Apple Fined $2 Million in Brazil for Selling iPhones Without Chargers

[gnasher729]

Did they reduce the price when they removed the charger?

It's a new product. Price of iPhone X, iPhone 11, and iPhone 12 are completely unrelated. The iPhone 12 was never sold with a charger. There was never a charger removed from the iPhone 12. Apart from that, Apple has the right to reduce prices, increase prices, or keep them the same, at any time.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Visited my daughter after a long time, she had her kitchen renovated, and guess what... She now has two USB-A charge points built into the kitchen wall. No problem charging any new iPhone.

Yeah, USB-A. iPhones ship with a lightning to USB-C

 

[Suckfest 9001]

It's a new product. Price of iPhone X, iPhone 11, and iPhone 12 are completely unrelated. The iPhone 12 was never sold with a charger. There was never a charger removed from the iPhone 12. Apart from that, Apple has the right to reduce prices, increase prices, or keep them the same, at any time.

In the same breath, countries have the right to dictate certain consumer rights. There can’t be a double standard about these things

 

[gnasher729]

100%, Anker’s stuff is much higher quality and often at a fraction of the price. That’s the route I’d go whenever I get an iPhone 13

Anker five port charger with one USB-C (30 Watt) and four USB-A (12 Watt) here. I absolutely do NOT want anything that charges a single device. What I have takes ONE wall plug. Five iPhone chargers would take FIVE wall plugs. Can't compare the quality, but Anker sells decent stuff.

 

[I7guy]

The list of complaints:
- Against the law to seek a consumer device without a charger. Does that apply to expensive Bluetooth headphones? Or is the commission picking and choosing?
- Slow phones down?
- Water resistance? Other than one or two exceptions which smartphone manufacturerr tout water resistance and how many provide warranty service for water logged phones. Apple shouldn’t even get mention water resistance (then they would be criticized for a different issue)

 

[Mackin-tosh]

No good deed goes unpunished.

Exactly. "Apple, you need to do something to reduce e-waste"
"Ok, We'll stop including a charger in every box and leave it up to the consumer to buy one if they need it"
"How dare you!!"

 

[I7guy]

In the same breath, countries have the right to dictate certain consumer rights. There can’t be a double standard about these things

Apple has to adhere to local laws, but wondering if this law isn’t a little loosey goosey. Ultimately it’s the environment and consumer (price) that will loose. But at least everybody will have a charger (or more than one).

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Apple has to adhere to local laws, but wondering if this law isn’t a little loosey goosey. Ultimately it’s the environment and consumer (price) that will loose. But at least everybody will have a charger (or more than one).

Also depends on which came first, the law or the iPhone. But yeah I’m not entirely certain that Brazil of all places has a nice solid set of laws around this, I’m more just supportive of the narrative. This particular one may not go anywhere

 

[Zwhaler]

So sad that people think its the governments job to tell companies what to sell and people what they have to buy. Because apparently we arent smart enough to make purchasing decisions on our own. Is there any aspect of life then that you think the government should not be in control of? I guess ill need them to tell me when to eat and poop, since those are harder decisions than me deciding if i want to buy a phone charger or not.

I mean, this isn't an issue in most countries, just one that requires chargers to be included with a phone purchase. Overreacting much?

 

[JosephAW]

Peanuts
Next Apple will sell the iPhone without the iPhone in the box because everyone has a spare iPhone.

 

[jlc1978]

Visited my daughter after a long time, she had her kitchen renovated, and guess what... She has two USB-A charge points built into the kitchen wall. No problem charging any new iPhone.

I've replaced several outlets in my home with dual USB/Wall plug outlets. Very convenient.

Because it’s something they’d brag about doing if they did it. Just like how the iPhone 3G’s flagship feature was that they brought the prices down to earth. Otherwise, MSRP was increased if anything

Considering the 64GB 11 Pro Max was was 1099 at launch, now the 12 Pro Max is the same price as the previous 64gb model with 128GB that certainly is a price reduction.

But, I do understand that the 2 million is a fine for not following Brazilian law, and Apple obeys the laws of the land in which they operate. My question, will the 2 million dollar fine be used to supply the people who need chargers with chargers or go into some politicians pockets?

