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Apple Does Not Include a Charger With All New MacBooks in UK and EU
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The Cockney Rebel
macrumors 601
Got it, sorry. Read it out of context.
I personally still think it makes sense to ship without a charger. Other than that people might have some already, some may want a different one for whichever reason - more ports for instance. I’d hate to bring, or even permanently install, one brick for the laptop, one for the phone, one for the AirPods, one for the watch… I don’t use the bricks that were included in ANY of the Apple devices I own…
So this IKEA charger you're referring to is also 140W USB-C for 4$ I assume. Otherwise what kind of comparison would this be, right? I don't get what the US$ price is helping here since this is related to EUR & GBP, though.
Great. Then you save money, because the price of the MBP was reduced by the cost of the Apple charger since this law started years ago.
Essentially this makes all laptops between 40-80€ more expensive, if you want to use them for more than the 6-10 hours of battery charge they ship with…
This is not true. The price of the MB was reduced by 100 €. This is a fact, proved in the year this was introduced. What is your assertion based on?
The Neo is CHF 579.- here in Switzerland, without the charger, even though we are technically not part of the EU and it’s BS laws. CHF 579.- is 740$ US, but of course includes 8.8% tax, recycling fee etc. historically Apple has matched prices in CHF/USD or even made them more expensive in Switzerland, when the dollar was still worth something.
So technically, the Neo is now more expensive here because you need to buy a charger on top. If you do, that is.
There is an argument to be made for a MacBook Pro and 140W. But this thread relates to MacBook Neo, which tops out at 20W. How likely are you to buy one without having at least a USB-C charger for your phone?
But if you do want one, the price is 25 Euro at Apple, not 40-80, it is generally on sale for less at other outlets, and the 5 euro Ikea charger will work just fine.
But whiners gonna whine.
So this is the full economic calculation of taxes, transport costs, currency exchange rates, store and employee costs between the two countries for a product that wasn't sold before?
Trusteft
macrumors 65816
Shockingly enough other companies provide a charger without asking just fine with their computers. I guess they are all illegals.
Or perhaps only Apple really cares for the "pocket"of the customers and want to save them money by only letting you add one to your purchase and shipping the computer without one by default. /s
Or perhaps only Apple really cares for the "pocket"of the customers and want to save them money by only letting you add one to your purchase and shipping the computer without one by default. /s
widestload
macrumors 6502a
Since the missing adapter is supposed to be deducted from the price, when you don't have one you just buy one. But you buy what you need, for example an adapter with two ports since this is more useful. Or a more powerful one because you plan to use it for other devices too. Or just the Apple low-power one if you think this is what you need.
The EU regulation is about unbundling. It allows Apple to optionally add one for free. It's Apple that decided not to offer it.
It should be clear to everyone who has bought a few devices that power adapters indeed start to accumulate. I have about 10 adapters from iPhones and iPads alone. If you have to buy a few for your first few devices still nothing is lost at all as you didn't pay for them when you bought the device.
Mrkevinfinnerty
macrumors 68040
User 6502
macrumors 65816
This is apple being pathetic, it has nothing to do with the law. The law only applies to the EU (not the UK), and it does NOT require to sell the product without a charger (without a discount or offering one for free), just to give the user the option to buy it without a charger. Apple could have (as many companies do) offer the option at checkout (just like any other customisation already offered) to add a charger for free, or give a discount id one opts not to have it. They did not because they are awful as always.
I‘m not trying to be a smartass unlike some others here. I‘m merely saying that, if I wanted to buy a laptop from Apple now, I have to pay extra for a charger where I live. My 2024 MBP came with the charger included. The same 96W charger now costs CHF 79.- extra.
LouisMac90
macrumors regular
I can go out for a meal though and don't have to tip LOL! Swings and roundabouts (assuming you are from the US).
It’s just another case of regulators not really understanding what they are doing.
Regulation states that IF a device is offered for sale WITH the charger then the supplier also has to offer the device WITHOUT the charger.
It does NOT require the supplier to offer the device WITH the charger in the first place.
So whilst the intention may have been to allow people to purchase the device without the charger then the actual result of the lawyers and accountants will be well if I offer the device with the charger, then I now have to offer it without so two sets of SKU.
This is going to increase my costs.
However there is the loophole where if I only offer it without the charger then I can retain 1 SKU as well as smaller/lighter packaging for the device as no weight of charger. Especially if air shipping the weight of those chargers can add up in volume as well.
So manufacturers have done what always done which is took the cheaper option.
Regulation states that IF a device is offered for sale WITH the charger then the supplier also has to offer the device WITHOUT the charger.
It does NOT require the supplier to offer the device WITH the charger in the first place.
So whilst the intention may have been to allow people to purchase the device without the charger then the actual result of the lawyers and accountants will be well if I offer the device with the charger, then I now have to offer it without so two sets of SKU.
This is going to increase my costs.
However there is the loophole where if I only offer it without the charger then I can retain 1 SKU as well as smaller/lighter packaging for the device as no weight of charger. Especially if air shipping the weight of those chargers can add up in volume as well.
So manufacturers have done what always done which is took the cheaper option.
Abazigal
Contributor
Funny thing - I actually do have an anker 140w charger lying around. Bought one on a whim when I saw it on sale at Amazon.
Anker 140W USB C Charger, 4 Port Multi Device Fast Charging Laptop Charger, Advanced GaN Power Adapter, Intuitive Touch Controls, for MacBook, iPhone, Samsung, Pixel, and More (Black (without cable))
Enjoy the convenience of powering four devices simultaneously with our advanced GaN technology for optimal performance.
www.amazon.sg
Maybe it is greed, but I think it's also an admission that everybody talks about saving the environment until it's them being inconvenienced. Everybody wants change, but nobody wants to change.
iPhysicist
macrumors 65816
European here - I don’t see a problem. Just don’t buy it.
This MB is so underwhelming specced that it indeed could be an European invention. This one is OK if you get it for the education discount but not at full price. The lack of a charger couldn’t make it a bit more worse.
This MB is so underwhelming specced that it indeed could be an European invention. This one is OK if you get it for the education discount but not at full price. The lack of a charger couldn’t make it a bit more worse.
Mr. Nice
macrumors regular
So Apple is not allowed to ask during the ordering process whether a free separate charger should be included?
Apple is partly to blame!
The EU provided the perfect opportunity, and Apple's greed prevailed.