Everybody knows that Chinese businessmen are very shrewd and innovative to sell their wares. But that they will be able to sell the product, which is rumored to be in the making and their is no trace of the product and its specifications and prices, is difficult to imagine. But whether you believe it or not, this is true and this news has been confirmed by leading news agency – Reuters. Apple Inc’s next-generation and hotly anticipated Apple iPhone 5, which is rumored to be released sometimes around October, is being sold in China through online portals, without confirmation of delivery schedule and technical specifications.
China’s largest e-commerce site -Taobao, a unit of Alibaba Group, are accepting orders for Apple iPhone 5, in some cases asking for a deposit of 1,000 yuan ($160) for the new phone. One seller, “Dahai99888”, who started accepting pre-orders this week, is asking for full payment upfront, at a cool 6,999 yuan ($1,100). Interstingly, Apple Inc. has not announced officially this product yet nor its specifications and price and yet to encash the popularity of Apple products in China, the online portals have decided not to wait for the launch of the product ! This reminds me of unscrupulous realtors selling flats and plots on proposed agriculture lands and accepting advances to the tunes of lakhs from gullible home-seekers as pre-booking amount and majority of them were not able to deliver the pre-ordered products and majority of home-seekers have lost their deposits as these realtors have disappeared in thin air.
In China, people are crazy about Apple products and some smart e-commerce portals are taking advantage of this fact. Surprisingly, they have been successful in selling few iPhone 5 through pre-orders. This shows popularity of Apple products and out of box thinking of Chinese businesses to sell a product in advance which is not ready yet and when it will be ready only Apple Inc knows! Still, they are able to sell it! Hats off to Chinese e-commerce portal! Apple Inc has not commented yet on this development.
