iPhone purveyors capitalise on cash woes; eunuchs lend hand

Mumbai: Most people have been inconvenienced by the abrupt demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, but the move has proven profitable for some cell phone shop owners from Goregaon and Borivali, who are accepting these notes on the purchase of the recently released iPhone 7.

On the other hand, facing a paucity of smaller denomination notes, some shopkeepers have been giving tips to beggars, fakirs and eunuchs to get change. The latter, however, are struggling to make ends meet.

The iPhone 7, which costs around Rs 60,000 for the 32GB version and around Rs 75,000 for the 128GB and 256GB versions, seems to be flying of the shelves after Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were discontinued.

The Asian Age spoke to a few shop owners, who refused to speak on record but admitted they were selling off iPhone 7s as they were in demand from people who wanted to get rid off their Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The phones are being sold at an approximate value of Rs 60,000 per piece.

Customers who had bought the smartphones unanimously said it was due to the heavy discounts offered to them by the shop owners and their acceptance of the illegal notes. Anees Shaikh, a Juhu resident who bought an iPhone 7 on Friday, said, “Buying an iPhone is better than spending time in queues outside an ATM.”  

One customer, who sought anonymity, bought seven iPhones from a Vasai shop. “I had no plan to buy a new phone but since the shopkeeper, a trusted person, contacted us informing that he was accepting the banned notes, as well as offering a discount, I decided to buy a phone for all of my cousins and myself,” he said.

Meanwhile, eunuchs and beggars told The Asian Age that they said they were not willing to part with their earnings despite being in high demand.

Durga, a eunuch, said, “Shopkeepers are approaching us, but we need change ourselves. Some of us do not have a bank account. How will they manage with Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes?”

Tulsiram, a beggar, elaborating on his plight, said, “We have been given big tips to produce change. But now we are in trouble since we lack smaller denominations. Even we have families. We need to buy food to survive.”  

The owner of a small Dadar-based shop, Sanjay Rai, said, “We have been asking beggars and a few people for change but they aren’t parting with it.”