Apple is ripping us off

[CE3]

I think the Pencil is one of the best things Apple have released in a while. Even having owned it for a while it still manages to delight me when I use it.

Oddly I think it's one of the most competitively priced products theve done as well. I've had quite a few different styli for my iPads over the years, from cheap as chips up to the same price range as the Apple Pencil. And not a single one has ever been even as remotely good as the Pencil. It's my favourite new toy

Yeah, the pencil is actually one of the decently priced Apple accessories. I anticipate writing more with it than I have on paper in years. Of course it's ideal for art and design, but handwriting has been dying (they don't even teach cursive in most schools anymore) and I think technology like this could bring it back to life.

 

[TrueBlou]

Yeah, the pencil is actually one of the decently priced Apple accessories. I anticipate writing more with it than I have on paper in years. Of course it's ideal for art and design, but handwriting has been dying (they don't even teach cursive in most schools anymore) and I think technology like this could bring it back to life.

Dear god I'm a dinosaur, I can't believe they don't even teach cursive now. What's next, no English lessons because they spend more time on Facebook and text messages. No foreign languages because our phones can translate for us. Ffs.

 

[rui no onna]

Dear god I'm a dinosaur, I can't believe they don't even teach cursive now. What's next, no English lessons because they spend more time on Facebook and text messages. No foreign languages because our phones can translate for us. Ffs.

Maybe it's just me but it feels like schools in the US go straight to teaching literature and skip grammar and spelling altogether. I'm prone to using run-on sentences but at least I know how to use "should have" instead of "should of".

 

[moosington]

These arguments are so contrived. Yes we get it. You and others are magnanimous in acceptance of apples high price. We are not worthy and keep contradicting ourselves by purchasing everday items at high prices.

Have you guys stopped and read your arguments back to yourselves? With this argument can apple ever be overpriced? I guess not as long as you can afford it nobody of mind should complain about its affordability because look! Its not the most outrageous example of overpricing!

Btw being a shareholder of apple's, i suggest everybody actually look at companys profit margins. Apple (40%) is among the highest even compared to coca cola(12%), nike (45%), gap clothing(5%) or mercedes (20%). Liquids, shoes, clothes, luxury car. Four examples provided in this topic.

This is misleading. Their actual profit margins are around 22% for the whole company according to Yahoo finance. The device's manufacturing cost may yield a 40% profit margin, but Apple spends a huge amount on R&D, software development, and supports their devices for years. Those costs aren't factored into that 40%.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

This is misleading. Their actual profit margins are around 22% for the whole company according to Yahoo finance. The device's manufacturing cost may yield a 40% profit margin, but Apple spends a huge amount on R&D, software development, and supports their devices for years. Those costs aren't factored into that 40%.

you're right my fault.

Apple net profit margin is ~23%. Coca Cola is 16%. Nike is at 11.8%. Gap clothing is at 5.8%. mercedes is at 6%.

got them confused, this actually makes apple look worse. all data pulled from wikinvest.

 

[moosington]

you're right my fault.

Apple net profit margin is ~23%. Coca Cola is 16%. Nike is at 11.8%. Gap clothing is at 5.8%. mercedes is at 6%.

got them confused, this actually makes apple look worse. all data pulled from wikinvest.

You also want to compare them to other companies in their actual industry. Google is close at 21%. Microsoft is far at 12%, but they have done a poor job all around managing their company in recent history.

What do you suggest? Cut prices/revenue/costs? Quality goes with it. Look at what all the lower cost competition puts out. Bad QC, ads in OS, data collection. If you want budget, go Samsung or HP or Acer or Asus. Apple devices haven't low cost items at all in any recent history.

Apple has obviously used its comfortable profit margin to benefit customers. We get support longer than anyone else, they invest a ton in green energy and recycling, and spend a lot on R&D, probably pay top talent engineers and developers well, etc. I'm pretty happy with all of this and my Apple devices, even at their cost.

 

[Ghost31]

was probably going somewhere with that, but my morphine has kicked in and I've no idea how that was finishing.

The more posts I see from you the more I'm convinced we are the same person. It's getting a little scary
[doublepost=1459969347][/doublepost]

I agree they're ripping us off. My 9.7" 256 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular iPP, with Apple Care, Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard and Silicone Case cost $1,546.15 including taxes! The worst part is after seeing and using mine, my wife who already has the iPad Air 2 has ordered the same thing I got except her's will be silver and mine is space gray. Oh, I guess it doesn't matter that this is the best tablet either one of us have ever used...

