX from NY and, honestly, am pleasantly surprised by the overall *helpful and concerned* attitude in this state, versus NY where no one would give a damn if you dropped dead in Manhattan!

U will find Texans a lot more friendlier. And it's true that everything is really bigger in Texas. 🙂. Gotta luv those cheap all u can eat buffets :d

 

[miamialley]

I waited in line at my local Apple Store this morning to try and find an AT&T iPad for my mother-in-law. I was second in line. The guy behind me was Asian. When the manager came outside to hand out tickets, she refused to allow the guy behind me to purchase any iPads because he had purchased two yesterday. They should have done this all along, however, it is probably difficult to prove that a person has previously purchased iPads when they pay in cash and can rotate to different stores.

Yeah that's a lawsuit if true. I'm not aware of a limit per two day period.