Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2011/05/08/chinese_fanboiz_fight/

Chinese iPad 2 fanboiz in frenzied fight

Scalpers turn shiny toy shortage into i-Riot

By Richard Chirgwin

Posted in Channel, 8th May 2011 23:25 GMT

A favourite Apple strategy for creating fake media buzz around its products has backfired, with four people reportedly injured in a fight over iPad 2s at a Beijing Apple store.

Cupertino loves the sight of its fanboiz queuing in the street for each and every new release, like Muscovites queuing for bread in the Soviet era, so it always makes sure that it ships short on on-sale day.

Usually, the result is publicity gold, with dailies unable to resist at least a few shots of the queues and a few vox pops with suckers.

According to reports coming out of China, fights broke out in the Sanlitun, Beijing store, with as many as four people hospitalised and accusations that that an employee beat a customer with an iron rod.

PC World reports that the trouble was started when a scalper cut into the queue. ®