Apple Tries New iPhone Sales Tactic In Hong Kong

Apple is adopting a new sales method for the iPhone 4S in Hong Kong to ward off scalpers.

Customers who want to buy the products need to first submit reservation applications via the Internet, and then they can pickup the iPhones.

According to information published on Apple's Hong Kong official website, from 09:00 to 12:00 each day, consumers will be able to access the registration system and complete the information, including the products they want like iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS; their names; and their Hong Kong identity card numbers. Those who successfully book the iPhones will receive a confirmation email from Apple, informing them of the time to retrieve the products. When getting the products from Apple stores, consumers need to produce the identity cards which are used for the registrations.

The Apple store in Hong Kong has stopped selling iPhones to consumers who directly walk in to buy the smartphones. This new measure aims to stall speculative smartphone buyers picking up several devices to smuggle across to mainland China. Rumors are that the measure may also be expanded to the Chinese mainland market.

Prior to this, Apple announced plans to suspend the sales of its iPhone 4S smartphones in Chinese mainland retail outlets due to a scalper riot outside the Sanlitun Apple Store in Beijing.