Recent events have stirred activity as President Trump announced new tariffs on imports from overseas last week. In response to concerns about potential price hikes, a surge of customers is heading to Apple Stores to purchase new iPhones and other devices before prices escalate.
Consumers rushing to buy iPhones ahead of imminent price increases due to US tariffs
According to staff members from various Apple Stores across the United States, there has been a notable uptick in demand for products, particularly iPhones, following the tariff announcements. These employees noted that numerous customers are inquiring about projected price hikes due to the freshly imposed tariffs.
“Nearly every customer I interacted with asked if prices would rise soon,” shared one Apple employee. “People are rushing in, anxious and seeking information,” remarked another employee.
Sources with insider information indicate that Apple has not issued any directives to retail employees regarding how to handle these inquiries or the influx of customers. Some employees have likened the current rush to the lines seen during new iPhone launches or the holiday shopping season. Further, social media platforms like Reddit are abuzz with reports of customers making purchases of new Macs this week amidst tariff apprehensions.
The US government plans to impose a 34% tax on products from China and a 26% tax on those from India, where Apple assembles a significant portion of its devices. Trump defends the new tariffs as “reciprocal” measures against the fees these nations currently impose on US imports.
While Apple remains reticent about future developments, a report surfaced this morning indicating that the company has dispatched five planes loaded with products from both India and China over the past few days. This strategy aims to maintain a sufficient inventory of products, allowing prices to remain stable for a longer duration.
Additionally, reports suggest that Apple is considering bolstering its production facilities in Brazil in collaboration with Foxconn, particularly because Brazil’s tax rate of 10% is lower than those of China and India. Since the announcement of the tariffs last week, Apple’s stock has declined by over 18%, a trend mirrored by other US corporations.
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