If they are ripping you off why did you buy it? Not sure I understand I'm

 

[s15119]

It's not that I can't afford it...don't get me wrong. Like I wrote earlier "so far I have felt that Apple's Ipad was reasonably, yet still expensively priced. Just with the launch of the new Pro my perspective has changed"

I own a fully spec'ed macbook pro and Iphone 5S...I'm already in their ecosystem. I use their products. However, I am also a sceptical person and I can read between the lines. We are financing their new HQ, their crazy R&D, their newly employed and highly expensive staff. They also just built Liam which they'll make money from as well as they sell the parts for cash (essentially resulting in a price reduction on new parts).

On the other hand I believe they don't make as much money from new Apps as they used to.

I studied business for 5 years, I know what BS looks like. I also know how they are making money. I also know they have crazy margins...here I am just saying they are being greedy.

I got an idea. Don't buy it. No one is forcing you. Have a nice day.

 

[mgipe]

Dear god I'm a dinosaur, I can't believe they don't even teach cursive now. What's next, no English lessons because they spend more time on Facebook and text messages. No foreign languages because our phones can translate for us. Ffs.

Literacy is no longer universal.

 

[rui no onna]

If they are ripping you off why did you buy it? Not sure I understand I'm

I believe he was being sarcastic.

 

[Ghost31]

I believe he was being sarcastic.

That's what I was thinking. Hard to tell over the Internet without directly asking sometimes

 

[TrueBlou]

The more posts I see from you the more I'm convinced we are the same person. It's getting a little scary

Good, it's your turn to walk the dog and empty the bins

 

[FrozenDarkness]

You also want to compare them to other companies in their actual industry. Google is close at 21%. Microsoft is far at 12%, but they have done a poor job all around managing their company in recent history.

What do you suggest? Cut prices/revenue/costs? Quality goes with it. Look at what all the lower cost competition puts out. Bad QC, ads in OS, data collection. If you want budget, go Samsung or HP or Acer or Asus. Apple devices haven't low cost items at all in any recent history.

Apple has obviously used its comfortable profit margin to benefit customers. We get support longer than anyone else, they invest a ton in green energy and recycling, and spend a lot on R&D, probably pay top talent engineers and developers well, etc. I'm pretty happy with all of this and my Apple devices, even at their cost.

i'm not suggesting that. I just think when people say stuff like "look at your nike shoes and what a rip off that is, that makes it okay for apple to charge more for their products" is a fallacy. People have the right to complain about price increases and nobody should feel bad for apple not making enough money.

also keep in mind that i'm a shareholder. i welcome apple making more money. but it also worries me to raise prices for no reason, id on't think it makes sense to price out people from the tablet market.

 

[scaredpoet]

Dear god I'm a dinosaur, I can't believe they don't even teach cursive now. What's next, no English lessons because they spend more time on Facebook and text messages. No foreign languages because our phones can translate for us. Ffs.

I think that's a little bit of an overreaction.

Language and grammar will continue to be taught, because they're relevant and necessary. Handwriting, whether we like it or not, is becoming less of a necessary or relevant skill for everyone.

Schools no longer teach calligraphy anymore to all students (except as an art form in some cases), yet back in the day it was a required skill to make your work look presentable. So why aren't we freaking out about that? Well, it's because we haven't had a need for it in a long, long time.

Today, computer literacy is a much more necessary skill, even more so than handwriting. If I have to choose between a kid going to college knowing how to write pretty, and a kid that knows how to avoid getting viruses on his computer, I'd prefer it if schools produce the latter. Eventually, they're going to enter the workforce, and as an IT person, I'm perfectly fine working with someone who has lousy penmanship, as long as they aren't constantly bringing the network down opening an e-mail with a bad attachment.

Don't like that we have to pick and choose? Then you should lobby for better school funding so that both skills can be taught.

 

[TrueBlou]

I think that's a little bit of an overreaction.

Language and grammar will continue to be taught, because they're relevant and necessary. Handwriting, whether we like it or not, is becoming less of a necessary or relevant skill for everyone.

