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Chinese Government Finds 22 More Fake Apple Stores

Lax laws is one thing, but their system is still trying to find a way to keep up with the societal advancements seen over their expansive urban areas and population just from the last 5 years
 
Sorry if I'm slow, but I still don't understand how the "fake" stores get the "real" products. :confused:

Stolen? Bought from legitimate supplier?
 
Shrink said:
That video is kind of ridiculous.

I understand that there are fakes sold,but I was under the impression that the fake stores were selling actual, real Apple products - thus the question; where do they get them?
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From distributers, like other resellers do.
 
808? said:
From distributers, like other resellers do.
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Yeah, I don't imagine the order goes into the distributor with a business name of Fake Apple Store #20, Kunming, attn: Mr. we're ripping off your logo (or the Chinese equivalent).

Jackie Chan made a comment about the Chines epeople and it drew a lot of fire. He said they need to be controlled.

Sad state of affairs.
 
Shrink said:
Sorry if I'm slow, but I still don't understand how the "fake" stores get the "real" products. :confused:

Stolen? Bought from legitimate supplier?
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My understanding is a lot of these stores buy the products in Taiwan, where there is no import tariff, and then smuggle them into China. Mainly importing the heavy import tariff China imposes.

One has to question though - even if the products are legitimate would the warranty still be valid? They are technically gray market products.
 
BrianHut84 said:
I guess the final point is, while the smugglers are wrong, they are just doing what they know. They don't have any concept of right or wrong. They are just people filling a need trying to make a few bucks. Don't begrudge them too much, as, if you were in the same position, you may do the same. Don't get me wrong, I am the biggest critic of the way the Chinese conduct their business, but you still have to stand back sometimes and see things from their perspective.
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Thanks for the two informative posts Brian! Very good insight. While I take some pause from your point above, could you say rather that the corruption that is inherent in the smuggling is so ubiquitous in the Chinese culture so as not to draw attention to something as innocuous as the activities of some simple 'entrepreneurs'. I have a feeling that IP is not respected because the law is not enforced, or is unequally enforced- not that this is a concept which is alien to the Chinese mind. The same could happen in any nation where such ethical notions are casually dismissed.
 
I would bet many of those iPads that were unavailable due to people lining up at launch and giving them off made their way here.
 
One of these just popped up a few blocks away from where I am right now [in Chengdu]; not sure when they opened up and yes looks like the infamous fake Apple Store… and shoppers in them believe they are real and are readily paying higher than retail prices :(

SeattleMoose said:
Pretty soon they could even catch the #1 Apple copycat....MICROSOFT!!!
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How is Microsoft, in any way, a copycat? Can you substantiate your claim?
 
I wonder if the fake stores are opening up faster than they're finding and closing them, maybe the phenomenon will spread worldwide! :D
 
Does anyone remember when the iPhone 4 came out and the Apple Stores (i believe in China) were over run by people buying iPhone after iPhone, then they had to put a limited number to be purchased on them cause people were selling them in alleys for twice as much!?

Maybe this is where they went?
 
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