Just Got Screwed By Scalpers...

[DSTOFEL]

No I am not a stretching at all to see no racism. Describing people by nationality the last time I checked was not racism. Maybe since we are in the "21st century" that definition has changed. If he had said the men were Americans would that have been racism? You would not be here posting, and no one would have thought twice about it. Only because they were not American and he gave that detail it makes it racism? He was mad because they were scalpers. Not because they were middle eastern.

So you and the OP have some magical way, just by looking at someone, to know they intend to Scalp the phones they just purchased. Please explain your method! I'm sure your explanation will be fascinating! They could have been purchasing the phones for other family members, for co-workers? But no, these particular customers were scalpers. I guess it's becase as the IP said, they said something in Arabic. OMG, they spoke Arabic....somebody help us....quickly.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck......

It's the fact that the OP can look at the Middle Eastern customers purchasing the phones and instantly determine they are scalpers that is racist!

 

[Ries]

So you and the OP have some magical way, just by looking at someone, to know they intend to Scalp the phones they just purchased. Please explain your method! I'm sure your explanation will be fascinating! They could have been purchasing the phones for other family members, for co-workers? But no, these particular customers were scalpers. I guess it's becase as the IP said, they said something in Arabic. OMG, they spoke Arabic....somebody help us....quickly.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck......

It's the fact that the OP can look at the Middle Eastern customers purchasing the phones and instantly determine they are scalpers that is racist!

This is how it looks like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azK1h9Y38bo

Don't be so naive...

 

[617aircav]

It's two per person per visit. They can't stop you if you came back to buy more. It's not their job to remember faces. It sucks OP but its they way it is. Also, what does mentioning their ethnicity have to do with it? Have you seen scalpers at concerts and football games? They are definitely not middle eastern. Op every Black Friday I scalp electronics at bestbuy for resale. Please what law did I break? Blame Apple for not allowing you to buy the phone you want online without a contract. Better yet, wait till it's readily available.

----------

So you and the OP have some magical way, just by looking at someone, to know they intend to Scalp the phones they just purchased. Please explain your method! I'm sure your explanation will be fascinating! They could have been purchasing the phones for other family members, for co-workers? But no, these particular customers were scalpers. I guess it's becase as the IP said, they said something in Arabic. OMG, they spoke Arabic....somebody help us....quickly.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck......

It's the fact that the OP can look at the Middle Eastern customers purchasing the phones and instantly determine they are scalpers that is racist!

I would not call it racist, he is just jumping to conclusions. What I don't get is how does their ethnicity affect his story. He could have just said scalpers.

 

[DSTOFEL]

This is how it looks like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azK1h9Y38bo

Don't be so naive...

Okay, so the video depicts a scam the police investigated, discovered some illegal activity and broke up. That is not what this post is about. The activity alleged in this post is that 2 Middle Eastern customers bought 2 phones, returned to the line and waited to purchase 2 more phones, etc....

This is all perfectly legal activity and in accordance with Apple's policy. The OP then made the "leap" that the 2 men were scalpers. Based on what? The OP proceeds to denigrate the the Middle Eastern customers throughout the post. Why? They were not doing anything illegal. Buying phones is not illegal. Neither is being Middle Eastern.

The OP is obviously frustrated by the shortage of the iPhone 6. However, taking out this frustration out on other customers who are buying the same phone the OP desires (ie all in accordance with the law and with Apples policy) by accusing them of being scalpers and denograding their ethnicity isn't the appropriate response.

Don't be so blind!

 

[oneshotpro]

The xenophobia is strong in this thread.

The SJW is strong in this one.

 

[17MBPC2D]

Okay, so the video depicts a scam the police investigated, discovered some illegal activity and broke up. That is not what this post is about. The activity alleged in this post is that 2 Middle Eastern customers bought 2 phones, returned to the line and waited to purchase 2 more phones, etc....

This is all perfectly legal activity and in accordance with Apple's policy. The OP then made the "leap" that the 2 men were scalpers. Based on what?

Don't be so blind!

Correct.....they could have 7 lines and eligible upgrades as I did this time around.

