Forbes thinks so, while top local e-tailer can count its sales on one hand.
Just how badly is the iPhone selling in China, following its launch there last month?
PC World suggests that one of the biggest Chinese e-commerce sites, Taobao, has sold just five iPhones in two weeks, based on figures from the site.
Meanwhile, Forbes has a longer piece citing a rumour that Apple's operator partner China Unicom has sold only 5,000 iPhones since the launch.
It cites three reasons why the device isn't going down well with Chinese consumers: the fact that it requires a monthly contract rather than using the locally popular top-up charge cards; concerns from consumers about the reliability of China Unicom's network; and the fact that as many as 3.5 million Chinese people have already bought iPhones as unofficial imports.
"Despite its rocky start, the iPhone still has a lot of potential in China," writes Shaun Rein, who besides writing for Forbes is the MD of the China Market Research Group.
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"Apple just needs to do a better job of taking consumer preferences into account, and to work with its partner, China Unicom, to better deliver what Chinese want."
