The iPhone 4S officially launched to long lines in fifteen new countries today, including Hong Kong and South Korea, further continuing Apple’s international rollout of the popular devices. The launch was not without its problems, however, as M.I.C Gadget reports that theft, insufficient supply and grey-market sales marred the event.
Over 3,000 people showed up at Hong Kong’s massive IFC Mall retail store, but only 1,250 were actually allowed to purchase a device, leaving many disappointed as they were turned away.
Scalpers in Hong Kong also presented a significant problem, with many “grey market” buyers purchasing the maximum limit of five iPhones, depriving other customers from purchasing a device for themselves. The below image shows the devices being sold at a grey market shop just hours after the launch at inflated prices.
Interestingly, the report also indicates that the majority of people in line were purchasing devices on behalf of scalpers, and many had been paid to stand in line to purchase the maximum number of devices, which scalpers then collected in large bags.
Buyers pressured by scalpers to purchase the maximum number of devices also encouraged thefts, as one grey market dealer even had more than 15 devices stolen following a disagreement over the devices involved.
Apple’s Hong Kong retail store reportedly sold out of stock within just three hours, which isn’t all that surprising considering that pre-orders in the country sold out in just ten minutes.
The iPhone 4S also launched today in Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, and Romania, in addition to Hong Kong and South Korea.
