Apple appears to be doing its part to prevent iPhone units bought from Apple’s retail locations in Hong Kong, from being smuggled into China. Because of the lack of import duties and taxes on foreign made devices, those involved in illegal activity in the region are purchasing the handsets in Hong Kong, and are selling them in China’s black and gray market. Today, both the Apple iPhone 7 and Apple iPhone 7 Plus are being launched in various markets including Hong Kong, where prices for black market iPhone units can reach more than $2,000 USD.
On Apple’s Hong Kong website, new return policies are listed for Apple and Beats branded products. No longer can these be returned within 14-days to the company’s retail locations in Hong Kong, even with their original receipt and packaging.
The South China Morning Post relayed a story today about a young man who picked up a pair of 256GB Apple iPhone 7 Plus units in Hong Kong and immediately sold them to a “trader” outside the store. The transaction earned the 20-year old a profit of $91.73 USD on each phone, or a total of $183.46 USD. That really was not a tremendous profit considering the cost of the phones. “I can’t say it was the best deal,” the young man said, “but I’m satisfied.” One store in the region offered to pay the equivalent of $2576 USD for a 256GB iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black. That model sells in the Hong Kong Apple Store for the equivalent of $1068 USD.
source: Apple via SCMP
