Despite most Apple products being manufactured over in China, the nation is usually behind most other countries when it actually comes to seeing the newest Cupertino device. Some four months since the US and Europe release of the third-generation iPad, the slate has finally hit stores over in China, and unlike the usual frenzied rush, the launch came and went relatively quietly.
The fruit company finally got around to providing the new(ish) iPad to those in the world’s most populous country, but the seeming lack of excitement for the Retina displaying device might simply be down to better organizational skills on Apple’s part. Instead of a simple launch, in which consumers rush en masse to the glass-laden retail stores, the company yesterday prepared itself by introducing a pre-sale reservation system. The new system was an attempt to plug the usual hullaballoo, and required all would-be customers to pre-order the device.
As well as preventing the rush, the new system has also been put into action in order to prevent consumers purchasing in bulk, looking to sell them on for a tidy profit. Such a situation was seen here in London back in March, with consumers purchasing up to ten iPads at a time and making a huge profit by selling them to wealthy businessmen residing in countries where the device was inaccessible at the time. Considering this process seems to have done quite well in China, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see the same system implemented in the Western World for future launches of Apple products.
China is the second largest market of Apple’s behind the US, and the issue of scalpers arriving for a quick buck has plagued nearly every release over the past five years. There are no reported incidences of such behaviors, and if the launch weekend passes without any sign of the money-makers, it will be a job well done.
With the launch coming so late, it remains to be seen if sales in the country will be adversely affected. Then again, the iPhone 4S only launched in January – three months after the the October release in most parts of the world, so it may just be that the nation has grown used to waiting a little longer for its iDevices.
(source Apple)
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