Minor Cinema Display Price Cuts in UK [Archive]

manu chao

Aug 19, 2003, 03:44 PM

Baisse de prix sur les ¨¦crans - Yoc - 12:13:49
Alors que nous attendons toujours l'annonce des PowerBook, Apple a baiss¨¦ en douce le prix de ses ¨¦crans 20 et 23". Le 20" ¨¤ baiss¨¦ de 120 ¢ã et est pass¨¦ de 1673,20 ¢ã ¨¤ 1553,60 ¢ã, et le 23" a baiss¨¦ de 240 ¢ã pour passer de 2630 ¢ã ¨¤ 2390,80 ¢ã. Cette baisse de prix ne fait que contredire la rumeur selon laquelle Apple devait sortir hier ou aujourd'hui de nouveaux ¨¦crans au look du G5... le temps d'¨¦couler les stocks ?

To make it short the prices also dropped in France, as well as in Germany as I just checked myself, they might be trying to clear out inventory.

GregGomer

Aug 19, 2003, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by york2600
anyone care to help a stupid yank out and tell me how much that is in US dollars?
Ditto, this is my question exactly, what or how does that translate in terms of US dollars? Just to give us an idea of how much it dropped.

Thanks,

Greg (Another Stupid Yank)

robbieduncan

Aug 19, 2003, 03:49 PM

http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft-com/currency.asp

yossele

Aug 19, 2003, 03:59 PM

£1049 = $1666
£1099 = $1745
£1599= $2539
£1699 = $2698

It's still cheaper to buy it in the US and i will always be. so don't get too excited.

patrick0brien

Aug 19, 2003, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by york2600
anyone care to help a stupid yank out and tell me how much that is in US dollars?

-york2600

Yeah, it'd be nice, but I'm afraid if we had a friend buy one for us, and shipped it to this side of the pond, it would display everything in British.

Yeah, it's be nice if they were to cut them here too, but we're in a different market. Well, here's hoping.

Please, dear God guys, know I was kidding that first para.

trilogic

Aug 19, 2003, 04:26 PM

I would really love to see a new designed cinema display in G5 look. maybee even a 24" and maybee a little brighter and a little more contrast ratio.

I want one for xmas. :D

mproud

Aug 19, 2003, 04:26 PM

Guys,

US displays are already cheap in comparison.

1699 ---> 1599 1099 ---> 1049 (pounds)
$2699 $2539 $1749 $1669
($1999) ($1299)
First row: Original and new UK prices (in pounds)
Second row: Equivalencies in US dollars
Thrid row: Actual prices in the US

Basically, you're saving $370-$540 (was $550-$700 difference!) dollars by being in the US.

The main reason is probably the additional shipping it takes to get them over to the UK - all these displays are probably made in Taiwan and China. All the units are probably shipped to the US first, regardless of where they're going in the end.

It's also possible that it might be a little more costly in the UK if the Pound has slipped versus the dollar (I haven't been following the markets - I do know the Euro has done well versus the dollar, but I know nothing about the Pound).

One could order the display in the US and then have it shipped. I'm not quite sure how reliable it would be and how costly. If you add insurance in case the display doesn't make it "scratch-free", then you're looking to add even more money, and definitely WAY more time for arrival (it's horrendous shipping overseas!)

I'm no master analyzing these two markets and economies, neither with computer manufacturers and shipping methods. In fact, I don't even live in Europe. But this is my guess - and all of us Americans should be humbly thankful we can get things for the prices they're at!

vrapan

Aug 19, 2003, 05:02 PM

The prices in UK include tax where the US ones do not. So on the USA prices you will have to add anything between 0% (some online stores and some states) to 9% (i think this is the highest VAT rate in USA). So part of the actual difference could be attributed to a much higher VAT in UK of 17.5%.

It's also possible that it might be a little more costly in the UK if the Pound has slipped versus the dollar

If the pound has slipped ie dollar is more expensive than it was then the difference would be smaller. ie A few months back a pound was worth 1.5$ today it is worth more 1.6$. So the dolar value of a UK display has gone up an extra 7% ie it seems more expensive in dollar terms than now. If on the other hand it had slipped ie it was worth 1.4$ then the dolar value of the UK display would be smaller approaching the cost of a display in USA.

In a perfect world Apple would take these changes in mind increasing or decreasing the pound price of a UK display to reflect significant changes in currency exchange. I think this move reflected the fact that lately the pound has been gaining towards the dolar - getting up to 1.8$ after the end of the war. All in all even because the extra 10% taxing and no tax free purchases like from online stores uk and european products will quite more expensive than usa products...

