Scalpers at Apple Stores

[aristobrat]

Pretty simple solution:

1. China should be added to the group of countries to receive new products first.
2. One phone per customer.
3. Credit/Debit only during first few weeks of launch. Photo ID required.

That should make a scalper's life a bit more difficult.

1. I think that's a good idea, but it would have caused a major delay this time, as Apple's still waiting for some regulatory stuff to come through before they can start selling the iPhone 6s in China.

Apple's iPhone 6 still one license away from elusive China launch

3. That was actually required for the first few iPhone (and first iPad) launches. No cash, and your name had be imprinted on the credit/debit card (i.e. no generic re-loadable/gift cards). This blew up in their face when a disabled lady in CA tried to pay cash for an iPad, was sent home, and the media caught wind of it. Since then, cash was allowed during launches.

APPLE REVERSES ITS NO-CASH PAYMENT POLICY FOR IPADS

 

[MiamiC70]

Yes, let's praise scalpels because they have done a banner job with tickets to concerts, sporting events and theater. Just because something is not technically illegal does not make it right. I could have bought 2 phones I didn't I need one and bought one.

 

[aluren]

I'm just glad the iPhone is on sale in the US on launch day. Let's say you're Tim Cook, and you know you can only make 15 million iPhone by launch day. How would you allocate that throughout the world? He decided not to ship to China. It caused this scalper madness, but overall, there were way more people in the US that got the iPhone than people elsewhere.

 

[poematik13]

This reminds me of the time I was at my local apple store and some chinese guys shows up and asks one of the reps constantly "how many ipad mini i can buy?" "how many" and he literally tried to buy 30-40 units and they had security escort him out because he didn't understand what "only 2 per person" meant

 

[IllIllIll]

Yes, let's praise scalpels because they have done a banner job with tickets to concerts, sporting events and theater. Just because something is not technically illegal does not make it right. I could have bought 2 phones I didn't I need one and bought one.

Good for you. However, that holier-than-thou attitude doesn't give you the right to decide how many phones anyone else can or should buy or dictate what anyone else can do with their phone(s) once they pay for them.

 

[libu]

1. I think that's a good idea, but it would have caused a major delay this time, as Apple's still waiting for some regulatory stuff to come through before they can start selling the iPhone 6s in China.

Apple's iPhone 6 still one license away from elusive China launch

3. That was actually required for the first few iPhone (and first iPad) launches. No cash, and your name had be imprinted on the credit/debit card (i.e. no generic re-loadable/gift cards). This blew up in their face when a disabled lady in CA tried to pay cash for an iPad, was sent home, and the media caught wind of it. Since then, cash was allowed during launches.

APPLE REVERSES ITS NO-CASH PAYMENT POLICY FOR IPADS

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Wasn't the 5S released launch day in China and didn't stop scalpers due to high demand and limited production ?

 

[AdonisSMU]

Apple needs to go to the reservation system. You dont get a phone if you didnt register for it as it could violate the local laws of their home country....tax evasion etc...

 

[ToroidalZeus]

You guys cant be serious, you realize this is what helps with the iHype ... get people to spend days on the street to get one, mark it up, and now you are a premium product...

People scalping phones, are the same as a company "scalping" products, they are buying and selling the product for what the market with prevail.

I sell products, and we have customers that will buy our products and during shortages increase their prices to cover the demand. Do I do it? NO, Do I think it is right? Not for me to decide.

Keep getting upset, but the more people do this, the better it is for apple and the iOS ecosystem.

To each their own... (also the people standing in line only make a few hundred dollars, there is a who network of processes before it gets to the consumer in China)

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Also for most of us that decide to resell our used iPhone's these are the consumers that are buying our unlocked iPhone 5s's... and other phones which keep our phone values high....

Back in the day when people camped it was 80-90% dedicated fans, now it is 80-90% scalpers.

Also my biggest problem with this is Apple finally has enough stock to meet launch demand but these scalpers ruin everything by exporting 100k (maybe millions) of iPhones overseas.

 

[IllIllIll]

Apple needs to go to the reservation system. You dont get a phone if you didnt register for it as it could violate the local laws of their home country....tax evasion etc...

What country has banned iPhones?

And what does tax evasion have anything to do with anything?

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Trashing a public space IS a valid complaint against the group of scalpers in question. It IS a valid complaint for law abiding citizens who don't want the smell of trash in a public space.

It is ILLEGAL to litter in most municipalities. I support free markets, but not at the cost of anarchy, which seems to be something that a lot of libertarian-leaning kids embrace these days. Few of the pro-market people here acknowledge that this is a problem, though I credit you for being fair about it. Market actors have to behave responsibly for markets to function properly. I don't care if some Asians want to camp out a week to get an iPhone, but they damn well better clean up after themselves.

The fact is that this scalping has lead to a disgusting problem with people who clearly have no regard for law and order. This doesn't even get to the matter of wasted tax dollars needed to pay overtime for cops to patrol the lines, and the cost of municipal cleanup. The complete disregard for personal responsibility cannot be tolerated.

I like you. You are well educated.

 

[AdonisSMU]

What country has banned iPhones?

And what does tax evasion have anything to do with anything?

About chinese sale tax and american sales tax. Additionally, China has not approved the iPhone for sale yet in China. That is why it is not for sale there.

 

[mtneer]

Wasn't the 5S released launch day in China and didn't stop scalpers due to high demand and limited production ?

