Chinese counterfeiting extends to full-blown fake Apple retail stores

M3Bahn · 07-20-2011, 11:50 AM

Extremely detailed knock-off Apple retail stores, complete with blue t-shirt-wearing employees claiming to work for the company, have been discovered in China.

According to the blog BirdAbroad (via ifoAppleStore), several counterfeit Apple stores have popped up in Kunming, China. One such location featured a winding staircase and employees in t-shirts with Apple logos and name tags.

"The name tags around the necks of the friendly salespeople didn’t actually have names on them – just an Apple logo and the anonymous designation “Staff,”" the report read.

The author called the store "the best ripoff store" she had ever seen, though there were several giveaways, such as the poor quality of the staircase and a sub-par paint job. Also, the stores do not appear to have upgraded to Apple's Retail 2.0 layout that uses iPads as "smart signs."

According to her, the employees at the store "all genuinely think they work for Apple." After store security guards and employees prohibited her from taking photos, the author hinted that she and her husband were "two American Apple employees visiting China and checking out the local stores" and were then allowed to photograph the store.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...il_stores.html

achien · 07-20-2011, 11:52 AM

it's hard to find anything real there, be it everyday staple food or vintage wine...

GT3 Tim · 07-20-2011, 12:07 PM

Apple "Stoer" lol

E90SLAM · 07-20-2011, 12:11 PM

CollinsE90 · 07-20-2011, 12:25 PM

Why is Apple worth killing over, for an Asian. I'm waiting to hear the serial killer who kills Iphone users.

Simsims · 07-20-2011, 12:48 PM

whatever makes money.

it's not like there's no "counterfeiting" here.

See iOS 5's new notification feature vs Android.

infinitekidM2C · 07-20-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simsims

whatever makes money.

it's not like there's no "counterfeiting" here.

See iOS 5's new notification feature vs Android.

truf

number335 · 07-20-2011, 12:55 PM

So sad. They kid who gave up his kidney and the girl who gave up her virginity prob got counterfeit apple products in return.

NYCGP · 07-20-2011, 01:30 PM

And the world is complaining about our insistence to crack down on copyright infringement....

Give me a break.

Simsims · 07-20-2011, 01:39 PM

i think they are selling real apple products

it's just not an apple owned store.

wuzupfoo · 07-20-2011, 01:42 PM

isnt apple not allowed in China at all? meaning no products? thats why they are paying exhorbitant amounts on eBay for unlocked iPhones right?

btw this is a pretty impressive copy!

infinitekidM2C · 07-20-2011, 01:49 PM

they have proper apple stores in mainland....and there is a line to get inside lols

M3Bahn · 07-20-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuzupfoo

isnt apple not allowed in China at all? meaning no products? thats why they are paying exhorbitant amounts on eBay for unlocked iPhones right?

btw this is a pretty impressive copy!

There are many real apple stores in China and I think they sell more there than any other country.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/07/10/...-large-crowds/

Grail05 · 07-20-2011, 02:43 PM

Ive heard of everything made in china but never heard such a thing... this is funny.

M3Bahn · 07-20-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achien

it's hard to find anything real there, be it everyday staple food or vintage wine...

Very true.

Blake · 07-20-2011, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuzupfoo

isnt apple not allowed in China at all? meaning no products? thats why they are paying exhorbitant amounts on eBay for unlocked iPhones right?

btw this is a pretty impressive copy!

i've personally seen apple stores in shanghai and beijing. real ones. apple is popular in china, but most chinese can't afford it. it's very much a luxury for rich chinese.

SchlauCow · 07-20-2011, 07:37 PM

Although the Chinese have no intellectual property rights, and are cunning pirates of other folks' hard work, they will never be able to duplicate the white man's average-sized penis.

M3Bahn · 07-22-2011, 11:39 AM

Update

Fake Apple store customers are pissed.

Customers at an "Apple Store" in the Chinese city of Kunming berated staff and demanded refunds on Friday after the shop was revealed to be an elaborate fake, sparking a media and internet frenzy.

Long a target of counterfeiters and unauthorised resellers, Apple Inc was alerted to the near flawless fake shop by an American blogger living in the southwestern city, more than 1,000 miles from the nearest genuine Apple stores in Beijing and Shanghai.

"When I heard the news I rushed here immediately to get the receipt, I am so upset," a customer told Reuters. "With a store this big, it looks so believable who would have thought it was fake?"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ke-apple-store

Nutballa · 07-22-2011, 02:06 PM

Almost looks legit.

