VietNamNet Bridge -  Privately run shops are selling iPhone 7 32GB at VND16.5 million, VND2 million lower than the price of officially distributed products.'

With iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to be put on shelves on November 11 by authorized resellers, the prices of the products have fallen considerably.

There are two groups of high-technology products available in Vietnam – products officially distributed by authorized resellers and products brought to Vietnam across the border gates by travelers or imported through unofficial channels, mostly available at private shops.

In general, new iPhone models appear at private shops soon, several days after Apple launches the first products in major markets. Officially distributed products only come after several months.

Private shops have lowered the selling prices of iPhone 7 by VND500,000-2 million. In Hanoi, iPhone 7 32GB version is now sold at VND16.5 million, while the 128GB version is below VND19 million. Only iPhone 7 256GB is still priced at more than VND20 million.

Genuine iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are scheduled to hit the shelves in the second week of November.

iPhone 7 Plus has also seen prices falling sharply by VND3-5 million compared with late September, though the selling prices are still above VND20 million. As iPhone 7 Plus is more favored by Vietnamese than iPhone, the price difference is still high at VND4 million.

According to Nguyen Huy, the representative of CellphoneS, a large mobile phone distribution chain, iPhone 7 prices fluctuate depending on sales and availability of officially distributed products.

Huy said the demand for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus has decreased by 20 percent, so the products have become less expensive than they were in September, when they first appeared in the Vietnamese market.

Jet Black also has seen the price fall. It is now just VND500,000-1 million more expensive than the other versions. In the past, Jet Black was several million dong more expensive because they were hunted by Vietnamese.

A senior executive of Hoang Ha Mobile, another distribution chain, commented that black products were in oversupply, while Jet Black was no longer a favorite as many users complained they were easily scratched. 

Genuine iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are scheduled to hit the shelves in the second week of November. 

However, authorized resellers begin taking orders on November 4. The quoted prices are VND18.89 million, VND21.79 million and VND24.69 million for iPhone 7 versions. 

As for iPhone 7 Plus, the starting price would be VND22.19 million for the 32GB version.

The news that Viettel Store begins taking orders on November 4 has surprised iPhone fans as they did not find Vietnam on the list of the markets where Apple is to launch the iPhone.



Thanh Mai