China hasnt approved of their sale in China. So they arent even abiding by the Chinese laws.
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iPhone 6 Lines and the Chinese Mafia
- Thread starter Samar7
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China hasnt approved of their sale in China. So they arent even abiding by the Chinese laws.
The best way to combat scalpers is to require a credit card to purchase the phone. The second best way would be to require in-store unboxing and activation.
Of course we'd all complain about this too.
Of course we'd all complain about this too.
This makes no sense. As long as they is scarcity and demand, there will be scalpers. Have you ever tried to get super bowl tickets?
This is capitalism and the global economy at work folks. Apple will not do anything to stop this and why should they?
Do people seriously think Apple would sacrifice their sales by restricting them only to credit cards or only people with Apple IDs?
A sale is a sale to them and as long as it helps them keep selling more iPhones than the previous year, they have no incentive to change anything.
Do people seriously think Apple would sacrifice their sales by restricting them only to credit cards or only people with Apple IDs?
A sale is a sale to them and as long as it helps them keep selling more iPhones than the previous year, they have no incentive to change anything.
It's certainly legal for an individual to sell to another in some outer country. Is it legal for a shady group of people who don't pay taxes to ship large quantities of electronics to foreign markets in which they were never intended to be sold?
They have the same right you do to purchase the phone. However, these people are not playing by the rules AT ALL. They cut the line, they stay in packs of 7-10 and it gets very confusing when you see people getting in and out of line so they cut everyone. Security is a joke and so are cops. The people I was standing in line with were only in line for around 11 hours and the Asians in front of me smelled terrible. They also accounted for 75-80% of people in line. They were also chain smoking in the line and when I asked one of them to step to the outside of the line instead of blowing smoke towards the building hitting me, He ignored me. I had lung surgery and cigarette smoke actually makes my lungs hurt now so I was really pissed. I don't get too upset that they want to resell, I get upset at their practices and manners while they are doing it. Completely despicable.
If nothing else to stop Apple Store exteriors from becoming disgraceful festering encampments.
Also see below:
One could argue that it's not Apple's responsibility to enforce Chinese law though. The question is whether Apple is aware of these practices and abets them.
When I was at the store today, apparently one dude got out of line and then back in front with his gaggle of friends. When the Apple rep (a very petite lady) came out to call the next customer, she skipped him. He got irate and the Apple lady read him the riot act because he got out of line, then turned to the burly security guy standing behind her and asked him to "take care" of the customer. LOL.
The guy just shuffled off but not before handing a stack of Apple gift cards to his posse.
As long as they aren't cutting or bullying other customers, I don't really care if they want to scalp them. If people weren't willing to pay the scalper prices, they wouldn't have a market and it wouldn't be an issue.
Even paying if they do pay custom there will still be market for iPhone scrapping. The Chinese custom tax for electronic is 10% if the MSRP. There are no tax lose for the US.
I'm mildly disturbed that people seem to find the filth and deplorable conditions on a public sidewalk justified by some abstract notion of capitalism.
I'm all for making money, but did people learn anything from their parents about not littering or not breaking into a queue? Why is this tolerable? I say it is despicable.
I'm all for making money, but did people learn anything from their parents about not littering or not breaking into a queue? Why is this tolerable? I say it is despicable.
All the "this is capitalism" idiots in here will be embarrassed in six months when there's a Dateline story on human trafficking for iPhone launch day. I mean seriously. Watch the video. These people look miserable. They are clearly in this position for some reason. They need the $100. They are promised voyage to America for their loved ones or something. I mean I know that sounds crazy but it's not just a simple volunteer operation. I think that's clear. 75 year old ladies don't volunteer to sleep on a NYC street for three days.
So in light of that, yes, I have a real problem with this. At the same time I'm not sure how you stop it. If it were me I wouldn't accept cash but you can't do that plus they could buy gift cards with cash.
2¢
So in light of that, yes, I have a real problem with this. At the same time I'm not sure how you stop it. If it were me I wouldn't accept cash but you can't do that plus they could buy gift cards with cash.
2¢
Older Chinese especially those that are quite older take money more seriously and will work hard to get it. They are the product of Mao's regimen where food limited and material is scarce.
Wow jumping to conclusion much? That's quite a reach just to get to human trafficking. Might as well throw some Hitler remark in too.
$100 might not means much to you. But it could quite well means the world to other. Not because they are force to but it's a financial gain opportunity. How about you wait until that dateline episode air and then make that remark
Yes they all look so happy to be there. Continue to ignore the plight of others around the world. It suits you.
This is an Internet forum. It's an invitation to jump to conclusions.
Of course it wouldn't completely stop scalping, but it would make it more difficult.
Limiting purchase to credit cards would prevent scalpers/resellers to use a bunch of "Chinese grandmas", or at least limit them to the ones with their own credit cards.
Requiring in store activation would require scalpers to commit to a phone plan.
If the scalpers margins go down, then either the rich Chinese will have to pay more, or they won't have incentive to scalp.
What trafficking?? These people are already in America... Presumably US citizens.
To me the stupidest thing of all is that the bloody phone will be easy to buy in another 30 days or so.
Why anyone would care so much to pay a premium for an electronic device is totally beyond me.
...or wait on line for more than 30 minutes...
...or stay home from work to get it... on and on...
I am not talking about trafficking to countries where the phone will not be available - just US access.
R
Why anyone would care so much to pay a premium for an electronic device is totally beyond me.
...or wait on line for more than 30 minutes...
...or stay home from work to get it... on and on...
I am not talking about trafficking to countries where the phone will not be available - just US access.
R
Yes of course they don't look happy. Do you think they really want to wait in line for 2-3 days straight to make a couple hundreds? Of course they are miserable. But the point is they have to do what it takes for money. Where as you and I have the convinience of other ways to make money.
People need not be happy while working for money. Have you seen the average office drone working over a weekend? You won't find wide grins either. When you gotta earn your living the hard way - you do what is needed, happy or not.
How the cops were treating them is despicable, but what I would expect. Truly awful. "Have you people ever heard of soap." I hope he gets fired. And the cop needed to rough up that lady cuffing her? What could she possibly have done to be arrested? Makes me sick.