Apple customers are rushing to buy “iPhone” for fear of high prices due to fees

The Trump administration threats to impose huge customs duties led to a sharp decline in the price of “Apple”, but at the same time it created a short -term benefit, which was the flow of customers to retail stores to buy “iPhone”.

Employees of several branches of “Apple” in America said that the stores were crowded with shoppers last weekend, and many of them expressed concern that the prices will rise significantly after the fees were imposed.

It is noteworthy that most of the “iPhone” devices, which are the best -selling and important product for the company, are manufactured in China, which will impose customs duties up to 54%.

“The store was crowded with customers who buy phones out of panic,” he said, adding that “almost every customer asked me if the prices would rise soon.”

Holiday season

Although the crowd did not reach the level of the new “iPhone” launch, the atmosphere was more like the holiday season, according to employees, and one of them said: “People are rushing to enter while they are worried and ask questions,” adding that the company did not issue any instructions to employees on how to deal with these inquiries.

This rush has led to an increase in sales, and an informed person confirmed that Apple stores in America recorded higher sales during the weekend compared to previous years in some major markets. And a spokesman for “Apple” refused to comment.

Apple is expected to announce its results for the second fiscal quarter on the first of May, which will give CEO Tim Cook and Financial Director Kevin Balzar an opportunity to discuss the impact of the expected fees, and Cook indicated during the call of the announcement of the previous quarter results that the company is studying antiquities but it will not be attached additionally at that time.

A strong blow to stocks

Apple was hit by a strong strike in the stock market due to fears of the fees, as it lost more than half a trillion dollars in its market value in just two days, and its share recorded the worst performance in 3 days since the Internet bubble crisis in 2001.

To meet the repercussions of the fees, the company has started to accumulate inventory in advance, and it seeks to reduce future damage by directing more manufactured devices in India to the American market, where fees on Indian products are expected to be less than those imposed on China.

Apple has also worked for years to transfer part of the manufacturing operations to Vietnam, which will face fewer fees, and the company is making “Apple” watches, “Mac”, “Aerbods” and “iPad”, as well as models of “Mac” produced in Ireland, Thailand and Malaysia.

The main “Apple” store was on the fifth Avenue in New York crowded on Monday afternoon. “I was planning to buy iPhone 15 for my little sister, but when I read Wall Street this morning, I decided that the time now is right to buy,” said Apub Dbar de Elea, who is from Buenos Aires and visit New York.

Reducing high prices

Analysts are trying to estimate the impact of the 54% customs duties on prices, and some believe that the “iPhone” has been sold for two thousand dollars or more, but according to “Bloomberg” reports, Apple is likely to take several steps to reduce high prices, including pressure on suppliers and carry lower profit margins. It is reported that the main model of the iPhone still starts from $ 999 since 2017.

One of the employees said that he does not rule out that the rush will continue in the coming days. Another added that this time of the year is usually a quiet season because the new versions of the iPhone are launched in September, but many customers have decided to update now.

This wave may contribute to supporting the company’s results for the third quarter, which extends until June, as “Apple” is currently selling a stock that has already been prepared, while the actual impact of fees may only appear in the next quarter.