1235$ for an iPhone 4s, worth it?

[rk25123]

1235$ for an iPhone 4s.
For the people living in the U.S.A. this must be a shocking price, but here in Italy it's just the official selling price for the 64GB model (to you 849$, 386$ less). That's a huge difference. Too huge. I mean, someone could say that you have to consider the taxes, the market, the currency, etc., but it still remains a BIG ********** difference. I feel like Apple considers us like cash cows to be milked to death.
How do you feel? Do you think such a difference is justified?

 

[wpotere]

1235$ for an iPhone 4s.
For the people living in the U.S.A. this must be a shocking price, but here in Italy it's just the official selling price for the 64GB model (to you 849$, 386$ less). That's a huge difference. Too huge. I mean, someone could say that you have to consider the taxes, the market, the currency, etc., but it still remains a BIG ********** difference. I feel like Apple considers us like cash cows to be milked to death.
How do you feel? Do you think such a difference is justified?

Without knowing exactly what that entails, no. It is most likely your tax, plus import fees and the cost of shipping that you are paying extra. When I lived in Germany it was not that uncommon to pay way above and beyond for electronics but most of it was VAT.

 

[Obscurelight]

As long as Apple is paying taxes on the price to our government hehe. Joking aside, it might be your government taxing the price of the phone which results in the huge price difference for example a Mercedes GLK 350 cost me about 42,000 Usd but if I bought the exact same thing in china it will cost me around 100,000 due to government imposed taxes.

 

[rk25123]

As long as Apple is paying taxes on the price to our government hehe. Joking aside, it might be your government taxing the price of the phone which results in the huge price difference for example a Mercedes GLK 350 cost me about 42,000 Usd but if I bought the exact same thing in china it will cost me around 100,000 due to government imposed taxes.

You're right about the taxes, which are simply tremendous around here (unfortunately our government is entirely made of pigs who's only occupation is to think of new ways to steal money from us citizens), but even adding our super 21% VAT you'd get a price of 1027$, leaving a 208$ AMT (Apple Milking Tax).

 

[wpotere]

You're right about the taxes, which are simply tremendous around here (unfortunately our government is entirely made of pigs who's only occupation is to think of new ways to steal money from us citizens), but even adding our super 21% VAT you'd get a price of 1027$, leaving a 208$ AMT (Apple Milking Tax).

You are still leaving out shipping and import taxes etc... There is more to it than just the tax. There is also the fluctuation between the dollar and euro that will affect the price.

 

[BlizzardBolt]

As long as Apple is paying taxes on the price to our government hehe. Joking aside, it might be your government taxing the price of the phone which results in the huge price difference for example a Mercedes GLK 350 cost me about 42,000 Usd but if I bought the exact same thing in china it will cost me around 100,000 due to government imposed taxes.

Nope, Apple like most other smart companies keep most of their cash offshore to avoid US's tax.

 

[zodiaque]

You are still leaving out shipping and import taxes etc... There is more to it than just the tax. There is also the fluctuation between the dollar and euro that will affect the price.

well thats not true because in belgium the prices are 639€,749€,859€ for the iPhones.

 

[Stealthipad]

You're right about the taxes, which are simply tremendous around here (unfortunately our government is entirely made of pigs who's only occupation is to think of new ways to steal money from us citizens), but even adding our super 21% VAT you'd get a price of 1027$, leaving a 208$ AMT (Apple Milking Tax).

WOW, This sounds like our US government and the low life unions that are ruining OUR country

 

[rk25123]

You are still leaving out shipping and import taxes etc... There is more to it than just the tax. There is also the fluctuation between the dollar and euro that will affect the price.

I thought that shipping and import taxes where already taken into account in the U.S. price since iPhones are produced in China and therefore there shouldn't be a huge difference for that aspect.

 

[wpotere]

I thought that shipping and import taxes where already taken into account in the U.S. price since iPhones are produced in China and therefore there shouldn't be a huge difference for that aspect.

No, it still has to be imported into YOUR country. It is your government that is driving the price up, not Apple.

As to the Belgium comment above, read this post. The euro is still taken into consideration when setting the price as is the rest of what I have talked about.
There is more to it than just one or two things and every country will be different.

 

[farmermac]

You are forgetting the burlesconi tax :-D

Apples probably has to pay a lot more to be in business in Italy, per employee - generous benefit package, 6 weeks vacation, etc. that's the price to pay so that your fellow countrymen can live a good life.

 

[rk25123]

No, it still has to be imported into YOUR country. It is your government that is driving the price up, not Apple.

As to the Belgium comment above, read this post. The euro is still taken into consideration when setting the price as is the rest of what I have talked about.
There is more to it than just one or two things and every country will be different.

I highly doubt that the iPhones destinated to the European market will ever touch U.S. soil, they're produced in China, so what would be the point of importing them in the States if the final destination is Europe?! My guess is that they come directly from China for both U.S. and Europe, so the shipping and import fees shouldn't make such a huge difference.

 

[wpotere]

I highly doubt that the iPhones destinated to the European market will ever touch U.S. soil, they're produced in China, so what would be the point of importing them in the States if the final destination is Europe?! My guess is that they come directly from China for both U.S. and Europe, so the shipping and import fees shouldn't make such a huge difference.

