14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has finally received an answer to its request to sell used iPhones in India, as the local government has officially rejected the proposal on grounds that it could invade the country with refurbished devices that would have a strong impact on the environment.
In press conferences that have recently taken place, government officials have said that no company would be allowed to sell used devices in India, and they can’t make any exception for Apple.
“We are not in favour of any company selling used phones in the country, however certified they may be,” Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is quoted as saying by Livemint.
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On the other hand, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained earlier this month that his company’s intention wasn’t to invade the Indian market with used phones that would eventually impact the environment, but to give local buyers the possibility of buying an iPhone at an affordable price.
“First of all, we would never ‘dump’ anything, this in virtually all countries in the world we have a process by which a phone that’s been used by the first owner or is taken back and made to be new, if you will, and a warranty is placed on that, just like a warranty for a new phone. And it’s sold for a more affordable price and that happens in several countries,” he said.
At this point, a new iPhone is available for approximately $700 in India, a price that only few people afford to pay, so with the refurbished models, the company would have tackled a bigger market. There were voices claiming that a used iPhone would have been sold for as low as $200 should the company’s proposal had passed.
But the local government isn’t the only one opposing Apple’s intention to bring refurbished phones in the country. Several phone manufacturers that are making devices in the country also complained and asked officials to block Apple from selling used handsets locally, claiming that this could dramatically impact the environment and come in opposition to government efforts pushing for local production.