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Apple store employee refuse to sell to customer, cause she spoke Farsi


118 replies to this topic * * * * * 2 votes

#1 ManiD

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 15:44

Source: http://9to5mac.com/2...rofiling-video/





Quote

UPDATE: On Tuesday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and National Iranian American Council called upon Apple to change its policy and take appropriate steps to guarantee further enforcement of the policy will not impede on Iranian’s rights in the United States.

The press releases: 9to5Mac contacted Apple and the councils and will update again if they issue a comment.
An Apple Store in Georgia apparently refused to sell iOS devices to an Alpharetta woman and her uncle, because they spoke Farsi to each other.
Sahar Sabet, 19, is a United States citizen and student at the University of Georgia. She and her uncle were recently shopping for an iPad and iPhone at an Apple Store in the North Pointe Mall. They were conversing in Farsi, a Persian-Iranian language, when an employee overheard them and asked what language they were speaking.
According to WSBTV, the woman answered, but then the Apple employee said, “I just can’t sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations.”
Another customer, Zack Jafarzadeh, apparently received the same treatment at a different Apple Store in the Perimeter Mall in Atlanta. He recently accompanied a friend who tried to buy an iPhone.
“We never talked about him going back to Iran or anything like that. He was just speaking full-fledged Farsi and the representative came back and denied our sale,” said Jafarzadeh to WSBTV. “I would say if you’re trying to buy an iPhone, don’t tell them anything about Iran. That would be your best bet.”
Sabet returned to the North Point Apple Store on Monday with WSBTV’s Amy Napier Viteri, and they caught the same employee describing an Apple policy on camera that allegedly prohibits the sale of products to Iranians. A manager even presented the duo with the policy, which said the exportation, sale, or supply of Apple products from U.S. to Iran is not allowed without prior authorization by the federal government. The manager explained Apple Stores have to “rely on customers to be honest.”

Sabet and Jafarzadeh asserted that the Apple Stores in question racially profiled Iranians and discriminated against them, while noting Apple’s policy is both confusing and inconsistent. Sabat even called corporate customer relations to complain. An employee apologized and suggested she purchase the iPad online.
A representative for the U.S. State Department clarified to Viteri that it is illegal to enter Iran with “laptops or satellite cellphones” without U.S. consent, but she also admitted being unfamiliar with “Apple enforcing that law.”



#2 grik

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 15:59

USA has bad relations with some/many countries, but they also fund/sell alot weapons to those same countries.
I read the other week USA broke the record on arms selling last year, many Billions sold in weapons. So they expect the same weapons wont end up shooting their troops? of course they will :( Aparently it compensates the many lives lost :(

The irony on this. I know it sounds like offtopic, but its not, its all about the money not the language or religion as they intend to disguise like it.
Im Pro USA, they are active on peace, but sometimes its also all about money, like in Iraq.

#3 Colin McGregor

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:10

So how did apple become airport security? Let the airports decide what goes into iran.

#4 Ci7

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:16

it is really annoying when someone doesn't speak the most common language (as in most people around him would understand)

#5 +Spirit Dave

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:16

My thoughts are this will be cleared up very quickly by Apple's PR dept, or even maybe by Tim Cook himself. What a disgrace. Silly.

#6 Miuku.

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:18

View PostCi7, on 20 June 2012 - 16:16, said:

it is really annoying when someone doesn't speak the most common language (as in most people around him would understand)
I'll have to tell all the English speaking people to stop using it over here then and shut up instead.

#7 Ci7

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:19

still this “I just can’t sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations.”

doesn't make sense , you are an apple employee not US Ministry of foreign affairs!!!!!

#8 Colin McGregor

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:20

View PostCi7, on 20 June 2012 - 16:16, said:

it is really annoying when someone doesn't speak the most common language (as in most people around him would understand)

it is even more annoying when someone doesn't watch a video before making a comment (as in most people on the page would).

#9 FrancoisC

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:22

For it to happen in 2 different store, I think they are some things they didn't tell....

#10 OP ManiD

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:24

I'm Persian, I could even understand the this restriction for the purpose of exporting but walking in as a normal customer and buying it for yourself...

In one word: Stupid!

#11 Ci7

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:27

View PostMiuku., on 20 June 2012 - 16:18, said:

I'll have to tell all the English speaking people to stop using it over here then and shut up instead.
for a starter i am not American nor British

don't get me wrong

#12 -Razorfold

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:30

View PostCi7, on 20 June 2012 - 16:19, said:

still this “I just can’t sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations.”

doesn't make sense , you are an apple employee not US Ministry of foreign affairs!!!!!
Technically, part of what he said is correct. The US prohibits trade with Iran, NK etc, doing it would be against US trade laws and well obviously illegal.

HOWEVER, she's a US citizen buying in America so it was just stupidity on the store managers part (who the hell cares what language you speak? I know Chinese people who speak fluent french, does that mean they're French?). If she was in Iran and tried to buy a laptop and get it shipped there, then yes Apple legally cannot sell her that laptop.

#13 Rudy

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:31

Apple did what they have to do by law. Here's quote from the article

Quote

So she was surprised Thursday when an employee at the Apple Store inside North Pointe Mall in Alpharetta refused to sell an iPad to her and her uncle after overhearing them speaking Farsi. The iPad was to be a gift for her cousin who lives in Iran.
Source: http://www.reddit.com/tb/vamjs

They're not allowed to sell a product to someone who is planning on breaking the embargo (unless they don't know about it obviously)

#14 Mr.XXIV

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:33

I'm only a Jamaican/American, but I'm still offended due to discrimination, as long as you know how it feels at least.

#15 threetonesun

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Posted 20 June 2012 - 16:47

It was the "we're sending this to Iran" part that stopped the transaction, not the speaking Farsi.

Plus, as they noted, you can buy it online. As you should with Apple products, their salespeople are quite ... unhelpful.