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Sydney, Australia (CNN) – In the latest maneuver in the smartphone wars, Samsung is offering its latest Galaxy S II smartphone for a token $2 to the first 10 people in line each morning at a temporary store just steps away the Apple flagship store in Sydney. Normally priced at $850, the deep discount attracted some young buyers to camp out three or four nights to snatch the phone. "We calculated that the amount of money we are saving ... makes it equivalent to being paid $15 an hour just to loaf around for four days,” one person waiting for a phone told CNN. “Apple gives no discounts on the iPhone, so honestly I’m not sure why you would line up to pay full price for a phone that’s not as good as a Samsung,” said James Constantine, who bought a $2 phone after waiting outside for three days. Hong Kong (CNN) – Gucci stores in Shenzhen, China are facing allegations from former employees of operating as high-end “sweatshops,” according to reports earlier this week in China’s English-language newspapers, China Daily and Global Times. In late September, five former employees released online an open letter to senior executives of the Italian designer brand, including claims of a draconian list of employment regulations such as time limitations on bathroom use and unpaid overtime extending past midnight. A Gucci spokesperson told Chinese media, “Gucci does not and will not endorse or tolerate the alleged malpractices.” |
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