Not sure what your point is, but here is my original quote with a fix to make my meaning more clear.
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Chinese Authorities Close Two Fake Apple Stores Over Permit Issues
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Not sure what your point is, but here is my original quote with a fix to make my meaning more clear.
It takes a degree of contempt to blatantly steal someone else's creative work.
What do you mean by this?
Chinese customers don't have any rights to Apple products. No one does.
If tomorrow Apple decided to stop making iPods forever (as long as they honour warranties, etc.) there is nothing anyone could do about it.
No one has rights to products or stores of any kind, regardless of where else those products or stores might exist. Apple *chooses* to make products and market them for profit. Consumers are not actually entitled to any of it, whether they're in Chattanooga or China.
Apple Store is not just any retail place selling Apple products. Many people might not see much difference between this fake store and the real one, but there are glaring differences - it's about using the wrong fonts, poor cheap looking furniture and generally the typical Chinesy 'almost, but not quite' execution standards. Maybe a lot of people don't care too much about these 'details' as they might describe them, but this is a vital part of the Apple experience. After all what sets Apple apart is the quality, design and user experience. Now if you allow these sub-standard stores - however they honestly try to be as good as the real ones - to associate their store experience directly with Apple, this is undermining the high standards Apple tries hard to maintain and expand. This is hurting the company as it's essentially repositioning the brand to a lower tier.
It is perfectly fine for those stores to run as they run, just shake off that Apple Store image, put up your own name up there, build your own store brand - and keep selling Apple products as best as you can. Best of luck in your endeavors, just be honest. Is that too much to ask?
Arguments like it's Apple's own fault they did not open enough official stores in the country are so lame. People want to buy Apple products, they don't insist on buying them from a lookalike Apple Store, but from a trustworthy, qualified, helpful and preferably authorized reseller. How do you think people in Hong Kong get their Apple wares? Not one Apple Store in HK but many good resellers.
It's the mainland Chinese mentality to blame here, not Apple.
It is perfectly fine for those stores to run as they run, just shake off that Apple Store image, put up your own name up there, build your own store brand - and keep selling Apple products as best as you can. Best of luck in your endeavors, just be honest. Is that too much to ask?
Arguments like it's Apple's own fault they did not open enough official stores in the country are so lame. People want to buy Apple products, they don't insist on buying them from a lookalike Apple Store, but from a trustworthy, qualified, helpful and preferably authorized reseller. How do you think people in Hong Kong get their Apple wares? Not one Apple Store in HK but many good resellers.
It's the mainland Chinese mentality to blame here, not Apple.
yesterday's news
It's Tuesday in China - have they reopened today with a slightly modified logo?
It's Tuesday in China - have they reopened today with a slightly modified logo?
Cool your jets Matlock, it's a message board not a court of law. Don't act like you're confused that people are calling this stealing, you know exactly what they mean.
As WardC said, the issue is more about control and oversight than anything else. But it's not just "copying the feel" of the store that matters. Their employees could be lying to customers, or just downright uneducated. They can lie about products, pricing, etc. and not be reprimanded by higher-ups. That's bad for the customer. Not to mention that they could very easily sell damaged, returned, old or even fraudulent products. Really, can the average consumer tell the difference between an '09 and a '10 Macbook? These stores could be buying out old back stock and selling it like it's the current one. Believe it or not, some people still rely on going to the store itself to learn about products and features. Without oversight, this could give Apple a bad name if things go wrong. That's the difference between an authorized reseller and a fraudulent one.
I'm working in an apple authorized dealer/repair center, a rather small store with total 2 workers, meaning I do 80% of the repairing and stuff. I can tell you Apple store always send us repairs they couldn't handle. So you see, not all the warranty works have to be done in THE Apple store, and it's not necessary to think no one else should fix apple computers. I believe fake genesis in these fake apple stores could do a better job, there is nothing special about Apple computers.
Anyways, if these stores are not authorized, they can't sell in volume. what apple would do(if apple is willing to, or it can be done) is to find their supplier and shut them down. you know Newegg used to sell Apple computers, but they weren't authorized back then(they are still not authorized now but they're not selling any apple computers anymore.), until Apple shutdown their supplier's resell license. the reasons behind it are unknown. maybe 200+thousand/month sales is too much for apple?
The real reason these fake apple stores are shut down is in my opinions an act of local government licking "the western media"'s ass. The only thing these store weren't supposed to do is to put up the big apple logo, but this is very common in China, and international companies (samsung, LG, Toshiba, you name it) knew and (kind of) allow this. the local government must've thought "there are a few stores that copied the Apple store, and the whole world know it's here in our city, this is an embarrassment!". and they went and close these stores.
