The global tech giant took little action to address waves of criticism. Apple released only a 200-character statement saying it is dedicated to making first-class products and attaches high importance to every consumer's ideas -- a "typical official reply full of empty talk."
Analysts attributed Apple's unparalleled arrogance to its technical predominance and aggressive marketing strategy. Its innovative products have attracted a large number of fashion-savvy fans in China, who will scramble for any new gadgets coming out.
Su Haopeng, a law professor with the University of International Business and Economics, said it is the company's social responsibility to respect consumer rights and it should not abuse its market predominance to hurt their interests.
"Apple Inc.'s unfair and unreasonable rules have infringed consumer's legitimate rights," he said.
Many others pointed out that China should limit the entry of products with incomplete after-sale system.
Customers hope that more home-grown brands can be developed to parallel with Apple products so that more choices are available and Apple's dominance fades away. In the meantime, customers call on the CCA to conduct forceful negotiations with the iphone maker on behalf of consumers.
A commentary run by People's Daily said that integrity is the most rudimentary commercial morality and serves the bottom line for an enterprise's survival and development. Any company, no matter how great its popularity is, can not bypass this principle.
It remains to be seen whether this global tech giant will be pressurized to respond to the complaints, as China market becomes an ever-bigger part of its global operation.
Apple sales in China increased by 67 perent in the first financial quarter of 2013. The company's annual income growth in China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan areas, is more than twice that of Japan, and also exceeds the U.S. and Europe.
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