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Apple Adjusts International App Store Prices
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Its far from perfect.
Unless you stumble in drunk on a friday night with blood on your clothes and sick in your shoes or you smoke 100 fags a day then their methods are very ineffective.
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Your ****ing kidding me?! Further price hikes for the uk! Screw you apple!
Your ****ing kidding me?! Further price hikes for the uk! Screw you apple!
ooooohhhhhhh, so your one of those people claiming benefits then getting 'Free' health care?
Well if by many people you are stating the jobless, retired, too young to work population, nope still far far far far far far far far more of the population PAY for the NHS.
And as for the maths? Erm I took half the £9000 a year max and timsed it by three the used XE converter to change into US $.
I'm sorry but if you 'think' in the UK we pay nothing for the NHS then please let it be known as a fact you are Wrong! I would love to pay lower taxes and have a 'Free' NHS.
Hi fellow Norwegian, I guess you didn't pick up the news that dear country is now charging VAT ("moms" in Norwegian) for digital purchases from july '11. That's 25% VAT (I know Norway is crazy like that). So a price hike from 6 NOK to 7 NOK is actually a 0,5 NOK reduction in price.
Don't blame AppleI stand corrected. Some good info there. Many aren't that far off the maximum either.
wasn't the original point that in return for higher taxation such as VAT and fuel duty, you receive additional services such as healthcare and subsidised further education?
Some offer discounts if the family earnings are low. Initially I thought they wouldn't be that high, but when you factor in the cuts they've all had you can understand why.
I can't claim benefits, as I'm a student, so there's one problem sorted.
I also have private healthcare with BUPA, so in all honesty I couldn't give a crap about people who use the NHS, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion based on a health service. Regardless of it being paid for via taxes, it clearly isnt enough. The system is just downright awful, and after seeing a family member pass away due to a glaringly obvious mistake by the NHS was the factor in me going private.
I'm not saying they should start charging for health insurance similar to the US, as a lot of the UK is still very much working class. But the way the system stands at current, the only people benefiting from the NHS are the drunks and smokers.
Here in Norway, they charge us NOK 8.50 on the dollar for hardware (in average). The rate at xe.com is around 5.50 which is reflected by the value of iTunes gift cards in the Norwegian Apple Store ($100 = NOK 550). And now they raise the rates in AppStore from NOK 6.00 to NOK 7.00 per dollar??
**** those ****ing ****ers! Yes, I know that Apple is a stock company and that they don't do charity, but this is ****ing corporate greed at its ****ing finest! Thanks a lot, ****ing Apple!!!
So you don't pay taxes in Norway? Oh wait you do, at 25%.
NOK 5.53 (the current rate for 1 USD) + 25% = NOK 6.91
Nope, its (usually) more than $.99. It depends on the state you live in, which all have different amounts of tax. So, since I live in Michigan, a $.99 app is $1.05. (There are a few states where the sales tax is 0%, however - see the linked page)
Weird thing is, last time I bought a song, I believe there wasn't tax on it. It's been a while though.
No. Or should that be nnnnooo. I've never claimed any form of benefit in the UK, having always been in full time employment or, when between jobs, quite rightly fallen under means testing.
Last time I heard any figures on it, over 75% of prescriptions in the UK were free. I suspect that may be over 80% now. It's a surprising figure, but the UK has an ageing population, hence the current issues around pension costs
I seem to have rekindled the Revolutionary War.
I never said the NHS was free...I said that it is one of your tradeoffs for having higher taxes. I realize that it's not perfect, no system is. But it's not like everything is just peachy over here in the States.
As far as universities in America, their affordability is very dependent on which state you live in. If you live in Michigan or Texas, for example, you have a great public university at a decent (still high, but not outrageous) price. If not, you are staring at $50,000 per year for four years. Nearly every top 50 university charges that. And below that, the quality drops off very quickly. So to us, 9000 pounds sounds quite good. (And just curious, is it only 9000 for Oxford/Cambridge too? If you can get in, that sounds like a steal.)
