anyone else frustrated by apples pricing model?

[Dub1ous]

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?

I've found the "get what you pay for" thing tends to drop off at a certain point, and that's certainly an extreme example of it.

 

[KauaiBruce]

This is all so silly. People act like Apple is the only company on the planet that wants to make a profit on accessories (or anything else). This is what the free market is all about. If someone wants to create a better cheaper phone or watch they are free to do it.

HOWEVER, if anyone DOES make it nicer and cheaper then THEY are going to want to profit also. This is just how the world works. If no one can profit on selling something they are not going to BOTHER selling something.

The price bitching is nothing but sour grapes from people who should be focusing either on a better career or an increase in their allowance. ANYONE who cannot spend $399 on something JUST because they want it should not be spending hours here bitching about Apple not paying us to play with their toys.

(And I TRULY believe most of the other whining is from the competition because the public did not embrace what THEY had to offer)

 

[KatieKat78]

I think it's a supply problem. They are having problems making a lot of black ss. The costs is in relation to supply. There are tons of rumors about problems making these things. It's been reported that there is. Hence the delay and the cost.

At least with apple they refuse to sell you less than high quality products. The 2nd gen's will be cheaper but if you want one now you'll pay. it's the cost of being the first adopters.

What's worse is the band model. You want black SS , sure but you have to buy this ugly black band for 600 dollars . After how loyal we have all been , that there is a big F you to the customers that make this company rich as they are

It's almost like a arrogance they are showing

 

[Pinksteady]

Apple will keep their prices high and they will sell. 3rd parties will release cheaper alternatives. Apple will continue selling at their higher prices.

Look at cases for iPhone and iPad. Those prices are high for the Apple version and prices don't come down. The watch will be no different.

You're probably right, but what I'm getting at is that the strap-only price is disproportionately high, and I'm just not entirely sure why.

 

[foxkoneko]

This is not a required item so stop complaining about the price. Too high?, dont frikin buy it.
Apple's watch will remain a premium item while the android versions like the phones will be a race to the bottom again 🙄

 

[KauaiBruce]

I've found the "get what you pay for" thing tends to drop off at a certain point, and that's certainly an extreme example of it.

You DO often get what you pay for. This reminded me of the different pricing models at the Condo I own as an investment. About 60% of our owners use a big hotel chain to manager our rooms for a percentage cut and charges an amenity fee of $18 a day to the renters. The rest use vrbo or other cut rate places to book THEIR rooms and grab the discount travelers.

The rooms are the same but the services included are vastly different. My nephew is a bartender there and he often hears complaints from the discount travelers asking why THEY do not get high speed internet, daily maid service, free pool towels, free movies and playstation 3, free drink cards, daily coffee and breakfast, (and the list goes on). When people complain he just smiles sweetly and says "Well, you GET what you pay for". Next time don't try to save $10 a day and book with the hotel directly.

 

[foxkoneko]

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?

this is obviously for rich peeps who dont know what to do with their money. They probably would get one for each day of the week 🙄

 

[cmichaelb]

The cable is still $40 in 6 month. All Apple's profit comes from only one place, our pockets. Unless someone is a stockholder, Apple's profit is a measure on how much they ripped us off.

Let's see, I think a company is entitled to a fair profit and it that's what people are willing to pay- so be it. You and I have the right to spend our money elsewhere.

But it's not just parts- it's marketing, research, tooling, transportation(my area of expertise), etc. if you ever have an idea for a product and see it to completion you'd be very surprised.

 

[twisted-pixel]

This is not a required item so stop complaining about the price. Too high?, dont frikin buy it.
Apple's watch will remain a premium item while the android versions like the phones will be a race to the bottom again 🙄

The charger is not a required item. Since the watch needs an iPhone to work, everyone already has a compatible charger.

And I was merely saying that the pricing is baffling

 

[whatos]

I too am thrown off by the pricing, and I assume that many more young customers my age are. The watch in my eyes is simply an accessory to the iPhone, sure it has extreme potential, but is not there yet. The main attraction the first announcement of the watch had for me was the fitness tracking capabilities, although now they have proven to be subpar, and not worth this amount. Instead, I can get an amazing fitness tracker like the Jawbone Up 3(hopefully sometime this year:roll eyes🙂 and a classier Fossil watch which will provide much more for me.

