Chinese teen reportedly sells kidney to buy Apple iPad 2

A teenager in China reportedly sold one of his kidneys so he could buy an Apple iPad 2, according to reports from Chinese media.

Identified as simply Zheng, the 17-year-old took to the Internet to find a way to raise money so he could buy himself an iPad 2, according to Shanghai Daily.

"I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it," Zheng told the Daily. "A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan."

So, on April 28, the high-schooler left his home in the Anhui province to have his kidney removed in the Hunan province of China, according to reports from both Shanghai Daily and the Global Times newspaper.

Zheng got his 20,000 yuan, which is equal to about $3,100, and returned home with a laptop and an iPad 2, according to a report from the BBC.

When Zheng's mother noticed the computers and a "deep red scar on his body, which was caused by the surgery," the teen confessed to selling his kidney.

NBC got video footage of what it says is the boy's kidney-removal scar and aired it on the Today show.

After learning what Zheng did, his mother went straight to the police, who so far have been unable to track down the organ broker, the reports said.

However, police have learned that the hospital where Zheng had his kidney taken out "was not qualified to perform organ transplants," the Shanghai Daily report said. "The hospital claimed they had no idea about Zheng's surgery because the department that did the surgery had been contracted to a Fujian businessman."

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-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles

twitter.com/nateog

Image: A screen grab of NBC's report on the "Today" show about a Chinese teenager who allegedly sold his kidney so he could buy an Apple iPad 2. Credit: NBC

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Gazelle opens iPad web store, sells iPads at quite reasonable prices

 

Gazelle, an online store that buys and sells recycled and used electronics, was buying up iPads like crazy when the?iPad 2 was released in the beginning of March. Users who wanted the new model were looking for a way to make some money back from their old iPad before they bought the shiny, new tablet. iPads found their way to Gazelle and now the company has launched an iPad-only site, gazelleipads.com, to sell the original models to consumers. From the looks of it, the prices will be hard to beat.

When we reported on Gazelle buying up iPads in March, the store was offering sellers $300 for the 16GB WiFi version, and $530 for the 64GB WiFI + 3G version. As we pointed out then, getting $300 for a one-year-old iPad that you paid $500 for is not too shabby.

Gazelle opened its pilot program Monday and has started selling previously-owned iPads, which it claims are in “superb cosmetic condition.”?This means that screen is immaculate, and besides a few tiny scratches on the body, which Gazelle calls “signs of wear from normal handling,” the iPad will come in its original box with a charger, USB cable, and an instruction manual. The 3G models use AT&T service.

 

As you can see from the prices above, buying an iPad from Gazelle will save you a good amount. If you buy the Apple iPad 64GB WiFi +3G model from Gazelle, you’ll be paying $479.99, whereas you’ll be paying $829 for a WiFi + 3G 64GB iPad 2 from the Apple Store. Of course you’ll miss out on the new components and the slim design, but it’s still a very capable tablet.

At the iPad 2′s launch, Gazelle became the site many people flocked to to sell the technology instead of heading over to sites like eBay or Craigslist simply due to the site’s ease. Selling items on eBay and Craigslist takes work. You have to communicate back and forth with the potential buyer, ship it and deal with PayPal (eBay), or meet a stranger (Craigslist) which is always a risky undertaking.

If you sold your iPad back in March to Gazelle, you were smart to do so when the demand was high. Selling it now will still give you a decent amount back, but the 16GB WiFi version that was selling for $300 in March is now selling for just $203. The 64GB WiFi +3G version that was selling for $500 in March is now offering $340.

May this be a lesson to all iPad 2 owners who will be jumping at the chance to buy an iPad 3. Sell your iPad 2 as soon as you can after the iPad 3 is announced to ensure you get the most money.

http://seeebook.com/