iPad 2: twice the price

iPad 2: twice the price

• Source: Global Times
• [09:07 March 14 2011]
• Comments

A customer tries out an iPad at the Apple Store in Sanlitun on March 8. Photo: Guo Yingguang
By Fang Yunyu

Although the second generation iPad has not yet reached the Chinese mainland, many local dealers in China's "silicon valley" are gearing up for huge profits by providing smuggled tablets for a whopping 9,500 yuan ($1,445).

"I promise the iPad 2 will arrive here on March 16," said Han Na, an employee at Anshi Digital at Zhongguancun, "But you have to pay a 1,000 yuan deposit."

Han Na said that her shop has had several orders already, but refused to reveal the exact price of the iPad 2 due to fierce competition.

At least one dealer got the jump on the rest and smuggled in his first batch of iPad 2s from the US early today.

"We hire people to wait in the long lines [in the US] since they're only selling two iPad 2s per customer," said a salesman surnamed Han at Mr Cheng's Digital Shop in Haidian district, "Then we send them [to China] by air as fast as possible."

Han explains his iPads have already sold out for the non-negotiable price of 9,500 yuan. Prices normally range between from 5,000 to 9,500 yuan, Zhongguancun dealers told the Global Times.

"That's way too expensive, considering the original price," said college student and self-professed Apple fan surnamed Zhang, "I'll just wait and see."

The new iPad, which is thinner, lighter and faster than its predecessor, hit the US market on March 11 for $499. Although it will become available in another 26 countries on March 25, the Chinese mainland is not on the list.

"We're not sure when iPad 2 will be available here," said a customer service operator at the Apple Store in the Village at Sanlitun, "But our first-gen iPad 16G has already sold out."

The first iPad was launched last April in the US. After earning certification from the China Quality Certification Center on August 2, which is required for entering the Chinese market, the iPad made its debut in the mainland on September 17 last year.