Apparently it?s Apple policy not to sell anything to anyone from Iran.
A manager at the Apple Store in at North Point Mall says that is the reason a 19-year-old and one of her friends were turned away when they were heard speaking Farsi.
Sahar Sabet is a U.S. citizen and a UGA student. She was trying to buy an iPad and her friend wanted an iPhone. But their trip ended Thursday when an employ heard Sabet and her uncle speaking the wrong language.
"When we said 'Farsi, I'm from Iran,' he said, 'I just can't sell this to you. Our countries have bad relations,'" Sabet said.
A manager showed Channel 2 Action News Apple's policy. It said the exportation, sale or supply from the U.S. to Iran of any Apple goods is strictly prohibited without authorization by the U.S. government. The manager also says they have to rely on customers to be honest.
"Discrimination. Racially profiled. He didn't have any business asking me what country I was from," Sabet said.
Sabet is not the only person with this complaint.
"I would say if you're trying to buy an iPhone, don't tell them anything about Iran. That would be your best bet," said Zack Jafarzadeh, who had a similar experience at the Apple Store in Perimeter Mall.
Jafarzadeh says he and a friend from Iran were looking to buy an iPhone. His buddy was living in Atlanta on a visa.
"We never talked about him going back to Iran or anything like that. He was just speaking full-fledged Farsi and the representative came back and denied our sale," Jafarzadeh said.
Sabet said when she called Apple?s corporate customer relations, an employee apologized and told her she could buy the iPad online.
A representative for the U.S. State Department says it is illegal to travel to Iran with laptops or satellite cellphones without U.S. authorization.
That representative said she is not familiar with Apple enforcing that law.
Link
Hahaha, wtf Apple?
Log in to comment