zlacker

There may be people buying iPhones for rubles, selling them online for other currencies, and then exchange it back to rubles for a profit. If that is indeed happening, I imagine apple would want to stop it before other markets are affected by side imports.

>>TorKli+(OP)
Yes, but there's a simpler explanation as well: they would probably rather not be paid in Rubles for concern that the Rubles will be worth significantly less by the time Apple is able to exchange them for USD (or whatever other currency) than the Rubles were when the price was set.

>>TorKli+(OP)
> There may be people buying iPhones for rubles, selling them online for other currencies, and then exchange it back to rubles for a profit.

Why would you do that sort of roundabout route when you could just trade rubles for other currencies directly?

Plus selling the phone back to get rubles doesn't seem like a smart move unless you think you've timed the bottom and the ruble isn't going to slip further against the dollar. Doesn't seem like people really think that.

At the moment, people would rather hold iPhones than rubles. I don't think that's in an attempt to turn a profit, it's just because an iPhone (or a major appliance, or a computer) is perceived to be a better store of value than rubles. Which given how electronics depreciate, is a really bad sign.

>>Kadin+z7
If Apple is slow to update its prices online you have a clear arbitrage opportunity.

>>Kadin+z7
I was reading an article that until recently, iPhones cost less in Russia vs the nearby EU countries so there were lots bought in Russia from other EU countries.

>>TorKli+(OP)
It's exactly what's been happening for some time in October-November, RUB was devaluing so fast, that it became profitable to buy iphones in Russia and sell them in Europe.

That time they've raised the prices to compensate without closing the shop altogether.