 

[bmac4]

So you and the OP have some magical way, just by looking at someone, to know they intend to Scalp the phones they just purchased. Please explain your method! I'm sure your explanation will be fascinating! They could have been purchasing the phones for other family members, for co-workers? But no, these particular customers were scalpers. I guess it's becase as the IP said, they said something in Arabic. OMG, they spoke Arabic....somebody help us....quickly.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck......

It's the fact that the OP can look at the Middle Eastern customers purchasing the phones and instantly determine they are scalpers that is racist!

The rule is 2 per customer. Now I understand that is per transaction, but scalpers are crossing the line and seeing how far they can go. Just because Apple does say you can't jump back in line. It does not mean it right to do. I am sure Apple is going to come up with something different in the next couple of years to try and combat this.

I work at a university bookstore, and we have a computer store that sells Apple products. When the iPad comes out each year we have a group of Ladies that come in and try and buy our entire stock of white/ silver. I will not say what race they are because that would be "racist". I will say that they have told us to our face they are sending them back to China, and selling them. Our computer store now has a rule of 2 per day. If we did not do this. They only people who would get iPads would be these ladies.

Even if these scalpers we are talking about at the Apple Store were buying for their family. They should not be allowed to buy the entire stock. It should be limited.

Play the racist card if you would like, but I see if very different .

 

[wsc9005]

I'm sure you can reserve one/two online ...

 

[gsampson]

Why because he mentioned they are middle eastern? Get over yourself, merely stating facts isn't xenophobic, I'm so tired of these boogeyman words being slung around everywhere.

I might agree with you, but the fact is that if the person was white most people wouldn't notice the person or care that they were doing it. You might think you would notice if a white person were doing it, but the fact is that most people wouldn't. I've watched enough What Would You Do episodes to know, lol.

Don't act like white people aren't doing it. I would if I didn't have money and knew I could make a buck.

 

[mantan]

Ultimately it won't stop because it's not a priority to Apple. A sale is a sale. It doesn't matter if it's to a scalper...or to somebody who has 7 devices, named their kid Johny and has an Apple tattoo.

With preorders and online reservations for people on contract, it's really trying to address the full price unlocked phones. Didn't they try to limit it to 2 phones per cc order before...but it was seen as 'unfair' to discriminate against cash transactions? Or was it that the scalpers just bought a ton of Apple gift cards?

 

[hipnetic]

This is how it looks like

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azK1h9Y38bo

Don't be so naive...

I don't understand what transpired in that video. It sounds like someone offered homeless people $40 ($20 each for 2 iPhones) to wait in line overnight and purchase the phones. So far, so good (sounds like a win-win for the homeless person and the entrepreneur who thought up the idea). The people didn't purchase the phones and didn't get their $40, but I'm still not sure why. Did iPhone fanatics waiting in line get upset and somehow break up the plan? Did the store run out of iPhones? Did the entrepreneur never give the homeless folks the funded cards to purchase the phones?

 

[NeilSpoon]

I think Apple needs to enforce a 2 per customer limit for the first 30 days for this to be effective.

Why would they do that? They wont sell as many phones that way.

Apple doesn't give 2 hoots about any of you and are not on your side. They are on the side of $$$$.....

 

[caesarp]

I have been waiting for a 6+ 128GB Space Grey Verizon to come in stock locally, finally an Apple Store about 30 mins away shows them in stock. I leave work in the middle of the day and take a personal hour. I get there in about 25 mins no traffic. The Apple Store app is still showing them available. I see a small line formed out front with about 4 Middle Eastern guys and 2 Mom's with kids. The Middle Eastern guys each had 2 shopping bags each full of phones. Apparently the Apple Store was selling them each 2 at a time of whatever they wanted, and letting them keep going back in line and buying more and more. Of course the guys in front of me that could barely speak English says "2 more Verizon 128 Plus Black" which happened to have been the last 2 they had. I said, wait a minute, how many per person, the apple store rep said there is a 2 per person limit. I said then how do they have shopping bags full of phones? She said "we let them get back in line when they are done." I was pissed, but not about to start a fight in the middle of the mall. The thing that really pissed me off is the guy was smirking at me and said something in Arabic under his breath that made the 3 of his friends laugh. This really sucks for normal users that want to buy the phone full price so they don't have to sign a new contract...

