That's how much it costs to ship products to the Edge of the Known Universe.
If Australia doesn't like it, maybe Australia should develop it's own home-grown talent and compete.
Is this the same government that recently banned A-frame ladders? Now it has a panel that can require companies to show up to publicly defend their (arguably reasonable) pricing or face "legal consequences?"
This is not like gouging on gasoline or milk during a hurricane. This is an iMac.
Base 27'' iMac comes with a price tag of 1,879.00 in Germany. Thats 1,578.99 before tax or 2,110.53 US$. A 17.3% premium and nobody is complaining.
Look, Australia --
Just because you've figured out how to sell a steak for $9 at Outback doesn't give you the right to go telling other people how to price things.
You'd be pissed if the ARM license fee from the UK company shot up for US only companies wouldnt you.
It's only fair that unless there actually is a need to price items higher (e.g to cover shipping, import duties, etc) then there really is no excuse for any company to be charging at such noticeably higher prices.
Petrol is laughable, fuel duty and VAT make up 64% of the price. So for every £1 (exc tax) of fuel, you'll have to pay £1.57, which will require earnings of £2.01 before tax (at the same 22% rate) - over double.
A reason isn't needed though. They can charge what they wish or risk sales.
I Australia a 27" iMac costs 2,056.11 USD in Norway it costs 2,724.15 USD so i dont see the problem
The best bit about Apple at the moment is design and I think you have an Englishman to thank for that.
Bloody Americans
As a Pom, I resent the Aussies trying to expropriate our national pastime. Anyway, if they must whinge, they should start asking why almost any book costs twice as much in Oz. It's sad that they don't seem to have noticed.
And Macs are cheaper in Oz than the UK. Now I've really got something to whinge about!
27" base iMac Norwegian price before taxes (25%): $2141...
The problem is it shouldn't cost more than in the US plus tax..I'll give 2% for transportation costs. Thats not what happening here or in the EU Apple is gouging period. If you throw Adobe and MS into the mix which have very minimal distribution costs the problem compounds.