It is irrelevant where they came from or what soil they touch. The company is a US based corporation and YOUR country is charging Apple a fee to IMPORT the phones into your country. That cost is passed on to you to pay, not the company. Import fees and tax vary from country to country and you pay that.

I'm not going to get into an import lesson here. Google it and learn for yourself.

 

[likethesoup2]

I highly doubt that the iPhones destinated to the European market will ever touch U.S. soil, they're produced in China, so what would be the point of importing them in the States if the final destination is Europe?! My guess is that they come directly from China for both U.S. and Europe, so the shipping and import fees shouldn't make such a huge difference.

You seem to want to blame Apple for this; you should blaming your politicians and your fellow countrymen, who have become absolutely spoiled by the generosity of your welfare state. Italy is the next in line to go broke, right after Greece is done. Nobody wants to buy Italian debt now; so you guys are about to really be up the creek.

 

[rk25123]

You are forgetting the burlesconi tax :-D

Apples probably has to pay a lot more to be in business in Italy, per employee - generous benefit package, 6 weeks vacation, etc. that's the price to pay so that your fellow countrymen can live a good life.

It's Berlusconi, not burlesconi. Please, show some respect for the man, despite what you foreigners think, he's a kick-ass clown.

They'd definitely have to pay more if they had business here in Italy, but apart from very few Apple Stores they've got nothing. So no, that's not it.

 

[wpotere]

It's Berlusconi, not burlesconi. Please, show some respect for the man, despite what you foreigners think, he's a kick-ass clown.

They'd definitely have to pay more if they had business here in Italy, but apart from very few Apple Stores they've got nothing. So no, that's not it.

LOL, you really are in denial of the cost required to bring anything into your country. It isn't Apple.... :roll eyes:


Here, FedEx put together a nice little page on it.

http://www.fedex.com/us/international/irc/profiles/irc_it_profile.html?gtmcc=us

Give it a read and then you will understand how many people have their hands in money barrel that you are paying for. This happens in every country but Italy is really bad at having high fees and taxes.

 

[rk25123]

You seem to want to blame Apple for this; you should blaming your politicians and your fellow countrymen, who have become absolutely spoiled by the generosity of your welfare state. Italy is the next in line to go broke, right after Greece is done. Nobody wants to buy Italian debt now; so you guys are about to really be up the creek.

I wouldn't be so harsh with your critics, your country risks default too and with today's global economy we're all in the same boat.

----------

LOL, you really are in denial of the cost required to bring anything into your country. It isn't Apple.... :roll eyes:


Here, FedEx put together a nice little page on it.

http://www.fedex.com/us/international/irc/profiles/irc_it_profile.html?gtmcc=us

Give it a read and then you will understand how many people have their hands in money barrel that you are paying for. This happens in every country but Italy is really bad at having high fees and taxes.

I do know of import fees, taxes, etc., I just don't think they make all the difference.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I'm sure that Apple gets about the same amount of money for an Italian phone as they do a US phone or any other country. Any differences in price from country to country are going to your government.

In the USA keep in mind that we do not have a national sales tax / VAT / GST. All product taxes are local (state and smaller governments). There are places in the USA where a $649 phone will cost $649 (Oregon, Montana, New Hampshire, etc. have no sales tax). Local sales tax can be as much as 10% in other areas.

 

[wpotere]

I do know of import fees, taxes, etc., I just don't think they make all the difference.

Think or know? Think only implies you are guessing which is what you are doing. Find out the fees and do the math, then you can blame the proper people.

 

[fr4c]

Are you buying off contract/full retail? Regardless that's way too much to be paying for a phone. I still cringe at the $849 they charge for the 64GB here in the US, as the thought of paying that much for an iPhone is just bananas to me.

Have you considered having a friend/family member purchasing one here in the US and have it shipped to you? Not sure how much that will save you buy probably still cheaper than the $1200 in Italy I hope.

 

[VeNoMiZeD]

Until your prices come down on the Lamborghini, then we won't come down on the IPhone

 

[AWallen90]

I highly doubt that the iPhones destinated to the European market will ever touch U.S. soil, they're produced in China, so what would be the point of importing them in the States if the final destination is Europe?! My guess is that they come directly from China for both U.S. and Europe, so the shipping and import fees shouldn't make such a huge difference.

Apple Inc. is an American company. Therefore when being imported to your country it doesn't matter where it is actually produced it is a part of America's gross national product and is considered as such when being imported to European markets.

 

[rk25123]

Until your prices come down on the Lamborghini, then we won't come down on the IPhone

Actually I think you already pay a Lamborghini a lot less than we do! (here a Murcielago starts from 397.000$)

 

[Applejuiced]

1235$ for an iPhone 4s.
For the people living in the U.S.A. this must be a shocking price, but here in Italy it's just the official selling price for the 64GB model (to you 849$, 386$ less). That's a huge difference. Too huge. I mean, someone could say that you have to consider the taxes, the market, the currency, etc., but it still remains a BIG ********** difference. I feel like Apple considers us like cash cows to be milked to death.
How do you feel? Do you think such a difference is justified?

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