Apple Could Be Forced to Include a Charger with Every iPhone Sold in Brazil

[boogas8]

So why did apple not lower the price of the phone instead? If it was just about the environment they should have lowered the price by the cost of the charger.

That way if you need it you can pay for it during the order. It is pretty obvious what the deal is.

Here’s my response to someone else.

Yes, I believe removing the charger was a cost cutting measure. However, this a bad argument because it assumes all other costs remained the same, which I highly unlikely, as cost almost always go up. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing if their margins went up or down per phone. There are way more factors at play that go into the cost that we will never know. Additionally it assumes, they calculate the retail price of the charger (which have huge margins) into the retail price of the phone, which companies don’t usually do. It would be thought of as the entire package of the product but no where near its retail price as an individual product (sku).

 

[ikramerica]

I agree. Sorry Apple. If you care about the environment, start a charger swap program or $10 rebate or something.

But you can’t go from claiming phone fires were caused by non-Apple chargers, to no longer providing a way to charge.

 

[coredev]

It is a gold mine, they did not reduce the price of the iphone by 20 dolars.

It’s a new phone this year, so there was no previous price to lower.
Think about all the stuff and improvements in the new phone that the old generation did not have. Why does no one ever think that this might justify a price increase?

 

[Prince Akeem]

Yes, I believe removing the charger was a cost cutting measure. However, this a bad argument because it assumes all other costs remained the same, which I highly unlikely, as cost almost always go up.

I've heard this often now. People justify the same price without a charger, because of the addition new tech, etc. etc. etc. That would be an interesting explanation, if it were true... New tech is added every year, while at the same time existing tech that's still included is getting cheaper. This cancels out the difference, or usually probably even increases the profit margins.

If the argument was true, we would have seen an increased price point for the base iPhone every year, which is not the case. The base model price remained $699 since the iPhone 8 in 2017. The removal of the charger (AND earbuds!) means nothing more than increased profit margins.

 

[JM]

My son just brought an iphone 12 and he was grousing about the usb-c cable and lack of charger. I asked how he planned to charge his phone then. He said he would use the cables and chargers from his previous iphones. Case closed.

Until that usb cord breaks...

I'm on the fence: including usb-c is definitely for selling new power bricks, but it IS cool having a usb-c cord to connect with newer computers.

I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad about the charger choices they had this year. Lol

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Apple has taken the p**s with this one.

Fair enough, don’t include a charger or EarBuds in the box, but pass the saving onto the customer.

It being all about the environment is BS.

 

[Mr.Blacky]

That people think this is about the environment shows the ignorance of the population. Not only did they shrink the packaging, and removed the charger but are still charging you the same price.

The fact that the charging cable is not USB-A is on purpose, they did not include a cable compatible with 99% of existing charger.

The whole thing is a slight of hand con. Now the average person has to buy a charger and of course, Apple is more than willing to sell you the right one.

Whats sad is the number of bootlickers who think Apple is doing a great thing and god forbid you call them out on the hypocrisy. If it was for the environment and not pure profit ******** they would have reduced the price by the cost of the charger that is not included.

I have to agree with what Brazil is doing, at least they are calling out Apples ********.

Even if I would need a new charging brick (still have a few USB-A Lightning cable lying around, so I really don't), it would be a one time purchase/production thing and I can use it for future iPhones (or other gadgets) to.

 

[C DM]

Yes, I believe removing the charger was a cost cutting measure. However, this a bad argument because it assumes all other costs remained the same, which I highly unlikely, as cost almost always go up. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing if their margins went up or down per phone. There are way more factors at play that go into the cost that we will never know. Additionally it assumes, they calculate the retail price of the charger (which have huge margins) into the retail price of the phone, which companies don’t usually do. It would be thought of as the entire package of the product but no where near its retail price on an individual basis.

While there's that aspect to it, there are still more things in play. All kinds of things are added and changed to devices every year yet basic necessities like a power adapter haven't been dropped because of that. Furthermore, previously when Apple decided to change something, like remove the headphone jack, not only did they update the included headphones but even included an extra adapter when that change happened. So certainly more in consideration with it all with various inconsistencies about how things are approached.

 

[C DM]

Even if I would need a new charging brick (still have a few USB-A Lightning cable lying around, so I really don't), it would be a one time purchase/production thing and I can use it for future iPhones (or other gadgets) to.

Same type of logic can be applied the cable itself which is still included and this time was changed (and won't work with the previous power adapters). So that's kind of neither here nor there.

 

[boogas8]

While there's that aspect to it, there are still more things in play. All kinds of things are added and changed to devices every year yet basic necessities like a power adapter haven't been dropped because of that. Furthermore, previously when Apple decided to change something, like remove the headphone jack, not only did they update the included headphones but even included an extra adapter when that change happened. So certainly more in consideration with it all with various inconsistencies about how things are approached.

Just because something wasn’t dropped before doesn’t change anything. Chargers are standard because companies chose to do it, there has never been a requirement. Just because they did something one way before doesn’t mean they’ll do it again. So in no way do they have to be consistent, seeing as this type of change isn’t common.

