In Apple's case, specifically for the recent pre-MagSafe years, I'm sure they sell plenty of replacement adapters. They fail at a fairly high rate due to faulty design. So, you can buy them at the Apple Store, and pay $80+, or at MacWizards and pay $38, or eBay and pay $25. With that much margin, there's always going to be other players. In addition, there is obviously plenty of demand. The supply doesn't exist without it, in this case.
Same goes for cell phones. I've needed replacements and/or additions for Nokia and Sony-E, and ATT would have happily provided me with them..for $40. Again, hello eBay.
Adapters live in the space between hardware and consumables, but their margins are in the consumables category. Don't give me a song and dance about how they 'don't sell too many'; they do, and they'd sell more if they didn't have 3rd parties to contend with.
But they've done their analysis, and there are enough peeps out there unwilling or unable to do the research to find cheaper alternatives.
Same goes for cell phones. I've needed replacements and/or additions for Nokia and Sony-E, and ATT would have happily provided me with them..for $40. Again, hello eBay.
Adapters live in the space between hardware and consumables, but their margins are in the consumables category. Don't give me a song and dance about how they 'don't sell too many'; they do, and they'd sell more if they didn't have 3rd parties to contend with.
But they've done their analysis, and there are enough peeps out there unwilling or unable to do the research to find cheaper alternatives.