Vanilla

Aug 19, 2003, 05:09 PM

When comparing US prices to UK you must remember to first strip out the UK VAT before doing the comparison as UK prices INCLUDE Tax, whereas the US prices are EXCLUSIVE of Tax.

UK VAT is currently 17.5% (yeah, I know...sigh...)

So with regard to the 23" Display at £1599, stripping out the VAT gets you an exclusive of tax price of £1360.85 (1599/1.175)

At current tourist rates (using XE.Com) this translates to $2160.83.

So, the UK is still more expensive than the US, but with a difference of approximately $160 (for the 23") its not quite as dramatic as it at first seems.

Vanilla

AppleMatt

Aug 19, 2003, 05:18 PM

Wow. A whole £50. Thanks Apple, now I know why I'm such a faithful customer.

:mad:

Everyone in the US: You're the lucky ones, all your prices are so much lower, and more so than computer hardware...PETROL!

AppleMatt

vrapan

Aug 19, 2003, 05:30 PM

AppleMat yell at UK gov. Ask them to drop the VAT to 8 per cent and there you go. Your prices are about an extra 100 pounds for every 1000pounds to USA prices. As for petrol if you remember the road blockages when the price was approching 1pound per liter - yeap USA dudes not the gallon 1 pound per liter 1gallon=3.8liters - you would see that some 70% of the price is due to taxes. And let me tell you you live in a fairly low tax country - places like Denmark have VAT on the 40s% and income taxes even higher. If anyone is from Denmark please correct me but three people form Denmark during Uni had told me such. Of course Denmark has free health care huge unemployment benefits and tons of other free things that you have to pay dearly in USA for. So I think we live in a fairly balanced country.

CheekyGit

Aug 19, 2003, 06:01 PM

I am dying for a 23" display. If they go $200-$300, I'll be a happy camper.

CheekyGit :D :D

mproud

Aug 19, 2003, 06:09 PM

In a perfect world Apple would take these changes in mind increasing or decreasing the pound price of a UK display to reflect significant changes in currency exchange.
How would you like it if the price of a cinema display you were saving up changed up or down every few months?
So one month the 20" display is $1399 and another month it's $1249!

That certainly doesn't sound perfect or ideal to me! That would be so very frustrating and unfair to everyone.

Even though the price of a currency may change or fluctuate, you'll find that it takes a long time to see that effect, if it's not temporary, reach all corners of the countries economy. If the price of a Mac goes up $100 here, I don't all the sudden have an additional $100. That's not how it works.

If so, eventually, we'll all get a little more money. But to me and you, the price is the price and the currency, although changing externally, will take a long time to make any forseeable change, and any change is gradual, over a multitude of products and services. So to make any kind of changes solely off the performance of the currency (unless it's very, very drastic) is ridiculous.

AppleMatt

Aug 19, 2003, 06:19 PM

vrapan,
Although you have to either get medical insurance or pay the bills, the US healthcare system is much better than ours. I'd rather pay for insurance and get treatment. Unfortunately when I qualify I would still need to stay on and study more if I wanted to practice there...US doctors are more qualified than British ones. On-top of that, the US 'market' for European doctors is closing :(
I don't know about Denmark's taxes, never been there!
If only our government would listen...all I can see is protests of some sort preventing it going higher, not lowering it.

AppleMatt

vrapan

Aug 19, 2003, 06:36 PM

So to make any kind of changes solely off the performance of the currency(unless it's very, very drastic) is ridiculous.

If you check it I did say significant changes and I do believe that the pound has been at around 1.65$ for more than 4 months when it used to be around 1.48$ that is a significant change. I never suggested that it should change every month or even every two months but i believe a review every 3 months would be reasonable. Especially when the currency has been appreciated quite alot in these 3 months and stayed at a higher value for some time

AppleMat I agree that the USA system might be better however it does leave an unacceptably large part of the population without health care. People that cannot afford health insurance but earn enough not to be eligible for medicare. I lived there for a 8 months and my bf is from the USA. I agree the UK system needs an overhaul but I do not believe that the USA system works as well as it is believed to. Insurance premiums are sky rocketing medicine consumption the same and it has turned into a money making machine.

vrapan

Aug 19, 2003, 06:37 PM

sorry for going so much off topic

Mac Kiwi

Aug 19, 2003, 10:05 PM

Didnt the LCDs drop quite a bit 2 - 3 months ago? {could have been longer}

The current LCDs are they Samsungs,does anyone really know?

