17 - twelvemonth - old Fei “ Phil ” Lam , the ballsy teen who sell bona fide livid iPhone 4 spiritual rebirth kit , recently make a moment to speak to Fast Company about his line , Apple , Foxconn , and legal woes . Here ’s his narrative .
https://gizmodo.com/ballsy-teen-who-sold-his-own-authentic-white-iphones-ea-5691512
On Tuesday , The New York Observerreportedthat 17 - class - old Fei “ Phil ” Lamhas madea killing sell white-hot iPhone 4 conversion kits , contribution he import manufacturing plant - direct from China even before Apple . Now , in an exclusive interview with Fast Company , Lam — a self - professed computer eccentric from Queens — says business is booming .
“ I made $ 8,000 so far today , ” he say , attributing the skyrocketing sales on WhiteiPhone4Now.com to the news that he ’s already sold $ 130,000 Charles Frederick Worth of parts . Since the report live viral this week , his site has been overloaded with novel customer : It find more than 130,000 vista today alone . While Lam would n’t support accurate figures , he did say his revenue was between $ 60,000 and $ 130,000 . And profit ? So far , $ 30,000 to $ 40,000 .
Not spoiled for a in high spirits schooling elder .
But the sensitive buzz is a gift and a scourge . Several days ago , Lam receive a letter from a individual investigator , which take that Lam is the focus of an investigating regarding the cut-rate sale of stolen Apple blanched iPhone parts . The PI works for an anti - imitative and hallmark protective cover firm , and the missive peril a possible condemnable investigation if Lam did not call .
“ Nothing is stolen — that ’s why I was confused when the PI said I was selling stolen portion , ” says Lam , before launching into a description of his provider . The details are a trivial muzzy , but according to Lam , who is silver-tongued in Chinese , he first came in liaison with “ his guy rope ” after receiving a junk e-mail message hawking Apple replacement parts . He decided to respond to the message on a impulse , and soon began talking with his succeeding provider about the parts .
Months subsequently , Lam says , he learn his touch used to work at Foxconn , and still has friends there , although Lam is clear that only “ some portion are from Foxconn ” and that “ nothing illegal was done behind the scenes . ”
When I asked Lam why he would trust a person he met through a spam message and why he would ever agree to send that someone money , Lam could only say his contact seemed “ really nice . ” Lam also stresses that his contact could ’ve “ book it ” and accept his money , but he never did .
That ’s not to say Lam is n’t upset about potential consequences of importing the percentage . “ For sure I ’m stressed about the legal issues — I have reach a attorney , ” he articulate . “ I ’ve not tell my family unit . ”
But in the meanwhile , as Lam says , “ business [ is ] still in operation . ” He says he start up the website to make money for college , and to eventually fund a startup he ’s been plan .
And possibly one twenty-four hour period work for Apple ?
“ I ’m a Brobdingnagian huge Apple lover , ” he read . “ Maybe — who knows ? ”
Fast Companyempowers innovators to challenge normal and create the hereafter of business .
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