For me, Apple just hasn't solidified how the watch will impact my life $350 worth.

Your points are quite valid. But this is Apple we're talking about. They charge an amount they like. Always collecting fat profit margins it's why others in the tech sector envy Apples massive cash reserves.

 

[chrise2]

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?

You get the cooler box that's a built in charging stand. Duh. Worth it.

 

[jgreenleaf68]

The band prices are ludacris. Thank god for the knock-offs! The watch is so worth the price!

 

[BradWould]

...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

but a 38MM sport watch is $350

included in that is

the watch band (which they sell separately for $50)
charging cable (which they sell separately for $40)
charger (which they sell separately for $20)

so the watch itself is only $240...or the watch is more, but they throw in the accessories free, but for which they charge a small fortune for you to buy separately.

How the hell is a cable worth $40?? (a 1m cable is $30, so apple charge $10 for 1m of cable!!)

New printer w/ ink 40$
Printer ink 38$
I think Apple is ok

 

[vi2867]

Very...

The could have set the pricing even higher and they still would have sold out.

Eventually, the prices will go down. Once the dust settles and the demand is not so high.

 

[hallidc]

Apple watch begins @ $449 here in Canada.

The pricing is a tad high in my opinion. I have yet to be convinced to order though. Paid a visit to my local Apple Store yesterday and after about 10min of playing around with the watch, I couldn't see myself using one.

 

[shox2k2]

Sure their accessories are high. But how much money did they spend designing the watch? I'm sure they had a lot of prototypes, engineers and so on. Thats not free. Plus they had to train all their employees on the new product. They don't do that off the clock. Plus all the marketing associated.

Boeing profits were stuggling as they were creating the Dreamliner. Now that all that work is done and they just have to sell it... their profits are rising.

 

[twisted-pixel]

New printer w/ ink 40$
Printer ink 38$
I think Apple is ok

A printer doesn't work without ink..

a watch will work without a charger...and I have several already.

If I wanted the Black SS watch and a Black Sports band, I have to pay several hundred dollars for a bracelet I don't want

 

[Mr.C]

Very...

The could have set the pricing even higher and they still would have sold out.

Eventually, the prices will go down. Once the dust settles and the demand is not so high.

The prices won't go down until the next model is released and assuming Apple continues selling this model which is highly unlikely anyway. It is not typical of Apple products.

 

[brendu]

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?

How do you know the gold is only worth $1500?

 

[Mildredop]

...maybe frustrated is the wrong word...perhaps baffled is a better word

In which case, maybe you should have put 'baffled' in the thread title instead of 'frustrated'.

 

[mightyjabba]

How do you know the gold is only worth $1500?

Well, in another thread I did a rough calculation that even if the watch were 100% gold with no electronics in it, it would be (based on its weight) probably $1500 to $2000 worth of gold. But of course there are other expenses involve than just the raw materials.

 

[CooKieMoNs7eR]

I wish the sports model starts at $299+ and the ss starts at $399+ but $300 diff between the sport and the ss is ridiculous imo...

 

[jjlannoo]

I wish the sports model starts at $299+ and the ss starts at $399+ but $300 diff between the sport and the ss is ridiculous imo...

There is quite a bit different between those models.

 

[Vanilla Face]

Actually you don't. Apple sports watch + $1500 gold = $10000. What did you get for those $8000 extra?

If you expect consumer products to be priced based on their raw materials you're going to have a bad time.

I wish the sports model starts at $299+ and the ss starts at $399+ but $300 diff between the sport and the ss is ridiculous imo...

Its a $200 difference, not $300. $350 for the 38mm sport, $550 for the 38mm SS.

 

[brendu]

Well, in another thread I did a rough calculation that even if the watch were 100% gold with no electronics in it, it would be (based on its weight) probably $1500 to $2000 worth of gold. But of course there are other expenses involve than just the raw materials.

Cool thanks. I was hoping to find out how much the actual gold is worth.. Thought it was much more.