Apple's Pricing Rant
I love Apple. I love their products and the company itself, but what I don't like about them is their pricing.
I'm not going to go on a rant to say that Macs are overpriced because when it comes down to it, they are not overpriced. But Apple's other products like the iPhone and iPad vary in price internationally. I'm not just saying in some countries an iPhone costs a couple of $s more than in others, as that is understandable due to shipping costs etc. But in some cases Apple's products can cost over $100 more in another country.
The example I will give will be the Apple TV 160GB. In the US Apple store it costs $230 which is the equivalent of £150 a very good price for such a wonderful gadget. But in the UK Apple store it costs £223 which is the equivalent of $343. That is over $100 more than in the US and trust me if you get it from the UK you don't get anything extra.
All in all Apple is a great company, in fact Apple is an amazing company but no company can be perfect, many can try but they won't succeed and Apple is just the same. But to be honest I don't mind paying an extra $100 just as long as when I open that Apple box it is going to be a great product, which it will inevitably will be.
Oliver Drewery Apr 10, 2010 at 3:19 PM in Apple tagged Apple, Steve Jobs, i Products, mac
Reader Comments (14)
Do you know how much does a Mac Mini Costs in Brazil? 2000 bucks! That's like a thousand dollars!
Hi, David
Here, in Bulgaria, the iPhone 3GS is around €600 for the 32GB version. In USA the same device is $300. iPhone 3G - €400 (USA - $99) What do you think - is it fair? :D
I think a $100 extra is just too much.
Having a Mac in some countries, including mine (the Philippines), just isn't practical. I sometimes even get comments like " omg you're rich! You own an iMac!"
Here in Bermuda, the price of an iPhone #GS (with contract) is $999. Expensive much?
Err, that's 3GS*, not #GS.
In Peru, an 8 GB iPod Touch (3rd Generation) retails for 292$ after currency conversion. Like Iya said, down here having a Mac isn't practical, most people settle with cheaper laptops. However, I am glad that pricing varies throughout countries, Europe does pay 100$ more but it is something they can afford, South America also pays these prices, sometimes even more (official Apple stores are rare, most are resellers)- people just can't afford these because wages are so much lower than they are in Europe.
I have to agree in Canada our dollar is pretty much equivalent of the US dollar yet we pay considerably more depending on the product. for example the Mac Pro is 2499 in the states but it's 2899 here, that's a big difference! We pay about 30 dollars more the iPods.
I'd say a lot of it is unfair, but when it comes to the iPhone, you have to remember that a lot of countries only sell the device at full retail price (which is $699 US for the 32GB). The reason the 32GB iPhone 3GS is $299 here is because the price is subsidized with AT&T.
It is totally unfair, for example the iPad is rumoured to retail in the UK for £499... which is what? $770ish, it makes NO sense.
They can't use shipping as an excuse, it all comes from China via UPS anyway!!
Apple pricing policy is unfair for most of the world, but that is the same for most big companies. Support the rich and stomp on the poor. Here in Croatia AppleTV 160gb is 418usd so beat that ;)
Thanks for all the great comments guys, I'm glad you like what I'm saying.
In Australia the cheapest contract to purchase the iPhone 3Gs costs in total $1299 AU. To buy it outright it costs around $800 AU.
Price is dumb in New Zealand a mac book pro is $320nz more than it is in America it should only cost $1680nz