It goes to their favorite charities - their pockets.

 

[Mackin-tosh]

I mean, this isn't an issue in most countries, just one that requires chargers to be included with a phone purchase. Overreacting much?

So was this law on the books before the iphone went on sale last fall?...or did Brazil suddenly enact this new law and penalize Apple after the fact? Seems like a pretty specific scenario that has never been a problem before.

 

[oosamon]

Two mill is a small price to pay for environmental justice.

 

[Breaking Good]

Am I the only one that doesn't care about the charger? The iPhone can be charged wirelessly. I don't want them to include a wireless charging pad.

There are many cheaper, and better, chargers and cables on sale by other companies. Just buy one of those.

 

[HiVolt]

„Adapter not needed“

- includes a usb-c to lightning cable 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

if anything, they make more electronic waste by including a cable that doesn’t work with the adapters most people Apple claims to already have 😅

Exactly. If they can include a 20W charger with a $99 HomePod Mini, why can't they include the same charger with a $1000+ iPhone?

Apple sells a phone that cannot be charged out of the box unless you have an existing USB-C adapter.
Apple sells a MagSafe wireless charging accessory, that cannot charge out of the box because it doesn't come with a USB-C adapter.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

I've replaced several outlets in my home with dual USB/Wall plug outlets. Very convenient.



Considering the 64GB 11 Pro Max was was 1099 at launch, now the 12 Pro Max is the same price as the previous 64gb model with 128GB that certainly is a price reduction.



It goes to their favorite charities - their pockets.

Changing the base storage option isn’t considered a price reduction

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Exactly. If they can include a 20W charger with a $99 HomePod Mini, why can't they include the same charger with a $1000+ iPhone?

Apple sells a phone that cannot be charged out of the box unless you have an existing USB-C adapter.
Apple sells a MagSafe wireless charging accessory, that cannot charge out of the box because it doesn't come with a USB-C adapter.

Exactly. Putting aside previous iPhone owners who for whatever reason kept their original cables, this decision means you don’t have everything in the box that you need to get up and running and that’s just wrong

 

[bousozoku]

So then either include a charger in a new sku or provide one separately. With price TBD. (Apple will not give these away)

It would be tremendous PR, if their employees gave one where necessary. US$20 for a few customers isn't going to break Apple, especially when their cost isn't nearly that much.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Apple didn't do it for the environment. You people can't be that naive.
They did it becuase they couldn't keep on delivering that pathetic 5W chargers with $1000+ phones, but they didn't want to give acceptable ones "for free".
They had so many ways to prove it wasn't just greed: give consumers an option for a free charger was one, discounting the phone of the price of a charger, offering chargers with proceeds that go to environmental protecion funds.
It still was a good choice for the environment but it's easy to be environmentalist with your customers' money.
Consumers must be given a device with accessories to allow its actual usage, it's a normal rule and exceptions can't be decided by manufacturers unilaterally, no matter the reason.
Apple has a very long history of screwing their customers until consumers associations do something about it, everyone on this site should know it.
Then we can discuss if rulings like this should change to protect the environment more than consumers. WE must choose, not Apple, which is in an undoubtable conflict of interest.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Apple didn't do it for the environment. You people can't be that naive.
They did it becuase they couldn't keep on delivering that pathetic 5W chargers with $1000+ phones, but they didn't want to give acceptable ones "for free".
They had so many ways to prove it wasn't just greed: give consumers an option for a free charger was one, discounting the phone of the price of a charger, offering chargers with proceeds that go to environmental protecion funds.
It still was a good choice for the environment but it's easy to be environmentalist with your customers' money.
Consumers must be given a device with accessories to allow its actual usage, it's a normal rule and exceptions can't be decided by manufacturers unilaterally, no matter the reason.

Gonna get a poster made of this and just post a picture of it as needed

 

[I7guy]

Apple didn't do it for the environment. You people can't be that naive.

I got this is a strong opinion.

