News - Apple Beijing stores shut after safety concerns as shoppers brawl

[HEXUS]

Scalpers fighting it out amongst themselves and an angry crowd, waiting the the iPhone 4S that never came.

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[crossy]

I don't understand this - after all it's only a phone!

[Scribe]

I don't understand this - after all it's only a phone!

Same here and IMO not even the best currently out there.

[miniyazz]

Wow - people care this much? I think they need to get out more. Surely if they wanted it that badly they would have imported it anyway?

[Hoonigan]

Wow - people care this much? I think they need to get out more. Surely if they wanted it that badly they would have imported it anyway?

I think the Chinese version of Siri will only work on models bought in China.. I think that's the cause of the delay as well.

[cameronlite]

"We're suffering from cold and hunger, they said they're not going to sell to us. Why? Why?".

Good, it serves you right for being a complete moron. If you were that hungry, you'd have pretended to be a migrant worker and taken the £1 food budget!

[mikerr]

Pre-order isn't possible in china as the chinese don't have credit cards, but do have the cash.

[Fraz]

Morons, the lot of them.

I hate this rampant consumerist nonsense, whatever country it's in.

[Brewster0101]

This is almost as crazy as people fighting over Nike trainers in America recently.

Quite pathetic that people are willing to starve just to have a phone......

World is full of mad people....

[Smudger]

Other stores were selling them, including a non-apple telco. You could order one online as well...

[crossy]

Other stores were selling them, including a non-apple telco. You could order one online as well...

That being the case, what's the big deal about getting it from the Apple Store? At best I fail to see the "magic experience" that some have talked about, and while ymmv my last visit was "poor" to be polite (as in I've had far better customer service from the local PC World!). So if someone would care to explain what the big deal is, then I'd appreciate it.

As to the behaviours in Beijing, obviously the Chinese are taking to this "capitalism" thing quite well, including the less pleasing aspects (unfortunately).

[aidanjt]

You could order one online as well...

Bit of a problem if you don't have plastic.

[Smudger]

True, but if you don't have plastic, there are other stores, where things were quite civilised...

[mycarsavw]

I don't understand this - after all it's only a phone!

You've clearly not seen the adverts, it's not just a phone, it's a....... ... ..... sorry, dozed off there.

[shaithis]

Poor sods.....you would think that after working is such abysmal conditions, they would at least be allowed to purchase the devices they have worked 80 hours a week to produce!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I don't understand this - after all it's only a phone!

In Asia brand recognition is VERY high. People are very brand conscious as it is a sign of wealth or success.

That being the case, what's the big deal about getting it from the Apple Store? At best I fail to see the "magic experience" that some have talked about, and while ymmv my last visit was "poor" to be polite (as in I've had far better customer service from the local PC World!). So if someone would care to explain what the big deal is, then I'd appreciate it.

As to the behaviours in Beijing, obviously the Chinese are taking to this "capitalism" thing quite well, including the less pleasing aspects (unfortunately).

It the same reason people want to get something from Harrods and get a bag with their logo too.

It is basically showing off.