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hillsfarJul 21, 2011
Let's give credit to the ORIGINAL blog, rather than what geekfill has completely taken all the pictures of, and copied.
http://birdabroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/are-you-listening-steve-jobs/
hackiewackieJul 21, 2011
Just a thought, I don't think Digg would've promoted "The original blog" on the front page.
No, I don't work with geekfill or know them by any chance.
charlotte_webJul 21, 2011
The copycat blog doesn't even get the gender of the original blog writer correct, he's in such a rush to steal the images and repost.
Copycat blog reporting on copycat Apple Stores.
johnnysoftwareJul 21, 2011
LOL, ironic. I was thinking the same thing myself.
ultramagnus0001Jul 21, 2011
I tried submitting the original blog yesterday, but I think the HTTPS link caused an error on Digg. It wouldn't let me post it. Wouldn't have made it to top anyways, because I'm not popular/power digger.
samizazaJul 21, 2011
I like the crazy dildo drinks in the second pic.
asrrin29Jul 21, 2011
Why no link to the actual blog? Why no proof that it's actually fake? WHY LINK TO THIS STUPID BLOG SPAM???
harrypowersJul 21, 2011
So we can make some clever jokes by juxtaposing words and inserting a popular meme as a punch line. For example one might connect the words Apple and Tattoo in a humorous way.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
hagbardceline23Jul 21, 2011
there is a link to the original blog, look closer next time
daimposterJul 21, 2011
VERY hidden. Kind of like the small print on products but even harder to find.
hediggmeJul 20, 2011
How do you know it's fake?
hediggmeJul 20, 2011
Fakeness confirmation: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-07/20/fake-apple-stores
ant01n3Jul 21, 2011
no proof of nothing
kingfootJul 21, 2011
Last photo; "Apple Stoer"
ant01n3Jul 21, 2011
still can be a legitimate "stoer"... may be not
nullcodesJul 21, 2011
Update: Wired.co.uk has independently confirmed this to be an unauthorised Apple Store.
shark72Jul 21, 2011
"How do you know it's fake?"
It's not like this is a hotly debated mystery. Apple's lists of official stores and premium resellers is both known and finite. The fake store isn't on either of those lists.
hediggmeJul 21, 2011
None of which is mentioned in that article. They put in a link to the source after people called it out here.
tomt127Jul 21, 2011
No apples or for that matter no fruit at all.
ophelloJul 21, 2011
Common sense and logic. Apple posts the location of their stores, dumb s**t.
mcuthbertJul 21, 2011
I'd be interested to know what their fake prices were like.
chongqingkingJul 22, 2011
as a freaking resident of Kunming, that authorized Apple store is real... but small kiosk selling fake iphone4 in front of Kunming's Carrefour supermarket sells for 400 rmb (US$60)
camaroz06Jul 21, 2011
f**k Geekfill for putting a small little source link at the bottom of their copied and pasted images. Do something about this s**t digg.
The original blog post is actually informative, the geekfill garbage adds nothing. Xraymaster is just as guilty for posting the geekfill s**t instead of the original blog post.
Rant over.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2011
I've seen complete, working, fully functional, counterfeit playstation 2s, psps, nintendo ds systems and CISCO routers and switches. SOMETIMES THEY ARE MADE WITH SUPERIOR PARTS!
This is the cost of doing business in China, they rip off out IP in business AND in the military.
Ben_BerryJul 20, 2011
what is it with fake stuff in China today; did the webiverse just discover all this?
rattelerJul 21, 2011
Careful. Emperor Jobs may sick his iTroopers on you.
weirddemonJul 21, 2011
Apparently there's three of these stores there. That's kind of crazy
kdrummerJul 21, 2011
Can anyone actually prove that this is fake? I understand that there is no Apple owned/operated store in Kunming, but there is CERTAINLY an Apple authorized reseller in Kunming.
(4th store on the list)
http://store.apple.com.au/asia/FMPro?-db=asiachannelweb.fp5&-format=/asia/svclocateresults.html&-lay=web&-sortfield=level&-sortfield=tradingas&viaProduct=3&country=China&-find=
I think it would be an interesting twist if it's truly an authorized reseller and the employees don't realize this. It would take some shady management to tell people they're working for Apple when they're really just a reseller.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2011
you've never been to Asia I'm assuming
charlotte_webJul 21, 2011
A link to the original blog that posted the pictures, look at the final picture:
http://birdabroad.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/are-you-listening-steve-jobs/
Doesn't get more conclusive than that.
kdrummerJul 21, 2011
I've been there. It still leaves the question to be answered: Is one of the retailers in question the same as the Apple Authorized Service Provider that I linked to above (which doesn't seem to work)?