Edit: And you have the BBC!! I would gladly pay higher taxes if they resulted in a legitimate news TV station. All we have are extremists on both sides yelling at each other, and a bunch of celebrity gossip shows that call themselves news.
I never said the NHS was free...I said that it is one of your tradeoffs for having higher taxes. I realize that it's not perfect, no system is. But it's not like everything is just peachy over here in the States.
As far as universities in America, their affordability is very dependent on which state you live in. If you live in Michigan or Texas, for example, you have a great public university at a decent (still high, but not outrageous) price. If not, you are staring at $50,000 per year for four years. Nearly every top 50 university charges that. And below that, the quality drops off very quickly. So to us, 9000 pounds sounds quite good. (And just curious, is it only 9000 for Oxford/Cambridge too? If you can get in, that sounds like a steal.)
Edit: And you have the BBC!! I would gladly pay higher taxes if they resulted in a legitimate news TV station. All we have are extremists on both sides yelling at each other, and a bunch of celebrity gossip shows that call themselves news.
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General taxation funds the NHS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1926443.stm
We have college education but that's only till your 18, after that is normally university which as pointed out already is very expensive, I think that on top of those tuition fees are rent, food, books etc etc.
And I would never say the US health system is better, it just grinds my gears when people claim the NHS is a 'free' service!
As far as I have understood, the extra 25 % comes on top of the NOK 7.00, but I might be wrong in this. I hope I am.
Sorry, I didn't want to 'attack' you if you experienced it that way.
But many people find it offensive when you suddenly say something in another language they can't understand.Oh, and everybody has to learn a language when he is born. And yes, it's Greek and not 'Greece'. I'm not saying in anyway I'm the best in English, German, Greece or Dutch but things could have been worse. Mistakes can be made, no worries.
And oh, by the way. I have never met a Belgian who is able to speak Dutch proficiently enough to pass Dutch exams. Haha.
Now let's get back on topic. Don't worry about the languages, I'll do my best. And so will you.
That's a bit surprising for me. After I saw the "price adjustment" announcement earlier, I thought it would be HARDWARE prices, coming DOWN. Earlier today we compared UK + hong kong prices for macbook air/pros, and were shocked at how high the UK prices are. Like, I could fly to hong kong and buy one for the price it'd cost me in the UK. I know they don't pay VAT there, but still!
But no, it's app prices going up. Well, I did think app prices in the UK were low (based mainly on my app store income - uk prices are low based on the exchange rate, then VAT gets deducted before apple take their 30%.. result is that devs make less in the UK). Hopefully it'll now even out, or I'll be really ****ed off next time I buy an app
Anyway, app prices are now kind of 'about right', hardware is still too expensive, and the tax man is still robbing us blind.
But no, it's app prices going up. Well, I did think app prices in the UK were low (based mainly on my app store income - uk prices are low based on the exchange rate, then VAT gets deducted before apple take their 30%.. result is that devs make less in the UK). Hopefully it'll now even out, or I'll be really ****ed off next time I buy an app
Anyway, app prices are now kind of 'about right', hardware is still too expensive, and the tax man is still robbing us blind.
I'm following the discussion above and are we now really talking about what the British get in return for paying taxes?! Sure, university is quite expensive but from what I have understood, it's way more expensive in the US. Just like high school. In Europe you can go to high school practically for free compared to the US. Heck, even schoolbooks in high school are free (in the Netherlands). They'll even be sent to your home for free.
This is offtopic, but I figured I'd reply. Charging more Sales Tax (VAT) wouldn't do anything to help the US' national budget deficit/debt. In the US, the % of sales tax charged is determined by the state, and goes to the state. The federal government gets money from income/payroll taxes (among other things, if you're interested, read the wikipedia article.)
