Apple Increases European App Store Pricing, Changes Some Countries to Local Currencies

[marksman]

Then that price really isn't so bad..

Don't say things like that. People want to bash and hate apple while giving them all their money.

What is silly is people are complaining about the floor pricing. I don't get the impression any countries are at the equivalent of five US dollars for the lowest tier. The devs set app prices beyond that.

As for raising their cut to 40% if that is the case (not noted here and i had not heard that) it is certainly an issue for devs,

It is also amusing people will blame the us for trying to take over the world but when a huge company like apple makes it so people in a lot of countries can use their own currencies to buy stuff people complaining.

I am fine if all you other countries want to officially declare the US dollar the official currency of the world, but make up your minds.

 

[MrAwax]

Still, if the euro ever bounces back I doubt these prices will ever come back down.

Why ? Apple just matches USD price points with EUR.

When the EUR was raising, Apple updated the prices to a lower value.
They just don't do this very often. They do this when a new product is out. And for apps, when the forex rate has changed to much.

 

[marksman]

.89 Euro cent ????? is not a .99 US. it is 1.15

so WTF??

Another reason to start hassling itunes cards.

So you live in Europe and not the us lol. This actually creates more stability and consistency for App Store revenues globally. They can adjust markets individually to match reality as needed and not have potentially large swings based on currency exchange rates. Apple can't even bring the money back to the US so yeah it does work out for them. Amazingly enough apple is good at business and stuff

 

[MrAwax]

And how is the difference allegedly only because of VAT when the iPad mini is between 329 and 339 euros in Europe which is about 90 euros more expensive than the 329 dollars in the US?

$329 = 254€
add 20.6% VAT for France = 306€
now add the private copy tax = 319€

So, you're not so far from the 329€ price point. And it is very probable I forgot some recycling fee or another tax.

----------

.89 Euro cent ????? is not a .99 US. it is 1.15

so WTF??

Another reason to start hassling itunes cards.

Wouah !!! 1.15$ ? like in "15% VAT included" ?

 

[Oberhorst]

Really don't like this. $0.99 are ~€0.76. €0.89 is a rip-off.

 

[lighthouse_man]

$329 = 254€
add 20.6% VAT for France = 306€
now add the private copy tax = 319€

The pretax price in France is 283,44 euros.

 

[raulpina]

!!!!

How about adjust the iMac, macbook iPads and iphones prices? We pay 600€ more for the same macbookpro in Portugal.

 

[PlutoniusX]

No one was asking and no one cares.

You cared enough to reply.

 

[0098386]

iOS latest release, 69p. Sony PSN latest release, £49.99.

and Apple are suddenly the greedy ones?

What an odd thing to say.

Publishers set the price of games on these services. To get you up to speed on this topic; all platforms can sell games for free, 50p, £50, £100. It's all about the quality of the product, the market, the impression of value etc. Even iPad versions of iPhone games are usually more expensive (Angry Birds iPhone is 69p, £3.99 for iPad for the same thing (same assets too!)).

And also your prices there are wildly incorrect, I don't understand why you went for the cheapest iOS price and highest PSN price?

Average PSN price: £7.99 (these make out the bulk of games on the PS3/Vita/PSP)
Average disc game price: £29-39. Very few are actually £49, even with my ~250 games I've never paid £49, I think that's reserved for the likes of Call of Duty, which fans are willing to pay a lot for. Unlike iOS's Race to the Bottom where people generally don't want to pay for good quality games, hence the common price of 69p or "freemium".
And then you have PS Mobile and PS Minis which are priced on par with iOS gaming and work across multiple devices etc.


Finally FWIW some manufacturers have lowered their percentage in the last 5 years. Nice of Apple to be the only ones to increase it.

 

[KikoPT]

How about adjust the iMac, macbook iPads and iphones prices? We pay 600€ more for the same macbookpro in Portugal.

Ok man .. i know we in Portugal are being really robbed, but it's not 600€. Part of that is TAXES (IVA) that our greedy-mother-f'in-goverment is charging ...

Let's do the math for the 15" rMBP base model (for today's rates)

2199$ = 1702,67€ ... then add tax (IVA - 23% - 391,61) = 2094,28€

But this model is being sold for ... wait for it ... 2349€ ...

So in the end, Apple is just robbing us by 255€ (329$)

 

[KikoPT]

Some quick math for the Portuguese Apple Store ...

My app is know 0.89€

Let's do some math:

0.99$ = 0.767€ ... add Portuguese taxes (23% - 0,1764€) and we get 0.943€ ..

So in the end ... we weren't paying taxes before?

 

[MacDav]

Ok man .. i know we in Portugal are being really robbed, but it's not 600€. Part of that is TAXES (IVA) that our greedy-mother-f'in-goverment is charging ...

Let's do the math for the 15" rMBP base model (for today's rates)

2199$ = 1702,67€ ... then add tax (IVA - 23% - 391,61) = 2094,28€

But this model is being sold for ... wait for it ... 2349€ ...

So in the end, Apple is just robbing us by 255€ (329$)

Wow, are you sure your numbers are correct? I don't see how this could be possible. It doesn't make any sense. Something is missing.

 

[tdream]

Did you look at the developer payout in the tier rate table and compare it to last months?

Developer gets about the same percentage as before (and thus more money in some cases.). About 70% after subtracting Eurozone VAT.

The article states EU have been receiving 60% all along. Hmm... quite odd and against the 70% all developers were supposed to be getting all along.

If anything the story is upside down and people should be aggrieved that it was 60% from the beginning and continues to be. Apple is not paying their fair share.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Then that price really isn't so bad..

what isn't so bad about it? Apple not only increased the prices but they also increase the commission they get (from 30% to 40%).

