Apple has implemented an interested system to fight those pesky scalpers who spoiled a recent iPhone 4S launch in Mainland China. A newly set up page on the Hong Kong Apple online store has a lottery system of sorts for iPhone reservations that appears to target scalpers employing bots from snatching up all the iPhones everyday. Rather than reserve their iPhone on a first-come-first-serve basis, customers are now required to provide full details, including a government-issued photo ID matching the name and ID number.
In addition, this lottery seems to be valid during a three-hour window each day. Those who “won” a reservation spot will be informed by email before 9 p.m. Interestingly, Apple specifically said it will not be selling iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S to walk-in customers. Previously, the reservation system would open at a random time and it would often fail as bots kept pinging the server all day, meaning reservations would be gone in less than a minute.
Perhaps Apple is keen on implementing this system in Mainland China and possibly elsewhere? Apple’s full message is included after the break…
As you know, scalpers are pretty organized, hiring migrant workers to stand in the line and buy the iPhone. When Apple closed the Sanlitun store due to large crowds, the workers—identifiable by matching armbands or hats— became angry, because they were not going to be paid.
- iPhone 4S pre-orders sell out in Hong Kong in 10 minutes, supply elsewhere “still a gating factor” (9to5mac.com)
- No more iPhones in Beijing and Shanghai ‘for the time being’, Apple warns as analysts criticize China launch delays (9to5mac.com)
