When I went to Boston a couple of weeks ago, I had two goals – to watch some great ice hockey, and to buy an iPad 2. I didn’t realize that although I would arrive at the Apple Store two hours prior opening, 15 other people would be queuing in front of me – two weeks after the launch day in the US.
Reports from NY Times reveal that a trading system where Chinese resellers lined up outside Apple Stores to grab iPad 2s has developed. These resellers later make a fortune by sending the iPads to China. One man says that he “could make up to $400 a day by purchasing and reselling the iPad 2”. This is more money than many Chinese immigrants earn a week.
As I had anticipated, a store clerk said they were out of stock and recommended that I check back the following morning. When I asked what time I should arrive, the clerk hesitated, looked around as if about to tell me a secret and said: “Well, do you see that group of people outside? They’re already here waiting for tomorrow’s shipment of iPads.”
This is kind of ironic, since the iPads go halfway around the world just to go the same way back again to their original country.
Did I manage to get my iPad? Yes, I did.
(Via 9to5Mac, NY Times. Photo credit to Flickr user: cstoller)
