I’ve been seeing multiple Douyin videos in China discussing how to prepare for Apple’s upcoming iPhone launch, including using the Apple Store app and making sure it is updated before preorders.

The devices they are targeting appear to be the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone.

The strategy being promoted is basically:

Prepare the Apple Store app and payment/shipping information in advance.

Try to secure launch inventory as soon as preorders open.

Resell the devices at a markup if there is enough demand.

If the resale premium disappears or they can’t find a buyer, return the devices to Apple within the 14-day return window.

What caught my attention is that some people are treating Apple’s return policy as downside protection for what is essentially launch-day speculation.

That seems different from a normal customer buying a phone and later deciding they don’t want it. These purchases are being discussed from the beginning as resale opportunities.

If enough people do this for a high-demand device like Apple’s first foldable iPhone, it could potentially absorb launch inventory from genuine buyers while shifting much of the downside risk back onto Apple.

I’m seeing this discussed openly on Douyin and can provide screenshots/recordings and translations.

Has Apple dealt with coordinated launch-day resale behavior like this before? Would account-level purchase limits or repeat-return detection be enough to stop it?

Douyin creators are already teaching people how to scalp Apple’s upcoming iPhones with the 14-day return window as downside protection