 

[faizanshakyboy]

an unexpected move by Apple

 

[silvetti]

Wow, are you sure your numbers are correct? I don't see how this could be possible. It doesn't make any sense. Something is missing.

Its not wrong...

All Apple products in Europe are WAY overpriced compared to US, even with taxes!

Apple.pl
Order subtotal 1 178.05 zł
Free shipping 0,00 zł
VAT 270.95 zł

$329 - 1,052.47zl
1,178.05-1,052.47 = 125.58 = $39,24


Apple.pt
Subtotal 275,61 €
Expedição Gratuita 0,00 €
VAT 63,39 €

$329 - 254.40€
275,61-254,40 = 21,21 = $27.42

This is on a cheap product... imagine on iMacs, Macbooks

Macbook Pro Retina 15, low end model

Subtotal 1.909,76 €
Expedição Gratuita 0,00 €
VAT 439,24 €

2,199.00 = 1700€

His math was a bit wrong but not for much... its 209 euros difference... thats 270 dollars in increase...

 

[firewood]

The article states EU have been receiving 60% all along.

That's before the tax man gets their cut. And, by law in certain countries, the tax man gets their cut first out of the listed price. If there's anything left, Apple and the developer split that remainder roughly 30/70.

 

[flottenheimer]

We're still getting really cheap quality software. Have any of you tried to buy a digital download on Wii or PS3, lately? Or how about a game on physical media? Now, those prices are steep.

Developers will be getting more money now. And so will Apple. I'm fine.

What I'd like to see are dropping prices, better selection of software and more quality stuff on the Mac App Store. I know I'm asking for a lot : )

 

[silvetti]

We're still getting really cheap quality software. Have any of you tried to buy a digital download on Wii or PS3, lately? Or how about a game on physical media? Now, those prices are steep.

Developers will be getting more money now. And so will Apple. I'm fine.

What I'd like to see are dropping prices, better selection of software and more quality stuff on the Mac App Store. I know I'm asking for a lot : )

I just paid the equivalent to 18 dollars for Mass Effect 3 Limited Edition for PC in Origin store. I don't think that is expensive...

 

[brdeveloper]

Yeah well, Apple is following its all-time slogan. They're thinking different I guess.

PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT PROFIT.

What happened to innovation by the way?

Who cares? The UK judge says iPad is cooler than anything. I am cool and I like buying cool stuff.

 

[MacDav]

Its not wrong...

All Apple products in Europe are WAY overpriced compared to US, even with taxes!

Apple.pl
Order subtotal 1 178.05 zł
Free shipping 0,00 zł
VAT 270.95 zł

$329 - 1,052.47zl
1,178.05-1,052.47 = 125.58 = $39,24


Apple.pt
Subtotal 275,61 €
Expedição Gratuita 0,00 €
VAT 63,39 €

$329 - 254.40€
275,61-254,40 = 21,21 = $27.42

This is on a cheap product... imagine on iMacs, Macbooks

Macbook Pro Retina 15, low end model

Subtotal 1.909,76 €
Expedição Gratuita 0,00 €
VAT 439,24 €

2,199.00 = 1700€

His math was a bit wrong but not for much... its 209 euros difference... thats 270 dollars in increase...

I find this very surprising. The question is why? Why would Apple essentially gouge some countries and not others? This is baffling to me. It just doesn't make any sense. Who at Apple can answer this question?

Oh... wait a minute you're not adding in US taxes. Depending on which state you live in taxes can be up to 10% added on to the price. So $329 could actually be up to $362 depending on which US State you live in.
Apple is not the evil villain after all.

 

[silvetti]

I find this very surprising. The question is why? Why would Apple essentially gouge some countries and not others? This is baffling to me. It just doesn't make any sense. Who at Apple can answer this question?

Oh... wait a minute you're not adding in US taxes. Depending on which state you live in taxes can be up to 10% added on to the price. So $329 could actually be up to $362 depending on which US State you live in.
Apple is not the evil villain after all.

I don't think you understood me, prices without taxes in Europe are HIGHER than prices without taxes in US. Got it now ?

 

[MacDav]

I don't think you understood me, prices without taxes in Europe are HIGHER than prices without taxes in US. Got it now ?

Sorry... I saw VAT listed at the top and thought you were adding tax to your total. I now see that prices without tax are higher. It appears by about 9-10 %. Yes, it is odd they would charge 10% more. I wonder why? Do you have any ideas?

 

[marksman]

Instead of complaining about apples ding you euros should be complaining about the more absurd 20-25 % tax.

Everyone doing this calculations are like whatever add this 65 euros of tax and OMG apple is overcharging us by 20 more.

First thing is they are not overcharging anyone. They are free to set prices by whatever market determinations they want. We do have sales tax but the highest rate is less than half the vat.

 

[0098386]

We're still getting really cheap quality software. Have any of you tried to buy a digital download on Wii or PS3, lately? Or how about a game on physical media? Now, those prices are steep.

Developers will be getting more money now. And so will Apple. I'm fine.

What I'd like to see are dropping prices, better selection of software and more quality stuff on the Mac App Store. I know I'm asking for a lot : )

That's not actually true. iOS studios are rarely as profitable as their console/PC counterparts.
And those prices aren't steep; it's iOS and mobile that's cheap. Cheaply developed time-wasters, by small teams with small budgets. They're not your multi-million dollar development projects. They're not designed to be. Big games continue to break records (especially preorders) because people like buying big, expensive, full quality experiences.