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Asian Gang Allegedly Buying Up iPad 2's For Overseas Sales
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 16, 2011
Modified Mar 16, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 16, 2011
Modified Mar 16, 2011
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Last year, NY State opened an investigation into whether Asian would-be customers—many of them Chinese—were being denied iPads at Apple stores because Apple employees were suspected the iPads would be resold overseas. Now, with the frenzy of the iPad 2's debut, the Post has found a "cutthroat Asian group" which "[scored] nearly every iPad 2 it can get its hands since the hot gizmo went on sale last week, to re-peddle at exorbitant prices here and in China."
The Post reports, "The illicit, highly orchestrated scheme was in full gear yesterday, with a ringleader doling out massive wads of $100 bills to about five cohorts. The sidekicks then went up and down a line of about 200 Asians outside the store and around the corner, handing out the money. The scammers in line then went inside and bought iPad 2's -- wiping out the store within minutes." And what's the markup? At least double the retail price!
One Apple employee said, "Listen, we all know what's going on here. I find it sad and disgusting. These people are preventing ordinary folks from getting their hands on an iPad." And one woman who wanted an iPad 2 but was out of luck said she confronted one of the "gang" members, "[i] said, 'Shame on you.' He just laughed at me. I talked to the manager at the store. I said, 'They're dealing them right now upstairs on private property.' ... They said, 'There's nothing we can do.' "
Tagged
apple
apple store
asian gang
chinese
ipad
ipad 2
reselling
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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