The electronic market in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, began pimping a variety of iPhone 4 cases bearing the image of Steve Jobs early this week in order to turn a quick profit. The cheap white plastic cases costing 10 to 30 yuan (US $1.50 to $4.70) have become all the rage among those mourning the untimely death of Apple's co-founder who passed away on October 5th.
"Some factories began to make the covers on the same day that Jobs' death was announced," a salesman in Shenzhen told the Global Times. "We got the first batch of products from a factory the next day."
Apple fan Xiao Menggui, told the newspaper that she was willing to buy such products for commemoration purposes and as fashion with little concern if the products are fakes or not.
"Jobs was not only an artist but also a miracle worker. I feel sorry to see such a genius leave us," Xiao Menggui told the Global Times. "Moreover, I think it will be a fashion to buy souvenirs about him."
iPad 2 covers bearing some of the same Jobsian images were also spotted in the Shenzhen market. Like it or not, there's no shortage of unsavory characters willing to capitalize on Jobs' death in China as long as there's a healthy demand for their merchandise.
Jobs' passing has opened a floodgate of opportunity for quick cash not only in China, but in the US as well. Over a dozen listings of Time Magazine's commemorative Steve Jobs issue are selling on Ebay for $19 dollars each plus $5 in shipping, while that same issue is currently on bookstore shelves for only $4.99 US.
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