Fake Apple Store Spotted in Iraq

[Phillip Swanson]

The Apple Store pictured above looks more than a little off doesn't it? Especially when you notice the giant Nokia box in the bottom portion of the display case just to the left of the entrance. Not very Apple-esque.

Apparently developing nations is where its at when it comes to incredibly brave (stupid) attempts to produce not only counterfeit Apple products, but the entire retail experience. A fake Apple store spotted in Sulaimaniya, in North Iraq, is just the latest example. While not as convincing as its Chinese counterparts, this fake Apple Store tries its best. However, its best includes a number of cell phones and electronics that clearly aren't Apple products. Also, when was the last time Apple displayed Ray-Ban sunglasses at the front of their store?

The only Apple products that can be somewhat identified are a few MacBooks, iTunes gift cards and MagSafe adapters, the rest of the products appear to be a hodgepodge of electronics a la Radio Shack minus the depressed looking employees. All fake Apple Stores are not created equal it appears, as the Chinese counterfeits sold legit Apple products and had everything down to a T, including the genius bar and Steve Jobs-patented laniards.

It isn't know if Apple has plans to shut down the store, or whether its worth flying their team of anti-counterfeit operatives to the troubled nation to shut down a decidedly subpar operation.

Source:Redmond Pie

[Lamborghini615]

there are Apple stores in Iraq? Are there any Apple stores in Syria? LOL

[vruls]

This just seems like a normal store whose board is the apple logo

[Colby21]

f*** iraq

[Arceus498]

there are Apple stores in Iraq? Are there any Apple stores in Syria? LOL

There are fake apple stores in Syria where iPads cost $1000 for the first gen and some stores have apple signs but are just doctors offices.... At least when I went there last year...

[Silverado1987]

BOMB IT lol

[chillihound]

BOMB IT lol

Stick an Allied Unit nearby and no doubt the Yanks will take it out in a friendly fire incident.

[matrixhunter]

im assuming that the iphones and ipads themselves are actually bombs so a terrorist can go in and buy a bunch of iphones that are really bombs and throw them like grenades that explode disguising bombs as iphones and ipads wow

[tansup3rman]

eh? doesnt look like an apple store, just an indirect retailer.

[manickbarry]

stick an allied unit nearby and no doubt the yanks will take it out in a friendly fire incident.

pmsl xd

[jrrtps]

Who will complain over there against Al-Kaida ?

[chillihound]

pmsl xd

Don't wet yourself.

[Shady6]

Stick an Allied Unit nearby and no doubt the Yanks will take it out in a friendly fire incident.

Yet every time some country can't fight their own battle they call the US.

[JayQuint87]

This just seems like a normal store whose board is the apple logo

Agreed.

[Jawwwwsh]

Yet every time some country can't fight their own battle they call the US.

I don't really think Iraq asked the US to intervene....

[bigbaba]

I'm surprised Apple hasn't filed for trademark infringement on the iRaq

[iliveudie]

a la Radio Shack

I found this quite humorous

[sziklassy]

Is that one of those malls where young single men are not allowed to enter in fear that they may take advantage of or otherwise hook up with young single women?

[barondebxl]

That's awesome. I hope they make a lot of money too, screw apple.

[nashlib]

Quite a lot of the comments above are highly insensitive and obnoxious to say the least.
God know what those people are talking about - nosy - amrikans !!!!!