Gang of Red Cap Scalpers Crushes Shanghai Apple Store for iPhone 4S
Launch (video!)

OMFG. Huge lines for the iPhone 4S are seen at all five Apple stores in China, and in the Beijing Apple store, we see hundreds of queuers with red caps getting ready to buy the iPhone 4S to resell later at a profit. A lot of photos and video after the break.
Crazy huh? We are very impressed by the lines. With close to eight hours (at the time of writing this article) still to go until opening time, there are already massive queues outside of China’s five official Apple stores in Beijing and Shanghai, all in readiness for the launch of the iPhone 4S.
Interestingly, at one of the Apple stores in Shanghai, hundreds of queuers with red caps are seen. According to our tipster, they are a group of local citizens hired by the gray market dealers. They are being paid 100 yuan ($16) to queue up for 12 hours.
Looks like a professional organization.
40-50 years old of women and men are in the gang.
Man, we love these red cap scalpers!!!
There are clearly lines stretching hundreds of meters.
Just imagine… A bomb lands in there… Just kiddin’.
Can you count how many heads are there in this photo?
According to some Chinese Apple fans outside one of the three Shanghai stores, there were already about 60 people lined up outside at around 1pm afternoon. Now, there are almost a thousand people braving the cold weather. Yup, it’s pretty cold here.
As more and more people queue up outside the Beijing Apple store, the Apple staff change the iPhone 4S display at the store.
Oh man… Police has finally arrived.
Same situation at the Beijing Apple store.
Just like usual, cattle pens and fences are set up to keep the queuers from milling about and other scalpers cutting in line.
If there are crowds getting unruly outside the Apple Store, police will try their best to break up the violence.
Some police are friendly to chat with you.
Actually, gray market dealers were already looking for citizens to queue up for the iPhone 4S since last week, by offering 100 yuan, and one free meal (breakfast) will be provided. What do you need to do? Arrive the Apple store between 6:00-9:00 p.m, and queue up until the next morning (8:00 a.m).
You may wonder, why are these people so excited about the iPhone 4S launch? Well, the iPhone 4S that is offered from Apple retail store can be bought unlocked, which is perfect for those pesky scalpers to resell to the country’s second and third tier cities where the iPhone 4S is still pretty rare to get it. The iPhone 4S is also available from China Unicom, which is also selling the device through its website from 12:01 AM, but one must buy it with a 2-year contract. Anyway, we hope a fight doesn’t break out during the launch at morning.