The battle of Apple's mobile phone purchase channels: official channels vs. party channels vs. "tens of billions of subsidies"
As a fashion icon in the technology industry, Apple's products have always been favored by consumers. With the advent of the e-commerce era, the purchase channels of Apple mobile phones have become more and more diversified. In addition to the traditional official physical stores and operator channels, the e-commerce platform and the emerging purchase method of "10 billion subsidies" have also become popular choices for consumers.
Official channels and party channels, these two ways of buying have always existed. The official channel refers to Apple's self-built official flagship stores on major e-commerce platforms, and the source of goods comes from Apple, which can obtain the official authenticity guarantee and perfect after-sales service. The party channel is the store opened by other dealers on the e-commerce platform, and the source of goods needs to be purchased by themselves, and the price will be cheaper than the official channel, but the authenticity guarantee and after-sales service are relatively poor.
In recent years, the "10 billion subsidy" has emerged as a new way of purchasing, which has caused the price of Apple's mobile phone to fall again, attracting the attention of many price-sensitive consumers. The so-called "10 billion subsidy" refers to the fact that e-commerce platforms use huge amounts of money to subsidize mobile phone dealers in order to attract traffic, so that dealers can sell mobile phones at almost unprofitable prices. In this way, consumers can buy an Apple phone at a price of 400-500 yuan lower than the official channel.
However, this "cabbage price" method of buying is not all smooth sailing. There is a risk of "post-sealing the phone" in the "10 billion subsidy" channel, that is, some mobile phones are actually unactivated second-hand mobile phones, which are disguised as brand new after repackaging. In addition, due to the lack of support from the brand owner, the after-sales service of these channel merchants cannot be effectively guaranteed. Consumers who enjoy low prices also need to take certain risks.
In the face of three different purchase methods, namely official channels, party channels and "tens of billions of subsidies", how do consumers choose? Each channel has its pros and cons, and it is necessary to weigh the choice according to their actual needs. Whether it is the pursuit of quality or the pursuit of cost performance, rational consumption is the best policy.
The operation mode and potential risks of the "10 billion subsidy".
The so-called "10 billion subsidy" purchase channel is actually an e-commerce platform that uses huge amounts of money to subsidize mobile phone dealers in order to attract traffic and increase revenue, so that dealers can sell mobile phones at almost unprofitable prices. This kind of "cabbage price" marketing method has indeed benefited many price-sensitive consumers, who can buy Apple mobile phones at a price 400-500 yuan lower than the official channels.
Taking the Pinduoduo platform as an example, its "10 billion subsidy" activities are mainly divided into two modes: one is to directly connect with the brand and sell at a very low price after getting the supply; Either way, in essence, the platform allows consumers to buy products at a price close to the cost price of mobile phones through subsidies.
Although the price of the "10 billion subsidy" channel is attractive, it also has some potential risks and problems that consumers need to be cautious when purchasing:
"Back-sealing machine" risk. The so-called "back-sealing phone" refers to the fact that some mobile phones are actually unactivated second-hand phones, which are disguised as brand new after being repackaged. This kind of "copycat" mobile phone has repeatedly occurred in the "tens of billions of subsidies" channel.
Lack of after-sales guarantee supported by the brand. Due to the lack of authorization and support from the brand, after-sales service cannot be effectively guaranteed, and once there is a problem, maintenance will become a major problem.
Channel merchants are uneven. The merchants of the "10 billion subsidy" channel are mixed, some are regular dealers, and some are black-hearted merchants with no products, and it is difficult for consumers to judge their reliability.
Lack of official genuine systems and services. Mobile phones with the "10 billion subsidy" channel may not be able to get official iOS system updates and other value-added services.
First of all, it is necessary to compare the credibility of the merchant through multiple channels and choose a well-known and regular large-scale dealer; secondly, it is necessary to carefully check the packaging, appearance and other details of the mobile phone, and pay attention to it once an abnormality is found; it is also necessary to pay attention to the after-sales policy of the merchant and try to choose a merchant that provides basic maintenance services.
Compared with the "10 billion subsidy" channel, the official channel is undoubtedly the most reliable choice. Although the price is relatively high, you can get the brand's authenticity guarantee, perfect after-sales service, as well as the support of the official genuine system and value-added services. For those consumers who are looking for quality and experience, official channels are the best choice.
Rational Consumption Weigh the trade-offs of choosing the right purchase channel
In the face of three different ways to buy Apple mobile phones, namely official channels, party channels and "tens of billions of subsidies", how do consumers choose? Each channel has its pros and cons, and it is necessary to weigh the choice according to their actual needs.
Official channels are the most reliable option. If you purchase through an official physical store or an official online flagship store, you can get the brand's authenticity guarantee, perfect after-sales service support, as well as the support of the official genuine system and value-added services. Although the price is relatively high, it is the best choice for consumers who are looking for quality and experience, and have high requirements for mobile phones.
Fang channel is a cost-effective option. Although it is not possible to obtain direct support from the brand, and the authenticity guarantee and after-sales service are relatively poor, the price is often much cheaper than the official channel. For consumers with limited budgets and less demanding brand experience, the party channel can be an alternative.
The "10 billion subsidy" channel is a choice to exchange low prices for certain risks. It does make the price of Apple's mobile phone drop again, but at the same time, there are many problems such as "back sealing" and lack of brand support. This channel is more suitable for price freaks who are very price sensitive and can accept a certain amount of risk.
No matter which channel you choose, rational consumption is the most important principle. Don't be tempted by the price and buy blindly, and have a clear understanding of your actual needs. Before purchasing, you should also do your homework, understand the credibility of different channels and merchants, and try to choose regular and reliable large dealers to avoid being deceived.
In addition, we should also objectively look at the development prospects of the emerging purchase method of "tens of billions of subsidies". As a means of traffic marketing, it does bring considerable revenue to e-commerce platforms and mobile phone brands, but its sustainability and standardization are questionable. Perhaps more regulatory policies will be introduced to regulate this marketing model. Consumers should also not rely too heavily on this channel.
Among the three different purchase channels, the official channel is the most reliable choice, the party channel is a cost-effective choice, and the "10 billion subsidy" channel has certain risks and is more suitable for price maniacs. No matter which channel you choose, rational consumption is the best policy, and you must not be tempted by price and buy blindly. We should weigh the pros and cons of different channels according to our actual needs, and make the most suitable choice for ourselves, so as to enjoy the fun of technology brought by Apple's mobile phone.