Electronics stores in Kunming are being investigated and customers are demanding receipts following the revelation that fake Apple stores are operating in the area.
Last week blogger BirdAbroad made a huge splash with pictures of a fake Apple store in Kunming, China. However, it seems there were some unhappy customers following the revelation that the shop was a not a legitimate Apple store. Reuters reports that customers were Friday 'berating staff and demanding refunds' following the news coverage.
"When I heard the news I rushed here immediately to get the receipt, I am so upset," one customer told Reuters. "With a store this big, it looks so believable who would have thought it was fake?"
The customer in question was sold a 13-inch MacBook Pro and iPhone 3G by the staff at the store. However, she was never given a receipt, but told to come back and collect it later. An employee spoke to Reuters, complaining about the unfair portrayal of the store in the media.
"The media is painting us to be a fake store but we don't sell fakes, all our products are real, you can check it yourself," he said.
The Associated Press reports that Chinese authorities are investigating electronics stores in the area and have found a total of five fake Apple stores. Two of these locations have been ordered to suspend business pending an investigation. The other three remain open as no fake Apple products were found.
The owner of the store that appeared in photos on the BirdAbroad blog told the Wall Street Journal (via Washington Post) that while his storefront was unauthorized, the products were genuine Apple products. He is said to have declined to reveal his supplier but apparently hopes to become an Apple reseller soon.
"I am sure we will become their authorized reseller in the near future," the man, named only as Li, told The Wall Street Journal, "After all, we invested a lot in this store."
The investigations carried out at the stores will focus on business licenses, permits of brand use and purchasing channels for each location.
Further Reading
Reuters: Customers Angry, Staff Defiant at China's Fake Apple Store
Washington Post: Fake Apple Store Under Investigation in China
Associated Press (via Yahoo!): China Officials Find Five Fake Apple Stores in One City
Wall Street Journal (subscription required): Copycat Apple Store Prompts China Investigation
Because Apple Zealots wants to give as much of their hard earned cash to Steve Jobs. Not some 3rd party.
yep that pretty much sums up what an apple fanboy is
Apple doesnt allow rights to anyone
I agree, what kind of idiot leaves a store with a few hundred dollars of product without a receipt? Oh I know...but I won't say it, because iBoys/iGirls complain about being called that....
I'd be pissed too. Mainly because of warranty issues! Apple products are not as cracked up as people think they are. Some have manufacturing defects, some die after a few months. They may look pretty on the outside, but the inside is made of some relatively cheap components. I know what you're thinking, "they last so long, they obviously use high quality parts!", right? Wrong. They appear to last longer because most people treat them like jewellery (probably because of the price tag they come with). If you take better care of any[/b] gadget it will last longer.
In other news genetic apples have been found in local markets, Mother Nature is suing because she says that APPLES are an exclusive from her APPLE Trees.
Because Apple Zealots wants to give as much of their hard earned cash to Steve Jobs. Not some 3rd party.
I agree, what kind of idiot leaves a store with a few hundred dollars of product without a receipt? Oh I know...but I won't say it, because iBoys/iGirls complain about being called that....