Month: September 2012

For the issue of selling unauthorized iPhones is becoming increasingly severe in the past few years, new purchase restrictions were placed by Apple on its latest iPhone 5 in fighting against unauthorized resellers. In Canada, which also has a large gray market for unlocked iPhones, many resellers claimed that they were shocked by the new system which requires specially designated Apple ID and a credit card to order and limits the number of the devices a single customer can buy to be no more than two. It’s no longer just simply lining up, the new purchase restrictions definitely stopped many resellers from making a huge profit as a 16G iphone 5 may easily be sold at $1000 in China. However, the issue of gray market is still severe since resellers begin seeking ways to go around the restrictions. According to my personal experience, many of my friends were hired by those unauthorized resellers. They just need to simply purchase it and give it to resellers; then they can earn at least $100 profit as an exchange. Thus, although Apple’s new restrictions are a brilliant start in fighting against gray market, but further considerations are absolutely needed.

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-09/21/content_15773048.htm

Ever since 2008 Beijing Olympics, many private businesses in major Chinese cities began to seize the opportunity of Bicycle Rental Service due to the overwhelming positive reputation it gained during the Olympic times. Since bikes do not drink gasoline and releases no pollution to the environment, it seems to be a better option to choose bikes over cars while traveling in cities.

However, as an increasing number of rental bike booths begin to spread across china, some negative sides of this service are getting revealed to the society.

One factor affecting the service is that it earns really low profit. Although people are getting used to rent bikes, most of them simply ride less than an hour per rent which means no payment is required after they have purchased a membership card. Businesses cannot have enough income to cover their cost.

Another factor is that the reliance on cars still exists among residents in China. Most people still prefer cars as driving shows their superior social status. Thus, still not many people use the service.

After all, the Bicycle Rental Service is eco-friendly. But if there’s no profit, who is going to run it?

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-09/24/content_15776608.htm

Ajisen Ramen is one of the largest noodle chains in Asia. It is well-known for its nutritious pork bone soup noodles. In Ajisen’s advertisement, It claims its soup was prepared by boiling pork bones for 20 hours and is rich in calcium 4 times that of milk and 10 times that of ordinary meat dishes. Many people came to Ajisen because of its soup. However, it was proven false by the Chinese authorities in Aug.2011. It was later revealed that the soup was made by diluting concentrated bag soup into water.  Ajisen’s advertisement was only valid based on its report of its concentrated soup bag. Its actual soup is diluted 36 times which cannot be called nutritious at all. The Ajisen business was hurt badly in Asia by the crisis. Customers no longer look forward to Ajisen soup because they have lost trust towards the company. Therefore, the Ajisen Ramen scandal is about a food chain lying about the ingredient of its main food product which had misled its customers to think the product is nutritious but it’s actually not. Ajisen betrayed customers’ trust, sneak through the leak of authorities, and utilized its popularity of the brand to overstate its product in attracting customers.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/china24/20110803/114447.shtml

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