Remember those incredibly real knock-off Apple Stores built in Kunming, China? Turns out the stores are not authorized Apple resellers (duh), but the products they sell are genuine and sold at the same prices as Apple’s website. The WSJ’s China Real Time, they were able to reach out to a store employee, while calls to managers went unanswered.
The staffer reached by phone was under no such illusion. “It doesn’t make much of a difference for us whether we’re authorized or not,†he said. “I just care that what I sell every day are authentic Apple products, and that our customers don’t come back to me to complain about the quality of the products.â€
“I think in Yunnan, our store should be one of the best in terms of scale and the level of professionalism,†the Kunming salesman said.
Umm…sure. What’s next? A knock off Microsoft store?
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Microsoft has to make a store worth knocking off first.. oh burn!!
Microsoft has to make a store worth knocking off first.. oh burn!!
Microsoft has to make a store worth knocking off first.. oh burn!!
 “I just care that what I sell every day are authentic Apple products,
and that our customers don’t come back to me to complain about the
quality of the products.â€
They are obviously not authorized apple resellers and they don’t care at all.
Their is something in their mind that I don’t get at all.
“We are illegal and and not authorized, yet I don’t care because I sell stuff to people and they are happy”
What the…
 “I just care that what I sell every day are authentic Apple products,
and that our customers don’t come back to me to complain about the
quality of the products.â€
They are obviously not authorized apple resellers and they don’t care at all.
Their is something in their mind that I don’t get at all.
“We are illegal and and not authorized, yet I don’t care because I sell stuff to people and they are happy”
What the…
 “I just care that what I sell every day are authentic Apple products,
and that our customers don’t come back to me to complain about the
quality of the products.â€
They are obviously not authorized apple resellers and they don’t care at all.
Their is something in their mind that I don’t get at all.
“We are illegal and and not authorized, yet I don’t care because I sell stuff to people and they are happy”
What the…
Think of it from a Chinese viewpoint. Why would you care?
Think of it from a Chinese viewpoint. Why would you care?
Think of it from a Chinese viewpoint. Why would you care?
Think of it from a Chinese viewpoint. Why would you care?
 This is the problem. I cannot think of it from a Chinese viewpoint because I don’t understand them.
I am confused. Anyway, this is not the end of the world.
 This is the problem. I cannot think of it from a Chinese viewpoint because I don’t understand them.
I am confused. Anyway, this is not the end of the world.
 This is the problem. I cannot think of it from a Chinese viewpoint because I don’t understand them.
I am confused. Anyway, this is not the end of the world.
 This is the problem. I cannot think of it from a Chinese viewpoint because I don’t understand them.
I am confused. Anyway, this is not the end of the world.
How are they offical apple products, apple signs contracts with authorized re-sellers. I’m pretty sure they dont have a contract with apple,so how is it real products.
How are they offical apple products, apple signs contracts with authorized re-sellers. I’m pretty sure they dont have a contract with apple,so how is it real products.
How are they offical apple products, apple signs contracts with authorized re-sellers. I’m pretty sure they dont have a contract with apple,so how is it real products.
Purchased in North America, flown to China.
Purchased in North America, flown to China.
Purchased in North America, flown to China.
Purchased in North America, flown to China.
I’m asian myself and from experiences that I’ve encountered at small asian outlets the staffs or owner’s are more than willing to do you a bargain to ensure they get your business and as a consumer, get what we want. Especially a lot of this occurs in food markets. I just assume they want you to be happy with the product and service you get from them.
I’m asian myself and from experiences that I’ve encountered at small asian outlets the staffs or owner’s are more than willing to do you a bargain to ensure they get your business and as a consumer, get what we want. Especially a lot of this occurs in food markets. I just assume they want you to be happy with the product and service you get from them.
I’m asian myself and from experiences that I’ve encountered at small asian outlets the staffs or owner’s are more than willing to do you a bargain to ensure they get your business and as a consumer, get what we want. Especially a lot of this occurs in food markets. I just assume they want you to be happy with the product and service you get from them.
Lol of course.
Lol of course.
Lol of course.
Have you ever been to pacific mall, maybe because I’m white all the chinesse people their try and screw you. Maybe it’s different if your chinesse. But when I go all I see is rip offs.
Have you ever been to pacific mall, maybe because I’m white all the chinesse people their try and screw you. Maybe it’s different if your chinesse. But when I go all I see is rip offs.
Have you ever been to pacific mall, maybe because I’m white all the chinesse people their try and screw you. Maybe it’s different if your chinesse. But when I go all I see is rip offs.
Lol of course.
Have you ever been to pacific mall, maybe because I’m white all the chinesse people their try and screw you. Maybe it’s different if your chinesse. But when I go all I see is rip offs.
Uhh, it’s chiNESE not chiNESSE…Â You should learn how to spell before you leave ignorant comments like that.; it gives the rest of us white folk a bad name…
Uhh, it’s chiNESE not chiNESSE…Â You should learn how to spell before you leave ignorant comments like that.; it gives the rest of us white folk a bad name…
If what the employee says is true, then who cares?  They’re not ripping customers off, instead providing them with more opportunities to purchase legitimate Apple products.  How do they obtain legitimate Apple products?  Many possibilities!  For one, they could purchase them from an authorized retailer in large quantities with a discount and then sell them in their store for MRSP. Â
Maybe the staffer does not know that they are an authorized reseller?
It would be rather hard to buy the products from another retailer and sell them at that same price and still turn a profit. They would either have to get it directly from the factory or just be an authorized reseller.
Maybe the staffer does not know that they are an authorized reseller?
It would be rather hard to buy the products from another retailer and sell them at that same price and still turn a profit. They would either have to get it directly from the factory or just be an authorized reseller.
OH SNAP!!Â
OH SNAP!!Â
OH SNAP!!Â
I’m curious how Apple will handle this. China is like the Wild Wild West when it comes to ripping off products. Most of the time, knock off items are the work of gangs and the underworld.
I’m curious how Apple will handle this. China is like the Wild Wild West when it comes to ripping off products. Most of the time, knock off items are the work of gangs and the underworld.
I’m curious how Apple will handle this. China is like the Wild Wild West when it comes to ripping off products. Most of the time, knock off items are the work of gangs and the underworld.
how are they making enough money to operate a store, pay employee and expenses, where are they getting their products from? thats the million dollar question
I don’t think they care. Just as along as they are selling genuine Apple products.
I don’t think they care. Just as along as they are selling genuine Apple products.
I don’t think they care. Just as along as they are selling genuine Apple products.
Just wear a butt-plug the next time you walk in there, and they won’t screw you anymore.
Just wear a butt-plug the next time you walk in there, and they won’t screw you anymore.
@gtasscarlo
 Yes, I also hear it’s best to pay with cash than with credit or debit cards. That’s the advise I’ve gotten from people. The prices are decent, cheaper than retailers but you just kind of ask yourself “Is this really a genuine product?” I’m usually good at telling what’s fake and what’s real.