I know I’m sounding like an Apple shill. Again I agree the removal was about money for them, along with pushing towards not using plug into phone chargers. My argument was we don’t know the costs and people fail to understand that retail price of accessories isn’t what they look at when coming up with the price of devices, so people need to stop expecting a drop in phone price to match. They jack up the charger price when sold individually for large margins. Other costs that go into pricing salaries, transportation and r&d, are big ones we have no idea how they impacted the price. Especially r&d.

 

[macfacts]

Stupid regulations...

No one is forcing apple to do business in Brazil.

 

[Onelifenofear]

Great, wish they were forced to do the same in every country

Why? I have dozens of the things.. also if they do they just give you one in a box and charge more for it.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Is my memory slipping or wasn’t there an article about this, about 2 months ago?

 

[I7guy]

No one is forcing apple to do business in Brazil.

And no one is forcing anybody to buy an iphone.

 

[C DM]

Just because something wasn’t dropped before doesn’t change anything. Chargers are standard because companies chose to do it, there has never been a requirement. Just because they did something one way before doesn’t mean they’ll do it again. So in no way do they have to be consistent, seeing as this type of change isn’t common.

I know I’m sounding like an Apple shill. Again I agree the removal was about money for them, along with pushing towards not using plug into phone chargers. My argument was we don’t know the costs and people fail to understand that retail price of accessories isn’t what they look at when coming up with the price of devices, so people need to stop expecting a drop in phone price to match. They jack up the charger price when sold individually for large margins. Other costs that go into pricing salaries, transportation and r&d, are big ones we have no idea how they impacted the price. Especially r&d.

Well, how things have been done certainly plays a role. It doesn't mean that they can't change, but it still means there's a context that is still there in consideration and certainly a variety of things that could be commented on in that context.

 

[farewelwilliams]

idiotic again

 

[SchrodingersMartian]

I would not include anything I would tell them that unless these demands stop I will shut down the Apple Store in Brazil and pull all Apple services and stop all carriers in Brazil from selling iPhones in their sad pathetic country that requires a high markup in prices. Brazil needs Apple more than Apple needs it. Lets see who wins this game!

 

[jmorrison0722]

There's just no excuse, really. A charger is required to use the phone. Apple leaving out the EarPods is acceptable because the phone can be used without it. When I get a new phone, I sell my old one. I always include the cable and charging block, which means I do NOT have a charging block when I buy my new phone. Apple: here's your new phone... but if you want to use it you'll need to buy this extra thing.

 

[obamtl]

Exactly this. They'll just add it to the price for phones in that country. It's not going to be free regardless

It's not that simple. Apple can decide whether to take the margin hit or pass the cost on. Given how huge the margins are, and how expensive iPhones are in Brazil (the Mini costs $1,270 there) Apple may well take the hit.

Personally, whilst I laud Apple's environmental objective here, I think what they should have done is provide the charger in a separate box and ask customers at check-out if they need one included or not. If you need one, you get it for free. If you have one and want to do a 'good deed', Apple gets to save the planet from one unnecessary charger.

 

[tha_man]

But they included the cable...

Yeah, they better, at least as long as it's lightning.

 

[PortoMavericks]

My understanding is there is a chip in the lightning cable that handshakes with the iOS device, but beyond that, there is nothing.

CYPD313.

It’s a custom chip made by Cypress for Apple. It’s in every modern Apple charger.

 

[newjerseydamo]

When I get a new phone, I sell my old one. I always include the cable and charging block, which means I do NOT have a charging block when I buy my new phone. Apple: here's your new phone... but if you want to use it you'll need to buy this extra thing.

I'm in the exact same situation.

I bought an 11 Pro Max, which came with a charger. And it will be my last iPhone. When it dies, I'll be looking at options.

I don't have a myriad of cables and USB chargers. So in effect, I could claim that I am helping the environment.
Not including something that is detrimental to the usage of the device is just poor form.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Apple should be forced to disclose how much they made in chargers sales this year.

Keep in mind that they dropped the price by the cost of a charger. So that's zero extra dollars.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

It's not free, you still pay for not getting a charger. If you buy a separate one, you now pay double, as the prices of iPhones have not been lowered by the amount of the charger. It's amazing that a lot of people actually fall for Apple's PR excuse to exclude chargers, I have to admit it was brilliant marketing.

Not true. They stopped selling the charger with the already existing SE2, and the price dropped by the price of the charger.

 

[russell_314]

It's not that simple. Apple can decide whether to take the margin hit or pass the cost on. Given how huge the margins are, and how expensive iPhones are in Brazil (the Mini costs $1,270 there) Apple may well take the hit.

Personally, whilst I laud Apple's environmental objective here, I think what they should have done is provide the charger in a separate box and ask customers at check-out if they need one included or not. If you need one, you get it for free. If you have one and want to do a 'good deed', Apple gets to save the planet from one unnecessary charger.

Agreed Apple can take the hit but I don’t agree that they should have offered a free charger. If they’re going to do that they should’ve just included it in the box because no one will turn down free anything. Apple could offer a free charger that’s only works with android phones and no one would turn it down. People will never turn down free stuff regardless if they need it or not