Customers of Fake Apple Store Demand Refunds
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
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This is an interesting concept. If you own a store that mostly sells legitimate Apple products, do you have the right to call yourself an Apple store?
If the product is real and registerable (for warranty reasons), is it really necessary to try and get a refund? If it checks out can be sent for warranty repairs as if you bought from a real store then just keep the damn thing and be happy, asking for a refund for a perfectly good product just cause it wasn't an official Apple Store is just stupid beyond reason. All it shows is that the people wanted to be able to show off that they got it at a real Apple Store and show how hip they are...
Another legitimate question is why would you angrily return an apple product just because the store isnt sanctioned?
um. If the store is fake might the receipt also be fake?
ROFL...
You aren't allowed to sell legitimate Apple products without their permission
Another legitimate question is why would you angrily return an apple product just because the store isnt sanctioned?
Because Apple Zealots wants to give as much of their hard earned cash to Steve Jobs. Not some 3rd party.
I doubt that they'll make you an authorized reseller after you did it without permission!
I guess setting up and doing business is way different in China. You are suppose to have a business licenses before opening up a store. Also Apple are control freaks so you might want to make sure they ok you selling their products. Kinda sad that you would have to ask hey is it ok if I sell your overpriced products I would think Apple would love the extra money.
if you don't have a receipt (who would in there right mind leave a store without one) you can't get warranty (like buying of the back of a truck) wounder where they got their stock.
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
This is an interesting concept. If you own a store that mostly sells legitimate Apple products, do you have the right to call yourself an Apple store?
Apple doesnt allow rights to anyone
Another legitimate question is why would you angrily return an apple product just because the store isnt sanctioned?
Because it will effect your warranty. Warranties on Apple products start on the day they are sold by an Authorized reseller. As for the products those stores are selling their is no telling when the warranty starts. I would assume it would default to whenever they were sold from Apple to the distributor.
Given that the owner of the store refused to name the supplier. There is no way of knowing if they are stolen.
Since they set out to deceive their customers. I would not trust anything they said and would demand my money back. Just because of their dishonest business practice.
I doubt that they'll make you an authorized reseller after you did it without permission!
Actually, since Apple has no morals, im pretty sure that as long as the store will make Apple money they would do it.
They can't even spell "Apple Store" right (on the sign it said "Stoer")
and they hope they can be an authorized reseller ? LOL
If the product is real and registerable (for warranty reasons), is it really necessary to try and get a refund? If it checks out can be sent for warranty repairs as if you bought from a real store then just keep the damn thing and be happy, asking for a refund for a perfectly good product just cause it wasn't an official Apple Store is just stupid beyond reason. All it shows is that the people wanted to be able to show off that they got it at a real Apple Store and show how hip they are...
Ofcourse it's not stupid, Apple didn't get to shake down the store for "brand" fees. And iBoys and iGirls need to make sure Apple get's their fair (lol) compensation.
if you don't have a receipt (who would in there right mind leave a store without one) you can't get warranty (like buying of the back of a truck) wounder where they got their stock.
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....
Apple has 4 stores in all of China and this guy opened 5 stores in one city. He's got some balls, I'll give him 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.
this article reminds me of my first computer, it was a TANDY and I bought it from a Real Radio Shack store LOL!
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 it will effect your warranty. Warranties on Apple products start on the day they are sold by an Authorized reseller. As for the products those stores are selling their is no telling when the warranty starts. I would assume it would default to whenever they were sold from Apple to the distributor.Given that the owner of the store refused to name the supplier. There is no way of knowing if they are stolen.Since they set out to deceive their customers. I would not trust anything they said and would demand my money back. Just because of their dishonest business practice.
It's apple products that we're talking about! We all know that Apples do not break. What's warranty for again?
/end of trolling
You aren't allowed to sell legitimate Apple products without their permission
Who cares who sells the products as long as they are legitimate? I know companies go nuts about what happens from the warehouse to the home but at the end of the day if I had bought something at one of those stores I would have considered myself lucky to even get my hands on an Apple product in China.
