You’ll Never Guess How Scalpers Are Reportedly Snagging Rare iPhone Duos

Key Points:

• The iPhone Duo is extremely difficult to purchase this year due to limited supply and high demand, exacerbated by scalpers using AI-powered bots to quickly buy available stock for in-store pickup.
• AI agents monitor Apple's website to snap up newly available inventory within seconds, giving scalpers and some consumers a significant advantage over regular buyers.
• The iPhone Duo's high price of $1,999 and limited production, partly caused by a memory shortage, have made it a lucrative target for resellers who are selling units at double the retail price on platforms like eBay.
• Apple’s staggered rollout strategy released limited units mainly to major markets like the U.S. and China, with only 50 to 250 units per store and 80% of stock allocated to store shelves, fueling scarcity and scalper activity.
• Despite AI bots, many buyers still physically queue outside Apple Stores to secure the device, as in-person presence remains a factor in the purchasing process.