Apple Facing Potential Suspension of Italian Sales Amid Warranty Concerns

[alfistas]

I did and I could not find it. Germany should have a 19% higher price, Sweden 25%, etc due to VAT. If it is even more, THEN you have an argument. You didn't specify China's pricing (either incl. VAT or not, how high the VAT is and if there is something like lux-tax as well like in Belgium). So, could you elaborate? Just mentioned European countries because that was the argument. China does not have the European guideline with 2 years limited warranty mandated. So, China does not really play into your argument.

Here's what I wrote earlier:

US APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,799.00 ex.vat (high end model)

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German APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,954.95 ex.vat 19% (high end model) -- at today's exchange rate from (www.xe.com)
The price difference is $155.95

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CHINESE APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,972.97 ex.vat 10% (high end model) -- at today's exchange rate from (www.xe.com)
The price difference is $173.97!!!!!!

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Can you see it now??

 

[boozezela]

Samsung...

I would like to point out that frikking Samsung gave me a coverage of 3 (THREE) years on an el cheapo 230EUR 22" LCD monitor.

When it broke after 2 years, UPS came to my house to deliver a (refurbished) replacement and pick up the defective one. The refurbished one is still working as of today.

On TVs they offer up to 5 years coverage with repairs onsite, depending on the country you live.

 

[Mad-B-One]

Here's what I wrote earlier:

US APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,799.00 ex.vat (high end model)

-------------------------------------------------

German APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,954.95 ex.vat 19% (high end model) -- at today's exchange rate from (www.xe.com)
The price difference is $155.95

-------------------------------------------------

CHINESE APPLE STORE
Retina MacBook Pro: $2,972.97 ex.vat 10% (high end model) -- at today's exchange rate from (www.xe.com)
The price difference is $173.97!!!!!!

-------------------------------------------------

Can you see it now??

In other words, your $504 shrunk quite a bit and only left $173.97 over. You just couldn't cover your tracks well enough because I quoted you before you changed the numbers. It is more but you kind of neglected to mention that what I criticized was the over $500 and with high prizes as they are, Apple probably calculates in a buffer for currency fluctuations. 6% more would accommodate for that...

Just saying, your argument isn't very strong anymore...

 

[alfistas]

In other words, your $504 shrunk quite a bit and only left $173.97 over. You just couldn't cover your tracks well enough because I quoted you before you changed the numbers. It is more but you kind of neglected to mention that what I criticized was the over $500 and with high prizes as they are, Apple probably calculates in a buffer for currency fluctuations. 6% more would accommodate for that...

Just saying, your argument isn't very strong anymore...

I corrected it by deducting the 10% non-import tax for the Chinese online store. $500 didn't seem right. But the argument still stands.

Apple charges more for their products outside the US prior to any sales or import tax.

 

[Mad-B-One]

I corrected it by deducting the 10% non-import tax for the Chinese online store. $500 didn't seem right. But the argument still stands.

Apple charges more for their products outside the US prior to any sales or import tax.

That might be but their prices do not change while exchange rates do. So, your numbers will be different from day to day. The Euro, for example, is currently not that stable due to Greece, Spain, and Portugal. For one USD, you could get 1.20 Euros once. A couple of years ago, you couldn't even get 70 Euro cents for it. That is what the offset is for in my eyes. Currently it's not even 6% - so, your argument is flawed because Apple would not change prices by exchange rate of the week.

 

[alfistas]

You just couldn't cover your tracks well enough because I quoted you before you changed the numbers.

...but why the hate??

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That might be but their prices do not change while exchange rates do. So, your numbers will be different from day to day. The Euro, for example, is currently not that stable due to Greece, Spain, and Portugal. For one USD, you could get 1.20 Euros once. A couple of years ago, you couldn't even get 70 Euro cents for it. That is what the offset is for in my eyes. Currently it's not even 6% - so, your argument is flawed because Apple would not change prices by exchange rate of the week.

Do yourself a favor and check the exchange rates between the Dollar and Euro... for the past 5-8 years. The Euro was always worth more than the dollar. With a predominant rate of about 1.50 US Dollars to 1 Euro.

A devalued dollar should mean cheaper exports. Not in Apple's case though...

 

[Mad-B-One]

...but why the hate??

----------



Do yourself a favor and check the exchange rates between the Dollar and Euro... for the past 5-8 years. The Euro was always worth more than the dollar. With a predominant rate of about 1.50 US Dollars to 1 Euro.

A devalued dollar should mean cheaper exports. Not in Apple's case though...

No hate. You just neglected to mention that my doubt about your numbers was about the $504 and then you portray it the way that I think $174 is not legit. That's all. You changed your original post - that's fine - and then answer to my reply as if that was changed the whole time.

And I don't have to check the exchange rates, I have a bank account in the EU and two in the US. I follow it quite well and lately, the Euro lost more and more. Not just 6% (which is Apple's "safety net" for having no lower prices than the USD price). If you leave your tricks behind, you will also see that when the Euro started, you could get it for - I believe - $0.83 and currently, the trend goes towards USD and Euro being more equal again. It isn't the mean of the last 5-8 years that counts, it's where it is projected to be in the near future.

 

[lilo777]

It turns out that Apple lied not only to Italian consumers but also to Portuguese ones. In today's news: "A Portuguese consumer protection group says it is planning to sue Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) over information provided on the company’s website that allegedly misleads users into buying the AppleCare Protection Plan. The Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO) said in a statement that the potential lawsuit will come after “several attempts” to get Apple to correct the statement on its website regarding the service plan, according to Portuguese language Apple blog iPhoneTuga."