Thanks

Stu.

helmsc

Aug 19, 2003, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by Mac Kiwi
Didnt the LCDs drop quite a bit 2 - 3 months ago? {could have been longer}

The current LCDs are they Samsungs,does anyone really know?

Thanks

Stu.

The 23 inch dropped by $1000 US dollars a while back ... (4 months ago if I remember correctly). As for the actual brand I have no idea what they are.

gotohamish

Aug 20, 2003, 02:05 AM

Hmm, who are the negative voters this time?

Crazy folk I tell ya', crazy folk!

ssamani

Aug 20, 2003, 03:27 AM

Originally posted by vrapan
sorry for going so much off topic

On the contrary, FX rates are right at the nub of the issue. Once you remove tax from the equation, which you just have to live with, FX rate is the biggest issue for Apple in Europe at the moment beause the amount they are making just on FX rate (7-10%) is very, very, transparent to internet shoppers. It is the #1 reason I have held of buying a new Mac this year. Dropping prices like this will make it more likely that I will buy one.

The other issue is regarding whether Apple should continually change prices to reflect change of FX rate. If you compare Dell prices (minus tax) they don't charge such a premium for FX rate. That is partly because they are constantly tweaking the feature and their product range so that you can't really say, this system is cheaper or more expensive than last week, because you might be getting a bigger hard drive but less free software. However it allows them to keep the FX rate in line.

Apple has to continue in the direction of quiet product releases and upgrades without a MacWorld and with it a constant tweaking of prices. This price drop along with minor iBook updates are exactly the right way to go.

Sanj

Slacker

Aug 20, 2003, 10:44 AM

Prices have also dropped overnight at the Canadian Applestore. The 23" has dropped from $Cdn 3,199 to $Cdn 2,799. My guess is that over the past several months, the US dollar has dropped significantly in value in relation to other currencies. For example, about 6 months ago, the US dollar was worth about $Cdn 1.60. Now it is worth about $Cdn 1.39. What this means is that it is now significantly cheaper to purchase US products. The price drop for the 23" very closely matches the drop in value of the US dollar (1.39/1.6 * 3,199 = 2,777). Incidentally, the cost of a 23" in $US, if purchased in Canada, would be $Cdn 2,799 *.72 = $US 2,015. All this would explain why US prices are not going to drop.

Slacker

Aug 20, 2003, 11:00 AM

I just compared the US prices vs the Canadian prices for the G5. The Canadian prices match the current exchange rate, which is not surprising since the G5 is a new product and pricing would therefore be according to current exchange rates. For example, the Dual 2 GHz at the Canadian Apple Store is $Cdn 4,199 ($US 3,023 when converted) which is very close to the US price at the US Apple Store of $US 2,999. So all this would seem to indicate that older products in foreign countries that have not seen a price drop for the past 6 months should see a price adjustment. Is this the case? I haven't checked anything else other than the displays and G5's.

zer0army

Aug 20, 2003, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by Slacker
Prices have also dropped overnight at the Canadian Applestore. The 23" has dropped from $Cdn 3,199 to $Cdn 2,799. My guess is that over the past several months, the US dollar has dropped significantly in value in relation to other currencies. For example, about 6 months ago, the US dollar was worth about $Cdn 1.60. Now it is worth about $Cdn 1.39. What this means is that it is now significantly cheaper to purchase US products. The price drop for the 23" very closely matches the drop in value of the US dollar (1.39/1.6 * 3,199 = 2,777). Incidentally, the cost of a 23" in $US, if purchased in Canada, would be $Cdn 2,799 *.72 = $US 2,015. All this would explain why US prices are not going to drop.

I just noticed the Canadian prices as well. That’s great since I plan on getting a 23’’ along with my G5. With the $400 in savings I Can get at least another gig of RAM.

I believe this must have to do with the rising Canadian dollar in the last couple months

mproud

Aug 20, 2003, 12:51 PM

Yeah, the Canadian prices are almost identical to the US prices, if not a few $ better :D

Cool.

bobindashadows

Aug 20, 2003, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by AppleMatt
vrapan,
Although you have to either get medical insurance or pay the bills, the US healthcare system is much better than ours.
Really? Wow, we whine about it so much it seems like we have a third-rate healthcare system.

I personally think any price drop is welcome. If Apple were to match it exactly with the exchange rate, then people would be waiting for the price to hit its bottom point, because even though the exchange rates change, people's salaries don't (well, not immediately) and so we'd have people waiting for the price ot hit a low point, and then get all pissed if it dropped further.