Why did you reply to a post where I quoted the bloke below?? Ho hum, student with Bupa eh? So your working parent pays for your Bupa or the company does plus they pay taxes for the NHS among everything else.
And FYI, don't ever bother calling for an ambulance in the UK mate seeing as it's an NHS service and all..... and NO private hospital has an accident and emergency department in the UK, it's all NHS...
75%? Could be but every working person has to pay for the prescriptions, even that has changed recently:
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx
On topic, I brought the new CoPilot for £14,99, they are stil advertising it for the special launch price of £14.99 but thanks to Apple's kindness of price increases it's now £17.49!
Rip off.
And TomTom, was at the bargain £49.99, now yours for 'only' £57.99!!!!
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I dont know what you lot are winging about comparing UK to US.
We were getting apps cheaper than the U.S. based on the exchange, only slightly, but still cheaper.
Don't forget the U.S. has a sales tax to apply dependant on the state.
The base prices are very similar but we have a higher sales tax.
What i have issues with is the hardware. I would be happy if they could match the hardware like they match the apps. Our hardware is a lot more, a few hundred £'s in the case of a MBP, dependant on U.S. state sales tax.
Another thing to bear in mind is how the U.S. economy is geared. Goods and food is typically cheaper to balance out higher costs in other areas like annual energy bills (yes it's cheaper per unit but they use heating and cooling all year round in (on avg. larger spaces), cheaper fuel but they drive higher annual mileages in (on avg.) less efficient cars, property tax is higher than council tax and even car insurance, then you have health insurance and health care. These are often forgotten about but balance the cost of living. Retail is cheaper to stimulate the circulation of currency. So it's a little unfair to expect exactly like for like but we can campaign for the same base prices, because it feels more fair.
We were getting apps cheaper than the U.S. based on the exchange, only slightly, but still cheaper.
Don't forget the U.S. has a sales tax to apply dependant on the state.
The base prices are very similar but we have a higher sales tax.
What i have issues with is the hardware. I would be happy if they could match the hardware like they match the apps. Our hardware is a lot more, a few hundred £'s in the case of a MBP, dependant on U.S. state sales tax.
Another thing to bear in mind is how the U.S. economy is geared. Goods and food is typically cheaper to balance out higher costs in other areas like annual energy bills (yes it's cheaper per unit but they use heating and cooling all year round in (on avg. larger spaces), cheaper fuel but they drive higher annual mileages in (on avg.) less efficient cars, property tax is higher than council tax and even car insurance, then you have health insurance and health care. These are often forgotten about but balance the cost of living. Retail is cheaper to stimulate the circulation of currency. So it's a little unfair to expect exactly like for like but we can campaign for the same base prices, because it feels more fair.
As per your link, that's simply not true. If you are over 60, are entitled to certain taxation credits or are on income support then prescriptions are free. There are numerous other exemptions too. According to this article from 2009 (admittedly a fair while ago) only 11% of people pay the prescription charge. Less than I thought. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/h...scriptions-free-in-England-doctors-argue.html
And why are you judging another poster in much the same way you did me? Are you so concerned about everyone else's situation?
Pricing up for NZ Store
Songs that were $NZD1.69 now $NZD1.79 which is weird as we have gained ground over the $US...
Songs that were $NZD1.69 now $NZD1.79 which is weird as we have gained ground over the $US...
granted, 20% VAT
how dows manufacturing differ between uk and us version?
you do realise that they don't build those devices in the us? they're made in china and i don't think it's cheaper to transport items from china to the us than it is to transport them to europe
and they don't pay for licences and patents in the us?
indeed, (rolleyes)let's ignore all that and just base the price on a figure that is as solid as a bag of water.
Well, they haven't fixed the price for Lion.
USD 29.99
AUD 31.99
XE claims the cost comparison should be $27.84 AUD.
USD 29.99
AUD 31.99
XE claims the cost comparison should be $27.84 AUD.