Scalpers see lacklustre sales for new iPhone models in China, with some offering less than original price
Only several dozen people were seen queuing at Apple’s Causeway Bay store when it opened on Friday morning, after the tech giant launched its XS and XR models in Hong Kong
Retailers and resellers in Hong Kong and mainland China reported one of their worst sale records for the latest models of iPhones when they were made available on Friday.
Just several dozen people were seen queuing outside the Apple store in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong before it opened at 8am on Friday. Some who planned to resell the phones to scalpers only offered HK$1 (US$0.13) more than the original price. Some were even offered less.
Apple launched the latest XS and XR series on September 12 in the United States, with prices ranging from HK$6,499 to HK$12,499 (US$832 to US$1,600), depending on their size and storage capacity. Hongkongers had been able to place orders online since Friday last week.
Buyer Wilson Poon, 30, gave up on trying to resell his two 256GB iPhone XS Maxes to scalpers waiting outside the Causeway Bay store after he was offered less than what he had just paid.
“The scalpers here offer HK$100 lower [than the original of price of HK$10,799, US$1,382]. Sin Tat Plaza should offer HK$300-400 [US$38-51] higher than the original price, according to my experience,” he said, referring to the shopping centre in Mong Kok where numerous phone repair and accessories shops are located.
