Black Market Takes Over the iPhone 6 Lines [Video]

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Posted September 21, 2014 at 11:29am by Shalom Levytam

Filmmaker Casey Neistat has posted a new video entitled 'Black Market Takes Over the iPhone 6 Lines' which offers a closer look at the lineup for the iPhone 6 in NYC.

It appears that many in line paid to be there by a middle man who takes the iPhones from users after they leave the store and likely sends them to China or other countries for sale on the black market.

It's thought that the situation this year is worsened by the delay in the approval of Apple's new smartphones for China.

Take a look at the video below and let us know what you think. Is this wrong in any way? Is being paid wait in line ok? Is it different if the device is being handed over to someone locally, rather than shipped to another country for resale?

Watch the video below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Please follow iClarified on X, Facebook, or RSS for more Apple news and videos.

[via Christina]

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vicorly - September 22, 2014 at 6:47am

Nobody ever lines up like this to buy an Android phone. Why? Because Samsung and all the other Android OEM products are LAME.

vtech - September 23, 2014 at 1:22am

It's the forbidden fruit in China. Need I say more?

paulMOGG - September 22, 2014 at 12:56am

Iit happens everywhere when a product like Apple is so special to the people they line up , people line up for others so they can get the Apple product they want... You don't see people lining up all over the world for other company products like you see for Apple products ... Why because Apple is makes great products and people want to buy their products first !

TheDean - September 22, 2014 at 12:26am

It may be legal, but no one likes hoarders. They only burden the actual end users. In fairness, resellers are not ethical and take away the fun of owning the new iphones from real users. Take, for example, a multi-billionaire who buys all the eggs in your city and resells them for double the price to you. Would you be happy? Would you think it is fair then?

gamerscul9870 - September 22, 2014 at 12:13am

Make in Chinese? There are manufactors there and here in USA. Chinese only ships iphone here to have enough to get on time. FTW

Mike Power - September 21, 2014 at 10:22pm

this is what apple is all about, does not care about anybody, they just care about money. $100 cost to build a phone sold for $900, they make more money selling it like that than selling it to the phone companies. That's why they pre-order to all phone companies, so they can ship only was sold. Apple is a ripp off, they are running a monopoly and nobody does or says anything about it. no other company can or will sell anything apple. I had with this crap. somebidy needs to do something, vanish or just simply poof !!! Apple.

Ken - September 22, 2014 at 2:02am

Look up the word monopoly, you have no idea what it means.

Francisco Visconti - September 21, 2014 at 9:13pm

Completely ridiculous and irrelevant video/article. What matters to apple or matters period is the fact that people (resellers or not) are sacrificing their time/health/sleep/whatever for these products. I know I line up yearly cause I love them and want their product ASAP but still... Sacrifice and dedication is what matters and what shows the will power thats leads us to get whatever we want if we really work for it.

justabrake - September 21, 2014 at 10:04pm

Absolutely wrong apple tried to stop selling to these resellers a few years ago Apple cuts them off and tried to only serve credit card customers NO CASH but was shot down and had to accept cash customers So apple tried to rid them !

no_ma'am - September 21, 2014 at 8:45pm

This was pointless. Last I checked this was America and we are free. Who cares what you do with your money or iPhone?

Darrell - September 21, 2014 at 8:44pm

Here in Manila, Philippines they're now selling the iPhone 6/Plus for as high as 100,000+ PhP (roughly 2,300+ USD); some people actually willing to pay just to be the first ones to have them.

Miami Hype - September 21, 2014 at 7:16pm

Who really cares? You act like if you don't get the phone the second it comes out, that means you'll never get one. If you don't want to pre-order, or wait in line on release day, then wait until the hype dies down (a month or so) and walk in the store and buy one. If there is a resale market and these people are willing to wait in line, good for them.

justabrake - September 21, 2014 at 5:11pm

Apple sees the demised of the once happy lines

Pr0toc0L - September 21, 2014 at 5:08pm

This is stupid, the fact that the moral integrity of transactions is being questioned here. The reason for this happening is precisely because of Apple fans elsewhere. Wouldnt be any different than us paying the price for them to do the same in their country.

reply - September 21, 2014 at 4:31pm

its not about racisim. Its about the spirit. Yes, they're waiting in line like everyone else.. but theyre blocking real fans and people who want the device for themselves from buying. Thats not cool. Another thing - if this were about racism then chinese people wouldnt be the only ones singled out. Get your thinking right.

tubex45 - September 21, 2014 at 4:47pm

They're blocking real fans? you got to be kidding me. If you're a real fan, why don't you line up 3 weeks in advance then so you're the first in line. You tell me what law they broje here by lining up and buying a phone?

soydepr - September 21, 2014 at 9:30pm

bc real fans are smart and productive

soydepr - September 21, 2014 at 4:30pm

this is sad apple has not done anything to avoid this. people who truly support apple get hurt by this, easy to solve, first 2 weeks only sell to people upgrading their phone , meaning you have to activate your phone at the store ....

sillydrew - September 21, 2014 at 5:14pm

I'm not agreeing with the persons comment but I think you can wait or make a sacrifice like everyone else. You could have either woke up early or get in line. It's that simple. If you don't do those it's called being patient and stop whining.

tubex45 - September 21, 2014 at 4:09pm

That is free enterprise. You want a phone? pre-order it online so you don't have to stand in line with them.

iHA69 - September 21, 2014 at 3:57pm

I will never understand why people would wait in such an awful line.. I got my 6 while going to my tmobile store at 6AM and got it..

justabrake - September 21, 2014 at 2:49pm

First off to me this is NOT a crime it's just business it's what's available and in demand! But these resellers do this every year. You'll hardly see any other buyers in line anymore in NYC!

Byrnebabybyrne o - September 21, 2014 at 1:59pm

The most effective way would be the first 50,100,200 (depending on the store supply) should be CREDIT CARD only!! I understand the need for anonymity but those who need to be anomymous need to be put on hold or be the 51st, 101st, 201st one in line for at least the first week of a release.

Alex - September 21, 2014 at 12:47pm

RTE: i know it's not about that and don't have any problem with that really,by living in England for couple of years I met lots of people from different countries and plenty of them are my friends,I just wanted to mention that as it wasn't giving me the feeling that I'm queuing for the new iPhone 6.