14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s Surface is yet to arrive in the United Arab Emirates, but local consumers can somehow purchase it. For the right price, that is.
Companies selling gadgets and electronics in the country are importing the Surface and selling it at premium prices, Microsoft-news.com writes.
So far, so good, as all imported units are already sold out, but more Surface tablets will be brought to UAE buyers as soon as possible.
“Demand has been good, we ordered a small lot to begin with and it sold out. More is on the way,” Ashish Panjabi, the chief operating officer of Jacky’s Electronics, was quoted as saying.
The Surface tablet with a Touch Cover is sold in the UAE for $734 (€575), while in the United States, the 32 GB model with the same keyboard comes with a price tag of $599 (€470).
Microsoft hasn’t launched the Surface tablet in the country and is yet to announce an official release date. However, consumer demand still exists, so the grey market is the only option for local Microsoft fanboys.
“There has been a lot of hype and demand for the new platform. The grey market happens because of availability. If we do not go grey, we lose out on sales opportunities,” said Nadeem Khanzadah, the head of retail at Jumbo.
As far as the premium prices go, it’s all because of the consumers. If they agree to pay so much for a Surface tablet, then retailers will continue to sell it for the exact same price until the device is officially launched in the country.
“We would rather go through the official channels, but if people are desperate enough and willing to pay ridiculous prices, then we will source it and sell it at a ridiculous price. It is a question of supply and demand,” Panjabi explained.