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Apple Bans Online Sales In Japan
siddesu writes "Large retail stores in Japan were ordered a week ago to stop selling Apple products online (Google translation; Japanese original). The comments in the Japanese business newspapers suggest that Apple believes online shopping confers an aura of 'cheapness' on its products; but surely killing the Apple store's competition must have entered into the calculation. As of today, most of the largest retailers have notices on their Apple catalog pages asking you to visit the shop if you want to acquire a piece of magic. It seems that for the moment the campaign is aimed at the big fish, as smaller shops still seem to be selling Apple products."
What, banning online sales to force people to buy at retail (and likely from Apple Stores)? It's at least an anti-consumer move.
I seem to have missed the part where you explain how this is evil.
An antitrust case against Apple would really be fun to watch - all those fanboys squirming.
Fanboys wouldn't be the only ones squirming. Imagine how the inflated stock price of AAPL would collapse if an antitrust case with chances of success would be made against Apple.
That is simply not true. A lot of luxury, expensive goods are very restricted by their manufacturers. Apple is trying to position itself alongside Ferraris and Rolexes.
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it