Apple has started the official sale of the iPhone 15 Series on September 22. The new iPhones have seen huge demand in India, as well as global markets with the introduction of a new design and the USB Type-C port. India, China, and the UK are currently facing a waiting time of 8 weeks for the iPhone 15 Pro.
The high demand for the iPhone 15 Series has given rise to black marketing of the new iPhones. Users have reported that some offline stores are charging up to Rs 20,000 extra for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in addition to the MRP.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Selling for Rs 20,000 Extra in Offline Markets
The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have seen a four-fold demand as compared to the regular iPhone 15. The titanium frame and the new action button have attracted a large audience towards the Pro models this year.
Apple currently has three official ways to sell its iPhones in India.
- Apple Online Store (Apple.com)
- Apple Exclusive Offline Stores (Mumbai and Delhi)
- Apple Official Resellers (Unicorn, Aptronix, Imagine Online, etc.)
However, the popularity of iPhones is such that even smaller retail shops sell the latest iPhones, which are sourced from overseas markets such as Dubai, USA, Japan, etc.
News18 Tech has reported that some offline retail stores in India are demanding anywhere between Rs 6,000 – Rs 20,000 extra for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The premium can vary depending on the storage variant and the colour of the iPhone.
A retailer in Karol Bagh, New Delhi, is reportedly selling the iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB Titanium Blue for Rs 1,51,000. The quoted price is Rs 6,000 extra over the actual MRP of Rs 1,44,990 for the same model in India.
Another shopkeeper in Thane, Mumbai, has been alleged to demand Rs 2,32,000 for the 1TB variant of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is Rs 32,000 extra over the official MRP of Rs 1,99,900.
As per reports, the Natural Titanium colour of the iPhone 15 Pro Max has seen the highest demand among users, resulting in at least Rs 10,000 extra over MRP in retail markets.
It is worth noting that Apple is struggling to upscale the production of the Pro model iPhones. Limited manufacturing capacity in China, shortage of 3nm based A17 Pro chips by TSMC, and the difficulties in developing the titanium frame are some of the reasons behind the shortage of iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the global markets.
Black Marketing Is Not the Only Problem for Apple Enthusiasts
Since the launch day on September 22, Apple users have reported complaints about unethical business practices by Apple’s Official Resellers in India. Unicorn Store, which is one of the largest official Apple resellers in the country, was forcing users to buy screen protector and back cover bundles with the iPhone 15 Pro. Otherwise, the store was cancelling the pre-orders of users if the user declined to oblige.
Another incident surfaced online, where a Croma Store was forcing a customer to purchase Apple Care+ along with their iPhone 15 Pro. The store threatened to cancel the order when the user refused to buy the device with Apple Care+. Things escalated to the extent that the customer and shopkeeper indulged in a physical fight.
The high demand for the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max has resulted in multiple malpractices and black marketing of the new iPhones in India. Apple users are only left with two choices, either to wait for almost 2 months to get their device officially from Apple, or to bow down to the greed of opportunists by paying extra over the actual price.
Apple is expected to increase production of the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max by November. Until then, users should not encourage the black marketing of the new iPhones, and stick to the official channels of Apple for their purchase.
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