Knock-off versions of Apple, Inc.’s smartwatch are displayed and on sale in tech malls in China’s southern city of Shenzhen, with some Chinese customers patronizing the product.
A seller of the imitation Apple Watch who refused to give his name said that they have been constantly out of stock of the product since they began selling the watches in mid-March.
He added: “On average we sell around 40 a day. Some customers just came and bought five or more at a time.”
It is not surprising that the mimics of smartwatch gather buyers, as their price is just a fraction of the cost of the original. According to another imitation seller, the price of the watch in his store is 360 yuan ($58), just one-eighth of the price of Apple’s cheaper watch models.
The knock-off watches have different versions, but most of them are built on Google, Inc.’s operating system. One version, according to a seller, uses a SIM card, therefore could make calls, send messages and browse the Internet.
During the official Apple Store preview of the Watch in Hong Kong, only few people were waiting at the door to see the product. Some of the shoppers who were present at the store during the preview were even looking for other Apple gadgets.
Despite this situation, there are also some others who were not impressed by the imitation Apple watches. An Indian businessman named Vikram Jan, who was shopping in Shenzhen, said: “I want to buy the original one. The fake one is really bad.”
Some sellers are, however, doubtful about the impact of the knock-off versions on the sales of the genuine Apple Watches.