MOSCOW, November 2 (RIA Novosti) – Scalpers on Russia’s “gray market” have taken advantage of Apple’s decision to delay the Russia release of its new iPad Mini tablet by charging three times the basic price.
Apple released its new product in 34 countries on Friday, but delayed its release in Russia.
Online retailers have stepped into the vacuum, but Russian customers can now expect to pay about $950 for the new device, compared to its US starting price of $329.
New devices generally appear on the Russian “gray market” within hours of the start of sales in official release locations.
Several online stores have promised to deliver the product this weekend, with some even offering a late-night delivery on Friday.
Apple introduced the iPad Mini on October 23. The device is more compact than its predecessors and features a smaller screen.