Thanks for listening,

Y2J

You should have asked the rep to have the apple store manager come over before proceeding further and pointed out to the manager they had a bag of phones you had none. And the policy of two phones per person should be enforced in the spirit and intent of the policy (not based on ringing up a sale, going back in line and ringing up another sale -- which makes a farce of the policy). Therefore, you should be allowed to purchase before them. That's what I would have tried anyway. Worth a shot. I would not have let the rep's word go by without challenging further. And I would have asked the guys what they said and what they were laughing about -- just to put them on the spot.

 

[Tiger8]

It's the fact that the OP can look at the Middle Eastern customers purchasing the phones and instantly determine they are scalpers that is racist!

Exactly. They could buying phones for their family and friends back home. iPhone hasn't been released worldwide, and when it does, it's much more expensive. You can't jump to conclusions

 

[bmac4]

Exactly. They could buying phones for their family and friends back home. iPhone hasn't been released worldwide, and when it does, it's much more expensive. You can't jump to conclusions

They could be the case, but more than likely not. It still does not make it right for one person to get all the iPhone's. You should limit no matter what the reason is for buying.

 

[linkgx1]

Ironically enough people don't like capitalism when it doesn't work for them.

 

[youknome]

It's bad yes, but it's a free for all - you can't do much about that.

 

[617aircav]

Amazing sense of entitlement in this thread. You were not there on time and thus don't deserve one. I was 20th in line on launch day and got two. Plus two that I had on preorder. You could have preordered and not have to deal with this. It's two per customer per visit. If they were able to get back on line then you were not there in time. Apple sells phones to first person to some and buy it. If you were first you would have gotten one.

 

[linkgx1]

Amazing sense of entitlement in this thread. You were not there on time and thus don't deserve one. I was 20th in line on launch day and got two. Plus two that I had on preorder. You could have preordered and not have to deal with this. It's two per customer per visit. If they were able to get back on line then you were not there in time. Apple sells phones to first person to some and buy it. If you were first you would have gotten one.

The free market at it's finest.

And the Apple Store isn't the only place to get iPhones.

 

[Starrbuck]

Remember when you had to activate your iPhone at the Apple store? I miss those days..

 

[Tiger8]

They could be the case, but more than likely not. It still does not make it right for one person to get all the iPhone's. You should limit no matter what the reason is for buying.

Agree with you on that. But I have to tell you, I feel Apple allows that on purpose. They love the attention, they love the fact that people go through hoops to get their products.

If they are serious about it, they can simply limit it to two phones per credit card, but they don't. They make it per visit so that people can go back to line and they get bragging rights against Microsoft and Samsung

 

[617aircav]

Remember when you had to activate your iPhone at the Apple store? I miss those days..

Never coming back. iPhone was exclusive then.

 

[erzhik]

Boo-hoo OP. They were in line first, stop your bitching. It's just a phone. Or maybe they are not scalpers, maybe they have a big family (middle easterners have big families) and they buy for all of them? Or maybe it ticked you off just because you are racist? Pretty sure if the guys were from US, you wouldn't have said anything.

 

[bmac4]

Agree with you on that. But I have to tell you, I feel Apple allows that on purpose. They love the attention, they love the fact that people go through hoops to get their products.



If they are serious about it, they can simply limit it to two phones per credit card, but they don't. They make it per visit so that people can go back to line and they get bragging rights against Microsoft and Samsung

Yeah I agree with you there. Apple gets a ton of media attention for that, and I am sure it boost sales

 

[617aircav]

Agree with you on that. But I have to tell you, I feel Apple allows that on purpose. They love the attention, they love the fact that people go through hoops to get their products.



If they are serious about it, they can simply limit it to two phones per credit card, but they don't. They make it per visit so that people can go back to line and they get bragging rights against Microsoft and Samsung

Apple sells phones why should they turn back people that are about to spend money? Plus Apple like those lines. It gives them tons of free advertising.