If Apple really have the same pricing policy around the world how come Europe doesn't get the same discount? They still cost the same to manufacture, dont they? In China that is...
The general pricing policy of a company has little to do with promotions and rebates that a company initiates in different countries.
How difficult is it to understand that the cost of a machine in a given country is based on the base cost of the machine, the cost of doing business in that particular country, the tax policy of that particular country, and the value of that country's currency vis-à-vis the USD?
In Europe I get a far better deal in higher education discounts on notebooks than in the US, relative to the normal prices.
Back to the "Back to School" offer. First, we can speak of a traditional, monolithic back to school period in the United States - the summer - based on when academic institutions start their autumn term. This makes it practical to attempt to tie lots of incoming students into the Mac with a free iPod. In Europe, semesters do not all start around the same time. The academic calendar in Germany is different from other places, etc. This makes it less monolithic and less traditional. Second, as iPod refreshes have generally been in the autumn, it is widely acknowledged this move is to clear inventory before the refreshes - giving Apple an incentive to give larger discounts compared to the program in Europe that includes brand new models.
One additional point that distinguishes the two continents in terms of the iPod promotion - the strategic interest of putting the iPhone/iPod Touch operating system into students hands. Due to closer relationships between Apple and American institutions, it is much more likely that universities would work the iPod touch into the school through podcasts, calendars, apps, etc. I do not see the university that I currently teach at in Europe deploying this sort of venture in the foreseeable future, nor at the 10 other institutions that I collaborate with on a regular basis. It is not making any inroads into curriculum. As a result, there are fewer push-pull motivations in giving away free iPod touches. This, however, might change with the European promotion as the iPod Touch may become even less expensive.
Are Apple products cheaper in the US than in Europe? Absolutely. This is not some huge conspiracy against you or the continent in general formulated by the people in Cupertino.
Why does a Dell 24" ultrasharp display cost $479 in the US and $879 in Europe?
There's the legality of some rebates, cost of business, taxes, and the currency.