Anyways, if these stores are not authorized, they can't sell in volume. what apple would do(if apple is willing to, or it can be done) is to find their supplier and shut them down. you know Newegg used to sell Apple computers, but they weren't authorized back then(they are still not authorized now but they're not selling any apple computers anymore.), until Apple shutdown their supplier's resell license. the reasons behind it are unknown. maybe 200+thousand/month sales is too much for apple?
The real reason these fake apple stores are shut down is in my opinions an act of local government licking "the western media"'s ass. The only thing these store weren't supposed to do is to put up the big apple logo, but this is very common in China, and international companies (samsung, LG, Toshiba, you name it) knew and (kind of) allow this. the local government must've thought "there are a few stores that copied the Apple store, and the whole world know it's here in our city, this is an embarrassment!". and they went and close these stores.
Personal cost of business
Since Apple isn't apparently (or at least publicly) crying bloody murder over the overt theft of its name, and iconic look and feel of its stores, an indication of just how badly they wish Chinese business.
This doesn't bode well for its Chinese customers. You'll recall Google's recent misfortune with Chinese authorities. Since Apple's iOS products are custom made for GPS tracking and other forms of spying, what would prevent Apple from quietly acceding to authoritarian Chinese requests for such government access and control, for 'security' reasons?
None. And you'll likely find out about such things outside of China as opaquely as Apple's recent innocent foray into GPS data logs.
These devices are fantastic. But when it comes to personal privacy, and surely increasingly so, very much a double-edged sword one may not be aware how sharp until cut.
Since Apple isn't apparently (or at least publicly) crying bloody murder over the overt theft of its name, and iconic look and feel of its stores, an indication of just how badly they wish Chinese business.This doesn't bode well for its Chinese customers. You'll recall Google's recent misfortune with Chinese authorities. Since Apple's iOS products are custom made for GPS tracking and other forms of spying, what would prevent Apple from quietly acceding to authoritarian Chinese requests for such government access and control, for 'security' reasons?
None. And you'll likely find out about such things outside of China as opaquely as Apple's recent innocent foray into GPS data logs.
These devices are fantastic. But when it comes to personal privacy, and surely increasingly so, very much a double-edged sword one may not be aware how sharp until cut.
Americans don't appreciate how mindful Asians are of history. Whatever sinister things you assume of the Chinese government, their decisions are made in the context of opium wars, Japanese occupation, and multiple revolutions that occurred in the 20th century.
They certainly want peace and trade, but the world has broken their trust too many times to tragic consequences. They are right to be wary of Google as an imperial influence.
Maybe its just me but...as a consumer, It wouldn't matter to me if i was buying an Apple product directly from Apple...or Best Buy..or one of these knock off Apple stores. As long as it is an official Apple product. Does it matter as a consumer? Your still getting the same product and warranty.
You are simply giving a less than accurate opinion. You can as you state seriously consider how they got the product. But you can’t in any way state that you know they did not steal them or acquire them illegally with out giving proof. Best Buy and other companies that sell Apple are licensed by the Apple company but not this China store.
This seems like a good moment to introduce you to an excellent and relevant word in Chinese: shanzhai. ... It means fake, ripoff, counterfeit. In truth that is what is going on here………call a spade a spade. China has a reputation for making counterfeit copies of everything from shoes to Rolex watches. How short sited it is to think they are not doing the same thing with the computer industry.
That old Chinese statement “It does not matter if the cat is black or white only that it catches mice”. Might be paraphrased that it does not matter if the computer or the store is a real Apple or a Fake, only that it works and sells as such.
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If it doesn't matter, than why deceive your customers at all?
I don't know why..you tell me. And i said to ME it doesn't matter. I'm sure to some it would.
Comment: When I read your post it seems to be saying your work place is an authorized dealer ship for Apple…but what you are saying seems to be the very opposite situation. Have some words been left out and the meaning you want to project got lost?
The part about fake genesis doing a better job/and nothing special about Apple computers is only a subjective outlook. There are exceptions to every situation, but for my computer I would want the real deal from a store that kept my warranty in force.
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Must be because they are all smart with books and stuff, huh? Awesome to know others knowledge. I didn't present any "facts". I laugh at Trademark attorneys. What a futile occupation.
No legal hurdle too high. Awesome. Someone should really start a "Fake China" site. Just a blog pictorial thing. There's got to be enough to fill at least 12 pages.
China does what they want and cares nothing about their own people or the rest of the world. When all those China people get rid of their bikes and start driving cars............better believe they will want the gas we are using, and they have eyes on more clean water too.
Look also that the US is getting loans from China..........is China barrowing any money from the world. Don't think they need any...we buy everything they make.....and their government take it all in and loans it back to us.
What a sad situation.