This is a google link that seems to work better.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstore.apple.com.au%2Fasia%2FFMPro%3F-db%3Dasiachannelweb.fp5%26-format%3D%2Fasia%2Fsvclocateresults.html%26-lay%3Dweb%26-sortfield%3Dlevel%26-sortfield%3Dtradingas%26viaProduct%3D3%26country%3DChina%26-find%3D&ei=-j0oTuKUEY3rgQfq7rFc&usg=AFQjCNFTw33KMjGo_7LHCrk3r_x7zxocxw
If not, here's the information directly from the Apple web site.
Kun Ming South Origin Computer Co.Ltd (email)
No.14,Yuantong North Road, Kunming, Yunnan
Kunming
Telephone: 0871-3188086
*The email address is an @nfy.cn, and www.nfy.cn certainly looks like a reseller page, but I can't read any of it
The blog infers, but isn't conclusive on the single issue that I'm talking about. I see the following most likely possibilities:
1) These establishments are all complete fake/counterfeit
2) One of them is an authorized service provider that has a counterfeit retail environment (not an authorized reseller).
3) One of them is an authorized reseller (not Apple operated) who misspelled "Store" on the outside and is also violating Apple standards by representing themselves as an actually Apple owned/operated store.
The 3rd one doesn't seem as likely. My money is on these being total rip-offs, but nobody has yet confirmed that one of these isn't an establishment that is at least partially licensed by Apple. All I ask is that someone reference this Kun Ming South Origin Computer Co.Ltd and see if the address is the same as one of the knock offs. There's certainly shadiness going on, but I'm looking for the one detail that's been bugging me. I can't seem to find it.
nullcodesJul 21, 2011
Update: Wired.co.uk has independently confirmed this to be an unauthorised Apple Store.
kdrummerJul 21, 2011
I've read the article. Other than the text, "Wired.co.uk has independently confirmed this to be an unauthorised Apple Store." they don't actually answer my question. I'll ask again:
Do any of the fake stores match up to the two Apple Authorized service providers that are currently in Kunming?
Interestingly enough, wired.co.uk only mentions one store, when the original blog mentions MULTIPLE such stores.
kdrummerJul 21, 2011
So clearly I can't seem to get the link right. You'll see the page if you google "apple authorized service provider kunming". It's the first search result.
(hopefully I haven't messed up yet again)
johnomazzJul 21, 2011
Heres the question though...are they selling authentic Apple products? If so, then its it truely fake?
weirddemonJul 21, 2011
Regardless, it's not owned by Apple. Some other company is making a profit on their name.
cdnphotoJul 21, 2011
I'm not sure how much it's really hurting Apple. Sure, they'll probably tell them to stop or turn them into official dealers, but if they're selling real Apple products, then they're just a reseller that uses the same furniture and layout as the Apple Store.
Just shows you that there is a high demand for Apple products in China.Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
charlotte_webJul 21, 2011
You have to pay a steep licensing fee to Apple to become an Authorized Reseller. I guarantee you they are not paying the licensing fee.
Plus, they are damaging the Apple brand by masquerading as Apple. What happens when people got there and get terrible customer service? Apple's brand is damaged.
johnomazzJul 21, 2011
Heh, I've gotten more than enough bad service from Apple when I owned an iPhone. Whether its 1-800-fakeapple or 1-800-applecare, its all bad service.
lump1Jul 21, 2011
I suspect that those are "real" Apple products - but you see, real Apple products are just as Chinese as Apple knock-offs. Many factories in China are making Apple's devices. If a few are running their production lines after hours and selling the devices thus produced in a fake Apple store without Apple even knowing about their existence, does that make them "fake" Macbooks? Many Americans, and probably most Chinese people, would find these to be real enough. Sometimes it's hard to say what's real.
dudeawesomeJul 21, 2011
thanks Morpheus
Closed AccountJul 21, 2011
I've seen working cisco counterfeits as well as ipods and macbooks.
It's completely possible and actually very likely
nullcodesJul 23, 2011
Uh, yeah it is .. what happens when you try to install a patch or get support and Apple is like "umm, we don't recognize that serial number" or even worse you get a duplicate serial number.
