iPhone 4S Release Date: Hong Kong Apple Store Mobbed, Police Called
A throng of customers mobbed the Hong Kong Apple Store for the iPhone 4S release Wednesday.
Police squads, complete with security dogs, were dispatched to disperse a crowd of 300 to 400 frustrated customers getting into intense arguments with professional people on queue.
“The launch of the iPhone 4S resulted in a chaotic scene with scalpers and pro queuers purchasing and reselling the phone outside the Apple store,” reported MIC Gadget’s Chris Chang. “iPhone 4S was totally sold out at 12pm noon.”
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According to one analyst, all pre-orders for the device sold in 10 minutes.
Reportedly, each customer bought up to five iPhone 4S devices, and ravenous resellers and gray market dealers were seen sorting and packing boxes of the phone on a corner outside the Apple Store while staffers scurried to refill stocks flying off the shelves.
"I can't begin to accurately describe the scene on the walkways outside the Hong Kong Apple Store," said one reporter observing the scene. "It's not Apple fans at all. It's line sitters and smugglers. They'll make $100 per phone, which is a week's wages for some of these low-income people. Buy 5 phones and they make a month's salary."
Anxious customers were ejected from the line as the confrontations between scalpers escalated, according to eyewitness reports.
“Steve Jobs is dead! You should die with him!” yelled one angry man at an Apple staff member who removed him from the queue.
“It’s not my choice. You can shout at me, it is not my choice. I’m sorry, it’s not my choice,” replied the Apple staffer.
The Hong Kong Apple Store opened in September to large crowds as the company's first official retail location in the bustling metropolis.
“I really wonder if this strategy of undersupply is going to backfire on Apple,” said one AppleInsider forum user. “Thousands of potential customers are being turned away. This might make some more eager to get an iPhone, but it may also discourage many from buying Apple products.”
