Apple Event Discounts - 10% iPods, iMac Discounts

[winmacguy]

lets hope so!!

Originally posted by ITR 81
I'm not sure why everyone is complaining about this because if you get an edu discount overseas then you get the same deal.

I believe once Apple gets more stores opened overseas there will be country only promo's and worldwide promo's.

Apple has started their iPod promo down here in NZ on our music channel and on one of our main Auckland radio stations. I saw one of the dancing grooving iPod ads on the music channel at the weekend and thought it was pretty cool. I would how ever like to see some of those big iPod ads on the city buses etc and on some billboards around the place. Compared to M$ promoting of the X-box with special X-box emblazoned SUVs parked at special locations and major radio give aways and pretty much in your face advertising I would have to say that Apples advertising here in NZ is currently on a much smaller scale. I was how ever talking to the Apple rep from Australia at a recent Adobe event in Auckland who told me that Apple does have some big promos and advertising planned in NZ this side of Christmas.

 

[toughboy]

Re: lets hope so!!

Originally posted by winmacguy
Apple has started their iPod promo down here in NZ on our music channel and on one of our main Auckland radio stations. I saw one of the dancing grooving iPod ads on the music channel at the weekend and thought it was pretty cool. I would how ever like to see some of those big iPod ads on the city buses etc and on some billboards around the place. Compared to M$ promoting of the X-box with special X-box emblazoned SUVs parked at special locations and major radio give aways and pretty much in your face advertising I would have to say that Apples advertising here in NZ is currently on a much smaller scale. I was how ever talking to the Apple rep from Australia at a recent Adobe event in Auckland who told me that Apple does have some big promos and advertising planned in NZ this side of Christmas.

at least you have some promotion down in NZ.. Despite that the distribution of Apple is handled by one of the biggest coorporations in Turkey, there is still no advertisements or promotions in here..

 

[winmacguy]

Re: Re: lets hope so!!

Originally posted by toughboy
at least you have some promotion down in NZ.. Despite that the distribution of Apple is handled by one of the biggest coorporations in Turkey, there is still no advertisements or promotions in here..

I dont feel so left out.
It just seems like maybe Apple could be a bit hamstrung with the iTunes promotion and iPods - trying to do a world wide promotion when really only the US and now Japan can access the iTunes Music store.

 

[curious-au]

Originally posted by Stella
HELLLO, AMERICAN

Dear lord, what is wrong with you people. I live in Australia, and you don't hear me having a big cry because I didn't get offered a discount. Big deal! If I was going to buy something as expensive as an iPod, it's not going to be a 10% discount that's going to swing my opinion as to when to buy.

Perhaps instead of having a sulk, be glad that some folks across the border got a discount, and then write a letter to your local subsidiary and ask them if and when they plan to do such promotions themselves. Having a protracted whinge and sneering at the people who were lucky enough to get a go seems very childish.

-- curious.au

 

[Sabenth]

/me Smiles

 

[groovebuster]

Re: wah!

Originally posted by Photorun
If you want a USA discount, move to the USA... 'm sure there's discounts in other countries that don't extend to the US.

Now that's an ignorant statement... No further discussion needed!

But the next one is also not bad...

Originally posted by humangod
then go start your own international computer company and show the world how it should be done. until then, shutup.

And another one...

Originally posted by painandgreed
Do You know how much a copy of 2000AD costs in the US? How about CDs from the Out of Line label from Germany? You people lower your prices and we'll lower ours!

Just be glad Apple's an US company and sells all their stuff to Europe at all. If it was Sony, Fujitsu or some other Japanese company, you'd never see the iPod except on company websites in another language or from friends that travel there and bring the stuff back because it's never sold otuside of the country.

Guys, there are some things you should realize. Apple makes more than 50% of its revenue with sales outside the US. Saying that the unworthy not US citizens should be greatful that they at least can buy Apple products is childish. Without us Apple wouldn't even exist anymore. Apple needs their international customers to survive. Lower your prizes so we lower ours is the most stupid thing I ever heard in a discussion like this.

Fact is, that customers outside the US in general pay more for the same products without any other reason than a greedy company called Apple. On top there are products that even have crippled functionality when purchased outside the US and still cost as much as (+ the 15% foreigner tax Applee charges) the US counterpart. Apple on the one hand wants to gain market share, but on the other hand they ruin their reputation with stuff like that.

Steve Jobs really doesn't seem to care too much about the market outside the US. He always just does what he has to in order to piss the international customers not too much off.

Just another example of a company that lost credibility here in Germany is Adobe! Can you imagine, that the localizeed version (including the update) for the Creative Suite costs about 500.- € more than the US english version? Hello? They offer both versions side by side in the german online store. They must be nuts! We are talking about localization, not a completely new developed software! And we are also talking about one of the biggest markets for Adobe right after the US. So no arguments like "To localize for a small market and just a few copies costs a lot of money!" are valid.

I pointed it out several times before in other threads, that if there would be a real alternative to all that Apple (and now also Adobe) stuff, I would happily turn my back on that company. But for now it is just choosing between piles of poo of different sizes... And Apple is still the smaller one, but is catching up fast.

groovebuster

 

[the_mole1314]

This discussion WILL NEVER END. EVER.