Schools no longer teach calligraphy anymore to all students (except as an art form in some cases), yet back in the day it was a required skill to make your work look presentable. So why aren't we freaking out about that? Well, it's because we haven't had a need for it in a long, long time.

Today, computer literacy is a much more necessary skill, even more so than handwriting. If I have to choose between a kid going to college knowing how to write pretty, and a kid that knows how to avoid getting viruses on his computer, I'd prefer it if schools produce the latter. Eventually, they're going to enter the workforce, and as an IT person, I'm perfectly fine working with someone who has lousy penmanship, as long as they aren't constantly bringing the network down opening an e-mail with a bad attachment.

Don't like that we have to pick and choose? Then you should lobby for better school funding so that both skills can be taught.

Yeah, I was aiming for overreaction.

 

[scaredpoet]

i'm not suggesting that. I just think when people say stuff like "look at your nike shoes and what a rip off that is, that makes it okay for apple to charge more for their products" is a fallacy. People have the right to complain about price increases and nobody should feel bad for apple not making enough money.

At the same time, the loudest voice Apple listens to is the one coming out of people's wallets. We can complain all we want about Apple's high prices, but if we are still buying those same products AS we complain, Apple will continue to have their behavior rewarded, because clearly the price wasn't enough of a deterrent.

If price points become a problem for two many people, rest assured Apple will find out about it quickly, and they will be forced to do something about it then.

 

[Ghost31]

At the same time, the loudest voice Apple listens to is the one coming out of people's wallets. .

Like how iPad sales year over year have dropped dramatically and they responded to that by...increasing the price of the iPad? They need to work on their listening skills

 

[pat500000]

Hi guys

I considered getting the new Ipad Pro, but the more I look into it I can't get myself to buy it, because I realised that Apple is milking the cash cow even more than they used to.

For the following, please if you disagree, let me know and I will reconsider my point(s).

- Ipad Pro's price point does not justify the extra features it has.
- Ipad smart keyboard is $149
- Apple doesn't offer the leather ipad cover's anymore for Ipad Pro. Instead you have to buy a silicone cover which is $69 and the smart cover which is $49 = $118 for a case option
- Apple Pencil is another $99.

I was looking to get an Ipad with 128 gb (since there's no 64Gb) option. Even if I just went with the smart keyboard (no pencil and no case) it would be $1077.

In Denmark (where I live) it's $1391 because of taxes.

I just think it's unreasonable.

What do you guys think?

I have a recommendation. I remember some kid in China who was poor and was able to get iphone 6 plus. He sold his kidney. So....yeah....if you have to resort to it.

 

[Serban]

if you are looking at the prices, then you can't afford world of apple so don't buy it

 

[ZBoater]

Apple products are not designed for poor people.

 

[scaredpoet]

Like how iPad sales year over year have dropped dramatically and

... and still brought in $7 Billion in revenue last quarter, and still outsold the Surface, despite the Surface being priced lower (and bringing in only 1/7th the revenue). The entire tablet market is decline, not just iPads, and not because of price points.

If the surface were outselling iPads, that would be a different story. But so far that hasn't happened even once yet.

 

[Ghost31]

... and still brought in $7 Billion in revenue past quarter, and still outsold the Surface. The entire tablet market is decline, not just iPads, and not because of price points.

If the surface were outselling iPads, that would be a different story. But so far that hasn't happened even once yet.

I think the first few years of sales were just an initial surge in reaction to a new market being opened up. Those numbers couldn't last forever. Apple knows this and is why they are so confident with their price increase on the new iPads

 

[OW22]

Apple products are not designed for poor people.

Well lets get real, they're hardly for rich people. There would be very, very few people in the western world who could not afford an Apple product. I mean we're not talking about a Porsche or a Bentley here.

 

[Serban]

Well lets get real, they're hardly for rich people. There would be very, very few people in the western world who could not afford an Apple product. I mean we're not talking about a Porsche or a Bentley here.

yes we do...if you buy a second hand Porsche anyone could afford the price

 

[ZBoater]

Well lets get real, they're hardly for rich people. There would be very, very few people in the western world who could not afford an Apple product. I mean we're not talking about a Porsche or a Bentley here.

Yes, but rich people can buy them. Poor people can't. Poor people have to buy food and pay for rent first. Most poor people anyway. Some of them come here and whine about how Apple is ripping us off.