VietNamNet Bridge – The sale prices of iPhone 5 have been adjusted continually by distributors over the last few days, since the product appeared on the Vietnamese market. Vietnamese have shrunk from buying iPhone 5 after hearing about its faults.

Since September 22, or just one day after the first iPhone 5 turned up on the Vietnamese market, the posted sale prices have been adjusted regularly.

Cellphones distribution chain, which has branches in Hanoi, HCM City and Quang Ninh, at first, posted the sale prices at 27 million dong, 29.5 million dong and 32.5 million dong for 16GB, 32GB and 64 GB versions, respectively. However, just one day later, the prices were lower to 24.8, 27.5 and 29.8 million dong, decreasing sharply by 2.7 million dong.

However, while Cellphones has slashed the sales prices, other distributors have raised their prices slightly. The move by Cellphones has been explained by the fact that its initial prices were overly high, and even higher than the “ceiling level” suggested by distributors. Meanwhile, the companies, which initially set up sale prices at low levels, have raised the retail prices to ensure profit.

Muabaniphone.vn, for example, has raised the retail price by 200,000 dong for 16GB version to 24.48 million dong, by 300,000 dong to 26.78 million dong for 32GB version. Especially, every 64GB products at the distribution chain have become 600,000 dong more expensive.

In Hanoi, iShop is quoting the prices at 25.5 million dong, 27.5 million dong and 29.5 million dong for the three versions, respectively, which means the price increases of between 1.5 million dong and 2.5 million dong.

As such, with the prices up and down here and there, the domestic sale price of iPhone 5 is hovering around 24 million dong for 16GB and 29.5 million dong for 64GB versions. The price gap quoted by private shops could be up to one million dong for every version.

While the majority of Vietnamese folks think that the currently quoted prices are sky high, distributors have affirmed that despite the high prices, iPhone 5 still have been selling very well since the day it hit the Vietnamese market.

Declining to give detailed figures about the sales, but Phan Quang Minh, Manager of muabaniphone.vn, said iPhone 5 has been on high demand, predicting that the prices would move up slightly in some days.

“The main supply sources of iPhone 5 for the Vietnamese markets are Hong Kong and Singapore. Our supply is limited. It is very likely that the products would be 500,000-700,000 dong more expensive by the end of September,” Minh said.

Meanwhile, in Hanoi, dealers, though agreeing that iPhone 5 has been selling very well, affirmed that the short supply would not occur.

Nguyen Anh Van from Cellphones has denied the opinion that the sale prices would increase, saying that the supply is profuse.

An analyst has noted that Vietnamese people have become hesitant with their plan to buy iPhone 5, after local newspapers reported about the faults of the products, including the color change to yellow or the scratches with black handsets.

Hung, a member of VOZ, who said he is going to buy an iPhone 5, has advised people to check the products before taking away, and it would be better to discuss with the sellers to reach an agreement that buyers can exchange the bought products for brand new ones, in case the products have faults.

However, to date, all the big distributors, including iShop, Cellphones and muabaniphone.vn, and technology forums have confirmed that no iPhone 5 sold so far has been found as having scratches.

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