Even if the phone is released simultaneously, there is a perception in China that the products sold in the local market are lower quality than the ones approved for shipment to the US. This weird perception extends a large swathe of products beyond electronics - from baby formula to milk to cars.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Of course something can be done: get in line earlier. Scalper camps out a day early? You camp out 2 days early. Boom, problem solved.

They cut in line. Number 150? try 350.

 

[drenline]

Easy Fix: MUST BE U.S. CITIZEN TO BUY U.S. IPHONE on launch day/week.

BOOM! Problem solved.

 

[hockeymutt]

or here's an even easier one..... 2 per ID and it wont let you buy anymore for that day/week using that government issued ID. All they would have to do is scan the ID and if it pops up in the system it will just lock them out problem solved, its a really easy solution.

 

[mtneer]

While I agree with your intention, such a restriction could see Apple chewed out by the ACLU or some such civil rights organization, since some US citizens do not have ID or don't bother to procure one. The problem may not be widespread, but they just need one poster case and decide to go after the world's most successful company for some charity "donations" in settlement. Apple has already been sued for refusing cash.

 

[IllIllIll]

About chinese sale tax and american sales tax. Additionally, China has not approved the iPhone for sale yet in China. That is why it is not for sale there.

If China is so worried about VAT, charge duty. That's why there are customs checkpoints at all points of entry. And although SALES of iPhone 6's are not yet permitted in China, possession of an iPhone 6 is perfectly legal.

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They cut in line. Number 150? try 350.

I don't deny that there are line cutters, but they're not all scalpers. There are plenty of ways to help prevent line cutting.

 

[Deliro]

So I waited 4 hours in line today, 90% of the people in line with me were from overseas, mostly China. And they could not get over the fact that Apple was not selling any unlocked phones and they kept pestering and questioning the Apple employees trying to manage the lines by "Will it work international? Why not unlocked?? Why????" Despite the hearing the answer over and over they kept steady in line and would create issues when they finally got to an Apple specialist with the same line of questioning that held up the lines for the people who were actually purchasing it for themselves.

 

[AdonisSMU]

So I waited 4 hours in line today, 90% of the people in line with me were from overseas, mostly China. And they could not get over the fact that Apple was not selling any unlocked phones and they kept pestering and questioning the Apple employees trying to manage the lines by "Will it work international? Why not unlocked?? Why????" Despite the hearing the answer over and over they kept steady in line and would create issues when they finally got to an Apple specialist with the same line of questioning that held up the lines for the people who were actually purchasing it for themselves.

I can see Apple being in a Walmart type of situation where businesses dont want Apple stores in their area because of the scalper situation disrupting the neighborhood.

 

[hockeymutt]

I can see Apple being in a Walmart type of situation where businesses dont want Apple stores in their area because of the scalper situation disrupting the neighborhood.

thats a big negative... i'm not the smartest person in the world by any means but that was just a STUPID comment. It's SO STUPID i'm not even going to explain why

 

[AdonisSMU]

thats a big negative... i'm not the smartest person in the world by any means but that was just a STUPID comment. It's SO STUPID i'm not even going to explain why

Ok if you say so... You shouldve seen it here in nyc. Businesses all along 14th street were effectively shut down for a days and weeks after iPhone launches because of people sleeping in the streets blocking the entrances to their businesses. Then they leave garbage everywhere.

 

[IllIllIll]

thats a big negative... i'm not the smartest person in the world by any means but that was just a STUPID comment. It's SO STUPID i'm not even going to explain why

Totally agree. Completely ridiculous with zero basis in fact.

But then again, look who said it. If you do a search of his past posts it's not surprising.

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Ok if you say so... You shouldve seen it here in nyc. Businesses all along 14th street were effectively shut down for a day because of people sleeping in the streets blocking the entrances to their businesses. Then when they left there was garbage everywhere.

It's not Apple's job to keep the streets clean or to prevent people from sleeping on the street. That's the responsibility of the NYPD.

Do you ever stop and reconsider the foolish things you say before hitting the Post button? Try it sometime.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Pretty simple solution:

1. China should be added to the group of countries to receive new products first.

Which would be irrelevant if the Chinese government refuses to rubber-stamp the iPhone in time for launch, as is the case for iPhone 6.

 

[hockeymutt]

Ok if you say so... You shouldve seen it here in nyc. Businesses all along 14th street were effectively shut down for a days and weeks after iPhone launches because of people sleeping in the streets blocking the entrances to their businesses. Then they leave garbage everywhere.

it's a few days a year, not weeks! and they all prob made money from people buying food and what not from their stores. why wouldn't they want that? "

Garbage" it's an ***** city, !-!ell it's NYC, it was prob gone in a few hours anyways. Haven't you ever seen all the trash after a parade? it's gone in like 2 hours! So they should have parades because of trash and it blocks businesses?

Read a book!

 

[AdonisSMU]

Totally agree. Completely ridiculous with zero basis in fact.

But then again, look who said it. If you do a search of his past posts it's not surprising.

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It's not Apple's job to keep the streets clean or to prevent people from sleeping on the street. That's the responsibility of the NYPD.

Do you ever stop and reconsider the foolish things you say before hitting the Post button? Try it sometime.

Do you ever consider the foolish things you say before posting. Think about what I said. If you know your business may be cut off for weeks at a time because Apple is launching a new product maybe you would block them from coming i to your area. Its the same type of situation with Walmart. Walmart effectively kills off the small businesses its around and thats why NEw Yorkers have blocked them from coming into manhattan on more than one occasion. I realize your not the smartest person in the world so things can go over your head but slow down and think first post later.