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 know you should always get a receipt, but why should you need one for a warranty? Shouldn't there be enough bar codes and serial numbers on the box to qualify for a replacement?
Who cares who sells the products as long as they are legitimate? I know companies go nuts about what happens from the warehouse to the home but at the end of the day if I had bought something at one of those stores I would have considered myself lucky to even get my hands on an Apple product in China. I know you should always get a receipt, but why should you need one for a warranty? Shouldn't there be enough bar codes and serial numbers on the box to qualify for a replacement?
Warranty starts from date of purchase, not activation. How are you going to prove when you bought the product without a receipt?
They can't even spell "Apple Store" right (on the sign it said "Stoer") and they hope they can be an authorized reseller ? LOL
apparently then apple fanboys are not that bright. all they need to do is to just see the word "apple" on a sign and look at nothing else
It is ok to sell Apple products but to emulate their store completely is pretty shady. Best Buy and other electronic stores sell Apple products all the time without emulating someone else's store.
At the end of the day, the deceptive nature that this store was set up will hurt Apple's brand image. Apple didn't get popular by allowing people to steal their identity. I hope these stores go down as a sign to prevent these kind of shady business practices using other people's name.
ah lol Apple idiots, lulz money, steve jobs iz teh devil, all isheep lolz.
Troll to fade.
Who cares who sells the products as long as they are legitimate? I know companies go nuts about what happens from the warehouse to the home but at the end of the day if I had bought something at one of those stores I would have considered myself lucky to even get my hands on an Apple product in China. I know you should always get a receipt, but why should you need one for a warranty? Shouldn't there be enough bar codes and serial numbers on the box to qualify for a replacement?
The problem is that the products being diverted are likely not legitimate. If the product was listed stolen from the warehouse, at least in the US, you could be forced to return it to the police, or be found guilty of receiving stolen goods. Not as likely when the store is meant to fool people, but there are laws to go after people who buy shady goods for a reason.
You might find this out the first time you came in for service or tried to register your product's serial number with Apple. Sorry, no warranty, plus its stolen property.
If the products were sold by the supplier to a non-authorized seller, then you likely will get no warranty since it was not sold by an authorized retailer. This is meant to make people aware to only buy through the legitimate channels.
I will have to say, Apple is very good with their warranties if they do break. I have never had an issue getting an Apple product repaired/replaced under warranty. Who else pays for next day shipping under warranty?
It's a fake store so that puts their ethics into question. Its quite plausible that the brand new authentic apple products are stolen. Having a barcode only proves you possess the product. It doesn't prove you purchased it legally.
This is an interesting concept. If you own a store that mostly sells legitimate Apple products, do you have the right to call yourself an Apple store?
Considering that if you own a store that sells apps, Apple says you can't call it an App Store, I'm guessing that having a store that sells apples (even real apples picked from a tree), Apple is gonna sue your ass if you try to call it an Apple Store.
I will have to say, Apple is very good with their warranties if they do break. I have never had an issue getting an Apple product repaired/replaced under warranty. Who else pays for next day shipping under warranty?
Plenty do. Its called service built into the price. Lenovo and Dell charge about $100 to add next-day shipping to their products.
For a client, bought a $1200 ThinkPad, added $320 or so for a 3 year next-day onsite-tech + damage warranty.
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Hint: Why would any LEGIT store ever say "come back later for your proof of purchase"? Hint, it maybe a sham. The products are stolen or refurbished or grey market somehow and warranties are not usually honored.
Its funny people keep asking if its real why does any one care. The only reason we have to be leave its real from the article is because the owner of the fake shop says it is. Would you take the word of a man who runs a fake store front that his product is real? If you had the option to return the product and get it from a genuine apple dealer for the EXACT same price or take the risk of staying with the owner who is clearly shady what would you do?