Face it guys, it's harder to create discounts and deals in overseas markets and other markets than it is in the US. I know there are lots of internationall sales and the such.

As I've said before, Japan gets cool games that we never get, so should I bitch and moan? No. It's ANOTHER MARKET. I agree that discounts are needed and should happen, but just like iTMS, there's more to it than 'HEY LETS DISCOUNT THE iPOD TODAY!'

As for 'crippled functionality', it's mostly the governments that don't allow for it.

 

[groovebuster]

Originally posted by the_mole1314
As for 'crippled functionality', it's mostly the governments that don't allow for it.

Give me some examples for Apple products in Europe with crippled functionality because of government regulations.

Thanks in advance.

groovebuster

 

[Winston Smith]

Originally posted by groovebuster
Give me some examples for Apple products in Europe with crippled functionality because of government regulations.

Thanks in advance.

groovebuster

iPod volume levels due to either EU or french laws.
However thats an issue where Apple has had to go out of their way to meet laws = extra work. Therefore I assume they wanted to offer iPods in Europe.

I also assume iTMS, Sherlock channels, iPhoto book integration, stores, discounts etc are not deemed important enough to go the extra mile.

The issue is that Apple doesn't have either the vision or perhaps more crucially the international resources/skills to fix these shortfalls.

This can be solved and Apple has sufficient cash reserves to solve it therefore I can only assume Apple has the US centric attitude expressed by some of the previous posters.
This is a real shame from the company of Think Different.

 

[curious-au]

Originally posted by Winston Smith
The issue is that Apple doesn't have either the vision or perhaps more crucially the international resources/skills to fix these shortfalls.

I recently read an interview with an Apple staff member that discussed the iTMS situation in Europe. They have people on the ground, running around trying to secure the licensing arrangements. Unless you've ever worked in the music business, I think you'd be surprised just how many people "own" a particular song, particularly in Europe which apparently lacks a central music licensing authority, and apparently some individual countries lack central authorities or registries of their own.

This is a really hard job. The EU is not yet like a larger version of the United States - in my opinion it is not a lack of "vision" hampering iTMS.eu, it is an excess of difficulty.

-- curious.au

 

[QuiteSure]

Originally posted by curious-au
This is a really hard job. The EU is not yet like a larger version of the United States - in my opinion it is not a lack of "vision" hampering iTMS.eu, it is an excess of difficulty.

-- curious.au

This is probably an accurate picture of the situation. I imagine that Apple is VERY frustrated at not being able to capitalize on willing Euro customers. I really wish the overseas posters on this forum would stop beating up on Apple. Seriously, Apple wants your money, cut them a break!

 

[groovebuster]

Originally posted by Winston Smith
iPod volume levels due to either EU or french laws.
However thats an issue where Apple has had to go out of their way to meet laws = extra work. Therefore I assume they wanted to offer iPods in Europe.

I wouldn't call it really a crippled functionality to limit the volume of a sound device and Apple was offfering the iPods already in France when they found out about the law. What I meant was like a complete function not being available.

Originally posted by Winston Smith
I also assume iTMS, Sherlock channels, iPhoto book integration, stores, discounts etc are not deemed important enough to go the extra mile.

That is exactly the problem... not important enough! All these goodies they present as some of their key arguments why the Mac platform is superior in the US are not available for us. But we still pay even higher prizes for the products. You could say that the international customers are subsidizing the the gadgets for the US customers...

Originally posted by QuiteSure
I really wish the overseas posters on this forum would stop beating up on Apple. Seriously, Apple wants your money, cut them a break!

They got my money and I am pretty sure that I paid way more for my Apple gear than I would have paid in the US (and yes, I mean before tax!). How is that going well together with having less functionality? If they would be fair, they would say: As long as you can't use the same features as the US customers, you pay less for the same product!

groovebuster

 

[Winston Smith]

Originally posted by QuiteSure
This is probably an accurate picture of the situation. I imagine that Apple is VERY frustrated at not being able to capitalize on willing Euro customers. I really wish the overseas posters on this forum would stop beating up on Apple. Seriously, Apple wants your money, cut them a break!

If Apple were to cut foreign markets a break and divulge a little information - a target roadmap perhaps - then I'm sure the customers in those markets would gladly cut Apple a break.
It would also provide positive media and no doubt analysis of the vested interests that holds back iTMS for example.

 

[bensisko]

Originally posted by Winston Smith
... divulge a little information - a target roadmap perhaps - then I'm sure the customers in those markets would gladly cut Apple a break....

Yeah, and when Apple can't meet the deadline, for what ever reason, they basically painted themselves with a big target. If Apple provided a road map, then competators would get a leg up on Apple and create some crappy, cheap knock-off and rule the market. Had Apple laid the road map for iTunes and the iPod before they announced it, MS would already be ruling the market. Now, it's every company for themselves, and only the iPod and iTMS has any future to it.

Let's not even start about what Apple fans would make of it... (Hint: Waaaaa... you said an Apple PDA would be available NOW, where is it???)

Business plans and company vision could change at any time, so I think Apple keeping everything under their cap until it's ready to sell is a good idea.