No iPads Or iPhones For You, Apple Store Clerk Tells Iranians (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/06/20/155440206/no-ipads-or-iphones-for-you-apple-store-clerk-tells-iranians)

Sahar Sabet of Alpharetta, Ga., says that when she was in an Apple store at the local North Pointe Mall last week to buy an iPad and an iPhone, she and her uncle were overheard by a clerk.

The sales rep asked what language they were speaking and where they were from. When they said they were speaking Farsi and originally from Iran, Sabet tells Atlanta's WSB-TV, the clerk's response was a shock:

"I can't sell this to you."

Though 19-year-old Sabet is a U.S. citizen, the clerk cited Apple's "export compliance" policySabet.... later got an apology from an Apple customer relations representative and was told that she could buy the iPad online.Apple spokesman Steve Dowling.... said the company is not commenting on the record about this case.

(NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/06/20/155440206/no-ipads-or-iphones-for-you-apple-store-clerk-tells-iranians))

See also:

Apple Store employees get overzealous with Iranian export restriction, borders on racial profiling (http://9to5mac.com/2012/06/19/apple-store-employees-getting-a-little-overzealous-with-iranian-export-restrictions-borders-on-racial-profiling-video/)
iPad: Practicing Discrimination in Stores Everywhere? (http://www.impre.com/la-gente-dice/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978991626)

The problem is the poor articulation of U.S. policy. The employees did fine.

The problem is the poor articulation of U.S. policy. The employees did fine.

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/000/554/facepalm.jpg

It's U.S. policy that I'm happy to violate every time I go to Cuba with my Mac.

As for the enforcement of that policy - I could understand Customs or border services or whatever they heck they're called down there grabbing iPads and MacBooks of Iranians as they board a plane out of the USA, but to do this at a retail setting is ridiculous. And the Iranians in question here are U.S. citizens.

It's U.S. policy that I'm happy to violate every time I go to Cuba with my Mac.

As for the enforcement of that policy - I could understand Customs or border services or whatever they heck they're called down there grabbing iPads and MacBooks of Iranians as they board a plane out of the USA, but to do this at a retail setting is ridiculous. And the Iranians in question here are U.S. citizens.

Yup. That would be your choice.

But the employees needed to be properly informed about the way in which Apple wished them to comply with that policy. It's not their fault that they misunderstood. Given the current regulatory climate in the U.S., they could have found themselves visited by Homeland Security if they had violated some export restriction.

I doubt the employees were acting out of vindictiveness.

But here's the thing... how many people working retail in electronics in the USA have half a clue about the embargo on electronics? The employees would have had to receive specific instruction from their superiors in order to take this action - I agree, it's not about vindictiveness. But I am very interested in seeing how this plays out...

But here's the thing... how many people working retail in electronics in the USA have half a clue about the embargo on electronics?

Given the current state of civics and public awareness in the U.S., I'd bet on less than five per cent.

BThe employees would have had to receive specific instruction from their superiors in order to take this action - I agree, it's not about vindictiveness. But I am very interested in seeing how this plays out...

I can't imagine Apple making the error at a corporate level, so I suspect the fault lies somewhere in between, either with a management dim bulb who did not understand, or a supervisor with seriously impaired communication skills.

Enforcing the terms of sale is part of the job description. Perhaps they were a bit overzealous, but it's hardly a big deal.

Apple's own terms of service, for using the Apple Store (retail and online) states you cannot export products to embargoed countries.
PROHIBITED DESTINATIONS
The U.S. holds complete embargoes against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria

The exportation, reexportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a U.S. person wherever located, of any Apple goods, software, technology (including technical data), or services to any of these countries is strictly prohibited without prior authorization by the U.S. Government. This prohibition also applies to any Apple owned subsidiary or any subsidiary employee worldwide.


Apple - Support - Export Compliance Information (http://www.apple.com/legal/export.html)

Well... this just keeps getting curiouser...

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said there was “no US policy or law that prohibits Apple or any other company from selling products in the United States to anybody who’s intending to use the product in the United States, including somebody of Iranian descent or an Iranian citizen.”

(Mail & Guardian (http://mg.co.za/article/2012-06-23-n-of-apple-products-in-iran-pointless-say-vendors/))