Closed AccountJul 21, 2011
they could be working counterfeits, I've seen them
colinwalcottJul 21, 2011
There is a rumor that the same thing was going to be done in Markham, ON CANADA (Renovation of Pacific Mall, @ Steeles and Kennedy Rd, north-east corner) but this is the 1st time I actually seen something like it anywhere in the world….what’s the return policy on a fake??
u2canfailJul 21, 2011
When you let the Chinese build your product, s**t happens?
charlotte_webJul 21, 2011
Nice racist sentiment there.
wilhoitmJul 21, 2011
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
odkinJul 21, 2011
When will we ever understand that America's competitor/enemies just don't play fair?
berkanaJul 21, 2011
For a society that has a culture of shame which takes great offense at being embarrassed, China's entrepreneurs sure do a lot of bald-faced brazenly shameful and embarrassing things.
macromorganJul 21, 2011
Copying isn't shameful to them. Remember, they're "communist," at least when it suits their needs. If one person created it, it can be taken for the common good.
nullcodesJul 21, 2011
I think you're confusing Chinese and Japanese culture.
berkanaJul 23, 2011
No; if you look at China's way of equivocating and denying embarrassing things and reacting in anger when they've been embarrassed in the past, I would say it's a combination of the Communist authoritarian tendency to want to censor embarrassing news and the Chinese variant of the culture of shame. It is not exclusive to Japan.
ryanwbJul 21, 2011
Huhu, "Kumming"
volaitle86Jul 21, 2011
KUMMIN ON OVER CHInA
touchy610Jul 21, 2011
"Kunming", actually.
pocketkingJul 22, 2011
Everyone in China knows very well this is a fake Apple store, since Apple heavily promoted their 4 official stores like mad.
Other than them using the term "Apple Store" and a bunch of desks with ipads on them, this is no different from your local Best Buy.
China is a big country, with only 4 stores in the very large cities, ppl can't afford to fly to another city to buy a phone.
According to: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/07/21/china-fake-apple-store-clerk-speaks-out/
This store provides a channel for ppl to try out the products, buy them, and service them.
The products they sell most likely are gray market ones that are brought in from the cities with official stores, or other countries. Apple still gets the sale, but these ppl charge a "convenience fee". If you want to buy sth that's not available locally, would you want to fly there to get it or have someone charge a convenience fee to ship it over? This does one better and let you try it out. Not to mention all the price gauging that happens on Craigslist when Apple releases a new product and ppl hoard them over here as well.
While this is crossing the line in terms of brand/trademark infringement. I would say given the local situation it is the best thing customers got. You may argue that it might damage Apple's image if they don't provide the level of service, but Apple is not losing sales here. Apple should either open up more stores, or let dealers get authorized more easily. It's not like ppl selling on craigslist aren't using the Apple brand and exchanging goods on the gray market anyways.
dwhsJul 22, 2011
bunch of wannabe's
monks77Jul 21, 2011
What, plastic fake? Decorative fake? What?
aprototypeJul 21, 2011
lol iFONEY!!!
onlinecollegeguruJul 21, 2011
wtf.....
diggzaurusJul 21, 2011
Crazy....
twantomJul 21, 2011
this is not a surprise to me @ all. And the west should start finding ways to clip this sino piracy issue - or just GET USED TO IT.
latinglamorousJul 21, 2011
expected!!
HTTP4O4Jul 21, 2011
They should call it the Fapple Store
JohnHsiaoJul 21, 2011
I am in south China, but I use not Apple.
ophelloJul 21, 2011
You use not english.
JohnHsiaoJul 22, 2011
The concernancy, sir?
ophelloJul 22, 2011
lol...ok. come back in a couple years.
chancecmichaelsJul 21, 2011
Crazy
colinwalcottJul 21, 2011
There is a rumor that the same thing was going to be done in Markham, ON CANADA (Renovation of Pacific Mall, @ Steeles and Kennedy Rd, north-east corner) but this is the 1st time I actually seen something like it anywhere in the world….what’s the return policy on a fake??
SurajannakeJul 21, 2011
this is chinise talent,,,ha ha ha
cdhoskinsJul 21, 2011
Just amazing,,,lol...
Closed AccountJul 21, 2011
funny
SNR3TDJul 21, 2011
I can't wait to see what apple actually does? sue them?...
steveshashaJul 21, 2011
It will be epic battle.
furandamanJul 21, 2011
amazing
mogwuyJul 21, 2011
Yeah id like to take a closer look at there equipment.
taw_bdJul 21, 2011
amazing....dont mess with china steve jobs.....DONT!!!
pepe08Jul 21, 2011
wow!! looks entire authentic if u're not expert for example me, but what about the products r also fake?
ancientdinkoJul 21, 2011
probably not but its interesting that genuine apple products are MADE in china
ancientdinkoJul 21, 2011
that said... the apple products in this store are most likely returns, rebuilds and rejects
caseycooldJul 21, 2011
Is it really so hard to spell out your thoughts? You are not limited to 160 characters. "You", "are". And "stupid" is clearly written in there somewhere.
KindleClayJul 21, 2011
china would copy a company from a greater nation. That's communisim for you! :)
caseycooldJul 21, 2011
China is to communism as the USA is to democracy.
mikepictorJul 21, 2011
....that's a brilliant quote.
I'm keeping it.
ailisJul 21, 2011
my sunglasses store:www.raybanlenses.com,welcome to come。