It's hard to tell if you're being serious or not. It's rather telling you didn't specify which tablets are so much better. If you say play book or xoom, you have no credibility in my book.
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iPad 2 Launches in China to Long Lines and Sellouts
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This is awesome for Apple. The more they the build out the Chinese market, and others like it, the faster they'll be moving up on Walmart and Exxon on the list of world's largest companies! The market demand there is enormous! 
OMG, they made this in china by slave workers, and they sell them at higher price than USA? Also china average workers have the fraction of money amercian made, and they have to pay more?
wow apple is business who only care about money, they should go back to america and setup factories, so china workers can have cheaper apple product.
wow apple is business who only care about money, they should go back to america and setup factories, so china workers can have cheaper apple product.
It's probably because of import tax... Yes it's stupid to charge the Chinese import tax for a made-in-China product, but I think that's what's happening.
I like how China has progressed into a developed nation. Sure they have problems, but I can certainly see them as being the world's greatest superpower by 2025.
Come on, guys. Even Winni got that it was sarcasm, and I don't think they have that in Germany.
Ditto.
:] It's called "Work for your need, nothing is free." Unlike people like you, who show no appreciation. I am glad that Steve Job has a different mind process than your; or else, Apple would of went broke already. It's *BUSINESS*, all about money; not cheeseburgers and tacos.
Aren't their prices INCLUDING the tax?
I would imagine they would have stock there instead of the US - that's where they are made...
I would imagine they would have stock there instead of the US - that's where they are made...
This is awesome for Apple. The more they the build out the Chinese market, and others like it, the faster they'll be moving up on Walmart and Exxon on the list of world's largest companies! The market demand there is enormous!
How will that make your life better or more complete?
Duties and taxes, imposed by government.
In general Apple products are ~25% more expensive in China compared to USA, but Apple is not making the extra money, it's duties/taxes going to the Government.
Another good example is automobiles, same cars in China is 250% of USA price, because of duties/taxes.
Great that Apple's iPad is successful in China too! Isn't it all over the world anyway?
But to put a little perspective on the line. China has a population of about 1300 million people, and 4 Apple retail stores. A considerable amount of these people are 'middle-class' or higher. That's a lot of people per store.
http://www.apple.com.cn/retail/storelist/
I would expect long lines
But to put a little perspective on the line. China has a population of about 1300 million people, and 4 Apple retail stores. A considerable amount of these people are 'middle-class' or higher. That's a lot of people per store.
http://www.apple.com.cn/retail/storelist/
I would expect long lines
15% markup
i've been living in shanghai for the past 3.5 years, that 15% is tax, similar to VAT in the UK, this is placed on all luxury type items, cars see an even higher markup, you could see BMW's sell for $25K USD in the US and easily sell for $50K USD in China, 200% markup.
the reasons are several fold, the government can do anything they want, they want a part of the cut, and sometimes this tactic is used to limit competitiveness of foreign brands, an example is the car space, the chinese brand cars like cherry sell for under $5K USD (worth that price, too).
regarding the flagship apple store in shanghai, i was there the night before the ipad 2 launch just passing by and i noticed that they had a long line already building up. personally the wifi models are not that useful, i want 3G.
and i'm a little insulted about reading some comments about an agrarian culture moving into industrial, china already passed that stage during the eighties. the upper class has grown since the nineties. and there is no middle class in china, you're either rich, or poor. people lining up to buy ipad2 are rich.
i have lived in a number of big cities like atlanta, boston, tokyo (japan), and shanghai. it wasn't until i came here to shanghai that i felt poor, granted that tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world. and i'm making easily over 6 digit USDs. i've never seen so many ferraris, lamborghinis, bentleys' in my life. people buy stuff in cash here and often times in sets. now it's certainly not a majority of people that can roll like that here, but there are many, you see these things daily. hence my feeling of being poor.
house prices in china are also through the roof, easily over half a million USD for a 100 square meter flat in downtown. people also buy these with cash.
i've been living in shanghai for the past 3.5 years, that 15% is tax, similar to VAT in the UK, this is placed on all luxury type items, cars see an even higher markup, you could see BMW's sell for $25K USD in the US and easily sell for $50K USD in China, 200% markup.
the reasons are several fold, the government can do anything they want, they want a part of the cut, and sometimes this tactic is used to limit competitiveness of foreign brands, an example is the car space, the chinese brand cars like cherry sell for under $5K USD (worth that price, too).
regarding the flagship apple store in shanghai, i was there the night before the ipad 2 launch just passing by and i noticed that they had a long line already building up. personally the wifi models are not that useful, i want 3G.
and i'm a little insulted about reading some comments about an agrarian culture moving into industrial, china already passed that stage during the eighties. the upper class has grown since the nineties. and there is no middle class in china, you're either rich, or poor. people lining up to buy ipad2 are rich.
i have lived in a number of big cities like atlanta, boston, tokyo (japan), and shanghai. it wasn't until i came here to shanghai that i felt poor, granted that tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world. and i'm making easily over 6 digit USDs. i've never seen so many ferraris, lamborghinis, bentleys' in my life. people buy stuff in cash here and often times in sets. now it's certainly not a majority of people that can roll like that here, but there are many, you see these things daily. hence my feeling of being poor.
house prices in china are also through the roof, easily over half a million USD for a 100 square meter flat in downtown. people also buy these with cash.
Gerry, the VAT in China is plain 17%, not 15%, and it's on everything in the market, not just the luxury goods. Apple is actually doing their Chinese customers a favor here, lowering the prices to slightly below the normal prices with taxes.
I'm no law expert, but I'm sure VAT is pretty common across the world, and it's not just about a greedy government, it's actually an important part of the overall tax structure in most countries. If VAT is eliminated or reduced, something else must be taxed(a lot) to compensate for the loss in government funding. The Chinese people tend to avoid income tax a lot - if you know them well you will know that I'm talking the truth here - and that's why VAT is so high, because it's a simple and efficient way of supporting the overall tax structure.
I'm no law expert, but I'm sure VAT is pretty common across the world, and it's not just about a greedy government, it's actually an important part of the overall tax structure in most countries. If VAT is eliminated or reduced, something else must be taxed(a lot) to compensate for the loss in government funding. The Chinese people tend to avoid income tax a lot - if you know them well you will know that I'm talking the truth here - and that's why VAT is so high, because it's a simple and efficient way of supporting the overall tax structure.
How does it make your life better or more complete to constantly troll these forums to bother people who enjoy seeing Apple succeed?
Kinda weird how they are manufactured in China.. but it takes forever for their stores to get them. lol
As a consumerI find it odd to see such a blind following and constant cheerleading about how much money a company is making off of consumers like myself. Of course I'm sure these same cheerleaders are ecstatic about the price of gasoline too. It's great to see Exxon raking in those billions.
At least China has enough people to distract privacy scams apple was accused of in the recent year., its better we spy on China, they have more money lolSold out? Good news!!! That means there is still a market for me to sell iPad 2s to China!!!
For the less intelligent on these forums, here is why this is most likely sarcasm: "Not possible!! Count them again!!"
Thank you for your time, and may this learning experience be passed down to your children.
We've already been over this. Apple creates innovative devices that people enjoy using; not once have I said "OMG, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MORE GAS! IT'S SO AWESOME!"
No one is forcing you to buy any Apple products, so if you don't like their pricing strategy then don't buy them. Many other people think that they are worth it.
This pricing strategy has also even been beneficial to the consumer! Thanks to Apple's ability to make profit (and sell many devices) they've been able to prepay for large amounts of components. This drives component prices down so that they can create products (iPad) that the competition has a hard time price matching.