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iPhone 4S Launch Delayed in Beijing as SWAT Teams Respond to Violence
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Yes, but nobody there really wants it, otherwise there would be massive lines here in the US for that device.
Frankly, I'm not sure if any non-Apple handset is being significantly scalped.
If you live in China and you want an Android smartphone, just buy whatever Huawei, Pantech, ZTE device you want. There won't be a line out the door.
What are you talking about? A bunch of people got pissed because something they wanted was delayed. No need to start talking about societal reforms.
There is certain risk western business have to understand and undertake operating in China. In exchange for new rich's eager wallets, companies must deal with shady practices so common to the self-seeking and materialistic population. The government over past decades reward its civilians with economic gains in return for their tolerance and turning blind eyes on political and moral oppression. The type of culture such government breeds is one where money is worshiped while integrity, decency, and tastes are sacrificed.
To eliminate scalpers they should limit the sale to 1 or 2 phones per person. Problem solved.
Oh, but that would hurt sales volume. Depends if you want orderly, non violent lines or the highest possible volume of phones sold.
Oh, but that would hurt sales volume. Depends if you want orderly, non violent lines or the highest possible volume of phones sold.
Not Possible
I currently live in Beijing, demand by scalpers is crazy, but even more crazy is the difficulty Apple has been having in setting up a system for pre-order in that it does not exist yet despite the demand shown in China. Apple has been very slow to penetrate the market itself, and the demand for Apple products here is so high that scalpers have been able to make a bundle of money for years, as an expat it is often very profitable to buy apple products in the US and sell them here because of demand, and Apple's small official presence in China, which unto itself is very surprising, because according to them, China should have 25 stores by now, but only have five. The Sanlitun Village store is always chaotic even without a launch, they should have excluded it from the launch because of mob dangers, and previous launches have had beatings, flash mobs, and crazies by the droves, i never go to the village during these times because of the craziness of the crowd
I currently live in Beijing, demand by scalpers is crazy, but even more crazy is the difficulty Apple has been having in setting up a system for pre-order in that it does not exist yet despite the demand shown in China. Apple has been very slow to penetrate the market itself, and the demand for Apple products here is so high that scalpers have been able to make a bundle of money for years, as an expat it is often very profitable to buy apple products in the US and sell them here because of demand, and Apple's small official presence in China, which unto itself is very surprising, because according to them, China should have 25 stores by now, but only have five. The Sanlitun Village store is always chaotic even without a launch, they should have excluded it from the launch because of mob dangers, and previous launches have had beatings, flash mobs, and crazies by the droves, i never go to the village during these times because of the craziness of the crowd
In a purely economic perspective this scalper/black market actually indicates the iPhone is priced lower than market equilibrium (where supply meets demand) - explaining the folk's incentive and ability to buy up stock and resell for profit.
..Not that I want the prices set higher, but, stop by Craigslist during the week of a product launch, s'nuts.
..Not that I want the prices set higher, but, stop by Craigslist during the week of a product launch, s'nuts.
If apple waited until they had enough before launching they would have a ps3 type aftermarket, (where so many scalpers bought the ebay price was below retail) not a ps2 aftermarket (where they were going for double on ebay) I got 5 ps2's a few months after launch and still made 50-100 each
got my ps3 at launch but returned it since the market sucked so bad. good old USA retail return policies
Jim Jones, David Koresh and Charles Manson had no where near the devotion that some people have to apple.
I thought they did limit it to one per person and that's why there were gangs rather than individuals?
Maybe if they required you to activate it before you left the store, it would slow the scalping down.
Where does the violence come from?
The Chinese have been on a forced march to western living standards since the early 1970s. The fact that a large number of them can buy an iPhone is proof that they have arrived.
They're buying something made in China, by the Chinese. Yet it's not Chinese. It was designed in California. That might be part of it.
But more likely is, the large numbers - really huge early crowds - got the police and Apple in crowd control mode. And that would be resented.
It's important to realize that there are frequent demonstrations, even riots in China these days. The government is freaked out that it might spread, so they're clamping down, hard when and where it happens.
When an American crowd camps out in front of the Apple store, it's Woodstock. The sharing, the gentle people, etc. : )
When the Chinese get in a crowd, even one awaiting something happy, there's a darker mood that can easily set in. Communist party beware.
The Chinese have been on a forced march to western living standards since the early 1970s. The fact that a large number of them can buy an iPhone is proof that they have arrived.
They're buying something made in China, by the Chinese. Yet it's not Chinese. It was designed in California. That might be part of it.
But more likely is, the large numbers - really huge early crowds - got the police and Apple in crowd control mode. And that would be resented.
It's important to realize that there are frequent demonstrations, even riots in China these days. The government is freaked out that it might spread, so they're clamping down, hard when and where it happens.
When an American crowd camps out in front of the Apple store, it's Woodstock. The sharing, the gentle people, etc. : )
When the Chinese get in a crowd, even one awaiting something happy, there's a darker mood that can easily set in. Communist party beware.
I was buying something at bestbuy and the chick kept asking about rewards card, sign up for bestbuy card, extended warranty etc... I finally just said "shut up and take my money" and she did.
The chick at BestBuy said the same thing to me, but I then threw an egg at her.
Apple could raise the price of the iPhone for the first 2 weeks by, say 20 percent.
Then two weeks after launch drop the price to normal and refund the price difference to early buyers, but you have to have proof that you currently posess the phone.
That way it would stop scalpers buying and selling as if they sell they will lose their refund.
Then two weeks after launch drop the price to normal and refund the price difference to early buyers, but you have to have proof that you currently posess the phone.
That way it would stop scalpers buying and selling as if they sell they will lose their refund.
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We get a little too excited sometimes
I love how that sign in the background says "Coolate"... Sounds like some people have had enough Coolate already. There was a great piece in This American Life about Foxconn by the way. I'm going to keep buying tech because my opinions on sweatshops are... complicated. And I love Apple products. It's pretty creepy, though. You really do feel for the workers. How awful their options must be for them to choose the place that drives many to suicide. The guy telling the story about his trip to Shenzhen is a great storyteller. He really paints a scary picture. I just bring it up to say that it's amazing how the Chinese only get the products they built themselves now... after so long.
I love how that sign in the background says "Coolate"... Sounds like some people have had enough Coolate already. There was a great piece in This American Life about Foxconn by the way. I'm going to keep buying tech because my opinions on sweatshops are... complicated. And I love Apple products. It's pretty creepy, though. You really do feel for the workers. How awful their options must be for them to choose the place that drives many to suicide. The guy telling the story about his trip to Shenzhen is a great storyteller. He really paints a scary picture. I just bring it up to say that it's amazing how the Chinese only get the products they built themselves now... after so long.
Am I the only one that want's to see the pictures of a glassy Apple store dripping with eggs?
I'd like pictures if they're throwing large rocks....
Seriously. Screw these people, I don't care how long they've been waiting. It's a freaking phone. They chose to wait in line, nobody put a gun to their head forcing them to do it. They got aggressive and Apple responded by treating them like the children they are.
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They do look pretty tame. They are not packing assault weapons either.
Your average police officer with one of those here stateside would stand out. Not so much elsewhere in the world.