They did it becuase they couldn't keep on delivering that pathetic 5W chargers with $1000+ phones, but they didn't want to give acceptable ones "for free".

It's like BMW "free service". You pay for the charger in the price of the phone.

They had so many ways to prove it wasn't just greed: give consumers an option for a free charger was one, discounting the phone of the price of a charger, offering chargers with proceeds that go to environmental protecion funds.

The EU blasted Apple for e-waster. The MR posters are blasting Apple because they don't like their solution. Apple can and will never win 100% approval, so they might as well do what they do.

It still was a good choice for the environment but it's easy to be environmentalist with your customers' money.
Consumers must be given a device with accessories to allow its actual usage, it's a normal rule and exceptions can't be decided by manufacturers unilaterally, no matter the reason.

Why then do headphone manufacturers not include a charger with the BT headsets? Maybe because USB-A is so ubiquitous it is time to let go of every device needs a charge.

Apple has a very long history of screwing their customers until consumers associations do something about it, everyone on this site should know it.

How did they screw their customers with the iphone?

Then we can discuss if rulings like this should change to protect the environment more than consumers. WE must choose, not Apple, which is in an undoubtable conflict of interest.

This seems to me to be loosey goosey. YMMV.

 

[Maconplasma]

Consumers generally have a responsibility, but practically speaking a customer can’t know every fact about a product before buying,

What I said has nothing to do with facts about a product. I only said it's the customer's responsibility to find out what comes inside the box. I didn't say the customer should know what type of chips are used on the logic board. 🙄

In this case, Apple does have that information available to customers, but I’d argue that Apple is not doing enough to make it obvious.

Oh really? Right on Apple's website for EVERY product they state what comes in the box.

The reason being, phones and electronic products in general have always included chargers. Though generally not a legal obligation (nor do I think it should be in this case for Apple), it has become a common understanding.

And it's a common understanding that a printer would come with a print cable just like it would a power adapter but printers don't always come with one and the customer should ask what comes with the printer. Some printers don't even come with sample ink. It is idiotic to assume all printers automatically come with sample ink.

Right now Apple’s site does show “what’s included” at the bottom of the purchase page a little ways BELOW the “continue purchase” button (so it can easily be missed) and of course simply does not picture the charger. And they explicitly say below that that the charger is sold separately, but in fine print. Same with on the box. But these are either passive omissions or too inconspicuous.

You are stretching this crap so far that it's complete nonsense. I've never had a problem seeing what Apple's website discloses what's inside the box. Just stop the nonsense. It's YOUR fault as the consumer if you buy something and are unhappy with the contents included if you can't take 5 minutes to verify what comes with the product you're buying, especially when we're talking about a $1000 phone.

I argue Apple needs to actively and explicitly inform customers that the charger is not included in a prominent manner that is designed to get customers’ attention

Oh please. 🙄. So funny how on one hand this forum says Apple makes things too dumbed down and too elementary because people want to tinker because they consider themselves a "more advanced" customer since they are forum techie. Now on your hand you want to be handheld and have a professional tour guide by Apple to help guide you to find what really ISN'T fine print.
I've included 2 screenshots from Apple's website. One CLEARLY shows what comes in the iPhone box. If a person can't understand that then they are dumber than dirt. I also put a box around what you are calling fine print. 😂

I also included Apple's FAQ which IS in fine print just so you can see the difference and to show your argument is 100% nonsense.

—on the purchase page, in physical stores, and perhaps on the packaging itself (though maybe a sticker that can be removed by the customer if desired).

 

[insoft.uk]

What a silly law and unable to enforce it as it’s too little of a fine, Apple will make more than that fine by breaking the law.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

What a silly law and unable to enforce it as it’s too little of a fine, Apple will make more than that fine by breaking the law.

Hoping other countries follow suit honestly. Brazil isn’t that intimidating by itself

 

[Mackin-tosh]

Owning an iPhone is a choice, not a right. Apple has packaged up the iPhone and put it out there for sale. You have a choice to buy the phone as apple sells it, or buy something else. You don't have a right to demand they change their product to fit your needs or desires. If the product doesn't work for you AS IS...buy something that does.