Business

Illegal fare discounting is common among app users

A new iPhone is a lot more than an ordinary smartphone, it's also an investment to some buyers. After reserving the limited offering of iPhone 6 online every morning, some customers resell it to other private users and shop owners in Mong Kok and Shenzhen to earn the price difference. More than 10 million new iPhones were sold over the first three days after entering the market on September 19. But it is still soaring high after a month's sale. At 8 sharp every morning, customers scramble to make online reservations for the limited offering of iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. At 8.04 am, the reservations are usually fully occupied. "IReserve (iPhone online booking system) makes me feel frustrated," said Mr Mark Chan, a bank clerk who bought his iPhone 6 from Sincere Podium, a shopping mall that mainly sells mobile phones. "I like the new iPhone very much and I don't mind paying $400 more as I have to pay thousands of dollars for it." It is not easy for normal customers to order an iPhone online and this situation stimulates the grey market. Eason Tsang, a university student, is one of the skilled reservation makers surviving in the reselling market. "My friend started to resell iPhones on the first day of sale and he earned a lot, so I decided to join the reselling army," said Eason, who resold more than 20 new iPhones and earned $15,000 since then. Each phone number or credential number used to reserve an iPhone can only buy two phones, so he uses personal information from his friends to make the online reservations. After picking up the phones in Apple store, he resells them to shop owners in Sincere Podium in Mong Kok according to the reference price in Hong Kong Golden Forum. …

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