Apple Seeks to Thwart iPhone Scalpers in Hong Kong with New Reservation System
Apple's previous reservation system had opened at irregular times during the day, with bots run by scalpers snapping up all available slots within seconds. Under the new system, customers wishing to make reservations will need to list contact information and their government ID numbers, with Apple presumably cross-checking that information before granting the reservations. Customers will then have to show their government ID once they arrive to purchase an iPhone 4Sunder their reservation.
Due to high demand, we are accepting a limited number of iPhone reservations per day. To request an iPhone reservation, please choose your store and the iPhone you want. If we have an iPhone reservation for you, you’ll receive a confirmation email by 9:00 p.m. tonight that includes the time when you can pick up your iPhone tomorrow. A government-issued photo ID matching the name and ID number on your reservation is required for iPhone purchases. If you don’t receive an email, we were unable to reserve an iPhone for you, and you can try again another time. Only those who receive an email confirming their reservation will be able to purchase an iPhone; we will not be selling iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S to walk-in customers.
Hong Kong is only one area where Apple has experienced problems with scalpers snapping up all available stocks of popular iPhone models. Violence associated with the iPhone 4S launch in mainland China resulted Apple halting all in-store sales at the company's five retail stores in mainland China earlier this month, and the company has yet to reinstate in-store sales in that country.Top Rated Comments
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Just activate them when purchased.
All official iPhones in Hong Kong are sold unlocked, so activating them still doesn't help.
but we border the lines of idolatry right? :eek:
Greedy scalpers making money =/= idolatry.
Missed out on so many online gig ticket sales, only to see them on ebay for 4 times the price seconds later makes me kinda angry.
Hong Kong is only one area where Apple has experienced problems with scalpers snapping up all available stocks of popular iPhone models.
With Apple (previously) letting Hong Kong users order up to 10, unlike the 2-per-person limit implemented in every single other country, I cannot see why :rolleyes:
but we border the lines of idolatry right? :eek:
I sat next to an apple exec level guy (not naming names) on a plane once and I told him about the chinese kid who sold his kidney for an iPad. He just shook his head and said "this product fanaticism sometimes just goes too far..."
but we border the lines of idolatry right? :eek:
Not really in this case. This isn't about people suffering through long, cold nights in a queue just to get a phone, it's about crooks harvesting all they can get because they know they willget them sold with profit somewhere else
Maybe they should ramp up production instead of creating artificial demand.
How many did they sell last quarter, 37 million? 20 million was their best quarter before that so I would say they are ramping up production as best they can
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