TK-421 · 07-22-2011, 02:26 PM

smh

07-20-2011, 11:50 AM	#1
M3Bahn Lieutenant 329 Rep 483 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Chinese counterfeiting extends to full-blown fake Apple retail stores Extremely detailed knock-off Apple retail stores, complete with blue t-shirt-wearing employees claiming to work for the company, have been discovered in China. According to the blog BirdAbroad (via ifoAppleStore), several counterfeit Apple stores have popped up in Kunming, China. One such location featured a winding staircase and employees in t-shirts with Apple logos and name tags. "The name tags around the necks of the friendly salespeople didn’t actually have names on them – just an Apple logo and the anonymous designation “Staff,”" the report read. The author called the store "the best ripoff store" she had ever seen, though there were several giveaways, such as the poor quality of the staircase and a sub-par paint job. Also, the stores do not appear to have upgraded to Apple's Retail 2.0 layout that uses iPads as "smart signs." According to her, the employees at the store "all genuinely think they work for Apple." After store security guards and employees prohibited her from taking photos, the author hinted that she and her husband were "two American Apple employees visiting China and checking out the local stores" and were then allowed to photograph the store. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...il_stores.html __________________ The journey is the reward.
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07-20-2011, 11:52 AM	#2
achien AC 95 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: E90 Post Members Crazy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	it's hard to find anything real there, be it everyday staple food or vintage wine... __________________ Your Supreme Leader
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07-20-2011, 12:07 PM	#3
GT3 Tim Moderator 98 Rep 1,920 Posts Drives: 2014 MB E63S Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA iTrader: (0)	Apple "Stoer" lol __________________ Tim <--- apparently likes "3" cars 2014 E63S -- The Rocket 2014 F30 328i -- Kids car 2008 E90 M3 -- Sold 2004 GT3 -- Sold 1997 M3/4 -- Sold 1995 M3 -- Sold
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07-20-2011, 12:11 PM	#4
E90SLAM Supreme Allied Commander 2016 Rep 61,781 Posts Drives: A BBS WHORE Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: . iTrader: (6) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 sDrive30i [0.00]	__________________
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07-20-2011, 12:25 PM	#5
CollinsE90 Where my bitches 784 Rep 1,924 Posts Drives: Cadillac coupe deville Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: street corner checking profits iTrader: (0)	Why is Apple worth killing over, for an Asian. I'm waiting to hear the serial killer who kills Iphone users. __________________
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07-20-2011, 12:48 PM	#6
Simsims Captain 37 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 119/220 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	whatever makes money. it's not like there's no "counterfeiting" here. See iOS 5's new notification feature vs Android. __________________ VO 1M - everything except sunroof RIP BSM 135i 2009-2011
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07-20-2011, 12:55 PM	#8
number335 Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 254 Posts Drives: E92 Coupe Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	So sad. They kid who gave up his kidney and the girl who gave up her virginity prob got counterfeit apple products in return.
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07-20-2011, 01:30 PM	#9
NYCGP WTF are you looking at? 257 Rep 1,560 Posts Drives: Bandwagon Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Jungle iTrader: (0)	And the world is complaining about our insistence to crack down on copyright infringement.... Give me a break. __________________ "It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not." -André Gide
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07-20-2011, 01:39 PM	#10
Simsims Captain 37 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 119/220 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	i think they are selling real apple products it's just not an apple owned store. __________________ VO 1M - everything except sunroof RIP BSM 135i 2009-2011
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07-20-2011, 01:42 PM	#11
wuzupfoo Lieutenant 58 Rep 424 Posts Drives: E92 M3; G30 540i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mean streets of Irvine iTrader: (3)	isnt apple not allowed in China at all? meaning no products? thats why they are paying exhorbitant amounts on eBay for unlocked iPhones right? btw this is a pretty impressive copy!
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07-20-2011, 01:49 PM	#12
infinitekidM2C Major General 4298 Rep 5,737 Posts Drives: 2019 M2 Competition Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2019 M2 COMPETITION [9.75] 2008 135i (my old car) [7.56]	they have proper apple stores in mainland....and there is a line to get inside lols
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07-20-2011, 02:43 PM	#14
Grail05 Putcha ang ganda... 292 Rep 5,438 Posts Drives: 17 F82 M4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles, Brea CA. iTrader: (10)	Ive heard of everything made in china but never heard such a thing... this is funny. __________________
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07-20-2011, 07:37 PM	#17
SchlauCow ****** 145 Rep 337 Posts Drives: Honda M6 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Radiance iTrader: (4)	Although the Chinese have no intellectual property rights, and are cunning pirates of other folks' hard work, they will never be able to duplicate the white man's average-sized penis. __________________ You will never be as complex as the strand of hair sitting on top of your head.
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07-22-2011, 11:39 AM	#18
M3Bahn Lieutenant 329 Rep 483 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Update Fake Apple store customers are pissed. Customers at an "Apple Store" in the Chinese city of Kunming berated staff and demanded refunds on Friday after the shop was revealed to be an elaborate fake, sparking a media and internet frenzy. Long a target of counterfeiters and unauthorised resellers, Apple Inc was alerted to the near flawless fake shop by an American blogger living in the southwestern city, more than 1,000 miles from the nearest genuine Apple stores in Beijing and Shanghai. "When I heard the news I rushed here immediately to get the receipt, I am so upset," a customer told Reuters. "With a store this big, it looks so believable who would have thought it was fake?" http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011...ke-apple-store __________________ The journey is the reward.
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07-22-2011, 02:06 PM	#19
Nutballa Captain 256 Rep 840 Posts Drives: BMW F13 M6 // BMW F22 M235i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Austin, Texas+ San Antonio iTrader: (1)	Almost looks legit. __________________ BMW FTW! "Power is nothing without Control" - Pirelli.
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07-22-2011, 02:26 PM	#20
TK-421 Registered Sex Offender 597 Rep 4,757 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| 1JZ S13 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	smh
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